The only reason the torque is so disproportionate is because the turbo is too small and the head doesn't flow up top. Open the airways, build a flanged manifold, throw on a 'disco potato', and the 1.4T would have a powercurve like a Neon SRT4.
And theoretically, because you wouldn't be ADDING torque the rest of the drivetrain would stray intact.
Thats only part of the picture.
My guess is the cam and VVT and VI(ntake) on these in stock form is also tailored to flat and abrupt torque so combined with a small turbo, boost stacking? your enhancing that effect. 4.6 mustang guys remove their varible intake stuff and run them fixed once they start modding.
Cam swap, Custom free flowing manifold/header (cutting and welding is what your imagination can achieve) to a turbo, profit. American Racing Headers or Kooks could probably come up with something, the do some great work with packaging flow with big tubes into tight spaces, and on a cruise and sonic is not tooooo tight. Talking with them at PRI they are always looking for the next on the up and up vehicle.
As long as the "all show" and "no go" crowd dont take over this motor could take off in the entry level performance scene and with that power will surpise a few stock sleeping v6 camaros/mustangs/challengers at a light!
Looking at the 1.8 peaking HP at its redline sure shows me that motor if allowed to rev has a more tradtional 4 cylinder mantra and makes me wonder if it would be plausible to grab a 1.8 cam and place it in a 1.4 to "see what happens"...sorry cams! GM LS back ground getting best of me.
Boils down to people wanting to spend that money under warranty...and putting that much into these sub 20 cars instead of banking it and putting it into something less daily driver and more weekend toy.
