Top 10 Cars that will go extinct in 2023

If you’re a subscriber to our YouTube channel you may have spotted a pattern in recent videos by Rory as he bids a fond farewell to ‘run out’ editions of some of our favourite cars. It’s not just iconic supercars and exotica, either. The humble Ford Fiesta – a UK best-seller for years – has also reached the end of the line, bringing to a close a success story that has endured since the mid-70s.
Why is this happening? The reasons vary in each case but the common theme is an automotive industry in the midst of the biggest changes since the car itself was invented. Electrification, sustainability, tech and changing tastes all have a part to play, increasingly strict regulations relating to noise, safety and emissions also forcing manufacturers’ hands. It’s not necessarily a reason to feel downhearted, though. Sure, some of the cars we’re waving goodbye to are truly epic. But the ones coming in their place promise to be pretty exciting as well. Consider this a leaving do of sorts, then, and a farewell party to celebrate the fun times we've had together.

Incredible to believe but the Nissan GT-R launched all the way back in 2007 and is STILL one of the fastest and most exciting performance cars out there. Building on the legend of the Skyline that came before it, the GT-R is seen by many as a videogame on wheels thanks to its shameless celebration of technology and fighting robot inspired looks. But it’s much more than that, the physical brutality of its power delivery and performance still intoxicating to this day. All good things come to an end, though. Or do they?
Search for a Nissan GT-R on Auto Trader Watch Rory’s video on why Nissan killed the GT-R

Designed under the codename Project Bobcat, the Fiesta was a dramatic break or Ford and its first truly modern hatchback designed with affordability, reliability, fuel efficiency and safety as its core values. Qualities that still ring true to this day, even if the Fiesta you can buy now is way more advanced than the ones that started the whole story back in 1976. Given that why is Ford killing it off? There are various reasons, not least that the increasing complexity of our cars makes selling small ones for an affordable price increasingly challenging for manufacturers. So long then, Fiesta. It’s been fun!
Search for a Ford Fiesta on Auto Trader

While the Focus will live on a little longer than the Fiesta it’s perhaps shocking Ford is killing off two such iconic, top-selling hatchbacks in quick succession. First launched in 1998 as a replacement for the equally iconic Escort, the Focus had big shoes to fill. From the start it dazzled with its sharp looks and even sharper handling, Ford pouring millions into making sure even this mainstream model was as rewarding to drive as more premium ones. So, why stop now? Well, tastes change and buyers now prefer high-riding SUVs and crossovers like the Puma and Kuga to hatchbacks, while Ford’s rapid shift to full electrification is gathering pace with huge investment in developing its first European-built EV.
Search for a Ford Focus on Auto Trader

Clearly the Huracan isn’t going to go down without a fight, that or Lamborghini can’t face letting go and has to have another crack of the whip before it calls time. To that end we’ve had what Rory described as the ’the scariest Lambo’ with the rear-driven Evo version, the ultimate track Huracan in the shape of the STO, the best of both in the Tecnica and … still it’s not done yet. Is the off-road optimised Sterrato and its mission to spoil the Porsche 911 Dakar’s beach party the final roll of the dice? On past form we’d probably not bet everything we had on that…
Search for a Lamborghini Huracan on Auto Trader Watch Rory’s video on the Lamborghini Tecnica

After 12 years on sale it’s fair to say the Aventador has had a good innings. But if it ain’t broke why fix it? Proudly positioned at the top of the Lamborghini hierarchy, the Aventador continues traditions laid down from the early 70s onward, including a monstrous V12 engine behind the seats, wild looks and the all-important scissor doors. These foundations have also been used to create some even madder special editions, including the Veneno, hybrid-boosted Sian and – one of Rory’s favourites – the Countach recreation. Could the 780 horsepower Aventador Ultimae really be it, though? Lamborghini’s boss seems to think so.
Search for a Lamborghini Aventador on Auto Trader Watch Rory’s video on the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster

Blink and you’d miss it but it seems Ferrari’s V8-powered F8 Tributo is already being pensioned off as the firm embraces electrification with new models like the hybrid 296 GTB. How come? Well, with the best will in the world the F8 Tributo may actually have been something of a stop-gap, given it was developed out of the 488 GTB which was, itself, an evolution of the 458 Italia. Great cars, all of them. But, true to its racing instincts, Ferrari is a brand that looks forwards, not backwards. And, like it or not, purely internal combustion engine cars are soon to be a thing of the past. Ciao!
Search for a Ferrari F8 Tributo on Auto Trader Watch Rory’s video on the Ferrari F8 Spider

Two sides of the same coin, the story at McLaren is the same as that at Ferrari. The motorsport mindset of both brands has always been about finding that competitive edge through new technology and innovation and, as fast and spectacular as the 720S and its track-optimised 765LT offshoot still are, even McLaren is having to accept that plug-in hybrids are the way forward if you want to stay relevant. Enter the 680 horsepower Artura, with a V6 rather than a V8 petrol engine at its heart but an electrified boost putting it on near equal performance terms with the 720S while being able to hit over 60mpg with the CO2 emissions of a small hatchback. Officially, at least. In reality this is still a 200mph-plus supercar Rory described as a ‘silent assassin’ thanks to the way it goes.
Search for a McLaren 720S on Auto Trader Watch Rory’s video on the McLaren Artura

The sporting coupe that was seemingly killed off within – literally – minutes of going on sale, the Toyota GR86’s all too fleeting moment in the spotlight is a bittersweet moment for fans of back-to-basics performance cars. For here was an evolution of the popular GT86 and all its revvy, rear-wheel drive fun but with more aggressive looks and a bit more power to fill in some of the previous blanks. True, most hot hatches will leave it for dead in a straight line. But through the corners the GR86 is way more fun thanks to its razor-sharp responses, driver-focused set-up and entertaining handling. So why kill it off almost straight away? Let Rory explain.
Search for a Toyota GR86 on Auto Trader

In fairness to the Audi TT it has always put style first, so in theory it should be ripe to weather the transition from internal combustion power and into the electric age without too much difficulty. Maybe it will one day be reborn with batteries in place of the turbocharged engines but, for now, it’s going out with a bang, thanks to the limited run RS TT Iconic Edition driven here by Rory. At nearly £90,000 it’s a lot of money for a TT but with just 11 of the 100 cars allocated for Europe coming to the UK it’s a pretty exclusive piece of kit. And a spectacular one as well, thanks to some pretty wild styling.
Search for an Audi TT on Auto Trader Watch Rory’s farewell video to the Audi TT and his drive in the RS TT Iconic Edition

A brother from another mother to the Lamborghini Huracan, the Audi R8 shares its foundations and engines with its louder Italian counterpart and has, perhaps, lived in its shadow . That’s just fine, though, and if you want supercar excitement you can enjoy every day Rory reckons the R8 could be the ‘thinking man’s Lamborghini’ for its sense of user-friendliness. Saying that, it’s ripped off its shirt and gone a bit crazy for one last blast. The name - R8 Coupe V10 GT RWD – might be a bit of a mouthful but is a pretty accurate description of what the 15 lucky UK buyers will be getting when this very special Audi arrives outside their house. With carbon fibre aero parts sprouting from the body, the loudest yet incarnation of the bellowing V10 engine and a seven-stage ‘torque rear’ driving mode this is one spectacular final act. As Rory has been finding out for himself.
Search for an Audi R8 on Auto Trader Watch Rory’s video on the Audi R8 Coupe V10 GT RWD