How does a turbocharger enhance engine performance?

A turbocharger enhances engine performance primarily by forcing extra air into the combustion chamber. This process allows the engine to burn more fuel efficiently, significantly increasing power output without the need for a larger engine. Because a turbocharger compresses the air entering the engine, it enables a greater amount of oxygen to mix with the fuel. This leads to a more complete combustion process, enhancing efficiency and performance.

The addition of this compressed air allows for a substantial increase in horsepower, especially at high RPMs, allowing a smaller engine to provide a power output that would typically require a larger engine. As a result, turbocharged engines often deliver better performance while maintaining or improving fuel efficiency compared to naturally aspirated engines.

In contrast, options focusing solely on cooling the combustion chamber, reducing fuel consumption independently, or just increasing exhaust flow do not fully capture the primary function of a turbocharger, which is to increase the amount of air available for combustion. The main role lies in enhancing the air-fuel mixture's density and quantity, which directly correlates to improved engine performance.