Tens of models came to the end of their production cycle at the end of the last year, and 2022 will be no different. As automakers start to roll out their new model year products in anticipation of the next few months, other models will be signing off. The reasons vary from the electrification of variants to the release of new generations. Regardless, these models seem to have become obsolete, though their discontinuation will probably increase their popularity as the perception of rarity creeps in.

Russia is known for many things, but cars are not necessarily at the top of the list. When the Soviet Union is mentioned, AK47s, communism, and the Gulag come to mind for a good reason. Their society was geared more towards utility than innovation, so cars like the Lada and Trabant that got you from A to B were best sellers. They are not necessarily horrible cars but do not have any flair either. However, if you dig through enough coal, a few diamonds are bound to be discovered.

Muscle cars have often been related to the American market owing to the hot rod culture that sprung up during the 1920s. Australia followed suit after automakers like Ford released the GT in the late 60s for the local market. The popularity of the touring car series also encouraged manufacturers to develop muscle cars that specifically targeted the Australian market. The fact the population is geographically isolated and relatively smaller has lent to the uniqueness of muscle car models over the next few decades.

The automotive industry is experiencing huge paradigm shifts as hybrids and electric vehicles become more integrated with the lineups that automakers currently offer. The idea of an electric pickup may have been laughable as recently as 2010, but it’s not as funny now. Within a decade, solely gasoline models in every segment will be the minority as the EVs take over. There is an obvious concern of weight as pickups and electrics are rather heavy on their own without being combined, but emerging technologies should solve this soon. None of the following trucks are currently available, but they will be able to carry out deliveries and a full days’ work on a single charge when released.

The automotive landscape is changing according to emerging technologies. Long gone are the days when large auto manufacturers had the best innovations as individuals and small groups are producing models that test the limits of engineering. The number of supercars broaching the market has never been higher, and some of them have achieved moderate success. Unfortunately, others may have seen the light of day but did not do so well. It is probably because the supercar segment is saturated with options from the likes of McLaren and Lamborghini. These brands have many years of experience, resources, and better engagement with their markets.

The hot hatchback has come a long way since its inception in the seventies. The current hot hatches have an accepted formula: taking a standard model, increasing the engine output, and beefing up the suspension to go round corners a bit too quickly. The current high-performance versions offer between 250 and 400 horsepower, with better agility than they did decades ago. The emissions and running costs are infinitely much better. For 2022, automakers have upped the ante with a few offerings that will maintain the ongoing theme.

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration is the body in charge of determining whether a vehicle is safe enough to be offered on the American market. Over the years, the body has vetted different imports and denied several models from being used in the United States even if they were widely accepted in other regions. To be fair, some of these models did not have crucial features like airbags or stability control, but they were very cool to drive. In other cases, it could be argued the bans were based on bureaucracy and nitpicking. Some regulations allow you to drive a car that the agency bans, though it has to be more than 25 years old and pass various regulatory hurdles. The following are some of the coolest cars that are still banned from American roads.

The next three years in the automotive industry will be exciting, considering some brands will be providing new offerings while other models will be revamped. 2021 gave automakers the chance to regroup after the covid-19 crisis on the path toward better models and sales. There is significant momentum already for electric vehicles, and the decade will ultimately be summed up as the era every brand incorporated EVs. The upcoming models will feature an exciting blend of petrol, hybrids, and full-on electrics that will usher us into the coming age.

The world of SUVs has changed quite a bit since the days when they were only made for off-roading duties. No longer are they lumbering and slow, but SUVs have adopted platforms closer to those used by sedans and hatchbacks. Automakers also included better aerodynamics, making them more like track cars. They were being made for the city and the suburbs and featured high-performing engines. These allow them to defy the laws of physics and accelerate faster than some current saloon cars. It has also made them increasingly popular in the market and a segment opportunity that every brand has capitalized on with offerings. To that end, the following are some of the fastest accelerating SUVs available on the market.

The typical sports car has been previously characterized as having a mid or rear-engine configuration to gain the best performance attributes. in front-engined cars, the engine’s position typically causes the car’s weight will be oriented to the front, making handling around tight corners tricky due to understeer. Regardless, that has not stopped automakers from challenging these factors and making incredibly fast front-engine vehicles.

Most of you have seen that car review that had the presenters do a road trip with cheap classic Italian cars, detailing the amazing driving experience but comically living through the numerous gremlins. These classic cars may have been achingly beautiful and great to drive, but they manifest some of the worst faults as time goes by. That and the technological gaps are probably the reason why a Maserati would cost below $25,000. Of course, some classic cars cost more than their weight in gold today, but this is another type of list. Rather than the highly sought-after auction potentials, these classic cars will attract envy without costing every arm and leg.

The age of the muscle car is long gone as emissions, practicality, and motion-sensing take up the majority of the consumer space. It is understandable as the modern car has sophisticated comforts that were thought of as space-age technology thirty years ago. However, automakers gave in to the mainstream tradeoff, leading to bland design languages and lackluster engagement on the road. The muscle cars of the past were manual, heavy, and quite loud. Brands that based their flagships on this formula only appealed to a niche market, which often led to discontinuation. Muscle car automakers that survived the technological blitz had to rethink and diversify, resulting in acquisitions or partnerships that completely changed their offerings to the market. In an ideal world, of course, the old-time rock and roll brands would still produce their cars for willing buyers. The following is a list of those that are gone but not forgotten.

German engineering has been severally praised for being some of the best in the automotive world. It may have something to do with the fact German automakers do not generally compromise on anything. Germany is also the home of some of the best automotive brands, including Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Audi. It goes without saying that performance is one of the reasons behind this, so German engines are thought of as engineering marvels. The following are some of the best engines German brands have provided the market.

Nowadays, every brand has a performance flagship the market is aware of. These cars are heavily marketed, so a large percentage of the population considers them for purchase, but once in a while, automakers release a really good model that checks all of the boxes and does not impose them as much. Once in a while, they can be spotted on the street, and it elicits gasps of envy, but the moment passes, and you return to whatever it is you were doing. The following cars are worthy of such moments.

Concept cars are how automakers reveal the future direction they are going to take with different models. They seemed pretty outlandish and ambitious in the past decades, but the future has caught up. True, flying cars are still a ways off but what seemed alien in 1995 is far more pragmatic in the 2020s. The current concept cars resemble a lot of the design language of today’s cars, which means they are in tune with what the people want. Unfortunately, the majority of concept cars do not make it to production status. It may be funding or a general change direction. The ones that did pull through, though, have become some of the most influential models in the automotive market.

The earliest modern electric vehicles were successful purely because they dared to challenge the notion that a car could run on anything other than petrol. The public embraced the change, though, but the problem lay in the capacity to fulfill the requirements fossil fuel had adequately done until then. The technology behind them was also in the rudimentary stages, so cars had only enough battery power to get them to work, and they had to be recharged for the trip back. It caused an increase in range anxiety both for the new owners of electric vehicles and the automakers. They were worried these cars would not have the ability to fulfill obligations before reaching charging points. However, this problem is becoming less relevant for today’s electric cars, whose ranges are getting longer by the day. The following list boasts EVs that can crack above 250 miles before you have to plug them in.

Once Volvo’s version of the AMG, Polestar has made a name for itself as the new EV division for Volvo. The first Polestar showed the market what a sports EV sedan should look like, and the new one is not any different. It has the proportions of a sedan but the ride height of a crossover, much like Forester stance save for the rear estate body. At $47,200, it’s cheap (for an EV) and a clean-cut looker, but the latest iteration of the Polestar is not just a pretty-faced environmental ambassador.

Electric cars have come a long way from being a niche option for the tech affiliated and trendy to becoming a valid option for regular drivers. EV brands are also expanding their lineup beyond the sedan sector to the family segment as more of their models penetrate the customer base. These vehicles still have a long way to go as far as range and access to charging ports is concerned, but the practicality, top-notch technology, and increasingly reasonable pricing have proved their validity. The following are some EV family types for this year that warrant a second look.

Le Mans is one of the greatest tests of endurance where man and machine are tested for 24 hours at speeds in excess of 200 mph. Almost a century ago, the race began as a showcase for manufacturers to prove their vehicles’ sturdiness in competition. The race was then staged annually without fail, apart from the hiatus during the Second World War. Ever since, thousands of teams have flocked to the French countryside to brave the elements. Racing dynasties also flourished and faded during the years resulting in great stories, legends, and victories that are currently being told. The following are some of the best cars to compete at the Circuit de la Sarthe during the past century.

Economical and cost-effective are not the terms that come to mind when talking about Lamborghinis. As one of the premier automakers globally, Lamborghini produces sleek, high-performance models that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The brand also has a rich history that entails rivalry with Italian supercar greats like Ferrari. This long-established pedigree translated into producing models from high-performance parts in the market. The overall cost of production would mean an even bigger price tag for the consumer. Secondly, Lamborghini has produced a reduced number of its models to keep up the exclusivity. Its rarity seals the fact that not everyone can own one, but, as the years progress, some of the older models lose their shine due to better technologies and standards. These cars have become somewhat obsolete and become attainable to members of the middle class.

Under General Motors, Cadillac has primarily known for luxury and comfort as opposed to performance. And, truth be told, the automaker is not known for its acceleration or lap times despite its large displacement engines. However, a few models have been engineered to push the envelope not only in terms of comfort and style but also on the track. The following is a list of the fastest Cadillacs ever made.

Following a continuous production run for 67 years, the Defender was discontinued in 2016 due to rising irrelevance and the costly EU emission standards. However, in 2020, Jaguar Land Rover released a new generation that differs significantly from the previous model. The main highlights include the platform it is based on, the overall design, and hybrid powertrain alternatives. The previous generations were also reputed for their spartan cabins and lack of technology. The new Defender adequately embraces technology and gets a new range of modern petrol and diesel engines from across the available range. Both the past and present Defenders were made to be off-roading SUVs, but there is no harm in comparing attributes to see where each excels better than the other.

Formula 1 is one of the most high-strung sports, involving peak performance cars, elite drivers and millions of dollars in investment and advertising. When the stakes are so high, it is not surprising for rivalries to emerge between the drivers. In fact, they are subtly encouraged and facilitated by the nature of the sport to encourage interest from the fans. Over the years, though, some of these spats were not superficial but quite heated due to the respective egos and team dynamics. Rumors of the tension spread via the media, but the animosity shone through during races or public events once in a while. Some of them took place within the teams themselves, much to the chagrin of the managers, while others occurred between differently placed contenders. The following list takes a look at the most intense title rivalries up to date.

Germany has been widely reputed for producing some of the best quality vehicles over the years. Brands like Mercedes, Porsche, and Audi are classed as providing quality luxury or sports models due to the iconic series they have given the market. It is probably because of the quality control processes enacted by these platforms, ensuring the customers get the absolute best of the automotive world. Their pricing may be a bit higher than other models designed for utility than performance and luxury. Some of these offerings were one-of-a-kind collectibles due to their brief time on the market, thereby raising the price tag over the years. Others are top-of-the-line performance and luxury models whose high cost of production steered the cost to the consumer. The following list shows cars with a combination of rarity and beauty that became the most expensive German vehicles available.

The 90s era lent itself to extravagance and performance in the automotive world. Most economies were doing well, and consumer optimism was up, resulting in significant sales. That allowed auto manufacturers to extend their extra-curricular budgets and invest in cutting-edge research. The result was creative electronics that allowed an increase in output while still playing within the designated emission rules of the time. The automotive 90s focused mostly on performance, though, rather than comfort or safety. Unlike today’s supercars, which prioritize the cabin, utility, and engine, these cars were mostly engine. Some, of course, did better than others, as it was a case of mostly trial and error to decipher which combination of features provided the best results. The following is a list of particularly cool cars of this unforgettable period.