5 ms·

Volvo isn't the only one. One of the new Ford Mustangs is running a 2.3L turbo 4-cyl. Some Mustang fans complain because they like that classic V8 rumble but I

by DTV 12y ago

Volvo isn't the only one. One of the new Ford Mustangs is running a 2.3L turbo 4-cyl. Some Mustang fans complain because they like that classic V8 rumble but I don't think the people buying Volvos are too worried about showing off at the each red light.

angkec 12y ago
But Volvo has a third turbo that powers the other two turbos. The mustang's turbo is probably a conventional turbo on a 4 cylinder.
- ufmace 12y ago
  It sounds like they actually have a conventional supercharger in addition to 2 turbochargers. It'll probably be tricky to keep it all under control, but it could result in impressive performance.
  - jedmeyers 12y ago
    It does not sound like a 'conventional' supercharger since it is not powered by the engine's crankshaft, but rather by electricity.
    - bradleyland 12y ago
      The article is kind of confusing. At one point, they say: "The 2016 XC90 (on sale early next year) is the first of this new generation of Volvos. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger and a supercharger. (While the turbo works best when the engine’s already going, a supercharger forces in air with power generated by the engine itself, so increased boost is available from idle.) The supercharger runs from idle to 3,500 RPM. Above that, an integrated clutch disengages the supercharger, allowing the turbocharger to take over." Based ont his paragraph, it sounds like a traditional supercharger that works up to 3,500 RPM. Later on though, we get this bit: "We’ve seen plenty of twin-turbos before. Volvo’s innovation is adding a third—third!—turbo. But this one doesn’t charge the engine. It charges the other turbos. It’s electric, hence the name “e-booster,” and sends air into the two conventional turbos to improve their performance below 3,300 RPM, filling out the torque curve and eliminating that pesky lag problem." Now we have an e-booster referred to as a third turbo, which runs up to 3,300 RPM. So, the confusion is warranted. The article isn't entirely clear on whether these are two engine options, or a single engine with inconsistent details.
      - chockablock 12y ago
        The article discusses 2 different engine designs: -A prototype with 2 conventional turbos and a third electric "e-booster" to help spool them up. This one is "five to 10 years" away. -A 2.0L 4-cylinder 'Drive-E' engine coming to market on the 2016 XC90 that has a turbo- and a supercharger (but no electric fan).
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
rjsw 12y ago
Ford have several turbocharged engines [1], my next car will probably have one. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_EcoBoost_engine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_EcoBoost_engine
bradleyland 12y ago
Yeah, my initial reaction was "name an auto manufacturer who isn't betting its future on small, turbocharged engines. It's pretty much a necessity, and much to the lament of automobile enthusiasts everywhere (who prefer a high-revving, naturally-aspirated engine). Volvo does appear to be distinguishing themselves though. Namely in the fact that they're coming to market with an e-booster (electric turbo). There are plenty of dual-inlet turbocharged engines on the market, and Mercedes pushed the envelope with their M133 engine found in their performance oriented version of the CLA, but no one, that I'm aware of, has brought an e-booster to market. There was quite a bit of speculation that BMW would use one on their latest M3, but instead they went with a dual-turbo setup and some cool electronic wastegate management software that improves spool-up time. The combo supercharger/turbochargers setup is crazy exciting though. The last car I can remember with that kind of setup was Lancia's group B rallye submission, the Delta S4. That car made, ostensibly, 480 HP from about 1.8L. In reality, the output was more in the area of 550 HP, and legend has it that engineers pushed the powerplant close to 1000 HP. Every auto manufacturer is staring down a future of emissions and fuel economy standards that are going to require some fundamental shifts in the way cars are built and powered. Most manufacturers are moving in the direction of hybrid technology. BMW is betting the farm on mass-produced carbon fiber technology. Everyone has a strategy, and most involve lower displacement, forced-induction engines, often coupled with hybrid drivetrain components.
- rodgerd 12y ago
  > It's pretty much a necessity, and much to the lament of automobile enthusiasts everywhere (who prefer a high-revving, naturally-aspirated engine). Except for all the auto enthusiasts that Audi (ur-Quattro and almost all their performance cars since), Toyota (Celica GT-R, Supra), Nissan (Skyline GT-R), Subaru (pretty much everything), court, or who remember the era of 1000 HP Formula 1 cars fondly. But yeah, I guess all automotive enthusiasts.
  - bradleyland 12y ago
    Uh, I never said "all", I said automobile enthusiasts, then added the qualification of the ones who prefer N/A engines using parenthesis. Although, I see that my wording could be taken both ways. I didn't mean for the word everywhere to mean "all", I just mean that there are enthusiasts in just about every circle of automobile culture who prefer N/A motors. Just look at all the "all motor" import tuners. There's an "all motor" group in every sub-group.

by DTV 12y ago

angkec 12y ago

But Volvo has a third turbo that powers the other two turbos. The mustang's turbo is probably a conventional turbo on a 4 cylinder.

ufmace 12y ago
It sounds like they actually have a conventional supercharger in addition to 2 turbochargers. It'll probably be tricky to keep it all under control, but it could result in impressive performance.
- jedmeyers 12y ago
  It does not sound like a 'conventional' supercharger since it is not powered by the engine's crankshaft, but rather by electricity.
  - bradleyland 12y ago
    The article is kind of confusing. At one point, they say: "The 2016 XC90 (on sale early next year) is the first of this new generation of Volvos. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger and a supercharger. (While the turbo works best when the engine’s already going, a supercharger forces in air with power generated by the engine itself, so increased boost is available from idle.) The supercharger runs from idle to 3,500 RPM. Above that, an integrated clutch disengages the supercharger, allowing the turbocharger to take over." Based ont his paragraph, it sounds like a traditional supercharger that works up to 3,500 RPM. Later on though, we get this bit: "We’ve seen plenty of twin-turbos before. Volvo’s innovation is adding a third—third!—turbo. But this one doesn’t charge the engine. It charges the other turbos. It’s electric, hence the name “e-booster,” and sends air into the two conventional turbos to improve their performance below 3,300 RPM, filling out the torque curve and eliminating that pesky lag problem." Now we have an e-booster referred to as a third turbo, which runs up to 3,300 RPM. So, the confusion is warranted. The article isn't entirely clear on whether these are two engine options, or a single engine with inconsistent details.
    - chockablock 12y ago
      The article discusses 2 different engine designs: -A prototype with 2 conventional turbos and a third electric "e-booster" to help spool them up. This one is "five to 10 years" away. -A 2.0L 4-cylinder 'Drive-E' engine coming to market on the 2016 XC90 that has a turbo- and a supercharger (but no electric fan).
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]

rjsw 12y ago

Ford have several turbocharged engines [1], my next car will probably have one. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_EcoBoost_engine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_EcoBoost_engine

bradleyland 12y ago

Yeah, my initial reaction was "name an auto manufacturer who isn't betting its future on small, turbocharged engines. It's pretty much a necessity, and much to the lament of automobile enthusiasts everywhere (who prefer a high-revving, naturally-aspirated engine). Volvo does appear to be distinguishing themselves though. Namely in the fact that they're coming to market with an e-booster (electric turbo). There are plenty of dual-inlet turbocharged engines on the market, and Mercedes pushed the envelope with their M133 engine found in their performance oriented version of the CLA, but no one, that I'm aware of, has brought an e-booster to market. There was quite a bit of speculation that BMW would use one on their latest M3, but instead they went with a dual-turbo setup and some cool electronic wastegate management software that improves spool-up time. The combo supercharger/turbochargers setup is crazy exciting though. The last car I can remember with that kind of setup was Lancia's group B rallye submission, the Delta S4. That car made, ostensibly, 480 HP from about 1.8L. In reality, the output was more in the area of 550 HP, and legend has it that engineers pushed the powerplant close to 1000 HP. Every auto manufacturer is staring down a future of emissions and fuel economy standards that are going to require some fundamental shifts in the way cars are built and powered. Most manufacturers are moving in the direction of hybrid technology. BMW is betting the farm on mass-produced carbon fiber technology. Everyone has a strategy, and most involve lower displacement, forced-induction engines, often coupled with hybrid drivetrain components.

rodgerd 12y ago
> It's pretty much a necessity, and much to the lament of automobile enthusiasts everywhere (who prefer a high-revving, naturally-aspirated engine). Except for all the auto enthusiasts that Audi (ur-Quattro and almost all their performance cars since), Toyota (Celica GT-R, Supra), Nissan (Skyline GT-R), Subaru (pretty much everything), court, or who remember the era of 1000 HP Formula 1 cars fondly. But yeah, I guess all automotive enthusiasts.
- bradleyland 12y ago
  Uh, I never said "all", I said automobile enthusiasts, then added the qualification of the ones who prefer N/A engines using parenthesis. Although, I see that my wording could be taken both ways. I didn't mean for the word everywhere to mean "all", I just mean that there are enthusiasts in just about every circle of automobile culture who prefer N/A motors. Just look at all the "all motor" import tuners. There's an "all motor" group in every sub-group.