Nomenclature Was: Audi in London

[Tihol Tiholov]

> Anyone versed in German know what the correct word for Supercharger in
German is?  I've seen Superchargers called both "Turbolader" and
"Abgasturbolader" in German magazines.  Maybe that's why Mercedes dubbed
their models "Kompressor", so there'd be no confusion?

Somewhat versed in German.
Kompressor would be the word you seek.  It refers to belt-driven
supercharger, at least in MB speak, been so for many decades.
"Abgasturbolader" can mean only what we call turbo, Abgas means exhaust or
literally "off gas"; Lader=charger.  Like G-Lader in some VW from late 80's,
early 90's?
"Turbolader" doesn't specify how it is driven, so semantically it could be
used for any type of supercharger but practically it's the same as
Abgasturbolader.  All chargers have some form of a turbine after all.  Maybe
what we call turbo took over the name because of it's 2 turbines?

Depends how far one wants to venture in semantics and language precision.
In German gasoline engines are called Ottomotoren after the engine's
inventor and then we have Dieselmotoren and Wankel (not so much those any
more).