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
|