Automakers and governments have pushed hard toward an electric future, but for car enthusiasts, that shift is reshaping the hobby in ways that don’t always feel positive.
Performance Icons Are Disappearing
As automakers redirect research and development spending toward EVs to meet global emissions targets, several enthusiast staples have quietly faded away. Manual transmissions have become increasingly rare across most lineups, and affordable V8 performance cars like the Camaro and Challenger have ended production entirely. Even long-running nameplates like the Mustang and Porsche 911 face uncertain long-term futures. The gasoline-powered performance cars that remain are increasingly marketed as “last call” halo models, often at significantly higher price points than their predecessors.
EVs Haven’t Delivered on Affordability
Electric vehicles were often promoted as a path to more accessible performance, but pricing tells a different story. The average new EV sold for nearly $54,000 in 2025, and lightweight, affordable sports EVs remain largely absent from the market, replaced instead by heavy crossovers or high-powered luxury sedans. Battery replacement costs also remain a concern for enthusiasts who plan to drive their vehicles hard or hold onto them long-term.
Fast, But Different
Electric performance vehicles like those from Tesla and Rimac deliver genuinely impressive acceleration, but for many enthusiasts, straight-line speed isn’t the whole appeal of the hobby. Manual gear changes, exhaust note, and the tactile feel of a lightweight, characterful car remain central to what draws people to performance driving. Some enthusiasts describe EV acceleration as effective but emotionally flat compared to the experience of a traditional performance car.
A Few Automakers Are Still Investing in ICE
Not every manufacturer has abandoned combustion-powered performance entirely. Toyota and Lexus continue developing synthetic fuel technology while keeping manual transmissions available in GR-badged models. Porsche has stated its intention to preserve gasoline-powered 911 variants for as long as possible. Dodge, meanwhile, has experimented with “eMuscle” technology designed to replicate V8 engine sound in electric applications, an approach that has drawn mixed reactions from enthusiasts. Broader development of synthetic fuels, hybrids, and biofuels could also help extend the practical lifespan of combustion-powered enthusiast vehicles beyond current EV transition timelines.
What Enthusiasts Can Still Influence
While the shift toward electrification continues industry-wide, enthusiast demand still carries some influence over which combustion-powered models automakers continue to develop and support, at least for the foreseeable future.