Australian tyre (ugh) retailer Tyroola has lovely visualizations of how superchargers and turbochargers work in modern engines. The models work well on both desktop and mobile browsers. You can pan and zoom and see how all the parts of an internal combustion engine work together to generate more power.
If you’ve ever wondered how these devices work, these visualizations are a great way to learn more.
Many manufacturers seem to be turning to turbochargers in lower-cost cars in order to generate more power, and do so efficiently. Some more powerful cars like the Corvette ZR-1 use superchargers, and supercar manufacturers seem to be investigating hybrid and KERS systems in order to eke out whatever power they can.
It’s an exciting time to be a car fan. Many technologies are at work, all trying to stave off our likely future just that much longer.