If you have a need for speed or simply want to have some more power under your right foot for those tricky overtaking manoeuvres, then you may be looking at ways to upgrade the performance of your car. This vehicle may already be equipped with a turbocharger from the factory, but you think that you can do so much better, so how can you make some upgrades in this area without necessarily breaking the bank?

The Careful Approach

Begin by coming up with a plan. You need to have a target to aim for and then decide what you feel is achievable. Some people take a specific approach to performance enhancement while others just let their imagination run wild. Certainly, if you don't need to count the pennies then the sky is the limit. Otherwise, do some research to see what is within your parameters.

Exhaust Modifications

To help free up the existing turbocharger, consider fitting some upgraded exhaust pipes. Once you allow spent air to vent more efficiently, you will be able to reduce pressure on the turbocharger and add some horses to the mix.

Intercooler

Turbochargers spin at an extreme rate and build up a tremendous amount of heat as a consequence. If you have a basic turbocharger configuration, you may not have an intercooler, which certainly helps to keep the compressor in shape. This should be mounted on the front of the vehicle, as it will provide you with a larger surface. This will cool the charged air much more efficiently than an internally mounted version. As the temperature lowers, more oxygen is generated and that means the potential for more power upon compression.

Wastegate Pressure

If you want to fine tune any performance upgrade, you need to be able to regulate the boost pressure at the wastegate. You can choose an electronic or a manual control mechanism, but you get more capability with the former. If you combine this with an upgraded engine control unit you can really get serious about improvements.

ECU

Remember, when you introduce these changes you may have to get the existing ECU remapped. If you find that the stock ECU is limited in this regard, consider getting an aftermarket replacement instead. In addition to more flexibility, you will be able to log any data improvements so you can make a consistent plan to add power.

Lining up the Parts

Chat with your parts supplier to see how to get these turbo accessories so you can quench your thirst for performance.