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View Poll Results: Do you believe in fuel economy benefits of a small displacement turbo engine?

Voters
9. You may not vote on this poll
  • Fact

    6 66.67%
  • Hoax

    3 33.33%
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Results 1 to 10 of 20
  1. Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    5,467
    #1
    Here's The Thing: An Enthusiast's Perspective on the Automotive Industry : Exhausted With Turbos

    Turbocharged downsizing has become a trend to most car makers today.

    Do you believe with the effects of it in REALTIME/real life fuel consumption?

    Should car makers revert to producing normal displacement cars (i.e, Mazda refused to downsize and offered a new technology though in SkyActiv engines)?

  2. Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    5,576
    #2
    I think it's just marketing gimmick. Slap on the fuel economy numbers of the small-displacement engine and use the HP figures when the turbo kicks in.

    But in real-world use, I imagine that the fuel saved during long idling in city traffic will probably be nil when the turbo starts spinning up to speed.

    Also, the turbo itself is another piece of mechanical part that can wear out. That would somewhat add up to the TCO.

  3. Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    22,705
    #3
    Downsized turbocharged engines can get better economy with proper tuning, but they tend to be more sensitive to heat, to octane (even with GDI) and to fuel quality overall. And yes... TCO will really suck if you ever have to change out a busted turbo.

    Still... one nice thing is that the up-front premium for turbocharging is going down, down, down. If the price reaches parity with larger NA engines, then that's more options for the consumers, and more toys for the tuners.

    As for real world usage... many people are complaining that they can't get the same economy as EPA, but I've seen some owners who get beyond.EPA. Turbo economy is very sensitive to load, and driving at typical US highway speeds under load is different from driving at lower rpm at a lower highway speed.
    Last edited by niky; April 3rd, 2013 at 10:58 AM.

    Ang pagbalik ng comeback...

  4. Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    29,354
    #4
    Quote Originally Posted by basti08 View Post
    Here's The Thing: An Enthusiast's Perspective on the Automotive Industry : Exhausted With Turbos

    Turbocharged downsizing has become a trend to most car makers today.

    Do you believe with the effects of it in REALTIME/real life fuel consumption?

    Should car makers revert to producing normal displacement cars (i.e, Mazda refused to downsize and offered a new technology though in SkyActiv engines)?

    I personally feel there is some effects on fuel consumption. Over a decade ago, Toyota already came out with a 1.3L turbo engine for their cars that combined decent power with excellent fuel economy. Of course all the technology in the world will not help your fuel economy if you are stuff in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

  5. Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    5,576
    #5
    Of course, this specific application of an old technology may still be going through its paces. I agree with Niky that proper tuning is key, along with a matched-up transmission, et al.

  6. Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    8,557
    #6
    The lowest engine displacement for me personally (NA or turbo'ed) is 1300cc. I will not buy a car below that displacement even if it has a turbocharged engine.

  7. Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    6,138
    #7
    Fifth Gear dragged the Focus Ecoboost vs the 1.6 NA. Guess who won

    Fifth Gear Season 21 Episode 7

  8. Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    22,705
    #8
    Quote Originally Posted by lowslowbenz View Post
    The lowest engine displacement for me personally (NA or turbo'ed) is 1300cc. I will not buy a car below that displacement even if it has a turbocharged engine.
    I could live with a 1.0. Or even an 800cc.

    Ang pagbalik ng comeback...

  9. Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    6,138
    #9
    Cappuccino?

  10. Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    1,181
    #10
    has anyone here driven a ford ecoboost car? any feedback with the performance and fuel consumption?

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Going Eco: Small Displacement + Turbo, Fact or Hoax?