Turbocharging & Engine Downsizing Survey Analysis

According to Honeywell, passenger cars equipped with turbocharged engines are expected to increase by over 80% globally by 2017. Automotive IQ surveyed our international contacts working in turbocharging and engine development. Among other questions, we asked our audience what fuel saving potential they believe exists by utilizing new technologies in turbo and engine downsizing. What do you believe is the greatest challenge for technologies in this area? Materials? Turbocharger design? Leaner air/fuel ratios? Find out the answers in our analysis below. Our survey analysis is made up of responses from OEM car manufacturers, turbocharger manufacturers, suppliers to turbo manufacturers, as well as researchers from governments and institutes. One of the main questions around downsizing is how much fuel can be saved? 46% answered between 6-10% while nearly half believe that it’s possible to improve fuel efficiency by more than 10%. These are very significant and important gains if realized at a time when legislation is calling for drastic improvements in a number of major markets. Challenges Cylinder bore distortion is one of the major limiting factors for increasing horsepower and torque in lightweight aluminum blocks and 52% of our contacts replied that Materials are the biggest challenge for downsizing and turbocharging. Less importance was placed on turbocharger design and implementing strategies for leaner air/fuel ratios. Indeed, there are several promising ignition strategies out there for taking advantage of leaner air/fuel ratios. Earlier this year, Automotive IQ discussed the Corona ignition with Federal Mogul’s Director of Advanced Technology for Ignition. Promising Technologies Our survey asked respondents to assess the most promising way to boost a downsized engine. Over half (55%) responded that two or more stage turbocharging concepts have the most promise. 33% voted for electrically assisted turbochargers. Others commented that a turbocharger used in series with a supercharger would have the greatest effect. Another mentioned concept would be to utilize an electrically-assisted system combined with power recovery at steady state conditions - e-motor/generator to be integrated in T/C. Although boosting and downsizing is widely considered to be the most effective (and popular) way to improve efficiency without sacrificing performance, a number of people mentioned using thermoelectric generators or other energy recovery systems as ways to further improve efficiency. This is a developing area worth paying closer attention. R & D Outlook Given the predicted ubiquity of boosted downsized engines, it was promising to see that no companies represented in our survey planned to decrease spending on R&D. Just under 49% will be maintaining their current level of spending while 41% plan to marginally increase R&D budgets this year. A further 10% are significantly increasing spending. Will Hornick is the Managing Editor of Automotive IQ [eventpdf]

Turbocharging & Engine Downsizing Survey Analysis

Upcoming Events

Scaling Virtual ECUs for System-Level V&V Scenarios

EV/HEV Powertrain 2026

16th Automotive Cybersecurity Summit 2026

Automotive Autonomy: Comfort & Safety Redefined

Autonomous Vehicles Online 2026

Automotive Functional Safety 2026

Follow Us

Latest Webinars

Automotive Autonomy: Comfort & Safety Redefined

Scaling Virtual ECUs for System-Level V&V Scenarios

Turbocharge your Automotive Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) with Virtual ECUs

Recommended

Integrated Powertrain Control: Optimal Engine Operating Points.

The challenges of experimental engines and optimisation

Chances and uncertainties of RDE Regulation

How the Formula E racing series affects tomorrow’s electric cars