Alfa Romeo Spider:
In 1995, Alfa Romeo updated their long-running rear-wheel-drive Spider with an all-new front-drive variant based on the same basis as the new GTV. This sharp-looking Spider, known as the Type 916 within the company, was just what the Italian brand needed to reclaim its place on the roadster map. The Spider handled well and was practical because to its effective hood, refinement, and good boot. It was also available with a zingy 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine or Alfa's excellent Busso V6, which could reach 145mph. By the conclusion of production in 2004, Alfa had sold 39,000 Spiders.
Alfa Romeo RZ:
Alfa Romeo launched their soft-top version of the SZ coupé as the 1990s began. The Roadster Zagato, or RZ for short, had the same angular appearance as the coupé, but with the top down, the car's wedge form was highlighted even more. Alfa's 3.0-litre V6 engine powered the RZ, which handled just as well as the hardtop counterpart. However, slow sales resulted in only 284 RZs being produced in two years, with three major colour options of red, black, or yellow, as well as three completed in silver and one painted white.
Audi TT Roadster:
Audi may have been late to the party with its TT Roadster in 1999, following the spectacular coupé's release the previous year, but it was an important automobile It pitted Audi against not only BMW and Mercedes-Benz but also Porsche, as the German company tried to push its ambitions farther upmarket. It worked great, and the TT Roadster sold just as well as the coupé. The 3.2-litre V6 model with dual-clutch transmission was at the top of the TT Roadster lineup, but the 225 version with quattro four-wheel drive was the best of the bunch. Audi also offered the Roadster with front-drive and engines with as little as 148bhp, to entice buyers who only wanted the TT.
BMW Z3:
It didn't stop the Z3 from becoming a prominent participant in the roadster market after its 1995 launch, and it met the needs of most drivers with engines ranging from the 1.9-litre to the straight-six 2.8-litre. This was eventually updated to a 3.0-litre unit, while the Z3M utilized the M3's 3.2-litre'six'. The Z3 was enjoyable to drive and comfortable to live with until 2002, when it was replaced by the M5-based Z8 as BMW embraced classic roadsters. In the end, 279,273 open-top Z3s of various variants left the Spartanburg facility in North Carolina, USA.
Fiat Barchetta:
Fiat returned to a market it had previously known well with the Barchetta, which debuted in 1995. Part styling and competitive pricing made the Barchetta appealing even in the UK, where left-hand drive could have been a barrier to sales otherwise.
It contributed to the Barchetta's sporty 1.7-litre, 130bhp engine, quick front-drive handling, and ample baggage room. The Barchetta, built by Maggiora for Fiat, was a fantastic low-cost sports automobile that was produced until 2005.
Ginetta G33:
It's unclear why Ginetta did not offer the G33's formula prior to the car's release in 1990. After all, the fundamental body was comparable to the G27's, and the Rover V8 had been around for more than 20 years. Regardless, the G33 was a compellingly raw 140-mph roadster. The 4.0-litre Rover V8 in a car weighing only 874kg accelerated from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds. This was especially noteworthy for a model that cost only £18,187 at launch; however, some found its track-focused driving style a little too loud for the road.
Honda S2000:
Honda knows how to party when it wants, and the S2000 was designed to commemorate the company's 50th anniversary. Unlike other contemporary fast Hondas that employed front-wheel drive, the S2000 had a rear-drive chassis with a rev-hungry 237bhp 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine in the front. At the time, it possessed the most power per litre of any normally aspirated production engine.
While not nearly a match for the Porsche Boxster in terms of handling, the S2000's engine provided an irresistible edge as the revs rose over 6000rpm and Honda's VTEC variable valve timing hit the 900rpm red line.
Mercedes-Benz SLK:
While rivals BMW and Porsche were launching their roadsters, Mercedes-Benz presented its vision of what a two-seat open-top should be. The SLK was less sporting than its main competitors, but it did have an advantage in the form of a foldable metal roof. It converted the convertible into a coupé and vice versa with the press of a button. Mercedes separated itself from its competitors with the supercharged 230K model. It provided adequate performance, although it was more suited to the automatic transmission than the manufacturer's notchy manual.
A V6 variant was introduced in 2000, and Mercedes released the powerful 349bhp SLK32 AMG starting in 2001. By the time the R170 SLK manufacture ended in 2004, 309,262 of Mercedes' little roadsters