Hemmings Auto Blog has a nice blog on History of the Supercharger

I was delighted to see that ideas like small fans blowing into the carburetor were invented in 1902, very close to the birth of the automobile. Cadillac’s new 2009 CTS-V with a supercharged 6.2L OHV V8 makes 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. Let’s talk about the supercharger.

CTS-V Supercharger

The new LSA Engine in the 2010 Cadillac CTS-V uses an Eaton TVS1900 1.9L four-lobe roots type supercharger.

The TVS supercharger’s patented design features four-lobe rotors and high-flow inlet and outlet ports that greatly enhance thermal efficiency, deliver higher volumetric capacity, and enable higher operating speeds. The TVS supercharger is capable of running with a high thermal efficiency (up to 76 percent) across a very wide operating range.

All TVS superchargers have a 2.4 pressure ratio capability and a thermal efficiency that exceeds 70 percent, which enables more compact packaging and greater output.

CTS-V TVS1900 Supercharger Thermal Profile

The engine designation for the CTS-V is the LSA. The Supercharger is well incorporated into the design and presentation of the engine. In the cutaway below you can the supercharger just below the top beauty cover’s “Supercharged” lettering (that’s truth in advertising!):

CTS-V LSA Engine cutaway

Just on top of the supercharger in the image is this water to air intercooler. Supercharging the intake air compresses and pressurizes the air. This raises the temperature of the intake air, which is not desirable. The intercooler acts to reduce the temperature of the air as it exits the supercharger on the way to the engine.

CTS-V Intercooler

The LS3 V8 engine in the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette makes 430-436 hp, depending on optional exhaust or standard, and 424-428 lb-ft of torque. So the LS3 engine in the CTS-V would have made no more than 430hp. The LSA Supercharged engine used in the Super CTS-V makes 556hp, a nice net addition of 126hp due to the blower.

With everything going on with the US Economy, I am not sure how many CTS-V’s Cadillac will sell this year at around US$60K a copy.  Have no doubt — the CTS-V is a Super, World-class if not World leading Sports Sedan.  I hope that Cadillac sells a ton of them, so that one can trickle down to the Caddyinfo Garage!