THE production of thirteen popular motors is screeching to a halt in 2024 including some iconic brands.
Ferrari and three other British makes will be waving goodbye to the models as they are taken off the market.
6
6
6
AUDI R8
The final Audi R8 rolled off the production line earlier this year with the iconic sports car being discontinued after 17-years – but nobody will ever drive it.
Uncertainty surround the future of the type, with an electric replacement possibly in the works.
What is for sure, though, is that the Vegas Yellow R8 produced by the brand’s Stuttgart factory is the last of the internal combustion models.
It boasts a growling, 612 horsepower “performance” V10 engine inside a “Quattro Edition” body that features bronze alloys and plenty of carbon fibre.
Dubbed the “sensible supercar”, the R8 first graced the tarmac in 2006 and went on to be a smash hit for Audi.
It was based on the Le Mans Quattro concept car the brand had unveiled three years earlier, named for the famous 24-hour endurance race.
FERRARI PORTOFINO M
Ferrari confirmed in March this year that it will be ending production of the front-engine Portofino M.
The entry-level drop-tip motor was introduced fifteen years ago with the 2008 Ferrari California.
Equipped with a 4.3-liter naturally aspirated V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft and a rear-biased weight distribution, it’s easy to see why it was a popular choice for motorists.
It was Ferrari’s only true hard top convertible, with other Ferraris like the 812 GTS and F8 Spider using a smaller retractable roof mechanism.
The Italian manufacturer confirmed to Road & Track that the vehicle would be shelved in favour of the new soft top Ferrari Roma Spider.
HYUNDAI i20N + HYUNDAI i30N
Hyundai has discontinued a popular hot hatch model as it pushes towards net zero – with a replacement EV already lined up.
The Korean manufacturer is slashing down its range of internal combustion motors in a bid to achieve “100% carbon neutrality” within 20 years.
The i30 and i20 N hatchbacks have now been scrapped from the European market as part of the green push.
Both cars were introduced within a year of one another, with the i30 coming first in 2007, followed by the i20 in 2008.
They enjoyed pretty much immediate success, particularly the i30 which saw European sales top 100,000 units in 2010.
And the sporty i20 N sparked a fierce rivalry with the previously dominant VW Golf GTi in the hot hatch market.
However, a mid-2010s peak gave way to declining popularity, with the i30 selling just 39,000 units last year.
The two models were further squeezed by the fact that they are petrol-powered, while Hyundai has pledged to cut the on-the-road emissions of its lineup to zero by 2035.
JAGUAR
Jaguar‘s Castle Bromwich plant will stop making three of its models, the XF, XE, and F-TYPE cars.
The manufacturer confirmed a major shake-up to its vehicle production in March 2024 as it transitions to the creation of a new range of cars.
All three models remain on sale and available to order via the Jaguar website, though customers aren’t able to specify their own configurations
LEXUS
Lexus has removed the LC and RC sports cars from sale and no longer offers a V8 to Brits.
The two-door GTs were approaching the end of their expected life cycles, at seven and 10 years old respectively.
However, a spokesperson for the brand cited “legislative and homologation issues” as the reason for their withdrawal.
According to AutoCar, it is still unclear whether the decision was made in light of GSR2 safety regulations, the EU’s new cybersecurity directive or fleet emission quotas.
However, the outlet states that both motors are no longer available in mainland Europe, and the UK allocation for each has been sold out.
MERCEDES
Mercedes has discontinued its C-Class Coupe and Convertible, its CLS and its E-Class Coupe and Convertible.
According to Goodwood: “The basic C-Class was a decent enough car with neat handling and a beautiful interior.”
The CLE acts as a replacement for the vehicles.
Unveiled last summer, the CLE slots between the C- and E-Class in terms of size, offering a more spacious cockpit.
MINI CLUBMAN
The final Mini Clubman has rolled off the production line at the brand’s Oxfordshire plant after 55 years, marking the end of the road for the “icon”.
Parent company BMW confirmed the news with a statement bidding farewell to the model as well as taking a look forward to the exciting projects yet to come.
Mini boss Stefanie Wurst announced back in September that the Clubman line, which serves as a luxury version of the classic original model, would not be renewed for another generation.
A Final Edition was released last year, but production has now shut down for good.
Dr. Markus Grüneisl, CEO of Plants Oxford and Swindon, said staff were “incredibly proud” to have been part of the model’s run, which dates back over 50 years to 1969.
The Clubman first appeared in its current form in 2007, reviving the name badge after it was initially discontinued in 1980.
6
6
6
