Most Powerful?

That would be the 1.8 Turbo in the Rover 75 at around 150bhp.

Andrew, thanks for the info. Doesn't seem an awfully high output for a 1.8 turbo, does it? Odd that they should think it worth turbo-ing an engine to get the same output as a VVC. Any idea of the highest normally aspirated power (non-VVC)?

Jerry

Hi

Production turbo engines don't kick out anywhere near as much power as "boy racer" turbo engines.

As a max for production and reliability, you should use the max 100bhp per litre rule, but actual figure are usually less than this.

As far as boy racer engines are concerned, they spend lets of money turboing and tuning an engine to get heaps of power, but they break them every time they thrash them.

if it was safe,reliable and cost effective to get 400+bhp from a 1.8 / 2.0 engine then V6 and V8 engines would not exist!

Merry Xmas

Vertuas

It's not a high output, no. The reason for it is two-fold. First the K-series is already a fairly stressed engine and it would reduce reliability if they pushed it too far. It has uprated pistons and con rods to cope with the extra demand and a tougher exhaust manifold, compared to the standard engine. Secondly, the boost is fairly low pressure so the compression ratio can be kept closer to the normally aspirated engine. This means that the car pulls consistently strongly throughout the rev range, including when the turbo is not spinning.

It is a great configuration - plenty of power and torque, low CO2 emissions, higher gearing and good acceleration 0-60 and in-gear.

Aside from the turbo, the highest output non-VVC is the standard 1.8 at

117bhp, as used in various cars including MG ZR & ZS 120.

Thanks for the info, Alan. I was asking to see if I could get a cheap, straight-swoppable, engine to give me more power in my 7, currently fitted with 1400 K-series producing

128 bhp (it's a bit of a peaky engine , the power only really coming between 5000 and 7600 rpm). Jerry.

Except that all that has nothing whatsoever to do with the original post.

The reason the 1.8t K-Series makes only 150bhp, is because it's a low-pressure-turbo. The Turbo is there to boost torque, and reduce emissions (per bhp).

It would be perfectly possibly for it to make a reliable 200bhp, had they gone the high-pressure route, but would obviously cost more money.

A reliable 400bhp from a 2l engine is readily available, providing you're willing to pay for it - see the new Evo FQ400.

Any number of cars easily make 200bhp+ from their high-pressure 2.0 engines - some as high as 270bhp (Impreza WRX STi, current Evo FQxxx).

Actual figures are usually slightly more than this.

Volvo T5, 250bhp from 2.3

Megane 225, 225bhp from 2.0

Mazda 6 MPS, 260bhp from 2.3

Vauxhall VX220/AstraVXR, 220bhp-230bhp from 2.0

Any number of VAG cars, 225bhp from 1.8

etc. etc.

A mere 200bhp from a high-pressure 2.0 Turbo these days, is sub-par - hell there are plenty of normally aspirated engines that can almost match that figure (Honda VTec, Clio 182, 206 GTi180, Toyota VVT, etc. etc.)

"Vertuas" did utter total rubbish

The V form is there to balance the car with regard to the vibration during firing. Some tend to over heat the rear pots and are only so good as it allows you to have larger cylinders in the area!

AJ