The 1990s was an amazing period of change in the automotive industry, and it was also a golden era for sports cars. During this time, car manufacturers pushed the limits of design, technology, and performance to create some of the most iconic sports cars in the history of automotives. In this post, we will take a closer look at the best sports cars of the 1990s.
The first car that I chose which really shows what made the 90s great for cars is a Japanese coupe called the RX-7. The Mazda RX-7 was was in production from 1978 to 2002. The third generation of the RX-7, which was produced from 1992 to 2002, (Seen in the Picture below) is often considered the best. It’s highest trim was equipped with a twin-turbocharged rotary engine that produced 276 horsepower and was capable of reaching 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. The RX-7 was praised for its nimble handling and outstanding balance, making it a favorite among track driving enthusiasts. However it did have its flaws and was known to be expensive to maintain due to reliability issues with its special rotary engine.
Another car that immediately makes me think of the 90s is The Acura NSX, also known as the Honda NSX in other markets, was a sports car that was produced from 1990 to 2005 but recently was actually remade and sold by Acura in 2022. It was designed to be a supercar in that era but one that was more reliable and user-friendly than its European counterparts such as Lamborghini and Ferrari. The NSX was powered by a 3.0-liter V6 engine that produced 270 horsepower, and it was equipped with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The NSX was praised for its handling, balance, and engineering, making it a popular choice for both drivers and car critics alike. It also displayed very little issues with reliability and showed that honda could make cars fast while still keeping them extremely reliable.
Arguably now the most famous tuner car of the 90s, The Toyota Supra was a Japanese sports car that was produced from 1978 to 2002. The fourth generation of the Supra, which was produced from 1993 to 2002, is often considered the best. It was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine known as the “2JZ” that produced 320 horsepower and was capable of reaching 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. The Supra was praised for its excellent handling and balance, which helped it put down its power making it a favorite for tuning and being built for racing.
The first European car on the list which I believe really deserves this spot is The Porsche 911, which has been in production since 1963, is one of the most iconic sports cars in history. The 993 generation of the 911, which was produced from 1993 to 1998, is often considered the best. This is really saying a lot as the 911 has been one of the most popular sports cars since the concept was first created. This very popular version of the car was powered by a 3.6-liter air-cooled flat-six engine that produced 270 horsepower and was equipped with a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The 993 was praised for its timeless design, outstanding performance, excellent handling, and surprising reliability compared to previous porches.
Another car not made only in the 90s but perfected then was The Chevrolet Corvette, which has been in production since 1953. The 90s Corvette was The fourth generation of the Corvette, and was produced from 1983 to 1996, and is often considered the best Corvette model. It was equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine that produced 300 horsepower and was capable of reaching 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds. The Corvette was praised for its affordable price, outstanding performance, and fast sleek look.
The final car on the list is one many have not heard of but may be the fastest on the list. The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, also known as the Dodge Stealth in North America, was a Japanese sports car that was produced from 1990 to 2001. The 3000GT VR-4 was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that produced 320 horsepower and was capable of reaching 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds. The 3000GT VR-4 was praised for its all-wheel drive system which was very advanced for the time and gave the VR-4 an amazing quarter mile time and potential for tuning. The car was also known for having active aerodynamics, and advanced technology throughout the cabin, making it a great choice for anyone who wants a fun car.
Hi Will, I am pretty clueless when it comes to cars, but your blog stood out to me. I enjoyed your detailed description of each car and reasoning on why you believed that it belongs on your list. I recognize a few of these names, and it was very interesting to see the exact horsepower that you listed in each one. Also, I enjoyed the fact that you listed each of the engines for each car. Reading your blog felt like reading one of those design books if you know what I am talking about, and I thought that was cool. The picture and then specifications plus the impact was a format that I really liked, and I felt that your blog was very readable for someone who has little to no knowledge about the best sports cars in the 90 or even about cars in general. The production dates were also a good addition to complete the description of the cars to show the longevity of the popularity of these cars and for a few of them, I thought that it was fascinating that some of these cars are even being produced have actually been remade and are being sold in the present.