"Petrol cars deserve a proper send-off" - 2023 wish list

We have to accept that EVs are here to stay and that the petrol engine will die in time. It’ll be a sad day when that last new ICE car is built, so in the run-up to 2030 – and starting in 2023 – I want to see more special pure-petrol models celebrating the pinnacle of what’s possible with the combustion engine.

Porsche is already on a roll with its latest and greatest GT3 RS, Audi too with its sign-off R8 GT RWD. I’m sure there’s more in store from Ferrari to wave goodbye to its iconic naturally aspirated V12, and we’re told by Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato that the company will do a special, exclusive sports car that will be available with an engine that burns hydrocarbons exclusively. We’ll see it break cover next year.

I accept sustainability is a big issue and car companies are doing well to address it, but there’s still plenty of room for big brands to do cool stuff with petrol power: Bentley at its British best and another nutty Caterham, for example. A mid-engined V8 Aston would be a thing of beauty, and given that it’s an engineering company run by a petrolhead, Toyota making some more models in the GR Yaris mould would be brilliant for enthusiasts. If we’re going to be forced to give petrol power a send-off, let’s do it in style.

Are you looking to make the switch? Check out our list of the best electric cars...