After the automotive world was shaken by the release of the Lamborghini Miura, the first supercar, back in 1966, manufacturers around the world have since been competing to produce the best supercar in the world. As the years went by, the cars got faster and faster, with companies such as Ferrari, Jaguar and McLaren all joining the fun. During the '90s, things started to heat up with the technological advancements within the industry, leading to what are viewed today as some of the greatest cars of all time being released throughout the decade.

While this was an obvious benefit to the car industry itself, the increased popularity of supercars opened the door for a new market, with other manufacturers designing cheaper cars that were just as thrilling to drive for those who couldn't afford the hefty price tags of the Ferrari's. In this post, we'll look into the best supercar killers of the 90s that still hold their reputation for being the ultimate driving machine today. The '90s saw all different kinds of cars produced for those who wanted the same feel behind the wheel as the exotics, some of which even managing to top them.

10 1995 Chevrolet Corvette C4

By the time the '90s came around, the USA was slowly beginning to evolve from its muscle car-only image that it had around the world, with manufacturers beginning to follow suit with the sleeker, more streamlined style of European sports and supercars. One of the cars that pioneered this change was Chevrolet's Corvette, specifically the 1995 C4. Never letting go of its American roots, the final C4 model was released in 1995 combined the responsive handling of Europe's best with the raw power of American muscle.

Specs and Performance

American muscle cars are synonymous with size, having much more interior space than most cars besides SUVs. By being able to continue that trend with a sports car, it led to this Corvette being renowned for its comfort alongside its performance. To this day, the 1995 Corvette C4 is widely considered as one of the best Corvettes ever built.

Related: 10 Best Supercars Of The 1990s, Ranked

9 1993 Mazda RX-7 FD

It wasn't just the United States that produced some of the most exciting cars of the '90s, Japan also made their mark on multiple occasions. One of the most notable releases of the decade came from Mazda, with the 1993 installment of the RX-7. Rolling out of the factory during what's perhaps the most pivotal decade in not just Japanese car culture but around the world, this RX-7 is still one of the staple cars in a long line of JDMs.

Specs and Performance

Right off the bat, its flowing bodywork was enough to gain the attention of gearheads. With its 255 horsepower, the car delivered a raw, stripped-back driving feel that so many fell in love with. Paired with its lightweight nature, there's never a time when this car won't be a joy to drive. Among all the JDMs, especially those released in the 90s, this car is still one of the most sought-after by tuners, with some jaw-dropping projects being completed over the years.

8 1991 Acura NSX

The first supercar killer to come out of the Japanese car scene came two years before Mazda's RX-7, with the release of the iconic Acura NSX. Acura was made up of dedicated Honda engineers with the sole purpose of building a statement piece for both the Acura and Honda brands. In 1991, the NSX was unveiled, billed as the first Japanese car that could compete with the likes of Ferrari and Porsche.

Specs and Performance

At first glance, the bodywork was unlike anything that came out of the country up to '91. The two-seater, mid-engined sports car instantly showed promise, massively by Formula One legend Aryton Senna assisting with the development of the car in the later stages. The result of this meant the NSX was one of the fastest cars in the world, with its wide stance providing with great handling. Coming in much cheaper than its German and Italian rivals, the NSX was and still is hard to resist after growing into the icon it is today.

7 1992 Dodge Viper

With Chevrolet adapting one of their flagship cars to compete with the growing popularity of sports cars, Dodge also decided to venture into the world of performance cars with the Viper. Compared to the Corvette, the Viper stays closer to its manufacturer's past style, with a bigger, bolder take on the streamlined sports car aesthetic. It may not be as pretty as some of its rivals, however, its ultra-high power engine couldn't be ignored.

Specs and Performance

Its 8.0L V10 means that this car still packs the mighty punch that it did back in '92. Muscle cars like Dodge's iconic Charger and Challenger models were known for their outright power, so seeing a sports car with 400 horsepower powering it delivers a driving experience like no other car on this list. Many even refer to this car as quite dangerous due to its power, so do take extra care when driving this one. It also had the coolest introduction to the world, being the '91 Indy 500 pace car.

Related: Why The 1990s Was An Epic Period For Car Enthusiasts

6 1993 Toyota Supra MK4

Another early '90s sports car that rolled out of Japan, perhaps the best was saved until last with the 4th generation Toyota Supra. Managing to find the perfect balance between performance and reliability so well, the Mk4 Supra is still regarded by many as a near-perfect car. Although the car wasn't too well received on the market on its release, they've become one of the most sought-after JDMs.

Specs and Performance

Perhaps the element that can be most attributed to the success of this car is Toyota's 2JZ engine, being able to withstand all the Supra's 320 horses while barely noticing. The engine is still one of the favorites for tuners, especially in the JDM scene. Paired with its smooth, responsive handling, the Supra was an easy choice for many who couldn't dip into supercar territory. Out of all the supercar killers of the '90s, very few still have the legacy of the MK4 Supra.

5 1995 Aston Martin V550 Vantage

When it comes to the UK, many 90s supercars still have their reputation today, such as the McLaren F1 and the Jaguar XJ220, for being some of the best cars of all time. However, some of the best supercar killers also came from the UK. Even if overshadowed, they gave the exotics a run for their money. One of these cars is the Aston Martin V550, perhaps one of the best Aston's ever produced.

Specs and Performance

The V550 was one of the boldest Astons released at the time, combining British elegance with outright power. Every car on this list would have a hard time trying to match the mighty V8 engine under the hood, propelling the car to a top speed of 186 MPH. Being one of the cars that is closest to the supercars just one step up, it's definitely a shame that this car doesn't get as much recognition as it deserves.

4 1998 Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R

1998 was a great year for Japanese car manufacturers, to say the least. Nissan released their once-in-a-generation car, this one being the famed R34 Skyline GT-R. It will always be a conversation among enthusiasts about which one is better, this or the Mk4 supra, but it'll always be difficult to decide. Made even more popular by its many appearances in the Fast and Furious franchise, this car will always be a legend in not just the JDM scene, but the automotive industry as a whole.

Specs and Performance

Being constantly praised for its balance, the R34 was truly ahead of its time in so many ways. Its advanced 2.6 liter twin-turbocharged inline-six was state of the art, giving the car such a smooth feel no matter how fast you push it. For a more precise, on-edge-feeling car, the V-spec fitted with the ATESSA-ETS AWD system provides the ultimate raw driving experience. The base version, however, expertly fine-tunes each area to become one of the best, if not the best, JDM cars of all time.

Related: 20 Best JDM Cars Of The 90s

3 1995 Porsche 928 GTS

While not as popular as Porsche's flagship 911 series, the 1995 928 GTS is definitely no slouch when put side-by-side with any other Porsche from its time. For a grand tourer, the V-8 under the hood meant that this 928 model, featuring larger wheels and a larger track than the base 928, was much better than the 911. The car delivers all the speed you'd ever need from a 90s V-8 that you want to drive every day, being fine-tuned for you to not have to constantly worrying about having to reel it in.

Specs and Performance

For Porsche, this was the car that got closest to the supercars, delivering only slightly less power than the class above. What this car delivers better than the supercars is the comfort, which isn't what supercars were and are rarely designed for, but the only slight sacrifice in speed makes the Porsche an easier, more enjoyable car if you'd always be using it.

2 1996 Lotus Elise Series 1

Out of all the non-supercars of the 90s, the Lotus Elise series 1 is undefeated in terms of sheer enjoyment you'll get from driving it. At first glance, its small 120 horsepower engine doesn't seem like much, but its super lightweight body coming in at only 731kg. You might not expect such a small car to be named a supercar killer, but very few cars provide the sheer thrill that this one does.

Specs and Performance

The weight more than makes up for the smaller engine, making the car feel so fast even if you're not thrashing it around a circuit. Lotus's first installment into the Elise series proves that you don't need to spend a huge amount of money on a car with a massive engine to achieve the ultimate driving experience. Inspiring so many future cars such as the Hennessey Venom GT, the first Elise kick-started one of the greatest sports car series in British motoring history.

Related: 10 High-Performance Cars That Reshaped The 1990s

1 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo 993

With supercars being known for their looks, no other non-supercar of the '90s is as recognizable as Porsche's 911 Turbo 993 model. Building on the base model 993, the Turbo coupe featured a brand new twin-turbocharged engine, improving on the car that many enthusiasts believe is still the best version of the 911 nameplate.

Along with its looks, the 993 also features the driving experience that you'll only find in a Porsche 911. This installment into the series is as well-balanced as some of the newer models, making the car without a doubt ahead of its time. The power output allows for the same fast, precise response that you'll find in a '90s supercar, fined tuned in a way that perfectly compliments the characteristics of the first 911 chassis designed around the LSA concept, which stood for Light, Stable and Agile. The three best words to describe this iconic car.