The 1990s were a fascinating time for the sports car world. It was a decade that brought us some of the best in the business, such as the Honda S2000 and the very first Dodge Viper.
There were so many great sports cars from the ’90s that we wanted to make a list of them, but narrowing that down to a suitable number was challenging.
But we have succeeded, and on this list, you will find some of the very best sports cars from the 1990s. All of them are fast, powerful, fun to drive, and great to look at.
Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 just makes the cut for this list, as the Japanese manufacturer introduced it in 1999. The S2000 was launched to celebrate Honda’s 50th anniversary, and it’s a sports car that is much missed, with regular cries for its return.
The first-generation S2000 AP1s were powered by a 2.0-liter F20C inline-four engine producing up to 247 horsepower. For the AP2, Honda introduced the 2.2-liter F22C1 inline-four in North America and Japan. The S2000 became famed for its exceptional transmission and handling in the corners.
Honda NSX
The iconic Honda NSX is one of the best performance cars in the world. Produced from 1990 to 2005, the NSX was able to compete with the finest Ferrari and Lamborghini vehicles yet for a fraction of the cost and with input from Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna.
Power came from Honda V6 engines, with the 3.2-liter models producing up to 290 horsepower. The NSX would hold its well into the 2000s, and an NSX-R was able to lap the Nurburgring at the same time as the newer Ferrari 360 Challenger, which also had 100 horsepower.
Dodge Viper SRI
The very first edition of the Dodge Viper will go down as one of the rawest and scariest sports cars ever produced. It was lacking features such as airbags; the roof was made of canvas, and vinyl was used for the windows, which had zippers for opening and closing them.
The highlight, though, was the incredible 8.0-liter Dodge Viper V10 engine, which produced 400 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Unsurprisingly, Dodge would eventually add features such as airbags and proper windows to the Viper, but the rawness of the original remained.
Chevrolet C4 Corvette ZR-1
The C4 generation Corvette ZR-1 is easily one of Chevrolet’s best-ever products. It defies all expectations and, in 2024, is one of the most sought-after versions of the Corvette ever made. Chevrolet enlisted the help of the newly-acquired GM brand Lotus to develop the engine, and what they created was an absolute monster.
Under the hood was a 5.7-liter LT5 V8 engine, which, in top form, produced 405 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque. This was up from the 300 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque produced by earlier C4 ZR-1s.
1995-2001 Acura/Honda Integra Type R
Arguably, one of the most excellent sports cars ever made was the Acura/Honda Integra of the mid-late 1990s and early 2000s. Honda first launched the Integra Type R in 1995, with such changes as a strengthened chassis with extra spot welds, weight reduction, extra power, and a hand-built engine featuring hand-polished and ported intake ports.
This resulted in what is regarded as one of the best front-wheel drive performance cars ever made. This generation of Integra is remembered fondly and is rapidly becoming a real collector’s item.
1991-1993 GMC Syclone
No, the GMC Syclone isn’t a typical sports car. What is, though, is a performance truck that could rival many of the sports cars on offer during the early 1990s.
The Syclone was unlike any other performance vehicle on sale at the time. The pickup truck packed a stunning 4.3-liter LB4 turbocharged V6 under the hood, producing up to 280 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. This was more than enough for the truck to go from 0 to 60 mph in just over five seconds and to challenge sports cars of the time.
1998-1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR
Few cars can claim to be as wild or insane as the Mercedes CLK GTR. The GTR was built to homologate Mercedes Le Mans race cars, and as images show, it was a monster. Mercedes would create just 28 road-going versions in total: two prototypes, 20 coupes, and six roadsters.
Power came from a vast M297 E69/E73 V12 engine, which displaces 6.9 liters and produces up to 622 horsepower and 539 lb-ft of torque. There was also the SuperSport version, which saw the power increase to 655 horses and 580 lb-ft of torque thanks to a slightly larger 7.3-liter V12.
Bugatti EB110
Prior to the Bugatti Veyron, there had been just one previous Bugatti production car since the beginning of the 1990s. This was the EB110, a car that signaled Bugatti’s return to production for the first time in 40 years.
The EB110 would be the only Bugatti built during the Romano Artioli era for the company. The EB110 had a 3.5-liter quad-turbocharged V12 under the hood, producing 553 horsepower, which rose to 603 horses in the EB110 Super Sport. Financial issues hit Bugatti hard in 1995, with the manufacturer later filing for bankruptcy.
1989-1991 BMW Z1
The BMW Z1 goes against the grain of this list. Although it wasn’t a quick car in itself, we think it deserves a spot on this list based on its looks alone. The Z1 is a striking-looking sports car and the first in BMW’s line of Z series roadsters.
As you might expect, production was limited. BMW produced just 8,000 units of the Z1, with the last leaving the production line in June 1991. Power came from a 2.5-liter M20B25 inline-six engine, which would pave the way for other excellent sports cars, such as the Z4 and the Z8.
Ferrari F50
The Ferrari F50 is a car that its predecessor, the F40, always overshadows. Yet, in many ways, the F40 is actually a better car than the one that came before it. First of all, it’s more powerful, thanks to its 4.7-liter Tipo F130B V12 engine that produces 512 horsepower. Second, that engine was developed from Ferrari’s 1990 F1 car engine, seen in that year’s 641 racer.
Thirdly, the F50 is rarer than the F40. While Ferrari produced over 1,000 F40s, they only made 349 F50s. The F40 was also more comfortable to drive and had a convertible roof, and it’s possible to argue it’s a much better-looking car as well.
Volvo 850 T-5R
It might not seem possible, but Volvo could produce an excellent performance sedan. In the 1990s, their sense of humor was at its height, and in 1995, they released a limited edition of the 850 T-5R.
Also available as a station wagon, the run was so successful that Volvo would produce a second run in 1996. Power came from an impressive turbocharged inline-five, making 243 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. The large rear wing, larger rear wheels, and Alcantara seats all added to the car’s cool factor.
Alfa Romeo GTV
The mid-1990s were arguably the sweet spot for the Alfa Romeo GTV. Not only was it one of the best-looking examples of the car, but it also had an excellent 2.0-liter turbocharged V6 under the hood. An engine that was not only powerful but also reliable.
But things got even better with the introduction of the 24-valve 3.0-liter V6 in 1997. This engine produced 215 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. It’s one of the best engines to grace an Alfa Romeo, and the “quick-rack” steering aided in making it a joy to drive.
Lotus Carlton
The Lotus Carlton was a powerful and fast car that was debated in the UK parliament. It was a high-performance, upgraded version of the Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega, with Lotus working its magic. The Carlton had a 3.6-liter Opel twin-turbocharged inline-six, producing a whopping 377 horsepower.
The Carlton exceeded the speed of even the fastest cars, including Ferrari and Porsche, yet it could comfortably carry four passengers. The Carlton became a target for thieves, with one registered “40 RA” becoming notorious for its use by a gang of thieves.