With the gasoline small displacement turbocharged engines we are discussing here... the more noticeable phenomena has more to do with low torque at low rpms. The high horsepower and high torque numbers quoted are typically not reached on most until the RPMs are up around 6000 rpms regardless of the turbo configuration.
I once installed a two stroke engine that had no transmission, just a clutch on a mountain bike which had a very noticeable power band that caused it not to produce much power until you reached about 10 mph, then it would really start pulling. This is of course an exaggerated example but might give some the idea of the difference between a larger displacement engine with a supercharger which gives instant torque at low rpms and a small displacement engine with a turbocharger which has to reach higher rpms before it really starts pulling. Turbo chargers are best for mid to high end boosts regardless of the configuration. It is the nature of the beast.
“Superchargers provide optimal impact on larger engines with more cylinders and higher displacement. Without the turbo lag, you can access instant power across the entire powerband and achieve significantly more horsepower than with a turbocharger.”
Yep, my later adolescent and early teen years — and even somewhat until now — were spent with peaky two stroke dirt bike and kart motors. Until the reed valve and rotary valve came along they were quite the handful. But two strokes can also be tuned for low rpm torque and driveability to rival any four stroke — the 300cc Enduro bikes are like that.
I actually have a small (1.6l) turbocharged British-built four cylinder in a hot hatch. It’s redline is only 5,500 RPM — and I guarantee its torque peak is before that!
“The high horsepower and high torque numbers quoted are typically not reached on most until the RPMs are up around 6000 rpms regardless of the turbo configuration.”
Ford 2.3 Ecoboost max torque is 350 @ 2750 rpm.