The examples being lets say BMW E46 M3 and the new BMW G80 M3. The E46 has a 3.2 i6 NA that makes 338hp, the G80 M3 has a 3.0 i6 twin turbo that makes 510hp.
What technological advancements have been made, other than the turbos and 20 years, that separate these 2 cars?
If you know something really technical feel free to share.
Direct injection.
The real freak is the Porsche GT3RS engine. All-motor 4 liter Flat six making 500 horses.
I don’t know what service intervals are like but the only things comparable imo are the LT6 and GT350 motor.
Turbos are less impressive imo because even in the 90s there were insane power levels from turbo charged engines, really even the 80s, it’s just that the power delivery got more linear with twin scrolls and sequential turbo systems.
There still is lag though. My M177 even lags sometimes. Rarely but it happens. NA motors don’t have lag but are generally peaky below 8 cylinders.
Look in to the LF4 engine design from GM. Lots of cool tech in that one.
Head design is a big one. Look at a fox body Mustang 5.0 and a current 5.0 ; DOHC, variable cam phasing, and direct injection. Put sophisticated intake manifolds on there (which go back to the 80s as a widely available tech) and you get a lot more power, when you consider things like the higher compression ratios the tech enables.