Gone but not forgotten | Six of the Best
2023 signalled the end for some truly great cars - time to salute the fallen
Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica, 2023, 3k, £249,000
The reception to the Huracan wasn’t exactly fulsome when it first launched, with a few grumbles about steering and general excitement levels. A 610hp, mid-engined Lamborghini should have put a bigger smile on your face seemed the general consensus. Boy, did the Huracan get its act together from that point, with cars like the Performante and STO giving Lamborghini a genuine rival for the very best supercars in the world. Its twin-turbo V8 PHEV replacement will be going some to match the V10’s thrill, though the Revuelto is a very auspicious start for hybrid Lamborghinis. The Huracan has bowed out with the two most compelling variants yet: the off-road focused Sterrato, and 640hp Tecnica - a sort of more mellow STO. This Verde Mantis example looks stunning with the contrast bronze wheels, and the 60 Anniversario badges are a nice touch in this momentous year for Sant’Agata. It’s available for £249,000.
Audi TT Iconic Edition, 2023, 755 miles, £77,990
Talk about missing what you’ve got when it’s gone. For years the TT has been there or thereabouts as a two-seat coupe option; not as flamboyant as some options or joyous to drive as others, but always fast, stylish, capable and very high quality. After so long as a maybe choice by those who recommend these things, the end of production has reminded everyone how much they actually love Audi’s sports car. But we all know people don’t buy two-doors like they used to; to such an extent, in fact, that the R8 is going as well. Audi’s lineup is going to look a whole lot different (i.e. worse) for their demise. We’re bidding farewell to the TT with an example of the car at its most characterful: the five-cylinder, 400hp RS. A one-of-11 Iconic Edition, no less. It’ll cost you, yes - though don’t be surprised if legions of TT fans also want it later on down the line.
Ford Fiesta ST, 2023, 9k, £24,995
This is the big one, right? There will be another Lamborghini supercar for the rich, but the demise of a brilliant, relatively affordable hot hatch in a sector that’s essentially bereft of them was a real sucker punch in 2023. A world without a fast Ford Fiesta - all the Fiestas, in fact - feels like a Britain without fish and chips or Eastenders. It’s such a constant of everyday life we all just assumed it’d outlive us all. Alas, production finished in July, and there won’t be any more Ford Fiesta built. Which still feels a bit mad. As when it was new five years ago, you won’t find a better small hot hatch than the ST; this one gets the Winter Pack and Performance Pack, so you can use launch control in the comfort of a heated seat - perfect. With nine thousand miles plus the Bang & Olufsen stereo upgrade, it’s for sale at £24,995.
Jaguar F-Type P450, 2023, 200 miles, £61,990
Another loss that will be keenly felt, the Jaguar F-Type has charmed thousands since its launch in 2013. The styling was a large part of that, the Jag seemingly suiting any spec so desired, as did a range of charismatic powertrains. That the F handled with the typical Jaguar aplomb was the cherry on the top: not the sharpest steer around, perhaps, but always a real pleasure to be behind the wheel of. As with so many of these cars, the best was saved until last; the 2020 refresh of the F-Type dropped the V6, which was a pity, but substituted it with a detuned version of the supercharged V8, meaning 5.0-litres and 450hp for less than £70k - result. Jaguar is marking the demise of its sports cars with the ZP Edition, at more than £130k each; this 73-plated Firenze Red car is up for £61,990. It was fun while it lasted…
Rolls Royce Dawn Black Badge, 2023, 53 miles, £364,950
As electrification looms for Rolls-Royce, so the V12 cars must inevitably meet their maker. The axe will come, eventually, for the Phantom, Ghost and Cullinan, with models like the Spectre representing the future at Goodwood, but the Dawn is already part of the past. As might be expected for a four-seat, 6.6-litre V12 Rolls-Royce drop-top, the Dawn was epic - a paragon of effortlessness, luxury, style and performance. There really was little else like it. And now won’t ever be again, though at least replicating this kind of experience ought to be a little easier with batteries. This Black Badge is one of the last to roll out of Goodwood, with a stunning spec of including Charles Blue leather (with matching umbrellas), 21-inch carbon composite alloy wheels and a Rolls-Royce Signature Package pushing the original list price beyond £400,000. Showing just 53 miles, it’s listed at £364,950. Best hope you’ve been really, really good this year.
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak Widebody Last Call (and breathe), 2023, 1 mile, £136,050
It says a lot about the Hellcat’s impact that neither Charger nor Challenger were officially sold in the UK, yet the demise of the supercharged V8 still feels like a wrench. Both two-door coupe and four-door saloon were the American muscle car dream reimagined for the 21st century: a surfeit of horsepower and road presence, a sound for the ages, and precious little concern for cornering. The 6.2-litre Challenger and Charger have only got madder, somehow, from 707hp beginnings, culminating in the SRT Demon 170. All 1,025hp of it. This one isn’t quite so outrageous, though as a last-of-the-line Redeye you’ll get 807hp, which ought to be plenty. F8 Green works an absolute treat, too. A left-hand-drive, widebodied car in Britain might not sound ideal, but it’ll be okay because everyone will move out of the way. Expensive, for sure, and not exactly with universal appeal, but the best demonstration of what we’ll lose when the V8 finally dies. Sob.
Ford has always been up there as a favourite car manufacturer of mine, but now there is only the V8 Mustang to keep me interested in them sadly. A real shame I reckon.
Ford has always been up there as a favourite car manufacturer of mine, but now there is only the V8 Mustang to keep me interested in them sadly. A real shame I reckon.
I detested the cynically-engineered dross they used to sell in millions, then the Focus, Mondeo arrived and I was pleasantly surprised.
It's almost as if the public wants cynically-engineered dross and doesn't like decent cars.
Oh well, I understand that Ford is alive and well as a Turkish CV manufacturer, so that's good.
As the British always love a loser, I am perhaps even sadderer about the failure the elegant F-Type and of Jaguar as a whole.
Most underwhelming: TT - forever estate agents & hardressers
Shouldn't be but is: Fiesta - Fawd's runabout...runamock
Modern stunner: Jag - one of if not the best looking & sounding Jags
Silliest name by a mile - Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak Widebody Last Call - black ffs.
Most regal - RR Dawn 5.2m & 2.5 tons of automotive monarchy
The roar of the Jag, the near silent urge of Rolls ( ans knowing its created by the craft and art of a 12 cylinder) and thd feisty fiesta!
I guess each year we'll now see a list of these icons disappearing, never to be seen again.
The automotive press understandably do their best to remain optimistic about the future and there are clearly many benefits of the transition to electric, but I think you’d be hard pressed to find any car person who thinks the future car landscape is genuinely exciting relative to what’s come before. There is only so interesting 2.5 tonne 1,000bhp battery powered crossover and hypercars can be.
Hopefully I’m wrong and in 10 years I’ll look back at what a pessimist I was!
Ford has always been up there as a favourite car manufacturer of mine, but now there is only the V8 Mustang to keep me interested in them sadly. A real shame I reckon.
I detested the cynically-engineered dross they used to sell in millions, then the Focus, Mondeo arrived and I was pleasantly surprised.
It's almost as if the public wants cynically-engineered dross and doesn't like decent cars.
Oh well, I understand that Ford is alive and well as a Turkish CV manufacturer, so that's good.
As the British always love a loser, I am perhaps even sadderer about the failure the elegant F-Type and of Jaguar as a whole.
I dont mind the Puma, but loses that perfect size that the later Fiestas had of being able to carry four in relative comfort, carry plenty of stuff and be very easy to park, she has said she intends to buy a Cayman next year but will keep her Fiesta, as for what its worth and costs to tax and insure, may as well just have it there.
But, for me, F Type, ludicrous factory Hot Rod of a car witht he supercharged V8.
Most underwhelming: TT - forever estate agents & hardressers
Shouldn't be but is: Fiesta - Fawd's runabout...runamock
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Ah yes because you know so many estate agents and hairdressers that are dropping over £70k on a TTRS... (or in fact, a standard TTRS for over £55k for that). Clown comment.
One of the fastest A-B cars you can buy in this country, whilst having one of the nicest interiors and a boot space large enough for anything you could want to carry for 2 people.
I think it's a real shame its gone... In an era of eco-motoring, why on earth would Ford not pump money into a car that's already barely over a ton, and has a really cracking little 3 cylinder engine?! What are kids going to drive? (presumably they're not going to drive - cheap motoring?! What are you, a boomer? etc..). I know we say this all the time, but it really is the end of an era... The last peoples enthusiast car.
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