The 1990s were the scene of important social events, such as the liberation and subsequent consecration of Nelson Mandela, the reunification of Germany and the end of the Soviet Union. It was also the decade of the birth of Dolly, the cloned sheep, or the tragic death of Princess Diana.
In the automotive sector, the last decade of the 20th century was marked by the need to enhance safety in automobiles and offer new equipment possibilities. Minivan bodies lived through a golden age and the small GTIs also had a strong role.
There was also an important step forward in terms of efficiency and sustainability, with the appearance of engines capable of offering lower consumption and it became a golden age for diesel engines.
But the passion remained unchanged: in the 1990s some of the most iconic cars in automotive history were created. Currently, they are already considered classics and here we offer you some of the most charismatic.
Presented in the concept-car phase during the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, the BMW Z8 reached dealerships in 1999. It was a stylized, luxurious and sporty two-seater roadster designed by Henrik Fisker and inspired by the legendary 507. BMW resorted to its best engine of the moment, an impressive 4.9-liter naturally aspirated V8, capable of developing 400 HP sent to the rear wheels and which was already used in the M5. This engine allowed it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h. Just over 5,000 units were manufactured during the three years that it was offered by the Bavarian builder.
Motivated by the need to compete with models such as the Chevrolet Corvette or the Ford GT, Dodge - Chrysler in Europe - launched the Viper on the market in 1991. The format of this two-door coupe model was radical, with an engine located in a central position and drive to the rear wheels. The engine was a spectacular 7.9-liter V10 - developed in collaboration with Lamborghini, capable of producing 400 HP and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. In 1996 it would be the turn of the Viper GTS, which increased power to 450 HP and improved its aerodynamics, also giving way to the Viper GTS-R destined to compete in the FIA GT2 category.
Designed by Pininfarina and available in a convertible version -360 Spider), this model began its journey in 1999. It had a clean design that anticipated the trends of future Ferraris and opted for lower weight and greater chassis rigidity. Presented at the Geneva Motor Show, it was the brand's first model made entirely of aluminum and stood out for its aerodynamics and the presence of some retro details in its design. The engine was a 3.6-liter V8 with a power of 400 HP that was later boosted to 425 HP. The official maximum speed was 295 km/h and its pure acceleration from 0-100 km/h was 4.1 seconds.
It is probably the most exclusive Ferrari in history. Designed by Pininfarina and presented at the 1994 Geneva Motor Show, the initial idea was to replace the legendary F40 and build a very radical two-seater car, derived from the highest competition, F1. The body and chassis were made of carbon fiber and its interior was very spartan, without comforts. The strong point of this vehicle was the engine -located in a central-rear position-, a 4.7 liter V12 manufactured in Maranello that produced a maximum power of 520 HP to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. and reach 325 km/h maximum speed. 349 units were manufactured over three years, until 1997.
Presented as a prototype at the 1984 Turin Motor Show, the NSX did not begin its commercial stage until 1990. The development of this project was carried out by Shigeru Uehara and the aim was to create a true icon of the Japanese brand, a large two-seater sports car. lightness -1,350 kg-, with the engine located in the central position and rear-wheel drive. The three-liter V6 engine, which had multipoint injection and 24 valves, produced a power of 270 HP, achieving a maximum speed of 270 km/h and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. It equipped traction control and ABS. In 1992 it would be the turn of the NSX Type R, an even lighter and sportier version.
The launch of the Elise coincided with the resurgence of the British brand in the 1990s. The president of Lotus, Romano Artioli, the businessman who took the reins of the project, opted to create a light and rigid two-seater that would delight its driver. Launched on the market in 1996 after two years of development, it was 3.72 m long and 1.20 m high, weighing just 800 kg. Initially it was equipped with a 1.8 liter engine with 120 HP that allowed it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and later, still during the nineties, versions with 145 HP (111S) and 162 HP (160 Sport) were launched. ), respectively.
It is one of the most exclusive and sporty cars in history. Produced in its street version between 1993 and 1998, 106 exclusive units were built. Its shapes were born from the work of coachbuilder Peter Stevens and Gordon Murray, the engineer who created the McLaren F1 of the time. Designed to compete on circuits, it was equipped with a carbon fiber monocoque chassis and a 6.1-liter naturally aspirated V12 gasoline engine, capable of reaching a whopping 627 HP of maximum power. The maximum speed was 372 km/h - a record at the time for a production car - and the 0-100 km/h acceleration was 3.2 seconds.
A replacement for the Porsche 964, the 993 was launched on the market in 1994. This model was part of the legendary 911 saga, it had for the first time an aluminum chassis and multi-link rear suspension, solutions that translated into agility far superior to the of his predecessors. Available in coupe and cabriolet bodies, the German brand used a 3.6-liter turbocharged boxer engine with 430 HP of power, a figure that was later raised to 450 HP in the limited series 911 GT2. There was also an air-cooled engine, with power from 272 HP and production ceased in 1998, with almost 70,000 units manufactured.
