At the end of 1960s a new form of forced induction was heavily experimented with, the Turbo. A turbine in the Turbo is driven using the engine's exhaust fumes. Using the energy created by the fan, the fuel mixture is inducted under high pressure.
The 2002 Turbo was launched at the 1973 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was BMW's, and Europe's, first turbocharged production car. It was mainly intended as a homologation special. Flared fenders and the BMW Motorsport striping made the cars easily recognizable. One of the most striking details was the '2002 Turbo' written mirrored on the front lip. The tricky handling was a direct result of the Turbo lag, for which the 2002 Turbo is a school book example today. Below 4000 rpm the 2 litre engine's power was minimal, but once up to speed the engine was good for 170 bhp. Production lasted just over a year, with the 2002 model being replaced by the new 3-Series. Only 1672 examples produced, painted in either chamonix white or polaris silver. Of these, 12 prototypes issued during the period from July 1973 to December 1973. (ultimatecarpage.com, autowp.ru & wikipedia)
12 prototypes issued during the period from July 1973 to December 1973.
(Photos from flickr.com, ultimatecarpage.com, autowp.ru,
classiccarsmagazine.co.uk, classiccarsforsale.co.uk & supercars.net)
