The Hoff

iTrader: (5)

Many years back it was impressive to get scoobies to over 300bhp and now days that seems to be the norm with minimal mods and a change of turbo. Standard fit turbos running 500bhp+ is something that no body would have expected 5 years ago.

Whats the factors that have changed over the years that make the turbos today so much more powerful - Is it just that more money is put into developing turbos nowdays?

Graz

I wouldn't say that was strictly true. Certainly progress has been made on the turbo front with new improved hybrids appearing. However I don't think finding a turbo for 500bhp has ever really been a problem, if it's big enough it will do it albeit with some lag. Not sure what you mean by standard fit though, most people running 500bhp+ have rotated fit turbos with custom exhaust pipework, reversed inlet manifolds, customer intercooler pipework etc.

The big advances have come from understanding how to run with these big turbos. There are many supporting mods needed, e.g. engine and gearbox strengthening, fuel system upgrades, cooling, mapping, det control, etc. Only now thanks to the many contributors on here, 22b, and the many other scoob sites, do we really understand what's needed to reach over 500bhp. Thankfully there are people out there who are still prepared to push the envelope such as Andy F, RCMS, etc.