The automotive world is at its biggest transition phase as more governments around the world are employing stricter emission norms. So to abide by the newer emission standards, renowned automakers are either switching to fully electric or hybrid mobility. Indeed, we need a better world in the future for our survival. But this also means that more iconic pure ICE-powered cars have to retire to make way for more compliant, efficient, and environmentally friendly cars. Of course, there is a boatload of EVs and hybrid performance cars that are more powerful and engaging compared to pure ICE-powered cars. However, we have listed some iconic cars that will no longer serve as pure ICE-powered cars and won’t make it to 2024.
There are very few supercars which can easily be daily driven and can be as ferocious should you need to go fast. The Audi R8 is such a supercar, and while it shares its underpinnings with the Lamborghini Huracan, it is more road-biased, and more comfortable than its Italian cousin. The R8 has been in production since 2006 and has been Audi’s flagship supercar for more than 15 years. Powering the R8 in its latest avatar is a mid-mounted 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 which produces 612bhp and 565Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a seven-speed DCT, and except for the RWD GT variant, the R8 can be equipped with quattro all-wheel drive as well. The R8 GT is the more powerful iteration of the supercar and is the last R8 to come with a V10 engine. The replacement of the R8 is allegedly in development, and it could sport a completely electric powertrain. 2023 marks the demise of the R8 and the R8 GT RWD is a sweet send-off to the glorious V10 engine.
Both the Dodge Charger and Challenger have their own contribution to America’s muscle car history. Both the current generation Charger and Challenger have been on the market for over a decade, and both are available with multiple engine options, including a 3.6-litre V6, a 5.7-litre V8, a 6.4-litre V8, and a beastly 6.2-litre supercharged V8. The 6.2-litre supercharged V8 in its most potent form, produces a mind-boggling 1011bhp and 1281Nm of torque with the Demon 170. To commemorate the V8-powered Charger and Challenger models, Dodge recently launched the Last Call special edition models of both the Charger and Challenger before they meet the end of the road, at least in ICE format. Dodge is looking forward to an electrifying future and has already showcased what would be the future of the Challenger and Charger: the Charger Daytona SRT EV, which has a Fratzonic exhaust that emits V8-like burbling sounds. We could be witnessing Dodge’s new electric muscle car around 2025.
The Lamborghini Huracan is a successor to the widely acclaimed Gallardo supercar. It has been a decade since it entered the global market and with every generation, Lamborghini milked the V10 to offer its true potential without using forced induction. The latest iteration of the supercar, the Huracan Tecnica fuses the performance of the track-focused STO with the road-friendly behaviour of the EVO. The V10 in Tecnica flavour puts down 632bhp and 565Nm of torque and it is available only in RWD. However, there is another Huracan, the Sterrato, developed to deliver the same amount of thrills both on and off the tarmac, which has a detuned V10 with 602bhp and 560Nm of torque. Lamborghini recently confirmed that the Huracan is no longer available to order. However, according to Lamborghini’s CEO, Stefan Winkelmann, the Huracan replacement will debut in late 2024. The upcoming supercar will be a plug-in hybrid, but we are not sure about the powertrain specifications.
The GT supercar is Ford’s pride and has been on the US market since 2004, but it entered the supercar scene again in 2016, after a decade-long hiatus. The Ford GT is powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 which generates 660bhp and 746Nm of torque and is mated to a seven-speed DCT and drives the rear wheels only. The final road-going GT, the GT LM was launched internationally back in October 3, 2022, and it marks the final iteration of this legendary supercar. Ford recently unveiled the limited edition GT Mk IV race-bred supercar to pay tribute to the 1967 Le Mans winning legend. The heart of the matter is the same 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 but has been tuned to put out 789bhp, making it the most powerful Ford GT ever. Ford has announced its halo supercar’s demise and there is no hint of a successor. However, we would certainly love to see a fully electric Ford GT in the future.
No one needs an introduction to this Japanese legend, the GT-R. The R35 is a direct successor to the R34 Skyline GT-R but does not bear the Skyline name. It was first introduced at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show and since then it has been updated with more power and sharper looks. If compared to its direct competitors, the GT-R feels dated in both design and tech. But the GT-R does not need a fresh face and added tech to survive in this world. With a departure from straight six engines used in the R34, the R35 employs a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 which produces 558bhp and 633Nm of torque in its latest iteration. The engine is mated to a six-speed, dual-clutch transaxle and it drives all four wheels. While the R35 is not sold in Europe, courtesy of it not meeting local emission norms, it made a comeback in the U.S. The 2023 Nissan GT-R will be the final R35 to be around. Nissan is already working on the next GT-R, but it will possibly be a hybrid. We are not sure when the new GT-R will be introduced but we can expect it to debut by 2025.
So to conclude, these five cars have been on sale for a long time and seeing them go into the dark seems to be tragic. However, we are witnessing how EVs and hybrids perform courtesy of the latest technology, and the successors of these cars should be just as exciting and engaging to drive if not better. So this is our list of five cool cars which will not be available post-2023. Do you know which of the other cool cars will face the same fate? Let us know in the comments below.