1974 BMW 2002 Turbo
First production car with exhaust turbocharger layout.
Front splitter and rear wing to increase downforce.
First BMW to utilize the tri-color “M” stripes.
The BMW 2002 Turbo was the first European production car with a turbocharged engine. Unlike today, with turbochargers being utilized with a focus on fuel efficiency, the 2002 Turbo was a serious sports car. The 2002 Turbo was introduced in September 1973 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, less than a month before a global oil crisis took hold. Sales of the performance-focused 2002 Turbo was directly affected because of the crisis, and just 1672 examples were produced before production was stopped in June of 1975.
In the 1960’s, BMW sensed a need for a smaller, sportier, and more affordable version of the sedans currently on the market. The ’02’ line from BMW was introduced in 1966 with the 1602 (indicating a 1.6-liter engine with two doors.) Though the 1602 was far from fast, the 84 horsepower from its ‘M10’ four-cylinder propelled the 2000 lbs. coupe enough to give it a sense of athleticism, different from BMWs of the past. The 1602 evolved into the 2002 beginning in 1968, with the M10 engine growing to 2.0 liters.
The 2002 Turbo was a massive leap forward from the 2002 models of the past, in terms of both design and performance. Even if you don’t know a thing about cars, it is easy to determine the 2002 Turbo is a serious sports car at a quick glance. The 02 Turbo is the first BMW to wear the Motorsport stripes, from a time when the M division employed less than 100 employees to produce race cars. Another determining design factor – which drew a lot of criticism at the time from the German media – is the Turbo script on the front bumper painted so that it would read correctly as the car approached in the rear-view mirror. The 02 Turbo also utilized bolt-on fender flares to fit a larger wheel and tire setup at the track. The splitter on the front bumper and spoiler on the trunk were also different from standard 02 models, helping aid the downforce at higher speeds.
With 170 horsepower – more than twice as much as the original 1602 – the 02 Turbo was a seriously fast car in its day, and still feels fast to this day. Like other early turbocharged cars, there is a couple of seconds of ‘lag’ after the driver puts the foot to the floor. This is because the engine needs time to move enough air through the turbocharger so the turbine wheel can spin at its full potential. In newer vehicles, lag has been corrected with smaller turbochargers and variable valve timing. When the turbocharger has spooled up, the 02 Turbo accelerates like it was shot out of a cannon, a feeling that caught many new owners by surprise, leading to many crashes. The car is equipped with upgraded McPherson struts at the front, anti-roll bars, front disc brakes, and larger rear drum brakes from the standard 2002 to keep the car under control.
The 2002 Turbo singlehandedly revolutionized the sportscar spectrum, introducing turbocharging to the European market two years before the legendary Porsche 911 Turbo. While it may not get the credit it deserves today, the 02 Turbo is still pound-for-pound one of the most powerful small sports cars of the period.
BMW 2002 Specifications:
Engine: 2.0 Liter Turbocharged Four-Cylinder
Horsepower: 170 @ 5800 RPM
Torque: 177 ft./lbs. @ 4000 RPM
Weight: 2381 lbs.
0-60 MPH: 7.0 Seconds
Transmission: Four-Speed Manual