Cars We Loved in the 1990s

The 1980s car era had been brash and loud – but the 1990s that followed was markedly more sober, stylish and sophisticated.

A period when safety and durability improved...even though insurance hikes, speed cameras and the introduction of the separate theory test made driving more of a challenge. Britpop bands battled in the charts, as CD players became the ultimate in-car accessory.

In the latest addition to this classic series, Giles Chapman investigates the newly nostalgic motoring decade of the 1990s, looking back in entertaining style over the induction of such memorable icons as the Peugeot 106 and 206, Fiat Punto, Jaguar XJ, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Impreza Turbo, Audi TT, TVR Chimaera and Ford Focus MkI.

About the Author

Giles Chapman is an award-winning writer and commentator on the industry, history, and culture of cars. He has worked across a vast array of media for 35 years, which includes writing 50 books on a diverse range of subjects. One of them, My Dad Had One of Those, is among the most popular car books of all time, with over 180,000 copies sold.

Chapman's Car Compendium won the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy in 2008. His interviews with people whose lives are in, around, and sometimes even opposed to cars appear regularly in newspapers and magazines, and he has written widely on car design and its impact on the wider world.

Chapman's career began in automotive industry consultancy before moving into magazine publishing, where he was editor of Classic & Sports Car, the world's best-selling classic car magazine. He lives in Kent, UK.