The future isn’t as electric as they promised—especially if you love V8s, manuals, and affordable fun.
Governments want EVs. Automakers are racing to deliver them. But for car enthusiasts, this all-electric rush isn’t just about saving the planet—it’s reshaping the hobby we love. And not in a good way.
The EV Mandate: Killing ICE Icons
Automakers are dumping R&D money into EVs to meet global emissions rules, and guess what’s getting cut?
- Manual transmissions are disappearing almost completely.
- Affordable sports cars like the Camaro and Challenger are gone.
- Even long-running models like the Mustang and Porsche 911 face uncertain futures beyond the next decade.
And the few ICE performance cars still around? They’re more expensive than ever because they’re being treated like “last hurrah” halo products.
EVs Aren’t Cheaper—For Anyone
Enthusiasts were told EVs would make performance accessible, but the reality is brutal:
- The average new EV price in 2025? Nearly $54,000.
- Lightweight, affordable sports EVs basically don’t exist yet—everything’s a heavy crossover or a 1,000-horsepower hyper-sedan.
- Battery replacement costs still scare off buyers, especially for cars meant to be driven hard.
EV Performance is Impressive… But Soulless
Yes, Teslas and Rimacs are blisteringly fast. But enthusiasts aren’t just here for 0-60 times. We want:
- Manual gear changes.
- Exhaust crackles and engine character.
- Lightweight cars with personality—not 5,000-lb torque monsters.
As great as EV acceleration is, many enthusiasts describe it as “video-game fast”—instant, efficient, but emotionally flat.
Who’s Still Fighting for Us?
All is not lost. Some automakers are still throwing us a bone:
- Toyota & Lexus – Developing synthetic fuels and keeping manual transmissions alive in GR models.
- Porsche – Promising to preserve ICE 911s as long as possible.
- Dodge – Experimenting with “eMuscle” that mimics V8 sound (cringe? maybe… but at least they’re trying).
And synthetic fuels, hybrids, and biofuels could extend the life of enthusiast cars well past the EV deadline.
The EV push was supposed to move us forward. But for enthusiasts, it feels like we’re being shoved into an expensive, characterless future while our favorite ICE cars die off early. The good news? Enthusiast demand isn’t dead. If we keep buying, sharing, and supporting the brands that fight for ICE cars, they’ll keep building them—at least for a little while longer.