Quote:
Originally Posted by Slops
actually... an SRT-4 is a turbo 4 cyl that is super lightweight and tunable to no end... too bad its FWD but i can def. see that if a 4 cyl is tuned with the right internals and boosted to about 30psi you could easily have the same hp/tq numbers the current m3/4 has or a lot more. IF they design it right, there wouldn't be any need for a hybrid version unless they are worried about the turbo lag on a huge turbo pushing 30psi... or maybe design something like the new mercedes F1 where they separated the hot/cold sides of the turbo for efficiency / power.
The point is there are tons of new development they can look at and I wouldn't be surprised to see a 4cyl 2.4l turbo with the m3 name.
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Sure,
just boost it to 30 psi
You can't trivialize the challenges of increasing output of these small displacement engines in a way that remains tractable for daily use. Mercedes is at 1.8 bar (around 26 psi) with their M113, and reviewers already complain about turbo lag. Again, to trivialize worries about lag is to ignore the elephant in the room.
If the M3/4 goes to an I4 turbo, it will have to either lose a
significant amount of weight (actual weight, not ///Marketing weight), or M GmbH will have to incorporate some new technology that we haven't seen yet.
Also note that that Mercedes' split-turbo F1 design doesn't reduce lag directly, it only increases efficiency, and at what cost? The raw materials cost required to split that turbo has to be huge. Turbochargers spin at over 100K RPM. I can only imagine what kind of unobtainium is used in the connecting shaft and bearings. Of course, Mercedes is closely guarding the details, because the design is a big advantage for them right now.