The product of an unlikely partnership, the Mercedes-Benz 500E was first unveiled in 1990 at the Paris Motor Show. As Mercedes-Benz was preoccupied with the engineering of the next-generation S-Class, they partnered with Porsche to develop a performance-oriented version of their popular E-Class. Tasked with fitting the 5.0-liter V-8 used in the ..
The first RUF model to use the now famous W09 serial number was the 1983 BTR. Standing for Gruppe B Turbo RUF, the G series-based BTR was made available in a variety of body configurations. Appearing similar to the standard Porsche Turbo models with the primary exception of a new front spoiler, RUF honed every area affecting performance. Powered..
Unveiled in 1984, the Testarossa was Ferrari’s flagship offering, which replaced the outgoing 512 BBi and introduced their iconic flat-12 to new markets. The famous wedge shape, coupled with its unique side strakes made its styling synonymous with the 1980s, popularized by the likes of Miami Vice and Out Run. The drivetrain was considerably impr..
For the 2016 model year, the 991 GT3 became the latest car from Stuttgart to wear the hallowed RS moniker. As per previous generations, the RS was made more hardcore – lighter, faster, and sharper – than the standard model. With increased displacement over the standard GT3, the RS’ 4.0-liter flat-six engine developed 500 hp and 338 lbs./ft. of t..
Additional images and completeIn the first 35 years of Lamborghini’s history, the company had more than half a dozen owners and spent many years being unprofitable. Despite this tumultuous environment, the cars wearing the raging bull were remarkably consistent: exotic, extraverted, and extremely high performance. The follow-up to the sensationa..
Porsche’s 944 series debuted in 1982 and its production ended nearly a decade later in 1991. Constructed on the same platform as the 924, the 944 was one of the most successful Porsche production cars of the era. The 944 S2 was introduced in 1989, powered by a new and more powerful three-liter engine that offered an excellent torque curve and pr..
As Porsche began to phase out the 911 3.2 Carrera in anticipation of the 964-generation 911, it developed the Speedster as a final special edition to see the model out. Produced between January and July 1989, the Speedster was intended to harken back to the famous 356 Speedster of the 1950s. It featured numerous throwback design elements such as..
When Citroën introduced the 2CV, short for deux chevaux (two horses), in 1948, few understood that this simple, inexpensive “people’s car” would enjoy production through 1990. The 2CV was rooted in a 1936 brief issued by Citroën’s head of engineering and design, Pierre-Jules Boulanger, for the TPV (toute petite voiture, or “very small car”), dev..
Ferrari shocked the world at the 1984 Paris Motor Show with the unveiling of the mid-engine Testarossa. With a mid-mounted flat-12 engine coupled to a gated manual gearbox, the Testarossa accelerated as briskly as its appearance suggested, and with over 10,000 sold during its 1984 to 1996 production run, it became Ferrari’s best-selling 12-cylin..
The Italian Superturismo Championship was started in 1987 as Italy’s national motor sports series for touring cars. Originally run using FIA’s Group A specification, the series shifted to the new Superturismo category of cars in the early 1990s. Alfa Romeo brought its rich history in racing to the Superturismo series with a variant of its 155 se..