A turbosteamer is a term utilized by BMW to explain a mixed cycle engine. It involves the use of a steam engine to convert waste heat power from a combustion engine into supplemental power for the automobile. The turbosteamer device is joined to the exhaust system. It salvages the heat wasted at the exhaust ( as much as eighty percent of heat energy ) and uses a steam piston to relay that power to the crankshaft. The steam circuit produces fourteen h.p. ( ten kW ) and fifteen foot-pounds force ( 20 Nm ) of torque at top ( for a 1.8 Straight-4 engine ), yielding a projected 15% gain in fuel potency. Unlike gas-electric hybrids, these gains increase at topper, steadier speeds.

BMW has been the pioneer of this idea, and while they're planning this system to fit to most current BMW models, the technology isn't anticipated to reach production for another decade.