Automotive component giant BorgWarner has announced that it is entering the growing fray of performance turbocharging with their EFR series of turbos. BorgWarner has been supplying OEM turbochargers to auto companies for years, but this new line is specifically targeted at the aftermarket and performance applications. Using all of their OEM experience, the company appears to be bringing a pretty solid product to market.
Amongst the advancements that BW is promoting in these EFR turbos are ceramic ball bearings which they claim reduces frictional losses in the turbo by 3-4%. The turbine wheels are made of a material called Gamma titanium aluminide, which sounds like something that came straight off the planet of Krypton. The use of that new metal, which is very light and tolerant of extremely high temperatures is supposed to reduce the time necessary for the turbo to spool up. The turbine housings are stainless steel, the pieces have fully adjustable wastegates, and BW claims that the different turbos in the product line are capable of boosting power levels from 200hp to 1,000hp per turbo.
Here’s the full release from BorgWarner, and below that is a, exploded diagram of a new EFR turbo:
BorgWarner, a supplier of engineered automotive systems, has unveiled a new line of turbochargers for gas and diesel engines, specifically engineered for aftermarket performance customers, such as tuners, racers, race teams, and car and truck enthusiasts.
BorgWarner’s new turbocharger product line offers a combination of advanced technologies – including Gamma titanium aluminide (TiAl) turbine wheels, ceramic ball bearings, large internal wastegates and stainless steel turbine housings – in an easy-to-install package.
BorgWarner’s EFR turbochargers offer a newly developed package of advanced technologies designed to specifically meet the demands of performance enthusiasts.
Patent-pending ceramic ball bearings increase thrust capacity and durability while reducing frictional losses for a 3 to 4% improvement in turbine efficiency at low expansion ratios and low-weight Gamma TiAl turbine wheels and shaft assemblies provide quick boost response.
EFR turbochargers also feature an integrated compressor recirculation valve, pulse width modulation solenoid valve to control the wastegate, fully adjustable wastegate actuator, oil inlet fitting, standardized turbine inlet mounting geometry and pre-machined mounting feature for speed sensor (available separately).
The new turbocharger product line is designed to boost engines from 200 to 1,000 horsepower per turbo.
BorgWarner EVP Roger Wood said the growing trend of turbocharged, downsized engines produced by OEMs is creating a new breed of enthusiasts in the aftermarket, once again, the company is in the lead, providing customized solutions for an expanding market.
