The various systems on a modern car are designed to be functional, reliable and cheap. Occasionally, though, engineers go a bit nuts and create something amazing. What's the most beautifully engineered car part?
The turbocharger is already a simple yet wonderful device designed to make more power using the car's own exhaust gasses to spin a turbine that drives a compressor. It also takes a lot of engineering to keep a regular turbo spinning at up to 150,000 RPM. But the variable geometry turbo?
Throw in dozens of moving parts like movable veins not part of the spinning mass heated up to hundreds of degrees and you've got to take into account thermal expansions, precise tolerances, aerodynamics, oil seal surfaces and design for manufacturing just to make it work. And then make it reliable. It looks awesome and is a testament to a great idea with even greater execution.
A car is the sum of its parts, but not all parts are created equal. What's the most beautifully engineered car part?
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