1990s supercars
Thu, 10 Jul 2008
By Tim Pollard and Ben Oliver
10 July 2008 16:01
Supercars in the Nineties
By now well and truly established, the supercar regulars continued to offer ever more outrageous products. The recession bit in the early ’90s, but thereafter some of the landmark cars were launched: the McLaren F1 is, for many, the definitive supercar of all time – a one-off conceived with all the purity of a grand prix racer. Others dabbled (remember the Jag XJ220?), but none achieved the Macca’s astonishing single-mindedness.
Browse our GBU-style pick of the decade's landmarks below – and vote for your favourite supercar decade in our poll
Make and model
Year
Price
Engine
0-60mph
Top speed
1990
£156,000
5707cc V12, 492bhp, 428lb ft
4.1sec
202mph
For
The Audi-fettled 6.0 VT was the last, and best
Against
A playboy's plaything; never gained real credibility
Verdict
Lambo's thinking looked slow after the F40 and 959
Lamborghinis third mid-engined V12 supercar lacked the impact of the first two. A series of lightweight, race-derived special editions delivered the full supercar terror, but the Diablo didn't shock or innovate like its forebears
Related Articles: Other Lamborghini stories
Make and model
Year
Price
Engine
0-60mph
Top speed
1992
£281,000
3500cc V12, 553bhp, 451lb ft
3.6 sec
209mph
For
So good to drive that Schumacher paid for one
Against
Went everywhere fast, including bankrupt
Verdict
Great car, lousy economy. We wouldn't have VW's Veyron had it survived
With Gandini styling, an ultra-exclusive name, a carbonfibre body, four turbos, up to 600bhp and well over 200mph, the Bugatti EB110 had all the supercar credentials, but not enough customers
Make and model
Year
Price
Engine
0-60mph
Top speed
1992
£415,000
3498cc V6, 542bhp, 475lb ft
3.9sec
217mph
For
Held the production-car speed record for a couple of years
at 217mph
Against
Like the Diablo, never gained much credibility. Elton John had one
Verdict
Bold styling, but timid thinking
Jaguar's only supercar had a fraught life. First shown with four-wheel drive and a Jag V12, it made production at a much higher price with rear-drive and the blown V6 from the Metro 6R4. Disappointment and the recession kippered sales
Related Articles: Other Jaguar stories
Make and model
Year
Price
Engine
0-60mph
Top speed
1994
£640,000
6064cc V12, 627bhp, 479lb ft
3.2sec
240mph
For
Everything, but especially the engine
Against
Disappointing sales equals ultra-rarity equals daft prices now
Verdict
What you get when you give the monomaniacal Gordon Murray free rein
If we were going to build a sports car, it would have to be not only the finest the world had ever seen, but also the finest it was ever going to see.' Massively arrogant, Ron, but dead right. The F1 is arguably the greatest roadgoing supercar of all time – as voted for by you!
Related Articles: News | Other McLaren stories
Make and model
Year
Price
Engine
0-60mph
Top speed
1995
£342,700
4699cc V12, 520bhp, 347lb ft
3.7sec
202 mph
For
Rarity: only 349 were made, keeping values high
Against
Ungainly styling and little quicker than an F40
Verdict
Completely eclipsed by the McLaren F1
The third hyper-Ferrari didn't live up to the first two. Maranello threw all its F1 know-how and most of an F1 engine at its fiftieth anniversary car – and somehow ended up with something slightly disappointing to drive
Related Articles: Other Ferrari stories
Make and model
Year
Price
Engine
0-60mph
Top speed
1997
£560,000
3163cc flat six, 544bhp, 442lb ft
3.7sec
192mph
For
This is no open-top Carrera GT poser, but a proper supercar with Le Mans heritage
Against
Unforgiving and not exactly user-friendly
Verdict
The ultimate Porsche, but not necessarily the best
By Tim Pollard and Ben Oliver