Twin-turbo throwbacks | Six of the Best
The only thing better than a turbo to boost performance? A brace of them...
Porsche 911 Turbo S (996), 2002, 28k, £65,995
If more prevalent in a downsized, emissions-driven world, there remains something exciting about an engine that boasts turbochargers in pairs. It sounds good, for starters, saying that there’s a twin-turbo V8 or twin-turbo straight six under your bonnet, and doubling up on forced induction promises both plentiful performance and good response. These days, of course, turbocharging is smarter than ever, sometimes with mild hybrid help to deliver the best of both worlds: turbo torque, economy and performance, with next-to-no lag. But we’re kicking it more old school here, and there seemed no better place to start the twin-turbo tribute than with perhaps the most famous forced induction car of them all. The 996 wasn’t the first 911 Turbo to boast a couple of compressors, nor the original all-wheel drive version (the 993 ushered in both features), but as the forced induction flagship enters its sixth decade, the early '00s appear to blend modern usability with classic charm near perfectly. This one is X Pack'd, too, for 450hp, and benefits from a recent £2,600 mechanical refresh. A twin-turbo treat of the highest order.
Mazda RX-7 Type R Bathurst, 1995, 7k, £49,995
Along with cars like the Lexus LS400 and Honda NSX, precious little demonstrates the ambition of the Japanese car industry in the early '90s quite like the RX-7. Previous versions had tried to compete with cars like the 944 by too closely imitating them, with little success. The FD generation of 1992 would be Mazda’s own thing: lightweight, beautiful, and innovative. Not only would the rotary be twin turbocharged, they would operate sequentially: a smaller, speedier blower to operate at low revs to minimise lag, then the big boy for power. A good idea in principle that caused some problems in reality as the handover could upset the car (and so a few were single turbo swapped). Nevertheless, the performance, design and handling made the FD a Japanese icon, and a twin-turbo like no other. This Bathurst special edition is museum quality, really, but if ever there was a car just to gawp at…
BMW M5 (F10), 2012, 40k, £18,450
If hard to recall now as values continue to climb, the V10-engined BMW M5 came in for some criticism when new, its ferocious top end sacrificing some mid-range torque; the latter being more useful once the group tests stop and real-world driving begins. So BMW pretty emphatically answered the critics with the F10 replacement, fitting the 4.4-litre, twin-turbo S63 V8 that debuted in the X5/X6 M (and which is still in use today). 384lb ft at 6,100rpm became 501lb ft at 1,500rpm-5,750rpm - that’s what forced induction can do. Some qualms still existed, chiefly around sound, but there was no more grumbling about day-to-day wallop. Furthermore, if unlikely to top any favourite M5 lists, the appeal of the F10’s subtlety, rear-drive, DCT gearbox and 200mph potential doesn’t need much explaining a decade and a half later - and with the current model divisive like no other. Especially at just £18k for a 40,000-mile, three-owner example…
Audi RS6 (C6), 2009, 43k, £32,995
Those after a twin-turbo supersaloon are spoiled for choice. As well as the M5, the most recent M3s came with boosted straight sixes, there’s the Giulia Quadrifoglio, all manner of AMGs (with the 4.0-litre V8, 5.5-litre V8, or 6.0 V12), and everything from Porsche Panamera to Bentley Flying Spur with the 4.0-litre. Here we’ve plumped for the C6 generation Audi RS6, for the simple fact that it’s the only twin-turbo petrol V10 to have ever existed from the factory. And that’s cool. Oh sure, it makes the car notoriously difficult to work on, because so much engine is stuffed into an A6 - to say nothing of the running costs - but who wouldn’t fancy a unique engine configuration? Especially in the much more rarely seen saloon body, with not many miles or owners. Pricey, yes, but a true twin-turbo Teutonic titan, the kind of which we won’t see again.
Rolls-Royce Wraith, 2015, 25k, £134,995
Seeing as we’re trying to tick off as many twin-turbo configurations, how about a brace of blowers on a V12? That’s what the Rolls-Royce Wraith offered up with its N74B66 lump, a 6.6-litre pantheon of power that was perfectly suited to an R-R application, with mammoth reserves of torque from little more than idle and impeccable refinement. Though officially a BMW engine (its first turbo V12, in fact, used in previous generations of 760i), the N74 has made its name powering Rolls-Royces since the 2010 Ghost; it still sees service in the current lineup, so will be going strong for a few years yet. This Wraith seems as good a spot as any for the twin-turbo tower of power, its lovely spec in superb condition. You can worry about fuelling a 624hp 6.6-litre V12 in a 2.5-tonne car another time.
Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33), 1998, 96k, £49,995
Naturally, a list of iconic twin-turbo engines wouldn’t be complete without a stirring straight-six of some kind. It could have been the BMW B58 for example, proof that the tuneable twin turbo still exists, or Toyota’s 2JZ - an engine as legendary as the cars that it powered. This time however we’ve plumped for the Nissan RB26 DETT, the inline-six that famously powered three generations of Skyline GT-R. A thrilling engine out of the box, revving beyond 7,000rpm, the RB’s reputation came from its epic modifying potential. Like the 2JZ, huge horsepower was easily attainable, with an unforgettable soundtrack accompanying the wild performance. This R33 GT-R, of course, is powered by the RB26, and is notable as an unaltered, UK-supplied example, of which there were only ever 100. It’s being sold by the very place that sold them new, too.
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The F10 is very tempting as a real world proposition. However the M tax bites hard and there’s bound to be something massively expensive coming up!
So much heavy lifting being carried out by theoretical money for my notional purchase!
The F10 M5's S63 is a different beast entirely - massive torque, brutal performance, and it'll do 200mph all day. Problem is the rod bearings are a known weak point and can grenade the engine without warning, turbos aren't cheap when they go, and there's the usual BMW oil leaks and fuel pump dramas to deal with. The DCT can be problematic too. Running costs are eye-watering but at £18k it's tempting as hell - just budget another few grand for a warranty or you could be staring down a five-figure repair bill....
Some seem to use a lot more oil than others.
Buy one that’s had the major work done and has been well maintained. Probably not a car to buy cheap.
Anyhow, this is a brilliant list! It’s certainly a rich seam; a Mercedes AMG would be a worthy addition.
The 993 was not the first all wheel drive. It was the 964.
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1951352
The F10 M5's S63 is a different beast entirely - massive torque, brutal performance, and it'll do 200mph all day. Problem is the rod bearings are a known weak point and can grenade the engine without warning, turbos aren't cheap when they go, and there's the usual BMW oil leaks and fuel pump dramas to deal with. The DCT can be problematic too. Running costs are eye-watering but at £18k it's tempting as hell - just budget another few grand for a warranty or you could be staring down a five-figure repair bill....
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