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These performance cars are a testament to the quality of German engineering.

The 90s is one of the best decades for car enthusiasts. Brands got to manufacture quicker and more powerful cars. The 90s also saw the rise of the world’s most legendary performance cars and supercars.

Germans were amongst the leaders in the space, with some manufacturers turning their regular everyday vehicles into menacing performance cars. This saw the rise of fast coupes, sedans, and even the odd wagons.

Little is known about the Corrado. However, it had most of the practical traits of the Golf GTI, including the 1.8-liter engine producing 158 hp. Volkswagen created the Corrado as the replacement for the Scirocco in the 90s. It was also an early attempt to push the brand upmarket with its sleek-looking sports coupe.

Even though the Corrado didn’t bring Volkswagen the success they hoped for, it was still a great sports car. Besides using the inline four, there was also a 2.8-liter VR6 option. Both options made the Corrado fun to drive and more desirable than the Jetta.

Ever since its primer as a concept car in 1995, the TT became a design icon that stood for attention to detail, driving pleasure and design. The first Audi TT coupe came on the market in 1998, with the Roadster following a year later. Both TTs had aluminum elements in the interior, closely spaced tailpipes, progressive wheel design, and a short, spherical gear knob.

The TT was the first production car to receive Audi’s quick-as-lightning dual-clutch transmission. Power output varied from 150 hp to 250 hp from the 1.8-liter 20V turbocharged inline-four and 3.2-liter 24V VR6 engines.

Related: Here's How The 2022 Audi TT RS Stacks Up Against Its Competitors

After the Mk1, Volkswagen introduced the Mk2 Golf GTI. It was a wider brother to the Mk1 and another impressive offering from Volkswagen. The Mk2 was around until the early 90s and brought with it a new level of refinement over the Mk1 and more power.

On launch, the Mk2 had a 1.8-liter engine producing 100 hp. Later, it received a power upgrade to 123 hp. In 1990, Volkswagen added a G-Lader supercharger in the GTI G60, pushing it to 158 hp. All these upgrades made the slightly larger, rounder and slicker GTI Mk2 a fun and satisfying car.

Porsche began the development of the 928 in the early 70s. Their goal was to create a lightweight performance car. This saw the 928 receive aluminum front wings, hood and doors. They also integrated the plastic bumpers into the body shape with some aluminum profiles to help it withstand a 5-mph collision.

The 928 GTS was the last evolutionary stage for the model. It featured flared wings, 17-inch cup rims and a monstrous 5.4-liter engine producing 350 hp.

Related: 10 German Classic Cars That Will Make You Want To Remortgage Your House

AMG, also known as Mercedes in-house performance division, exactly understands how to fulfill the desires of their clients. The SL73 was not only a powerful car but also a reliable sports car with real-world usability.

The 7.3-liter V12 was the largest engine ever in an SL and could produce 525 hp and 537 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. This helped the SL speed up from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.6 seconds and reach a top speed of nearly 200 mph.

Porsche is known for its dedication to offering customers the best driving experience. One of the most famous cars in Porsche’s lineup is the 911. This rear-engine sports car still has the reputation of being the top-of-the-line German engineering and design.

In the 90s, one of the best iterations of the 911 was the 1997 Porsche 911. It was powered by a powerful 3.6-liter M64 flat-six engine, producing 282 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. The 1997 Turbo S bumped its output to 424 hp and had an oil cooler to deal with the additional power.

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The B8 E36 was one of the most special cars from Alpina. It was a sign that the company could be able to do something that BMW had failed at. In developing the E36 M3, BMW tried to fit a V8 but fell in designing the best version.

Alpina succeeded, but the body of the B8 had to undergo 42 modifications at the BMW factory. The V8 fitted on the E36 B8 was the 4.0-liter V8 from the E34 540i. The most significant difference being the displacement. Alpina increased it to 4.6 liters and produced 333 hp.

The 968 was created as a successor to the 944 in 1992. It was the last development for the four-cylinder transaxle Porsche models. Most of the body parts were adopted from the 944, but the front end was much more modern and anticipated the front design of the later 911.

The 968 saw the introduction of the six-speed manual transmission and a Tiptronic transmission for the first time. It also heralded the first use of the VarioCam variable intake camshaft control. The 968 received a 3.0-liter 16V inline-four engine, with the Turbo S taking it a notch higher with KKK turbo to pump out 305 hp.

Related: Here's Why Gearheads Should Buy A Porsche 928

When launched in 1994, the Audi RS2 Avant became the first Audi to smash the 250 km/h (155 mph) barrier and the world’s fastest wagon. The RS2 Avant was a very special and practical family car that offered a unique turbocharged driving experience.

The RS2 Avant came from a collaboration of Audi and Porsche, with an aim of keeping up with the BMW M3. This wagon was fitted with a turbocharged 2.2 liter straight-five engine producing 310 hp and all-wheel drive. Even though the turbo was controversial in the 90s, the RS2 Avant had sensational engine response and plenty of low-down torque.

Upon its launch in 1998, the M5 set a new benchmark for luxury performance sedans. It was the first time a V8 engine was fitted in an M performance sedan. The M5 got a 5.0-liter variant capable of producing 400 hp.

Being the third generation M5, it was the most powerful vehicle in its range. It had a sleek, classic appearance that helped hide that it was a true sports freak. It also had an electronically controlled throttle system that helped maintain the M5s performance while making it one of the best-sounding V8s ever.

Next: 10 Most Reliable German Performance Cars From The 1980s

Brian is a husband, father and freelance writer. He's also a tech and automotive junkie passionate about cars and motorcycles. Brian is also an F1 fan - team Mercedes (LH). When he's not writing, Brian goes for impromptu drives and walks.