What is a turbo?

A turbocharger ("turbo") is a device that uses the engine's own exhaust gases to spin a turbine, which in turn forces more air into the engine. More air allows more fuel to be burned, which means more power from a given engine size.

This is why turbos have become so common: manufacturers can fit a smaller, more efficient engine and use a turbo to make up the power that a larger engine would otherwise provide, which generally helps with fuel economy and emissions.

What it means for a driver: a turbo is one more component that can fail, and a turbo replacement isn't a cheap repair. A whining or whistling noise, a noticeable loss of power, or unusual smoke from the exhaust are all worth getting checked out rather than ignored.