CHARGING AHEAD

Find out exactly how this mechanism increases performance and efficiency

1 GAS IN

Waste gas from the car’s engine funnels towards a turbine. Its kinetic energy rotates the turbine at high speeds.

2 SPINNING AROUND

The turbine spins the compressor, which sucks ambient air into the engine – usually from beneath the bonnet.

3 FEELING THE SQUEEZE

As its name suggests, the compressor takes this ambient air and squeezes it tightly, increasing its density.

4 GETTING HEATED

The compression process agitates the oxygen molecules, so the compressed air heats up.

5 CHILLED OUT

The air needs to be cooled before it reaches the engine, so it passes through a heat exchanger.

6 FEEL THE BURN

The compressed cool air enters the engine’s cylinders and helps fuel burn at a faster rate, increasing the engine’s output.

7 POWERFUL STUFF

The increased cylinder and piston speed mean that more power reaches the driveshaft and wheels, improving the car’s power output.

8 EXHAUSTING WORK

Once that’s all done, hot exhaust gases blow past the turbine again on their way out of the car.

“Turbochargers are popular for good reason: they improve a car’s performance or efficiency”