Excuse me if some of the following info is old school, but I came across these comments made by Rob Gillette, President and CEO of Transportation & Power Systems (Garrett Turbocharging Systems) Honeywell International at a conference about two weeks ago for auto execs in Detroit. Anyway, I thought you might enjoy...
Rob Gillette, President and CEO of Transportation & Power Systems (Garrett Turbocharging Systems)
Turbos have clearly come a long way. So what's next? First, we're looking at applying the pioneering variable geometry technology that we originally developed for turbodiesels to gasoline. Variable geometry, for those of you unfamiliar with it, reduces turbo lag and enhances driveability. If you've driven an upscale diesel lately and found yourself smiling at its smooth response, you've experienced a variable geometry turbo. And while anyone that has driven a turbo recently knows turbo lag is hardly noticeable, we're working on prototypes that electrically assist the turbo to create full-boost at idle. It's a technological challenge, but it sure is something the folks on Woodward Avenue would appreciate.
We're also working with our aerospace colleagues to create turbos that don't require oil for the bearings-we already have air bearings in commercial aircraft in cabin air conditioning units where fine oil mist is a concern. Oil-less technology also "liberates" the turbocharger, by removing any restrictions on how it's packaged under the hood.
20B Junkie
08-23-03 08:30 PM
Talk about wheel spin :D
Icemastr
08-24-03 12:27 PM
Garret is working on a whole bunch of stuff, expect a lot of new innovations in turbochargers to happen within the next few years.
93redFD
08-24-03 03:35 PM
cool, but what about all the rearends that are going to be broken:)?
