Cadillac STS-V
Type 4.4L Supercharged Northstar V8 SC;
469 hp at 6,400 rpm; 439 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm.
I recall when I was around fifteen and took a serious interest in internal
combustion engines the term "Blower was usually associated with cars
like the 4.5 liter prewar Bentley or some monstrous machine that was going to
compete at the Le Mans.
Blowers, better known today as Superchargers were popular both before the
Second World War and after. In the post war years people had a strange
desire to put these contraptions on any car that they wished to appear or look
fast. A good example is the early post war British MG range such as the
MGTC or TD. The fact that forcing air into an engine that was not designed for
such treatment can, in the fullness of time, blow up the power unit or at
least loosen a few important parts, as the Pre War Bentley boys soon found
out, did not stop this practice. However, this rather old technique has
found a new place in the quest to design a 100 miles to the gallon vehicle. The
new Chevrolet Lacetti has managed to redesign the old Blower principle
with a rather unique twist. Instead of blowing extra air into the engine at
high speeds it reverses the process and gives the engine that extra boost at
low revs when the car driver would usually hit the gas peddle to get up
speed. The super charger is also dual speed which means that it can boost the
power output at both ends of the performance range. All done of course by
the wonder tool of the age the onboard computer. Chevrolet claim up to 40%
increase in performance with this old/new devise. Please take note. As yet
this vehicle is not available in your local dealership, in fact there are
only two cars fitted with this devise for research investigation.
Bentley 4.5L Supercharged 1929
The idea
was developed by "Antonov Automotive Technologies", a U.K. Company, the
so-called supercharger is, like the ones used in the past, a mechanical unit
with gears etc. The UK Company suggests that this development could increase
the MPG of an average vehicle by simply reducing the size of the power unit
which would use less fuel and even assist the environmental impact of the
internal combustion engine. (Mr. Gore would approve of that I'm sure.)
Another idea floating around
the development world is the suggestion that with modern technology it would
be possible to shut down one or two cylinders in the engine when the car is
under way. My only problem with that is why buy six cylinders if you
intend to shut down two when you hit the road. Better off with four or even two
as long as they give you the performance you require. Some of us with gray
hair, or no hair at all, remember the days of the Two Stroke power unit
that burned oil like a worn out tractor and needed attention every few hundred
miles. The one blessing about a two stroke is that you are getting a power
stroke every two revolutions rather than every four as with the convention
engine. New developments in the area of the two stroke engine have
progressed to a point where the engine is now cleaner then the conventional four
stroke power unit and more economical.
A Marine outboard engine that is a
two stroke design gets a higher environmental rating than any other four
stroke outboard and is about 20percent more economical as far as gas consumption is
concerned. You don't have to be a Rocket Scientist to recognize the
potential for this new technology be it a boat, car or even an airplane. The
so-called oil crisis has done something that people have been talking about for
most of my life time, forced manufacturers to look at new engine
developments that will be kinder to the world we live in as well as our pockets.
Geoff Wheatley ©