Weight increased from the previous model to 1,281kg (2,824lbs) for the 2 seat coupe and 1,356kg (2,989lbs) for the 2+2 coupe. Nissan engineers gave the S130 a lower center of gravity and a 50/50 weight distribution. When the S130 was released it in 1979 it was slightly slower than the 1970 240Z due to its weight gain and tighter emissions control regulations. With the introduction of the Turbo model in 1981 the S130 was finally able to surpass the old model. The S130 was quite popular in SCCA and IMSA motor sports.

Performance
The 1981 Turbocharged model was equipped with the L28ET, a 2.8L inline six-cylinder engine that produces 180 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm.

Videos
Japanese television program Best Motoring, shows a overview of a pristine Nissan S130 in the video below. This video is in Japanese.

The RS2 was built at Porsche’s Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany. This plant also produced the Mercedes-Benz 500E super sedan and the legendary Porsche 959. Porsche redesigned the suspension and braking systems. Porsche also modified the Audi five-cylinder with a larger turbo, heavy duty inter cooler, larger capacity fuel injectors, more aggressive camshaft, exhaust as well as a new Bosch engine management system.

Performance
The Audi RS2 Avant is powered by a 2.2L inline five-cylinder 20-valve turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 311 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 302 lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission driving all four wheels. The RS2 can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds and has a top speed of 166 mph. The Audi RS2 has a curb weight of 1,600kg (3,527lbs). The performance of this car is still impressive to this day.

Videos
In the video below, you will see a 1995 comparison between the Audi RS2 and the Volvo 850 T5.

Performance
The Porsche 996 Turbo is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6L flat/boxer (horizontally opposed) six-cylinder that produces 420 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 414 lb-ft of torque. The 996 Turbo can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4.0 seconds and has a top speed of 190.34 mph. The power is deliver through a six-speed manual transmission to all four wheels. Curb weight is 1,540 kg (3,388lbs).

Videos
Best Motoring shows the details of the 996 Turbo in the video below.

European Version
The European version is the best version of the E36 M3. It was equipped with a more powerful engine and in 1996, the car was equipped with a six-speed gearbox that was never available in North America. In Europe The E36 M3 was fitted with the BMW S50B30 engine that produces 286 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque. In 1995, the engine received a displacement to 3.2L (S50B32) which produces 321 horsepower and 257 lb-ft of torque. The 0 to 60 mph acceleration times for the 3.0L is 5.4 seconds and for the 3.2L 5.2 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

North American Version
In North America, the E36 M3 was equipped with different slightly watered down engine than it’s European counter part. The BMW S50B30US engine is a DOHC 3.0L 24-valve inline-six engine that produces 240 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. In 1996, displacement was increased to 3.2L (S52B32US) resulting in a torque increase up to 240 lb-ft. The suspension was tuned differently. The car was available as a coupe, convertible and sedan. A total of 18,961 coupes, 6,211 convertibles, and 7,760 sedans were sold in the United States. The North American models have a electronically limited top speed of 137 mph. This was increased to 139 mph in 1995 with the introduction of the 3.2L engine. The 0 to 60 mph acceleration times for the 3.0L is 5.6 seconds and for the 3.2L 5.5 seconds. The North American M3s were only available with a five Speed Manual or five-speed automatic.

Videos
Below is footage of a 1999 BMW M3 E36 Coupe, the final year of the model.

Weight reduction was achieved by removing the air conditioning system and nearly all sound deadening insulation material. The suspension received aggressive settings. All bushings were replaced by stiffer and more durable units. The springs and dampers were much stiffer as well as a 15mm lower ride height. The resulting changes made the Type R DC2 ready for the track, it is a true race car for the street directly from the factory. The JDM version has square headlights while the North American version uses round headlights.

Performance
The Honda Integra Type R DC2 it powered by a DOHC 16-valve 1.8L four cylinder (B18C5) engine. This engine is hand built and produces 197 horsepower and lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox with a limited slip differential. The Type R DC2 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and has a top speed of 145 mph.

Videos
The video below shows the difference between the 1996 and the 1998 models of the DC2 Type R.

Performance
The BMW M5 E34 is powered by a 3.6L 24-valve inline six-cylinder engine that produces 311 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. The models built for the North American and Switzerland markets produced slightly less horsepower (307 horsepower) due to different catalytic converters. Half way through 1991, the engine displacement was increased to 3.8L except in North America and South Africa where the engine remained unchanged. This 3.8L would be the largest displacement inline six in BMW’s modern history. This engine would increase power output to 335 horsepower. The engines used in the E34 M5 are hand built.

The North American E34 M5 had a electronically limited top speed of 155 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. The 3.6L European version built from 1989 to 1992 has the same electronically limited top speed of 155 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The 3.8L European version built from 1992 to 1995 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and has a electronically limited top speed of 177 mph.

E34 M5 Touring
It is only fitting that the first wagon automobile that BMW’s M-Power division ever made was the fastest wagon in the world at the time of it’s release in 1992. None of these wagons were officially sold in North America but that didn’t stop enthusiasts from importing them anyway. These cars have found there own niche in the BMW enthusiasts world. Only 891 M5 touring wagons were built.

M-System Wheels
The M5 was originally equipped with unique wheels called the M-System wheels from 1988 to 1992. These wheels are 8Jx17J black alloy wheels with a cover bolted on over the top. The design was to move more air into the brake assembly to increase cooling under hard braking to reduce fade. These wheels were not popular among the automotive press due to its appearance, and BMW replaced the design in 1992, with the M-System II wheels. These wheels had a nice appearance but did not have the same affect on cooling the brakes as the wheels they replaced. In 1994 the M5 was equipped with M Parallel wheels.

Videos
In the video below, you will see some history behind the development and making of the E34 M5.

Ghibli II 2.0
The 2.0L version of the Ghibli II was available in Europe. This model produced 306 horsepower from a Maserati Bi-turbo V6 and had a top speed of 158.5 mph. This model has a very impressive power per liter out but of 153 horsepower per liter.

Ghibli II 2.8
The 2.8L version produced 284 horsepower and had a top speed of 155.4 mph. This model was available in markets outside of Europe. This was a slightly lower power version of the V6 Bi-turbo, despite its larger displacement.

Ghibli II Cup
This is a modified version of the Ghibli II for track use. The Ghibli Cup is sought after by car collectors. This version can achieve similar lap times of the Ferrari 355 Challenge. Only 23 models of this version were produced.

Ghibli II Primatist
To celebrate Maserati’s record breaking success in powerboat racing the Ghibli II Primatist was built. It features a deep blue “Ultramarine” paint job and a unique two-tone interior. The trim pieces along the dash, center console, steering wheel, and shift knob are polished burr-walnut. This version has the same 17″ wheels as used in the Ghibli II Cup.

Videos
In the video below, you will see footage of the Maserati Ghibli II

Toyota 2JZ-GTE
The Toyota 2JZ-GTE is a DOHC air intercooled, twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. This engine has an aluminum cylinder head and cast-iron block. The Development of this engine was a response to the very successful Nissan RB26DETT engine that at the time was almost unbeatable in FIA Group A and Group N touring car championships. Two transmissions were available with the Supra, the A341E 4-speed automatic and the Getrag Type 233 (Toyota V160/V161) 6-speed manual. The first car to be equipped with this engine was the Toyota Aristo V in 1991. The twin-turbochagers were developed by Toyota and Hitachi.

The 2JZ-GTE utilized a sequential twin turbochargers which work in a slightly different manner than parallel twin turbochargers. Exhaust is sent through the first turbine for reduced lag, and boost begins as early as 1,800 rpm. At 3,500 rpm, the second turbine begins to receive exhaust gases in what is called the “pre-boost” mode. At 4,000 rpm, The second turbines output supplements the first turbos output. This sequential system helps create a flat power-band than the traditional parallel turbocharged system. During this era the Mazda RX-7 FD also used a sequential system, while the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, and Nissan Fairlady Z32 Twin-Turbo used parallel setups.

Supra RZ (Japan)
At the time, Japanese automotive manufacturers had made an agreement that no production car would exceed 276 horsepower. The Japanese Supra RZ would take would push this to the limit, by producing exactly 276 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, and in 1997, Toyota introduced VVT-i (Toyota variable valve timing) and bumped torque output up to 333 lb-ft.

Supra Turbo (Export)
The export model had no need for for a 276 horsepower limit. The export model uses stainless steel turbochargers, more aggressive camshafts and larger 500cc fuel injectors. Due to these changes the engine produces 320 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque.

Videos
Tiff Needell, from Top Gear reviews the Toyota Supra in the video below.

Design
The sharp angles and wedge shape body on the Boomerang Concept inspired future cars like the Dome Zero, Lotus Esprit, Maserati Merak, and De Lorean DMC-12.

Performance
The Maserati Boomerang Concept is powered by a mid-mounted 4.7L V8 engine that produces 310 horsepower and is mated to a five-speed trans-axle driving the rear wheels.

In Japan the Mazda MX-5 was sold as the Eunos Roadster. At the time Mazda was experimenting with the creation of different marques for higher end models similar to Toyota’s Lexus, Nissan’s Infiniti and Honda’s Acura brands. Mazda marques included Autozam (Autozam AZ-1), Efini (Efini RX-7), and Eunos (Eunos Roadster). Mazda had also planned on creating Amanti, which would have been a direct competitor to Lexus, Acura and Infiniti.

Performance
The MX-5 was originally powered by a 1.6L DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine that produces 115 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 100 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm. This car could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and has a top speed of 126 mph. In 1994, The MX-5 received a more powerful 1.8L (BP-ZE) as well as dual front airbags and a Torsen limited slip differential in some markets. This new 1.8L produced 131 horsepower and in 1996, power output was increased to 133 horsepower. These engines were mated to a standard five-speed manual gearbox, or the unpopular four-speed automatic transmission.

The MX-5 was fairly light. Without options the NA only weighed 980kg (2,150 lbs). The suspension is independent double wishbone in all four corners as well as anti-roll bars front and rear.

Motorsports
The MX-5 is a favorite among driving enthusiasts on the track. The car is often used at race track driving courses and is an excellent choice to learn rear wheel drive dynamics.

Videos
In the video below, Vicki Butler from Fifth Gear compares the new NC MX-5 with the original NA MX-5.