Transmission maker Antonov will demonstrate its two-speed supercharger at the Engine Expo exhibition at Stuttgart in Germany next week. The two-speed design addresses a common problem with superchargers — while they provide better drivability than turbochargers, obtaining good torque at low engine speeds leads to inefficient operation at high engine speeds. The company plans to demonstrate a Mustang fitted with the system.

The solution is to attach a tiny gearbox to the supercharger and use gearing to provide a 1.4:1 step up at lower engine speeds. The graph below shows the effect the system has on torque (see shaded area).

The two-speed supercharger will first appear in the aftermarket for upgrade kits. The initial release of the device into the buoyant US tuner market exposes the first production units to a tough performance engine environment and, in many instances, aggressive track racing conditions.

Commenting on this strategy, Brad Shantry, product development manager of Wheel-to-Wheel Powertrain, Antonov’s North American distributor, said:

“The forced induction market is unquestionably growing.  I feel that a centrifugal supercharger with a step-up drive will quickly become the icon product of the performance industry.�
 
John Moore, chief executive of Antonov, said:
 
“Our tactic of selling to the world’s largest market for tuner products is strategically important, particularly while we are in discussion with vehicle manufacturers and tier 1 suppliers interested in high volume applications.  It shows OEMs that we are confident enough to launch the variable drive into the industry’s toughest marketplace to prove this is fully developed and readily available technology.  We have experienced strong interest and have already supplied units to OEM clients for assessment and development trials.�

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