New Supercharger Aims to Tweak More Horsepower Out of Smaller Engines

Maybe there is a replacement for displacement. A new supercharger system developed in the UK uses a combination of mechanical compression — like that of the drag-strip blower pictured — and centrifugal compression, like in a turbocharged vehicle, to boost the horsespower of small engines. The result is higher performance without annoying turbo lag at low engine speeds. Engineers say the system is three years from production.

Supercharged route to powerful, smaller car engines [The Engineer Online via Green Car Congress]

Related:
Scion tC to Gain a Supercharger in 2005 [internal]