When Cadillacs are equipped with boost gauges and all but two of the engines in BMW’s lineup are turbocharged, you know you’re living in entertaining times. Manufacturers regard supercharging and turbocharging as their silver bullets—the best means of providing stirring performance with decreased consumption. By downsizing and “downspeeding” their engines while also adding a supercharger or turbocharger, car- and truckmakers are scoring simultaneous and significant gains in power, torque, and gas mileage. But which to choose—super or turbo? That’s a tough one. Adding a crank-driven supercharger provides practically instant boost with a relatively minor tear-up under the hood. The alternative turbo approach, while requiring alterations to both the intake and exhaust systems, is equally attractive as long as the more complex plumbing can be part of a long-term powertrain design strategy.
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