The Swedes are now turbocharging turbochargers

Volvo today revealed an interesting high-output four-cylinder Drive-E engine concept making 450 hp thanks to three — yes, three — turbochargers.

While twin-charged engines are now becoming reality, the new concept from Volvo really takes the cake when it comes to boosting engines in new and ingenious ways.

The high-performance concept uses two parallel turbochargers to send air into the engine. Instead of being powered by exhaust gases as would be normal with turbocharging (because who doesn’t like free power?), these two turbos are fed by a third electrically-driven turbocharger.

This particular setup virtually eliminates turbo lag, says Volvo, while still delivering an incredibly high power density from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.