To help with our long term strategy, Melett believes it is important for the aftermarket to maintain awareness of the future global direction of engine technology and more importantly – the future of turbocharged vehicles.

One of the on-going challenges facing the global automotive industry is the need for more effective technological solutions, which will provide lower emissions and better fuel efficiency in tomorrow’s vehicles.

There is much hype surrounding electric and hybrid powertrains in the news today, however it is the internal combustion engine that is set to remain the favourite for many years to come. Research has found that one of the biggest effects of electrification has been to push engineers to develop new more creative solutions for engine technology.  Thanks to technological advances such as turbocharging, improved injection systems and variable cam timing, internal combustion engines are more efficient than ever before.

Thanks to technological advances such as turbocharging, improved injection systems and variable cam timing, internal combustion engines are more efficient than ever before

Analysts believe around 25% of vehicles in Europe will have some form of electrification by 2020, but most of these will be hybrids with a smaller, efficient turbocharged engine. Only approximately 2% of cars sold will be fully electric vehicles. This is partly due to the high cost of the advanced batteries needed to power these vehicles and also because combustion engine technology has advanced rapidly with fuel-saving systems.

In the near future, it is the turbocharged internal combustion engine that is proving to be the quickest and most cost effective route to emission compliance and lower greenhouse gases. Industry analysts predict by 2020 as many as seven out of ten engines on new light vehicles produced globally will be turbocharged. Downsizing is the current trend resulting in up to 40% fuel savings. As a result, the turbocharged V6 is the new V8 and the in-line 4 turbo is the new V6.

Our conclusion is that with the turbo OEM’s are doing such a good job in developing their own technology, it is going to be a very long time before the aftermarket needs to get worried. The future is definitely going to be turbocharged for many years to come…