It's the end of the year, and the end of the road for several models, as automakers reveal their lineups for 2023. A car manufacturer may decide to pull the plug on a specific vehicle for a variety of reasons, the most common of which are changing customer tastes and declining sales.
New electric vehicles developed as alternatives to gasoline-powered automobiles are also introducing some very unwelcome competition within the same lineup, resulting in the discontinuation of some models. That’s the case for a slew of high-performance vehicles that bear the burden of having large, powerful combustion engines in a world that aims for an all-electric future. Here are five high-performance cars that you are going to miss in 2023.
Ford GT
Ford announced in October that the Ford GT would be phased out in 2023, with a final production run of GT LMs. However, in early December, the American manufacturer unveiled an 800-horsepower track-only version of the Ford GT called the Mark IV, which should seal the deal.
Inspired by the legendary Ford GT40, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four years in a row between 1966 and 1969, and immortalized in the film "Ford vs Ferrari," the Ford GT that we know today debuted in 2004 and was produced until 2006. Only 4000 units were in the first run. Its second generation debuted was presented in 2016.
Lamborghini Aventador
The demise of the Aventador has been a long time coming. The top-tier V-12-powered Lamborghini has been on the market since 2011, spawning a slew of trims with varying power and performance. The vehicle, internally codenamed LB834, was launched on 28 February 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show, five months after its initial unveiling in Sant'Agata Bolognese. It was developed to replace the then-decade-old Murciélago as Lamborghini's new flagship model.
The latest set of Aventadors was dubbed the LP780-4 Ultimae, a special edition of the 769 horsepower supercar limited to 600 units (350 coupes and 250 roadsters). In contrast with the current Aventador, which is powered by a large V-12 combustion engine. The next Lamborghini flagship model will most likely feature a hybrid powertrain or even an all-electric powertrain, similar to the one found in the Sián, the first electrified car in Lamborghini’s history, and based on the current Aventador platform.
Acura NSX
The Acura NSX made its long-awaited return in 2017. It has since received a mid-cycle refresh as well as a more powerful Type S model, the latter of which debuted in November. The NSX stands for "New Sportscar eXperimental," and when it was released in 1990, it was revolutionary. This car, inspired by the F-16 fighter jet, was thoroughly tested by none other than Ayrton Senna himself when Honda was McLaren's F1 engine provider. Its first generation was produced from 1990 to 2005.
It was initially equipped with a 3.0 V-6 DOHC engine producing 280 horsepower before receiving a 3.2 engine in 1997, which increased its power by 14 horsepower. Its second generation, with a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine, debuted in 2016. The NSX Type S, introduced in 2021, raises the NSX badge to new heights, with an upgraded hybrid power unit capable of producing 600 horsepower compared to the standard model's 573 horsepower.
Hyundai Veloster N
Hyundai announced in June that the Veloster N would be phased out of the U.S.; lineup in 2023, as part of Hyundai's all-electric total makeover. After killing its base Veloster and Turbo models in 2021, the Korean manufacturer decided to discontinue the Veloster N in the United States. This year, the beloved Veloster N suffers the same fate, with the Kona N and Elantra N stepping up as replacements for the Veloster N. However, if you want to buy a brand new Veloster N, you should act quickly before production ends.
The Veloster N debuted in 2019 and builds on the i20's success in the World Rally Championship. It has a 2.0 turbocharged inline-four engine that provides this quirky three-door saloon with 270 horsepower to throw around corners. The Veloster N, designed by former BMW M-Division boss Albert Biermann, is set to be phased out by the end of the year, following Biermann's retirement last year.
Infiniti Q60
The Q60 from Infiniti is an elegant coupe that packs a punch. It is both lighter and more powerful than its G37 sibling. The Q60 is powered by a 400 horsepower behemoth of an engine and, in its more extreme Red 400 trim, can cause serious anxiety to its European counterparts.
Unfortunately, those arguments were insufficient to persuade more customers to purchase the sleek and powerful package. With Coupe's popularity on the decline, the Infiniti Q60 sees itself as yet another victim of the SUV mania, and will not be available in the following year.