If you had a time machine and were able to go back to the late 1990s, back then a 0 to 60 time under 5 seconds was almost unbelievable. Only the most spectacular supercars and the most highly advanced sports cars could manage that, such as the McLaren F1 and the Ferrari F50. Even the most powerful Audis and BMWs did the sprint in 5.8 or 6.0 seconds.
The 2000 BMW E46 M3 had an astonishing for the time 5.3 second 0 to 60 time. Image via BMW
Come the year 2000, and all of a sudden those very same Audis and BMWs were going 0 to 60 in 4.6 to 5.5 seconds. Supercars started to get close to the 4 second barrier, with a few ducking under it to 3.9 or 3.95 seconds. Engine evolution, advances in technology, and sheer mechanical grip had cars starting to go faster and faster off the line.
