We are in a time of tremendous transformation for the auto industry, especially as electric vehicles increase their market share globally.
This means we’re seeing a lot of goodbyes, especially as companies from Alfa Romeo and Bentley to Volvo announce an end date for internal combustion engine vehicles.
Even if most automakers don’t plan to switch to electric-only product lines until 2030, production of certain memorable powertrains is over.
For example, BMW has discontinued production of V12 engines, while Maserati will soon discontinue production of V8s.
The auto expert Therefore, the team considered which vehicles sold today are guaranteed to become classics in the future.
Scott Collie: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is a one-of-a-kind car that we probably won’t see again.
It took Porsche a long time to bring the engine from the 911 GT3 into its mid-engine Cayman sports car, and we know that the next 718 Cayman and Boxster will be electric. In other words, the GT4 RS has no predecessor and no successor in sight. And that’s a damn shame, because it’s one of the best cars I’ve ever driven.
It’s not the handling (accessible but challenging, deliciously balanced) or straight-line handling (appropriately impressive), or even the styling (angry but not the best). too much), imprinted the car in my mind. That is noise.
Growling at low speed, complete with a continuous hiss and hissing from the air intake at the back of your head, the sound transitions from a purposeful mid-range bark to a howl, before developing (or should develop). ?) into pure thrash metal driving the engine to its peak of 9000 rpm.
The first time I let it go up to $9,000 was when I was in number one on the road, passing a Smart car driving out of a village in Portugal, and I had to slow down and calm down because I’m giggling like a deranged child. That’s that kind of car.
Anthony Crawford: BMW M5 CS, i4 M50
It’s a complete BMW choice for me.
As for ICE cars, the M5 CS is arguably the greatest sports sedan ever built. It’s not just its outright performance on a straight line or even its excellent handling and handling attributes, never mind the great sound from Herculean’s powerful twin-turbo V8.
It’s more about the feedback the driver gets from all the key controls – especially the steering feel and throttle control, which makes the massive M5 CS feel incredibly agile despite its 4+ length. ,9 meters. It is also very rare and has been sought after by cash enthusiasts.
On the BEV front, I couldn’t beat the i4 M50’s agility and its linear feel behind the wheel. It’s an EV that stands out from its rivals in almost every metric. Once again, it’s the combination of straight-line performance (3.8 seconds) and extraordinary steering and handling that amazes you most.
You simply won’t believe this five-door forklift weighs more than 2200kg. I really think the BMW PR has published the wrong number. The front end feels so light that you would guess the car weighs 1600kg or less.
BMW’s electric vehicles are also blessed with impeccable interiors with some of the best infotainment technology in the industry. The design itself is minimalistic yet fun at the same time, and the i4 M50 has all the latest toolkits as standard. All of that is a bonus on the way it drives. It will no doubt become one of the classic first EVs, like the BMW i3.
Jade Credentino: Kia Stinger
I would say Kia Stinger.
As it is popular with buyers looking for a vehicle that is both stylish and powerful, the Kia Stinger ticks a lot of the box for Australians.
With an affordable price tag and a twin-turbo V6 capable of producing 274 kW of power and 510 Nm of torque, it will be one of the most accessible performance cars in Australia for those looking for power. Have fun driving everyday.
While Kia is effectively replacing the Stinger with an equally exciting electric vehicle, the EV6, it will be sad to see it drop off the list later this year.
Derek Fung: Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcat
I will cheat here. I know I have to pick a car that’s being sold in Australia, but I live in the US, so I’ll throw American exceptionalism to my kids and nominate the Hellcat.
Developed back when Fiat Chrysler was still a thing, and the engineering cash was dedicated to making more Jeeps and making special editions, Hellcat versions of the Dodge Charger and Challenger, and then there was the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which brought silly power to the ground in increasingly screaming costumes. What else could be more American?
Now, with Dodge preparing anti-social ways to drive electric vehicles, these cars will be the last of the House of Stellantis eight-cylinder. Obviously they will become classics in the not too distant future.
If I had to pick one, I’d pick the Yellow Charger, probably the one with the black stripes and the tire subscription service (that’s a problem, right?)
Paul Maric: Ford Ranger Raptor
We’re at the point where purely internal combustion engines are a thing of the past – I think we’re on the verge of making at least some form of hybrid standard in all cars. newly sold.
That’s why I think a car like the Ford Ranger Raptor will become a classic in the years to come. To be sure, production numbers are not limited, but an example of well-groomed low mileage will be sought in the years to come when all new dual-cab vehicles are hybridized or turned all-electric. .
Paste this post in the timebox and come see me in 15 years.
Quick Jack: Suzuki Jimny
The current Suzuki Jimny is a tiny off-road vehicle that I believe will become a classic in the future.
The Jimny has decades of heritage it rides on in the rear, with the current generation model being one of the cheapest available off-roaders on the Australian new car market.
I don’t expect the current-generation model to enter production, nor come to Australian shores.
If I go into specifics, Jimny models with manual transmissions are likely to be the most sought after in a world oriented towards automatics. The two-tone paint job sounds appealing to me.
If you don’t already know, I’m describing my 2020 Suzuki Jimny equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and finished in Vivid Blue with a contrasting Black pearl blue roof.
William Stopford: Jaguar F-Type 75
Jaguar is transitioning to an electric-only lineup earlier than most (by 2025) and as part of this process it is effectively phasing out its entire range without direct replacement. . That includes the stunning F-Type, which will end its 11-year run next year.
It will therefore be Jaguar’s last internal combustion engine sports car and one of the final uses of JLR’s supercharged V8 engine.
Jaguar is launching the F-Type with special editions 75 and R75, and these will almost certainly become future classics – not least because of their high “final edition” status. their precious, but also because they are like clamps and look great doing it.
James Wong: Toyota GR Corolla
Looking back at history, special editions that resemble racing cars and special editions in terms of performance are almost guaranteed to be future classics.
While the GR Yaris is the first model, I believe the even stronger performance of the GR Corolla and the available stripped-down Morizo Edition will give it iconic status over the years and decades. next.
It looks wild but settled in a way that the smaller Yaris could never do, and the rather unconventional combination of manual transmission and all-wheel drive evokes memories of the Focus RS world. 2nd generation – another classic car from the future.
So far, I haven’t had the pleasure of driving one of these particular Toyotas, but if it comes close to the new Honda Civic Type R (another future classic), it will certainly be. a bloody vandal.
