NA vs Turbocharged Petrol Engines

Very few aspects compare to the beating heart of your supercar, its engine. We want to break down the natural aspiration vs turbo engine debate. As general concepts they’re easy to understand, but the intricate details aren’t as clear.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s powering our favourite motors. Plus, in the NA engine vs turbo debate, we look at how these engines work and what benefits they bring. Finally, we’ll finish up with a roundup of the top cars with each type of engine.

How Do Naturally Aspirated and Turbocharged Engines Work?

Let’s start with what a naturally aspirated powertrain does. As the name suggests, these engines draw air into the cylinders at normal atmospheric pressure. The movement of the pistons causes a partial vacuum that makes this possible.

As the combustion chambers fill with more air, more fuel goes into the mix for increased combustion and more power. As you go faster, there’s an increase in the rate at which air flows in, giving you more power to reach high speeds.   

Turbochargers, on the other hand, don’t use natural atmospheric pressure. Instead, it’s a system connected to the engine, where the exhaust gases power a turbine that takes in air from outside. It forces higher levels of air than would normally be possible into the motor, and the compression delivers the power. This system is called forced induction.

Forced Induction

Forced induction feels like a relatively new thing, as it became more widespread following efforts to reduce emissions. However, the first ‘compressor’ cars date back to the 1920s when Paul Daimler took inspiration from aviation engines and brought it to Mercedes. 

While the improved performance was a huge hit at the time, it took a while for engineering advances to catch up and make this system reliable.

Later on, fuel efficiency was seen as the simplest way to reduce emissions. Since forced induction systems require smaller engines and, therefore, burn less fuel for the same amount of power as NA engines, there’s less waste gas as a result. Car manufacturers found a way to maintain performance levels even while decreasing engine volume through turbochargers.

Turbocharger vs Supercharger

Cars with forced induction tend to have a supercharger or a turbocharger. The main difference is where they’re mounted. Superchargers are mounted at the air intake point, whereas turbochargers are found further down in the engine.

A supercharger is always running via a belt or chain from the engine. The benefit is that there are no delays when it comes to power. However, it’s not as fuel-efficient as a turbocharger, as some engine power is required to run it.

Turbochargers, on the other hand, use the pressure from the exhaust gases. Its self-perpetuating nature is what brings fuel efficiency. However, you need to reach a minimum speed to get the benefits, which means a delay in power, also known as turbo lag.

NA Engine Vs Turbo

The natural aspiration vs turbo discussion isn’t all about emissions. While that certainly played a role in causing many car companies to choose turbo engines, there are other considerations. Turbochargers are expensive parts and require precision engineering, and you’ll find superchargers mostly on performance engines.

Was the turbocharged engine the death of the naturally aspirated one? Not quite. While they’re not as easy to find brand-new cars with an NA engine, there are exceptions, as we explore below. 

Many petrolheads still love them as they’re considered longer-lasting and more reliable. Fewer parts, less compression and cooler combustion chambers help that, as does an engine that works with fewer parts.

Supercars with NA Engines

If you care about your engine sound and want to stick to the classic way of doing things, then the winner of the NA engine vs turbo debate will be naturally aspirated every time. Fortunately, there are plenty of thrilling supercars that deliver. Here are four top options.

• Porsche Carerra GT - That’s right, one of the most elegant supercars around has an NA engine. It’s no surprise since this sophisticated vehicle delivers a mix of classic and modern. You’ll love the sound of its racing derived V10 engine.

• Audi R8 - It’s the dynamics, the performance and the looks of the R8 that draw attention. However, the 4.2-litre FSI engine is at the heart of it all, and that naturally aspirated sound is iconic.

• Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera - The feeling of driving a Lamborghini is hard to beat. The Gallardo Superleggera, with its aggressive V10 engine sounds, takes that experience to the next level.

• Ferrari 458 Speciale - You know the 458 Speciale is a fantastic car without even hearing the engine. However, the naturally aspirated V8  is like music to your ears.

Supercars with Turbocharged Engines

If you value performance above all else, then a supercar that’s enhanced by its turbocharged engine is probably for you. Let’s take at some of the stand out performance cars in this bracket.

Ferrari F40 - A road car that goes over 200mph? It’s a no-brainer, and, of course, it’s a Ferrari. The twin-turbocharged V8 delivers thrills that are unlike any other Ferrari or supercar, for that matter.

Bentley Continental GT - Sophistication and a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, what more could you ask for? The Continental GT is a modern classic and proof that turbos and performance cars go hand in hand.

Bugatti Veyron - The Bugatti Veyron delivers an unforgettable ride with a quad turbocharged engine. Going 0-60 in under three seconds doesn’t hurt either. 

Ferrari 488 Pista - Last but not least, the Ferrari 488 Pista proves that turbocharged engines can still be hardcore. It’s fast and delivers the power of the turbo without feeling like one.