OLD IS GOLD
1962 — Oldsmobile Jetfire Sport Coupé
General Motors-owned Oldsmobile’s Jetfire Sport Coupé, launched in April 1962, was the world’s first ever turbo-petrol production car. It came with a Garrett T5 turbocharger mated to a 3.5-litre V8 engine that produced 215 hp and 41.4 kgm of torque. Unfortunately, the turbocharger unit did not prove to be very reliable and most owners eventually binned it.
ALL’S WHALE
1975 — Porsche 911 Turbo
A car that has always proudly worn the ‘Turbo’ badge is the legendary Porsche 911. The 1975 911 (type 930 — thanks to its 3.0-litre engine) was the result of years of development. Porsche had been toying with turbochargers since the ‘60s on their race cars and the 930, which boasted of a power output of 256 bhp, was the first ever 911 to sport a turbo-charged petrol engine. It was also popularly known as the ‘Whale tail’, thanks to its gigantic rear spoiler.
FIRST CLASS
1978 — Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W116) 300SD
Apart from the W116 generation being the first Mercedes-Benz sedan to be officially called the ‘S-Class’, the 300SD variant was the first production turbo-diesel car in the world. It was also the first sedan in the world to be equipped with a 5-cylinder engine. The 2998cc I-5 mill has roots in the 1976 C111, the third-generation of Mercedes’ iconic experimental coupé, and was used in the W116 until 1980.
WINGED FLIGHT
1982 — Honda CX 500T
The Honda CX500T was the first turbocharged production bike in the world. Roughly 5,400 units of the CX500T were produced and it was replaced in 1983 by the 673cc, CX650 Turbo. The rather abrupt increase in power, when the turbo kicked in, proved unpopular and Honda eventually withdrew the technology from the CX650 Turbo at the end of 1983.
BUG BITES
2005 — Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4
The fastest production car in the world needs no introduction. The Bugatti Veyron is all about numbers — a 7993cc W16 engine that, with the help of four (yes, four!) turbochargers, produces 1001 bhp and propels it to its top-speed of 408 kmph. At present, it’s the Veyron Super Sport that holds the fastest production car tag, with its top speed of 431 kmph. You can buy one in India, if you have around Rs 16 crore to spare.
CZECH MATE
2004 — Skoda Octavia RS
The Octavia RS was the first-ever turbo-petrol car to be sold in India! We loved it, so did you, and so did anyone with even a remote passion for cars. The 1781cc, four-cylinder engine (also found in the last-generation Audi TT) produced 147bhp@6700 rpm and 21 kgm of torque between 1750 and 4600 rpm. The in-your-face yellow paint is perhaps one of the most memorable features of the RS, apart from sparkling performance, of course.