The 1990s were a golden age for automotive performance, but while everyone remembers Supras, NSXs and Corvettes, plenty of other cars quietly broke the 140mph barrier. These forgotten speedsters may not get the same attention at car shows, but they can still make modern freeway traffic a nuisance.
Let’s take a look at some of the overlooked speed champions of the decade.
Lotus Esprit S4s (1994-1996)
Image credit: Shutterstock.
The Esprit S4s might have looked like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it backed up its exotic looks with real speed. The 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder could push this wedge-shaped wonder to a speed of 168 mph, making it faster than many supercars that cost twice as much.
While reliability issues kept it from success, those lucky enough to drive one found that Lotus had created something truly special.
Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo (1991-1996)
Image credit: Bobbiejuice08 – Own work, CC0/Wiki Commons.
The Stealth was essentially a rebadged Mitsubishi 3000GT, but this American-branded version is often overlooked in favor of its Japanese twin. The R/T Turbo could reach 155 mph with its twin-turbo V6 and all-wheel drive system, making it a legitimate supercar alternative.
Despite sharing most of its DNA with the 3000GT, the Stealth somehow never achieved the same level of recognition among enthusiasts.
Eagle Talon TSi AWD (1990-1998)
Image credit: MikeTSIawd, CC BY-SA 3.0 / WikiMedia Commons.
This badge-engineered sibling of Eclipse and Laser proved that sometimes the underdogs can run with the big dogs. The turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Talon could hit around 140–145 mph and embarrass much more expensive machines in a straight line.
Its relatively affordable price made serious performance accessible to enthusiasts who couldn’t afford German engineering. It’s an “underappreciated classic,” according to MotorTrend
Pontiac Grand Prix GTP (1997-2003)
Image credit: IFCAR – Own work, Public Domain/Wiki Commons.
While most people saw a grocer, the supercharged Grand Prix GTP hid serious capability beneath its conservative exterior. The 3.8-liter V6 could propel this family sedan to an electronically limited top speed of around 125–130 mph, with speeds around 140 mph in unrestricted form.
It offered the perfect combination of practicality and straight-line speed for drivers who needed to haul kids and put the tire on.
Ford Taurus SHO (1989-1995)
Image credit: Ben Schumin – Own work/Wiki Commons.
The sleeper sedan to end all sleeper sedans, the original SHO proved that Ford could build something really interesting when they put their minds to it. Its Yamaha-built V6 could push this family truck to 143 mph, creating one of the most efficient Q-ships ever built.
Many unsuspecting sports car drivers have learned the hard way that this modest sedan means business.
Oldsmobile Aurora (1995-2003)
Image credit: Flybrian, Public Domain / WikiCommons.
GM’s attempt at a performance luxury sedan resulted in a car that could hit around 135-140 mph while housing its occupants in the comfort of the Northstar-derived V8. The Aurora’s sleek styling and impressive top speed made it a worthy competitor to European luxury sedans at a fraction of the price.
It proved that American manufacturers could build sophisticated, high-speed cruisers when they focused on refinement.
Acura Legend Coupe (1990-1995)
Image credit: Acura.
While the sedan version was respected, the Legend Coupe was the performance variant that could reach around 135 mph with its smooth V6 engine. Its combination of reliability, luxury and speed made it a compelling alternative to German coupes.
The Legend Coupe offered that perfect balance of everyday use and weekend excitement that defined the best cars of the decade.
Volkswagen Corrado VR6 (1988-1995)
Image credit: Volkswagen.
This stylish German coupe has flown under the radar despite packing VW’s unique narrow-angle V6 that could push it to 142 mph. The Corrado’s sleek styling and sophisticated engineering made it a compelling alternative to more popular sports cars.
Its combination of European refinement and genuine performance capability deserved more recognition than it received during its short production run.
Infiniti Q45 (1989-2006)
Image credit: Nissan.
Infiniti’s flagship sedan was designed to take on the Germans at their own game, and a top speed of ~150 mph showed that they are serious about performance. The Q45’s powerful V8 and advanced suspension made it a formidable highway cruiser that could eat up the miles with authority.
Despite its impressive capabilities, it never got the recognition it deserved in the luxury performance market. According to MotorTrend, only 123,797 were sold.
Mercury Cougar XR-7 (1989-1997)
Image credit: IFCAR, public domain / WikiMedia Commons.
The supercharged version…could hit around 140 mph, making it a legitimate performance car disguised as a boulevardier. Its blown V6 delivered smooth, linear power that made it perfect for high-speed cruising.
The Cougar XR-7 represented the last of the traditional American luxury personal cars with genuine sports credentials.
GTZ Beretta (1990-1993)
Image credit: Dante93gtz, CC By-Sa 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons.
GM’s compact coupe packed a serious punch with its high-revving 2.3-liter Quad 4 HO engine capable of pushing the lightweight Beretta to around 130 mph.
The GTZ proved that you don’t need a big engine to achieve impressive top speeds – just good engineering and plenty of revs.
Conclusion
Image credit: Acura.
These forgotten speedsters remind us that the 1990s were full of automotive surprises beyond the usual suspects. While they may not have achieved the fame of their more famous contemporaries, each of these cars could deliver real thrills and respectable top speeds that remain impressive today.
Sometimes the most exciting performance comes from cars that don’t feel the need to shout about it… They just quietly go very, very fast.