One turbo just wasn’t enough as carmakers pushed for sequential twin turbochargers to reduce lag and tame the violence of a single large turbo
Streamlined On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) simplified the repair process for all manufacturers
Everything was POWER operated – power seats, windows, doors, and mirrors
Audio systems are now “premium” – surround sound, 6 disc CD player, amps and subs
Overhead cam V8’s and compact V6 engines began to phase out the inline six
Bumpers transition from rubber to body-colored plastic, and car makers struggled to color match them to the metal body
More curvature in the body lines thanks to new manufacturing and CAD design breakthroughs. Supercars and hypercars were experimenting with never-before-seen aerodynamic and exotic shapes
Airbags finally become the law by the end of the decade
Air conditioning systems were actually effective and worked, despite the downgrade from R12 freon to R134a refrigerant (mandated by the EPA)
– say hello to –
The 6spd Manual Transmission!
Carbon Fiber!
18 inch Alloy Wheels!
HID Headlights!
Active Aero Bodywork!
Dual Front Airbags!
5spd Automatic Transmission!
The Crossover!
*The information on this page references technology that was widely available for the first time to the masses, NOT what was invented or first used on a production car during that decade. They are features and characteristics that help differentiate them from cars of previous decades
