In 1991 the automotive world spotlighted a fierce race to 60 mph. The Bugatti EB110 GT and its higher-performance EB110 SS variant were widely regarded as the quickest production cars of that year, with 0–60 mph times typically cited in the low 3-second range.
What counted as fastest in 1991
In that era, speed was primarily measured by 0–60 mph times on production-style testing, using manufacturer data and magazine tests. Top speeds and powertrains varied, but the 0–60 stopwatch was the standard baseline for comparing acceleration among street-legal cars. Concept cars and race-only machines were not usually included in the production-car leaderboard.
Leading contenders in 1991
To illustrate the field, here are the models most commonly cited for brisk acceleration in 1991, with typical 0–60 mph figures reported in tests and brochures of the time. Figures differ by test conditions, but these represent the range most observers cited:
- Bugatti EB110 GT / EB110 SS — about 3.2 seconds 0–60 mph; top speed around 213 mph; mid-mounted quad-turbo V12 and all-wheel drive contributed to rapid launches.
- Porsche 959 — roughly 3.6 seconds 0–60 mph; advanced turbocharged flat-six with all-wheel drive put it on the short list for fastest acceleration among high-performance machines.
- Ferrari F40 — commonly cited near 4.0 seconds 0–60 mph; a landmark hypercar of its era but typically slower off the line than the EB110 and some peers.
- Lamborghini Diablo (early 1990s models) — around 4.0 seconds 0–60 mph; high weight and power made for thrilling yet not as rapid a launch as the EB110 GT/SS.
- Jaguar XJ220 — approximately 4.0 seconds 0–60 mph; focused more on top speed than raw sprint, though it remained extremely quick for its class.
In practice, the EB110 GT/SS was considered the leader in 1991 within the production-car category, with the others close but generally slower in initial acceleration across most tested scenarios.
Measurement and testing context
0–60 times from 1991 varied by testing method, tire choice, traction setup, fuel load, and even the gearing used during the run. Magazine tests sometimes used different standards, which could shift times by tenths of a second. Still, the Bugatti EB110’s combination of power, torque, and traction consistently placed it at the top of the press and public perception that year.
Summary
Looking back at 1991, the Bugatti EB110 GT/SS stands out as the fastest accelerating production car, with 0–60 mph times around 3.2 seconds in many contemporary tests. While other supercars like the Porsche 959 and Ferrari F40 posted strong figures, the EB110 topped the sprint from a standstill, cementing its place in the annals of 1991 automotive speed.