What if you could turn your supercharger on and off with the flick of a switch? Many gearheads have had that dream ever since it was seen in the Mad Max movie in 1979. The aftermarket was slackin', but 34 years later, Procharger has made it real. Or close.
The all-new i-1 supercharger is a beltdriven centrifugal deal that Procharger is known for, but this one can be programmed for the boost curve of your choice by way of a computer-controlled, continuously variable transmission (CVT) that dynamically changes the blower-drive ratio. The i-1 blower has an 8:1 geardriven reduction augmented by the CVT that runs between 0.6:1 and 1.9:1. The drive ratio alters the blower speed and therefore changes the boost.
How is this Mad Max-like? Because you can dial a low 1 or 2 psi for driving around town and then crank it up to the blower's full potential of around 850 hp, all on the fly. You can also custom-shape a curve to your liking, overdriving the blower at low engine speeds for more bottom-end power, then tapering it off to ensure you dont get into overboost. You can also create a flatter boost curve than you would normally see with an rpm-dependent centrifugal blower. There are three modes out of the box: Touring for 1-2 psi, Sport for a medium-aggressive boost curve, and Competition for all-out power.
Procharger CEO Ken Jones told us the i-1 was tested back-to-back with the company's mainstay P1SC at the dragstrip. The older blower ran 120 mph, and the new one ran 122. That's not due to the CVT but rather a refined compressor housing.
Ken also says the '10-up Camaro SS will be the first available application, but company insiders have been driving around in 5.0 Mustangs, Corvettes, late-model Mopars, and F-150 trucks. Well throw out a guess that the 5.0 Mustang kit will be the next to market. The price will be about $6,000.
