The performance cars disappearing from sale in Australia this year

Forever touted as a nation with an unquenchable thirst for performance, Australia’s need for speed is being hampered by a dearth of available options.

What’s more, a few venerable badges are about to disappear for good. Some already have. Avid readers of MOTOR magazine would have noticed that Hot Source is seeing a decline in traditional marque stalwarts, either entirely or key models.

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With Honda already axing the technically impressive but slow-selling NSX, the Japanese brand now has no performance variants with the 2018 PCOTY-winning FK8 Honda Civic Type R slipping off the radar. However, it went out with a bang via 20 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2-shod Limited Editions.

Another to gain an exit form is the Alfa Romeo 4C. Ten 33 Stradale Tributo coupes and five spiders made it Down Under with significant price tags of $123k and $133k respectively.

Keeping the Italian flavour, but with a heavy swig of sake, is the Abarth 124 Spider. After being chopped globally in 2019, the MX-5-turned-124 lasted a little longer in Oz.

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Peugeot has quietly exited stage left, too, with its underrated 208 and 308 GTi. While a hot, plug-in hybrid version of the 308 has been mooted for some time, it seems cold water is being poured on the idea of a hot all-wheel drive PHEV. And with no word on the 208, it seems GTi or Sport Engineered badges won’t be found on a Pug hatchback anytime soon.

Sticking with a Gallic flavour, Renault has rationalised its Megane RS range in Australia to just the RS 300 Trophy in manual and dual-clutch guises. The baby Clio hasn’t been offered for some time now.

The next-gen Megane will leave its traditional, well-loved roots, with the recent Megane E-Tech concept showcasing its future.

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While Aussie V8 muscle has been absent for some time now, it seems the bent eight Chrysler 300’s stay of execution is about to run out.

The value-packed 300 SRT Core has already been dropped, while the SRT8 is clinging on thanks to NSW Highway Patrol.

Sticking with Stars and Stripes, conversions of the Chevrolet Camaro (2SS and ZL1) came to a halt some time ago with only dealer stock remaining.

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Rounding out the evicted tribe members is the Hyundai Veloster Turbo and the Volvo S60/V60 Polestar. It’s a shame we don’t get the Veloster N here, either.

Additionally, Australian Design Regulations (ADR), in relation to pole side impact performance, has led to the culling of the Alpine A110, Lexus IS and RC as well as the mighty Nissan GT-R.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom as some of those iconic models will return. But not all with be in the same form, with electrification playing a huge part in transforming certain models.

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The Honda Civic Type R will be back, with a global release penned for 2022 ahead of its Australian arrival. What is yet to be known is the powertrain and driveline, as both a hybrid and all-wheel-drive layout have been suggested. However, a development on the existing 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo front-wheel-drive setup is most likely.

Alpine is forging ahead with volts as parent company Renault ditches the famed Renault Sport moniker for Alpine. Hence, all future go-fast models will fall under the Alpine banner. Three new offerings have been promised initially, with the Clio and A110 returning to live with electric motors and battery packs.

Also expect more EV/hybrid Polestars (just don’t call them a Volvo) to make their way to our shores.

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The Camaro is destined to replace the defunct Holden ZB Commodore on the race track with GMSV as part of Supercars’ Gen 3 rollout, but it’s unlikely it’ll return to local roads. It’s believed GM will also retire the nameplate globally in 2024.

The wait for the Nissan GT-R is undefined, too, as we’ll have to wait until the all-new generation breaks cover.

So, while some models have been shown the door, there is a lot to look forward to on the other side. It’s just that the view and landscape has changed.

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