Head to head: Turbocharger vs supercharger
Jeremy Clarkson eat your heart out; BBC Science Focus Magazine puts turbochargers and superchargers head to head in a true battle of the engines!
| Turbocharger | VS | Supercharger |
| 150,000-280,000rpm | COMPRESSOR SPEED | 30,000rpm |
| 70kPa | BOOST PRESSURE | 100kPa |
| 60-75kW | EXTRA POWER | 40-130kW |
| 106dB | NOISE | 116dB |
| £2,400 | COST | £3,000 |
Both increase engine power by compressing the intake air. This allows more fuel to be burned for each piston stroke. A supercharger uses a turbine driven by the engine, which uses some engine power. Turbos are powered by the otherwise wasted exhaust gas pressure. They are more efficient but more complex, and are less responsive when you accelerate.
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