What is a common purpose of a supercharger in an engine?

The primary function of a supercharger is to mechanically drive the air compressor to increase intake air pressure, which allows more air to enter the engine's combustion chamber. This increase in air density enables a greater volume of fuel to be burned, thus enhancing the engine's power output and efficiency. By forcing more air into the combustion chamber, superchargers optimize engine performance, particularly at lower RPMs where naturally aspirated engines may struggle to draw in sufficient air.

The other options do not correctly represent the purpose of a supercharger. For instance, while fuel consumption can be affected by the increased power efficiency achieved through forced induction, a supercharger does not inherently decrease fuel consumption by half. Additionally, reducing engine weight is not a function of a supercharger, as the supercharger adds extra components and weight to the engine. Lastly, while some engines can have aesthetically pleasing designs that include superchargers, enhancing the appearance of the engine is not a fundamental purpose of a supercharger.