The 6 Best Turbocharged Sports Cars For Massive Power

• Turbocharged sports cars make high horsepower builds an easier reality than naturally aspirated cars.
• Not all high horsepower builds require breaking the bank. Some cars are highly depreciated, making them affordable to those who don’t mind overcoming repairs and other quirks.

Introduction

Since the dawn of automotive time, car enthusiasts have constantly pushed what we thought was attainable and streetable horsepower. In today’s world of forced induction being the standard on many sports cars, chasing serious horsepower is not as difficult as it once was.

Turbocharged sports cars are plentiful, providing a solid foundation for tuning your car for more horsepower. But not all turbocharged cars are built the same. Some cars are boosted from the factory for emissions purposes, not performance. In this article, we aren’t talking about emissions. We’re talking about the need for insane horsepower!

This guide breaks down the best turbocharged cars for high-horsepower builds, from the cars that take us beyond the stratosphere of performance to budget-friendly boosted cars that are itching for more power.

If you’re new to turbochargers or the concept of forced induction, learn more with our beginner’s guide to forced induction!

Why Build a Turbocharged Sports Car?

When people think of high-horsepower builds, most think of massive engines with choppy cams and huge superchargers or nitrous oxide systems. Today, turbochargers are dominating the drag strip and the street. But why should you look into a turbocharged sports car for your next build?

1. Tuning Software

Yes, any car can be tuned, but the performance gains to a turbocharger are much more significant. When I owned my 2016 Ford Focus ST, I upgraded it with simple bolt-ons and an E30 blend (91 Octane and 30% of my tank being E85. If you want to know about Ethanol fuel, check out my E85 article!).

This combo pushed the stock turbo to 290 wheel horsepower and a massive 350 lb.ft of torque all for under $1200. Coming from a naturally aspirated Honda J series, it was a night-and-day difference in the ease of tuning.

Custom tunes either on a dyno or through emailing a tuner can give you tons of power with and allow your car to truly take advantage of all of the bolt-on parts you’ve installed.

2. Engine Strength

Often you will see people install turbochargers on naturally aspirated cars. That is totally viable, but depending on the motor that can come at a cost of reliability. Factory turbocharged cars are built around the turbo which makes for a stronger engine block.

Surprisingly, some manufacturers over build the engine and turbo setup, making higher horsepower builds even easier. There are some amazing factory cars that will take 50-100% more power on a stock block.

3. Turbochargers Dominate The Top-End

Cars like the Powershift Auto Chevelle or cars with huge superchargers have the advantage at the bottom of the power band. Torque and instant power gets them off the line almost instantly with the right launch. However, what happens in any straight line race? The revs go higher.

Turbochargers are built for creating power around 4000 rpm, which is why you’ll see them chasing down their opponent on the back half of the track. The growing popularity of roll races also highlights the advantage turbochargers get when boost is built up by RPM.

The Best Turbocharged Sports Cars For High-Horsepower Builds

1. Nissan GT-R R35

You cannot simply talk about high-horsepower builds without mentioning the R35 Nissan GT-R. Since the car released, the R35 has created the benchmark for high-horsepower builds, making it one of the best turbocharged sports cars available. Like many other cars we covered in our JDM sports car article, the R35 is a performance icon. But what makes it so great?

• The VR38DETT twin-turbo V6 has tons of aftermarket support and takes to tuning well
• Engines are hand-built and have proven durability even with 1000+ horsepower setups
• AWD traction amplifies the performance even further, launching the car at rocket ship like speeds.
• Simple bolt-on mods push this car to 600-700 wheel horsepower.

2. A90 Toyota Supra

The newest Toyota Supra has been a hit since it arrived. While people criticize it using a BMW engine, the B58 is a turbocharged inline-6 monster! From the 340i up to the Supra, this engine already has a strong reputation for making power. Here are some of the reasons why the A90 Supra is a popular pick for tuning.

• Closed-deck engine design with strong internals handles boost easily
• High-performing cooling system allows the car to run more power reliably without heat soak being an issue.
• Bolt-on parts and a tune get this car in the 450-500 wheel horsepower region depending on fuel. While this is at the top end of the turbochargers output with E85, 450-500 wheel horsepower is more than enough to have fun.
• An upgraded turbo is a common modification. Due to the strength of the engine components, there is plenty of documentation of a car making 700-800 horsepower on a stock block.

3. BMW N54/N55 Cars (135i/335i)

Sticking with BMW motors, the N54 and N55 twin-turbo inline-6 engines are an incredible budget-friendly tuner car. What is even better is these cars are much more affordable due to depreciation. In California, a 335i with a manual can be bought for $8000-$15,000 depending on condition.

Even with the cars being 15+ years old at this point, the N54 and N55 powered cars are a favorite for tuners, and for good reason.

• The twin-turbo inline-6 motor is extremely responsive to tuning
• Affordable entry point for the car and mods
• Power potential with bolt-on parts is commonly between the 400-450 horsepower region.
• Did we mention cheap?

4. Volkswagen Golf R

If you want a car that can do it all, including be a sleeper street/strip car, the Volkswagen Golf R is hard to beat. The EA888 engine comes from the factory with around 290 horsepower to the crank. Like many VW cars, they loved to be tuned.

• Bolt-ons, E85, and a tune will get you around 350 wheel horsepower. Combined with one of the best All-wheel drive systems available, the Golf R is an easy car to break hearts with.
• Hybrid turbos or bigger turbo upgrades are well documented with the Golf R and upgrade the car into the 500-600 wheel horsepower world.
• This car can be a daily driver that you can drive to the track, break into the low 12’s with little effort, and drive home.

5. Mustang EcoBoost

Known today as the American S-Chassis, the EcoBoost Mustangs are becoming a popular contender for high-horsepower turbocharged sports car builds on a budget. These cars are easily found with a manual transmission in the mid-teens. With that you receive strong aftermarket support, modern tech, all in a rear-wheel drive manual sports car. While it’s not a V8, power is not hard to come by!

• Strong aftermarket support, including the ability to use the Cobb Accessport
• Budget-friendly entry point
• A Precision NX2 or BNR Turbo and bolt-ons will get you 400 wheel horsepower in a lighter platform than a V8 Mustang.

6. Mercedes-Benz BiTurbo AMG Models

If you want massive power in the form of depreciated high-end luxury, the BiTurbo V8 AMG models are your friend. These are a quintessential turbocharged sports car. Many dream and aspire to own an AMG for this exact reason! If you are interested in hearing about some of the most popular dream cars, see our personal favorites here!

Now, this is a pay-to-play kind of build but think about what you’re getting! You get a luxury sedan with every amenity you can think of with huge power behind it. If you have not driven a car like the S65 or E63 S, you are missing out on an amazing experience

• High horsepower capabilities (built examples frequenting the 800-1200 horsepower range) with strong internals to back it
• Luxury experience in the $40-$50k region
• Pay-to-Play with repair costs but it will be a fantastic experience to own performance wise.

The Reality Of High-Horsepower Builds

While social media may make you believe 1000 horsepower is easily attainable, there is a massive reality check about it.

Costs Are Multiplied

• Big power requires engine builds, transmission upgrades, and cooling system upgrades
• A lot of custom fabrication can become a factor in a high-horsepower build
• Fueling can become more difficult if reliant on ethanol if E85 pumps aren’t common near you

Reliability

• Adding more power puts more stress on the engine and its components.
• Not improving a car’s durability can lead to additional problems ie. Transmissions going out, overheating, or engine failures.

Not For The Novice Builder

• High-horsepower builds as a novice is not for the faint of heart. Even with how easy turbocharged sports cars make power, things can go wrong very fast. Consult a professional tuner or reputable performance shop.
• If you are new to modifying cars, consider checking out our “Car Mods For Beginners” article to assist you!

Final Thoughts

Turbocharged sports cars are super popular for tuning, and for good reason. Whether you’re building a budget street machine, a drag-ready performer, or just want a little bit more power in your daily, there is a turbocharged sports car ready for you.

With an emphasis on beefing up the car’s components prior to upping boost levels and a solid tune behind the car, you will transform your ride into an insanely fast and fun performer. Just be careful, boosting a car is incredibly addictive!

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