The American division of Lotus Engineering has joined forces with Honeywell's Garrett business unit to produce a turbocharged demonstrator vehicle tailored for the U.S. market.
The objective is to show how vehicle performance and fuel economy can be improved through use of smaller engined cars with turbos.
The turbocharged Jeep Liberty will debut at a Garrett-sponsored Ride and Drive event in Detroit on May 12-15.
The Jeep Liberty, one of the better selling small SUV models in the US, was chosen as the base vehicle to be turbocharged because it offered an opportunity to show how a smaller, turbocharged engine performed the same or better than a much bigger V6 engine while offering increased fuel economy.
Lotus's responsibilities included packaging a smaller engine with a Garrett turbocharger, and conducting calibration of the turbocharged engine and transmission controllers at its Ann Arbor, Michigan facility.
The result is a turbocharged petrol 2.4-litre Jeep Liberty that surpasses the performance characteristics of a 3.7-litre V6 Jeep Liberty vehicle and achieves better fuel efficiency.
Although turbocharged cars are relatively common in Europe, the technology has been slow to be accepted in passenger vehicles in the U.S. because of long lingering bad reputations established by some turbocharged cars.
Jamie Turner, head of Lotus Engineering's Powertrain Research Department summarised: "Project NOMAD is at an early stage, but simulated results are very promising and it indicates a significant advance for downsizing.
Project NOMAD is at an early stage, but simulated results are very promising and it indicates a significant advance for downsizing.
"Significant power increases from smaller engines for a minimal production on-cost should be of great interest to potential clients. To this end we hope to have a 250PS 1.7litre demonstrator vehicle within 12 months to prove the technology's value."
...and perhaps they could put it in an Elise :)