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Twenty years back it was considered special to have a turbocharger in your car. These devices ram extra air into the engine to create more tiny explosions, boosting overall power and efficiency.
But now that turbochargers have gone mainstream – appearing in everything from pickups to cheap crossovers – it’s considered cool and niche not to have one again.
“Naturally aspirated” engines, like the Mustang’s snarling V8 and the Miata’s peppy four-banger, may lack the peak HP of their rivals, but they deliver power in a crisp, linear fashion. With zero lag between right foot and giddy-up, there’s something magical about “NA.”
– Chris Butsch, Contributor