From eco-cars to supercars, turbocharged engines have long been commonplace. Yet, there was a time when simply bearing the name "Turbo" in a car's model was enough to excite car enthusiasts. Here, we present a curated selection of legendary cars from that era when turbos truly shone.

Today, it's harder to find a car without a turbocharger, from minicars to super sports cars. This is because turbochargers allow for greater power output even from smaller displacement engines.

Even a 1-liter car today can feel as powerful as a 2-liter car from the past. This is thanks to the effective use of turbochargers. Some models even feature two turbochargers, one for low-end torque and another for high-end power.

But when we hear "Turbo," we still tend to imagine powerful models with that explosive acceleration. While today's environmentally conscious "cool" technology is certainly important, there was a time when the mere presence of "Turbo" in a car's name was enough to excite car enthusiasts with its thrilling technology.

The automotive world has seen several peaks in excitement surrounding turbocharged cars. BMW unveiled the "2002 Turbo" in 1973, followed by Porsche's "911 Turbo" in 1975, which brought turbo power to wider recognition. This marked the first wave.

For cars competing in rally championships, turbochargers were effective for achieving power with the smallest possible engine for optimal handling.

We were thrilled by the performance of the Audi "Quattro" (1980) and the Renault "5 Turbo" (1980). Furthermore, Lancia's "Delta S4" in 1985, followed by a series of improved models, dominated rallies, a memory that remains vivid.

A turbocharger is a device that utilizes the energy of exhaust gases to increase engine power. By spinning a turbine with exhaust pressure, it efficiently sends the air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber, thereby boosting power.

Japanese manufacturers favored turbo models in the 1980s. Turbocharged variants appeared across a wide range of vehicles, from compact cars and sedans to sporty coupes. Nissan, in particular, was enthusiastic, offering turbo models in almost its entire lineup.

Among these, the 1989 Nissan "Skyline GT-R" is particularly memorable. Around the same time, Suzuki introduced the "Alto Works" (1986) in the minicar segment, and the "Lancer Evolution" (1992 onwards) excelled in rally championships. The combination with a full-time 4WD system was groundbreaking, pushing the potential of turbocharged cars into entirely new realms.

The Lancer Evolution, commonly known as "Lan Evo," was improved annually, with models like "II" and "III" seeing power increases. The "IV" (1996), released alongside a Lancer model change, is particularly symbolic of the Evo's dominant era, securing a drivers' championship in the WRC.

Now, let's introduce our carefully selected list of 13 legendary turbocharged cars we'd love to drive today.

The R32, a sporty two-door sedan, represents a pinnacle of the Skyline lineage. Its 2.6-liter inline-6 engine, equipped with turbochargers and a full-time 4WD system, delivered performance rivaling that of sports cars.

This model was added to the City, which debuted in 1981 with its distinctive tallboy "city car" image. While sharing the same 1.2-liter engine as the standard City, the turbocharging boosted its output from 67ps to 100ps.

This variant of the seventh-generation Lancer featured a powerful 2-liter turbo engine and 4WD. It also incorporated advanced technologies like Active Yaw Control, which independently controlled the drive force to the rear wheels to mitigate understeer.

Developed with Suzuki's characteristic ingenuity, this model was designed to fully embrace the fun of minicars. The 657cc three-cylinder engine combined with a turbocharger delivered surprisingly brisk performance. Some specifications even featured race-grade components for the radiator, intercooler, and transmission, alongside a 4WD system.

Its success was driven by excellent packaging, clean styling, and performance. The limited-edition "STi" model, featuring a 220ps turbocharged engine, was a testament to Subaru's innovative marketing.

This luxury sporty specialty coupe was launched under "Eunos," a brand established by Mazda at the time. It featured a rotary engine paired with a sequential twin-turbo system that operated progressively based on exhaust pressure. Its styling remains captivating.

Developed with the concept of applying turbocharger technology to high-performance cars, this model was refined from trials in Group 5 racing in 1969 into a production vehicle. It faced some negative reactions in Germany for being "too fast." Although production ceased in 1974, it remains a historically significant car.

Renault developed this model to meet homologation requirements for rally racing. While its styling resembles the commercially available "5" hatchback for marketing purposes, it was fundamentally a two-seater, mid-engined, 1.4-liter turbocharged handling machine, entirely distinct from the original Renault 5 (photo shows the initial limited edition).

A sports hatchback that continues to be loved by fans today. The Delta HF (1983), with its turbocharged engine and 4WD, was developed to enhance the rally performance of the Delta, which could be considered the Italian VW Golf. This evolved into the HF Integrale 16V in 1989.

This high-performance 911 incorporated turbo technology refined in racing. It was produced for a long time until the next generation debuted in 1988. Initially featuring a 3-liter flat-six turbo, it was enlarged to 3.3 liters in 1978, increasing its power.

If Audi's history were divided into eras, a new chapter leading to the modern day began here. The on-road performance, driven by its full-time 4WD and five-cylinder turbocharged engine, was revolutionary. Similar drivetrains were subsequently deployed in various Audi models, including the "100" and "200."

Saab made its mark in the 1970s with turbocharging. After releasing the "99 Turbo" in 1977, they continued the turbo option with the full model change to the "900." While initially intended for torque enhancement, the demand for higher performance led to models like the "Turbo 16 Aero" (1984), which was well-received.

This model combined a massive 6.8-liter engine with a turbocharger and featured a stiffer suspension for enhanced handling. Its character, which defied the conventional image of a luxury sedan, was refreshingly novel. Its unique driving feel is compelling, making it understandable why it still has a dedicated following.