by David Horn » Jan 30, 2006 @ 1:06am
No turbo lag because the Cooper S engine is supercharged, ie driven from a belt. You get lag on a standard turbocharger because the exhaust gas has to hit a certain threshold pressure in order to get the turbo spinning usefully.
In the Cooper S the supercharger runs constantly, which is why the performance rocks. I've had the pleasure of being driven in one. You can hear the supercharger whining from the second you start the engine.
[Have I got the wrong end of the stick here and not noticed that BMW are coming out with a turbocharged 1.6 engine too?]
Crosswind technique: "Using your peripheral vision, react to body movements, gasps, groans, and shouts from the other side of the cockpit, and always remember that it's better to be lucky than good."