Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close

  • 💬 Join the Conversation

    CnG Logo SQ 2023 RedBlue FavIcon300w.png
    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has been the go-to hub for automotive enthusiasts. Join today to access our vibrant forums, upload your vehicle to the Garage, and connect with fellow gearheads around the world.

     

  • Blake Noble
    Blake Noble

    By Blake Noble •

    Rumorpile: Subaru Considering Electric Turbocharging for Next WRX

    Blake Noble

    Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

    May 4th, 2012

    “Turbocharging” isn’t quite the dirty word it used to be these days. With strict fuel economy standards looming in the near horizon and the price of a gallon of gas unstable, automakers have turned to building and selling smaller turbo-powered engines to increase fuel economy without losing power. Buyers also seem to be responding favorably to turbo engines — for example, Ford's EcoBoost F-150 is enjoying better sales than comparable V8 models.

    While it seems like a win-win situation on spec sheets and in sales, in the real word modern turbocharged engines still sometimes suffer from turbo lag and require additional, sometimes complicated piping. And although something like Chrysler’s 1.4 liter turbo four will undoubtedly be more reliable than its primitive ancestors from the 1980s, automakers are still constantly looking at ways to improve and reduce the drawbacks associated with turbocharged engines.

    Enter Subaru then, who is considering replacing the exhaust-gas driven turbocharger on its WRX performance model for an electric-powered design. According to Australia’s Drive magazine, Subaru’s electric turbo would operate on heat generated from the exhaust which would be converted into electricity that would power the turbine. Such a design could eliminate most, if not all of the associated piping and drastically reduce turbo lag.

    The electric turbo is just one of the many rumors circulating about the next WRX. Expected to bow sometime around 2014, there are whispers that the new WRX will be available as a two-door coupe and have distinct styling that will borrow nothing from the related Impreza. Subaru Australia representative David Rowley spoke to Drive and agreed with the latter rumor, saying that it would “look considerably different.”

    The engine for the next WRX is expected to be a 1.6 liter boxer four, just in case you were wondering what that neat electric turbo could show up attached to. Only one question remains, though. How much power will this whiz-bang turbo setup be good for?

    Source: Drive

    Go to articles

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Drew Dowdell

    I'm not sure it would eliminate turbo lag, but it would probably reduce it. It still has momentum to overcome spinning up and down. The faster you want the reaction to be, the more powerful you'd need the electric motor to be.

    that said: *buys stock in Honeywell.... and Hoover*

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt

    Yea Hoover does suck well ;)

    I agree Olds, it will reduce lag, but not eliminate it. I think we will see a ton of new technology over the next 5-10 years.

    I still think we need to move to CNG poweredvehicles.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt

    wouldn't that just technically be a supercharger?

    Turbojett, I think this is getting close to being a supercharger, I wonder just how much difference it will truly be.

    Electric driven versus belt driven?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Drew Dowdell

    What is interesting to me is how well this could work with a light hybrid system and a small displacement engine. You could end up with 1 liter engines that get 200 hp at full boost/assist yet be fuel misers on the highway.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

    ×



  • Support Real Automotive Journalism

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has delivered real content and honest opinions — not emotionless AI output or manufacturer-filtered fluff.

    If you value independent voices and authentic reviews, consider subscribing. Plans start at just $2.25/month, and paid members enjoy an ad-light experience.*

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Posts

    • oldshurst442
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By oldshurst442 · Posted

      This is Angeles Crest Highway, right after a tunnel...    Ive never been to California but Ive seen many videos on youtube of this exact location that I googled and posted here.  It seems to me that this is a death stretch of road.  Many videos of all kinds of cars going really really fast in the tunnel and they come out and go boom!!! Near death accidents but some actual gruesome deaths too. The latest death...Vince Zampella, co-creator of Call of Duty video game.   I got a video, but I will not post it as it shows the accident in full detail and his passenger being ejected and dragged by bystanders clear of the fiery wrecked Ferrari.  And its as clear as it could be. Nothing blurred.    I was wonderin' Why do people INSIST on speeding like with crazy amounts of speed on public roads and especially on stretches of roads where deaths do happen? 55 years old and his passenger unknown to the public. Just before Christmas where even atheists acknowledge the importance of the 25th of December which is about family and friends and love.  And these two guys are now dead and leave behind friends and family morning for them instead of celebrating their lives full of love with them.   *sigh*       
    • Robert Hall
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By Robert Hall · Posted

      Yeah, the stupid f*ckers that are in the KY bourbon industry all voted for Trump, and now they are whining about the tariffs destroying their business.  F them, they got what they voted for.  Same with the whiny-ass Midwestern farmers that voted for Trump.  You reap what you sow..
    • trinacriabob
      Permanent Car Spotters

      By trinacriabob · Posted

      I once read that really, really rich people whose lives and occupations aren't really in the public eye can be understated and drive simpler cars and/or keep them for a long time.  Rich people like that also tend to be a lot nicer.
    • G. David Felt
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By G. David Felt · Posted

      Point on, but it does miss one very important point, this is OLD OUTDATED Thinking by Idiot47 and his administration. Living in the past of Empire building is something the old 1% that are already 1 foot in the grave are trying to hold onto. They think that they can move into a synthetic body based on Moron Musk and his experiments with chips in the brain. The 1% want to live forever and rule for ever and that will not happen. Just as many rich families became broken up and the wealth eventually redistributed, the U.S. is looking at great wealth redistribution over the next decade as these idiots die and their idiot kids who have never learned how to work hard take over the family wealth and believe they were born to rule. Eventually this will pass and smarter people will work to patch things up, but it will never be the way it was before Idiot47 took office as his administration, now the most corrupt in history next to Putin and North Korea and China will attempt to hold on. While I am a wine guy and support PNW wines, I am fine with the south bourbon / whiskey companies failing. They wanted this and deserved to lose it all. Let these companies die and the people who support this criminal approach to humanity die with them.
    • oldshurst442
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By oldshurst442 · Posted

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search