Look at the performance numbers of the vehicles it is in and compare it to non-TT engines. On paper it looks very good. For a twin turbo it is poor. This is what BMW did with the 335. Again, with all the added complexity, it is just not worth it, especially when a NA engine can make the same power.
Koz
I can assure you the F-150 EcoBoost is no dog: the smaller engine pulls stronger at lower revs than the V8, feels just as smooth, sounds just as quiet. The turbocharging means the V6 doesn’t need to be spun for high rpm to maximize its acceleration. The NA 6.2L and the EcoBoost 3.5 are both rated for 5,136 kilograms of towing capacity, somewhat more than the 4,545 kg for which the 5.0L V8 is rated.
The only thing dogged is the perception that a V8 is better, especially in the truck belts of north america where the "no replacement for displacement" mantra hangs around like the last party guest. But with more exposure, just like diesel, more and more will realize the benefits of turbocharging.
NA engines may be able to produce the same horsepower but they often do not get the torque delivery until much later in the rpm range and will require more fuel to achieve the same results. The benefits of a turbo are threefold: more torque early on when you need it most, better fuel economy, proven, off-the-shelf technology.
Turbocharging has been used successfully since the 1920s and with enormous success in various sports cars, most notably the 911 Turbo. It's vastly less complex and much cheaper than any hybrid technology. Is it worth it? There may not be a choice: Toyota, like everyone else, has to meet a fuel economy average and it has to happen by the next model change — models that are in the development stage right now. And the corporate average fuel economy (cafe) is going to rise sharply.
