Horsepower is an aphrodisiac. To some people, building an engine that could sustain the earth's rotation with its crankshaft is better than almost any form of physical gratification. To others, it's ...

Boost! For fixing the stock torque and horsepower curves on the dyno chart and roasting rubber with a tap of the throttle, nothing beats it. And for producing a big kick in the seat when you punch it, ...

Superchargers can take a vehicle's performance to another level. Here's a breakdown of the differences between centrifugal, roots, and twin-screw superchargers.

Sure, there are lots of ways to add boost to your engine, but nothing says hot rod more than a classic 6-71 Roots blower. Great question—but first, a bit of history. The GMC blower, known as a Roots ...

Whileintercoolersare built right into a roots blower’s case, they’re often optional in centrifugal supercharger kits. An intercooler is just acore(in centrifugal systems, it looks like a radiator) or ...

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...

Originally used during the late 1800s to do the blasting in blast furnaces, the Roots-style air pump is older than the automobile. It’s very simple, inexpensive and, most importantly, it can move a ...