As auto manufacturers pursue greater fuel economy, models are increasingly being offered with smaller displacement engines that consume less fuel. In order to meet performance expectations, turbocharging is used to increase power output of the smaller engines. Many midsized sedans that were previously installed with 6-cylinder engines are now only offered with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that delivers improved fuel economy and performance that meets or exceeds that of the old 6-cylinder engines. Light trucks have seen a similar trend where 8-cylinder engines are being replaced by turbocharged 6-cylinder engines.Turbocharged engines are now 15.7% of all light vehicle engines produced.

Penetration of Model Year 2014 Turbocharged Engines

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Note: Excludes diesels. Estimates are based on preliminary 2014 data.

Fact #852 Dataset

Supporting Information

Penetration of Model Year 2014 Turbocharged Engines
CategoryTurbo Share
Cars
4-cylinder Cars64.7%
6-cylinder Cars5.0%
8-cylinder Cars3.6%
Other Cars1.0%
All Cars18.7%
Light Trucks
4-cylinder Trucks13.1%
6-cylinder Trucks11.1%
8-cylinder Trucks1.5%
All Light Trucks11.1%
All Cars and Light Trucks15.7%

Source: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2014, EPA-420-R-14-023, October 2014.

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