What effect does a higher compression ratio have on engine performance?

A higher compression ratio in an engine increases the efficiency of the combustion process, allowing for more power to be produced from the same volume of fuel-air mixture. When the compression ratio is raised, the air-fuel mixture is compressed to a smaller volume before ignition, which leads to a more vigorous combustion reaction. This enhanced combustion effectively harnesses more of the energy from the fuel, resulting in increased power output.

Additionally, a higher compression ratio typically improves the thermal efficiency of the engine, meaning that less fuel is wasted as heat and more is used for propulsion. This relationship between compression ratio and power also generally results in improved performance metrics for the engine, such as torque and horsepower, making it a desirable characteristic for performance-oriented engines.

While the other options mention effects like noise, fuel consumption, and lifespan, they do not directly address the fundamental reason why a higher compression ratio leads to greater power production. The dynamics of combustion and energy extraction from the fuel are core to understanding why option C stands out as the correct answer.