Why You Should Get a Twin-Turbo Vehicle Today

By robert everett | July 22, 2022

Even if you’re not a big car person, you’ve probably heard the term “twin-turbo” somewhere. Maybe you saw a car commercial on TV, and the voice-over talked about a vehicle or vehicle line with twin-turbo engines. You might not feel certain about what that means, but maybe the term intrigues you.

In this article, we’ll talk about twin-turbo engines. You might decide after you read it that you want your next car to have this feature. Twin-turbo engines enjoy widespread popularity, and when you hear about them, you’ll probably understand why.

What Does “Twin-Turbo” Mean?

The expression twin-turbo engine means engines with two turbochargers that come standard with it. Those turbochargers push extra compressed air into the vehicle’s combustion chamber. That’s what gives the car a burst or boost. You’ll get extra speed when you activate the twin-turbo feature.

Getting a Lamborghini twin-turbo Huracan might appeal to you, or you can also find this feature with certain Kia, Porsche, Bentley, and BMW models. Some Ferraris have them, as do some Aston Martins.

Are All Twin-Turbo Engines the Same?

You should know that while the basic twin-turbo engine concept remains the same, every one will not look identical if you put a few next to each other in a line. Instead, you’ll see some differences according to what results the manufacturer wanted.

You can get different-sized turbochargers. If you’re going to buy a street-legal twin-turbo engine vehicle, for instance, you might get a smaller size, while you might go for something bigger and more powerful for racing. Street racing isn’t legal in most places, but that doesn’t mean some people don’t supercharge their cars this way.

You might see the twin-turbo engine laid out differently depending on what the driver wants to do with the car. Some manufacturers try to use the twin-turbo system to give the vehicle as much power and acceleration potential as they can while still keeping it street-legal.

Why Would You Want a Car with a Twin-Turbo Engine?

If you look at street-legal car models with twin-turbo engines, they might look like other car models at first. When you pop open the hood and see what’s there, though, you’ll quickly see that this engine puts others to shame. It’s simply a lot more powerful and thrilling for a driver to rev the engine and press down on the gas pedal when you have that twin-turbo power at your disposal.

Whether you’re watching a twin-turbocharged vehicle from the sidelines, you’re behind the wheel, or you’re in the passenger’s seat, it’s hard not to feel excited by this modern engineering marvel. Many individuals will get a street-legal twin-turbo engine car because they want to feel the thrill that comes with it. They’ll mash down the gas pedal and feel the car take off down the road, exhibiting speed and power with pinpoint precision.

These cars perform incredibly well if you’re a skilled driver, but they’re not for everyone. If you see a car as a way to get from points A to B, and you don’t care much about the power and thrill you can potentially experience, you probably won’t want one. As you might expect, twin-turbo engine cars generally cost more than vehicles without them. They’re not for the fainthearted.

Twin-Turbo Means Smooth Engine Functionality

Twin-turbo engines produce more than just power and speed, though. They also virtually guarantee a smoother ride. Twin-turbo setups mean lag reduction.

The term “lag,” in this context, means the time it takes for your engine to create exhaust pressure that spins the turbo. It pumps compressed air through the intake and into the engine.

If you hit your vehicle’s gas pedal and don’t feel the engine forcing the car into motion immediately, that’s lag. Cars without twin-turbo functionality can experience it. 

You might also experience engine lag with non-working spark plugs. Adjusting the car’s spark plugs so they fire correctly can help control lag, but getting a twin-turbo engine works just as well.

Twin-turbo engines aren’t just for speed demons who want to go out on the highway and test the car’s speed and power. You will also enjoy one during most inner-city driving situations. The smooth engine functionality will appeal to virtually any driver, even timid ones.

Twin-Turbo Engines Also Increase Horsepower

As you might expect, twin-turbo engines also give you more horsepower, part of the higher asking price that accompanies them. On average, going with a twin-turbo option gets you an additional 100-250 horsepower. Again, if you’re someone who doesn’t care about the vehicle’s top speed, you might not care about this so much, but someone looking for a thrill will appreciate this feature.

Twin-turbo engines help with fuel economy as well. Right now, with gas prices higher than ever, you might go with a twin-turbo engine vehicle if you’re hunting for a new car for that reason.

What About Downsides?

When most manufacturers or car enthusiasts talk about twin-turbo engine downsides, they often bring up possible engine overheating. This can happen because turbocharging adds pressure. This sometimes causes higher temperatures, especially if you’re testing the car’s speed and power on a hot summer day.

You can damage the engine by trying to get the vehicle up to top speeds during summer heatwaves. You shouldn’t try to push the car like that anyway, though, since getting it up to its top speed might cause you to lose control. If that happens, you might hit another vehicle, pedestrian, inanimate object, etc.

Twin-turbo engines have a certain mystique among car lovers. You’ll often pay more for a vehicle that comes with one standard, but when you gun the engine and hear that deep-throated purr, you might feel like you need to have it.

They’re not as impractical as you might imagine for the reasons we mentioned. If you want to treat yourself and have the money, you may find you love your new twin-turbo engine vehicle and count it among your most prized possessions.