Sports Cars - End Of An Era?

[bad company]

I’ve just read a review of the updated Mazda MX-5 in the Sunday Times. There’s a link below but it’s behind a pay wall. The car seems good value but there’s very few new sports cars left to buy. Sadly it’s looking like the end of an era.

Mazda MX-5 review: a sporty two-seater to outrun the fun police.

https://archive.ph/URnNK

https://www.thetimes.com/article/0cc56947-3ad4-4f9...

Edited by bad company on Sunday 25th August 17:21

[LuS1fer]

Mazda are exploring various hybrid options including a rotary but batteries add weight and I would hope to see a manual gearbox, not paddles.

[Dog Biscuit]

No I think it will just be an end to an era of ICE sports cars.

As EVs become more mainstream then manufacturers will start deviating from the SUV EV and make more sporty versions eg the upcoming MG Cyberster

[bad company]

Dog Biscuit said:

No I think it will just be an end to an era of ICE sports cars.

As EVs become more mainstream then manufacturers will start deviating from the SUV EV and make more sporty versions eg the upcoming MG Cyberster

I hope you’re right though I’m not seeing much evidence of new sports cars.

[Zero Fuchs]

bad company said:

Dog Biscuit said:

No I think it will just be an end to an era of ICE sports cars.

As EVs become more mainstream then manufacturers will start deviating from the SUV EV and make more sporty versions eg the upcoming MG Cyberster

I hope you’re right though I’m not seeing much evidence of new sports cars.

Well you had the i8, NSX and a host of other hybrids. Now you have the Cyberster, IONIQ 5N/EV6 GT, Alpine A290, Alfa Junior and Porsche/Audi offerings.

It's a start and not bad considering sporty cars don't exactly sell and result in huge profits.

Ultimately we're in a transition and as old fogies aren't particularly relevant to a period of motoring history that will be forgotten in another 30 years. It's a bit sad but we've had it pretty good to be fair. Time to make the most of it while we can.

[unsprung]

Elsewhere in the Commonwealth, the lads at Throttle House:

"It's very light. You can make adjustments to the attitude of this car in the corners that you can't do with other cars."

[Pitre]

Corvette e-ray :-

https://www.chevrolet.com/performance/corvette/e-r...

[Panamax]

I don't think it has much to do with EVs but a whole lot to do with the now almost universal SUV. I've owned sports cars a long time but only very rarely see others out on the road, The ones I do see are almost all Mazda or Porsche - i.e. the sort that have some relevance to thee real world.

Compare the thread about updated Nomad. Looks fun for 10 minutes and a snip (?) at £70,000 but I'm not expecting to see one out and about anytime soon.

[kambites]

People like to be melodramatic about "the end of eras" etc, but in reality we're just at a point on a continuum of most (yes there are obviously exceptions) cars transitioning from comparatively small, light and simple to larger, heavier and more complex. It's not a new thing and there's nothing particularly special about the particular point we are at presently.

[Terminator X]

Dog Biscuit said:

No I think it will just be an end to an era of ICE sports cars.

As EVs become more mainstream then manufacturers will start deviating from the SUV EV and make more sporty versions eg the upcoming MG Cyberster

Lol an EV doesn't fit the sports car requirements by any single metric.

TX.

[Zero Fuchs]

Apart from the Cyberster, which by any metric is a sports car. It might not be the best sports car but is most definitely one.

[Dog Biscuit]

Terminator X said:

Dog Biscuit said:

No I think it will just be an end to an era of ICE sports cars.

As EVs become more mainstream then manufacturers will start deviating from the SUV EV and make more sporty versions eg the upcoming MG Cyberster

Lol an EV doesn't fit the sports car requirements by any single metric.

TX.

Well it might not do to existing ideals; but like it or not change is coming and new definitions and requirements will be created.

The new, younger generation of buyers (not me I'm 50 and a petrolhead) won't really care much for old, noisy, expensive to run, polluting and comparatively slow ICE cars.

Like the button loving Blackberry phone owners, they'll slowly die out or conform to new offerings.

I guess enjoy the old stuff before it becomes a rose tinted memory.

[Zero Fuchs]

Dog Biscuit said:

Well it might not do to existing ideals; but like it or not change is coming and new definitions and requirements will be created.

To be a typical PH pedant, the Cyberster does fit historic definitions of a sports car. Being EV has little to do with it as driven wheels and engine configuration came in later (I believe).

The definition of a sports car has changed and has been blurred but essentially the definition has very little to do with whether a car has an ICE or battery.

[PBCD]

Terminator X said:

Lol an EV doesn't fit the my personal sports car requirements by any single metric.

FTFY

[sunbeam alpine]

Zero Fuchs said:

Ultimately we're in a transition and as old fogies aren't particularly relevant to a period of motoring history that will be forgotten in another 30 years. It's a bit sad but we've had it pretty good to be fair. Time to make the most of it while we can.

Funnily enough we were having the same conversation this afternoon. I'm fortunate enough to have a several old-school sports cars from the 60's to the 90's, but they're only interesting to us old fogies.

Mrs SA sometimes suggests selling some of the cars (and I realise that the peak market has probably already passed) but I can't bring myself to part with any of them.

[LuS1fer]

sunbeam alpine said:

Zero Fuchs said:

Ultimately we're in a transition and as old fogies aren't particularly relevant to a period of motoring history that will be forgotten in another 30 years. It's a bit sad but we've had it pretty good to be fair. Time to make the most of it while we can.

Funnily enough we were having the same conversation this afternoon. I'm fortunate enough to have a several old-school sports cars from the 60's to the 90's, but they're only interesting to us old fogies.

Mrs SA sometimes suggests selling some of the cars (and I realise that the peak market has probably already passed) but I can't bring myself to part with any of them.

My son has been car mad since he could walk and his first car is an MR2 Mk 3. He is 18 and neither he nor any of his friends have the faintest interest in EVs.

However, I accept that most of this generation haven't a clue, any more than what make their fridge or washing machines are.

[Dog Biscuit]

I really do think EV sports cars will be amazing when the brand engineers get to focus on them

[plfrench]

Dog Biscuit said:

I really do think EV sports cars will be amazing when the brand engineers get to focus on them

Agree, it’ll be great to see what Porsche manage to achieve with the next Boxster / Cayman - supposedly a new platform; SSP Sports, so should be very focussed on handling and driving enjoyment.

[Dog Biscuit]

plfrench said:

Dog Biscuit said:

I really do think EV sports cars will be amazing when the brand engineers get to focus on them

Agree, it’ll be great to see what Porsche manage to achieve with the next Boxster / Cayman - supposedly a new platform; SSP Sports, so should be very focussed on handling and driving enjoyment.

Yep agreed

I wish they'd drop the augmented engine note on EVs though. I appreciate they are trying to add some 'soul' to tempt the petrolheads but for me it's not needed.

The high pitch take off whine sounds OK in its own right, it reminds me of a turbo spooling up.

Just embrace them for what they are rather than piping fake engine noises into the cabin

[Zero Fuchs]

sunbeam alpine said:

Zero Fuchs said:

Ultimately we're in a transition and as old fogies aren't particularly relevant to a period of motoring history that will be forgotten in another 30 years. It's a bit sad but we've had it pretty good to be fair. Time to make the most of it while we can.

Funnily enough we were having the same conversation this afternoon. I'm fortunate enough to have a several old-school sports cars from the 60's to the 90's, but they're only interesting to us old fogies.

Mrs SA sometimes suggests selling some of the cars (and I realise that the peak market has probably already passed) but I can't bring myself to part with any of them.

Keep them . I'm keeping mine (although they're not modern classics by any stretch) and am not particularly bothered about their value in a changing market. Enjoy/cherish them for as long as you can.

I'm embracing the future but ICE will always be special, despite its many imperfections.