BMW's 1973 2002 Turbo became Europe's first turbocharged production road car, debuting during the oil crisis. Turbochargers shine by transforming exhaust gases into power, enabling smaller engines to punch above their weight. The compact 2.0-liter four-cylinder coupe shattered performance norms, even if its boost arrived with a dramatic delay. For their follow-up, BMW's engineers turned to the 7-Series, proving that a luxury flagship thrives on a turbo surge around 4,500 rpm.

The European BMW 745i, produced from 1980 to 1986, marked the company's second turbo road car. It sat at the intersection of bold innovation, practicality, and pace. This spacious sedan seated five in comfort, paired with a ZF three-speed automatic transmission - upgraded to four speeds later - and a standard electronic anti-lock braking system, a costly extra on rival Mercedes models.

Yet despite its badge, the 745i skipped a true 4.5-liter engine, diverging from BMW's tradition of naming cars by displacement. This clever twist in nomenclature broke conventions and influenced future BMW designs.

When names reflected engines, and engines defined names

Earlier models like the 1977 BMW 320i packed a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, later downsized to 1.8 liters in 1980. The 2006 330i boasted a straightforward 3.0-liter inline-six. Clean, catchy, effective. Today, '40i' badges on cars like the 440i or 740i denote 3.0-liter mills, while monikers such as 'X5 xDrive40i' feel clunky. BMW's top road-test rankings allow such shifts, though they stray from tradition. The 745i name, however, carried purpose.

Powered by a 3.2-liter inline-six, it logically could have been the 732i Turbo. Instead, BMW dubbed it 745i because the turbo let it match a 4.5-liter's output. They eyed a V12 for production but shelved it over fuel demands. The target was Mercedes' 450SEL V8 with around 220 hp; the 745i countered with 252 hp.

BMW needed a strong flagship against the S-Class, and turbocharging a gas executive sedan in 1980 was daring. Turbos then favored diesels, sports cars, and eccentric Volvos. Mercedes upped the ante with the 450SEL 6.9, offering 250 hp and 360 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm in U.S. spec, all in a tank-like shell.

A unique blend of luxury and sport

The 745i's turbo delivered abrupt power surges, not seamless refinement, though a bypass valve kept the turbine spinning during light throttle lifts. It shone at full throttle, aided by shorter gearing than Mercedes - at a fuel-economy cost. A sport package added Michelin TRX tires and self-leveling hydro-pneumatic suspension for better grip, but it stiffened the ride. Paired with precise steering, this created a driver-focused luxury experience.

Lacking a catalytic converter, the 745i stayed Europe-only, though gray-market imports appear in the U.S. A separate 1984-1986 745i served South Africa, swapping the 3.5-liter M88 inline-six from the M1 supercar due to packaging issues for right-hand drive.

The 745i was BMW's final turbo gas engine until the 2007 335i, but its influence endures. Turbos now power every current BMW series from 2 to Z. In the U.S., new non-turbo options mean going electric.