I am worried about the future of performance cars

March 10th was a great day folks! The new BMW M3 and M4 have finally been released to the public. How can you not get excited about that? If you think by now, I am about to start a massive rant over its controversial grille, the fact it now has an auto box instead of a dual clutch, or it having gained some significant heft, you are totally mislead. In fact, I am writing these lines for a very different reason. As I am reading the first articles and watching Youtube videos of the current crop of motoring journalists reviewing the new M3/M4, I can't help but wonder how much longer we will have cars like these around. And as a car enthusiast, this makes me scratch my head.

For the ones who still haven't realized it: We are in the middle of the biggest automotive paradigm change since the existence of the automobile. The whole industry is edging closer and closer towards complete electrification. Just look at the current lineups of our well known car manufacturers, and the plans for the upcoming EU emission standards and tell me that is not the case. Not even mentioning the already announced future internal combustion engine bans of certain countries. And here is a big disclaimer, not only your "standard" boring daily commuters will be hit by that. This development will inexorably cascade down to performance (oriented) cars as well. You want an example: The new AMG C63 will be a 4 cylinder-hybrid. From a gnarly, wonderfully thunderous V8 to an electrified I4, just guess what's next. The internal combustion engine will - bar any big surprises and revelations - be gone at one point. Before you freeze in a state of shock, you can write a "thank you letter" to that guy, who is busy right now, with shooting rocket ships into space, digging holes through Los Angeles, and probably working on a dozen other projects. One could argue he single handedly changed the future of cars. Whilst that undoubtedly deserves some hat-dips, this is also bad news for car nuts like you and me. Let me explain why.

Let's wind back time a bit and let's try to recall what makes a great driver's car, and especially which traits always used to be able to give you the "fizz" whilst behind the steering wheel of car.

Interaction and Engagement

A fun and entertaining car demands something from you as a driver. What do I mean by that? It should have a safety net in terms of driving aids but it shouldn't "over-nanny" you. You should be the one in control, and if you mess it up, you have to pay the price. Also, you should actually be busy during the act of driving. The steering should wriggle in your hands, urging you to stay focused and hold it firmly. The powertrain, especially the engine and gearbox should demand you keep it happy. Hence make you change gears by yourself, manage throttle and clutch, and urge you to keep it in the "ideal" RPM range, making sure you get the most out of its performance envelope. So overall, you should be the one in control, not the car's electronics.

Chassis balance and adjustability

A great driver's car has a well balanced, playful chassis. A great chassis can make up for so many other traits it maybe lacking. Take for example sixties thru nineties performance cars. Most aren't particularly known for their powerful engines and straight line figures, but they are loved and worshipped for their delicate handling characteristics. Almost nothing is more satisfying than loading a car up for a corner, whilst properly feeling the chassis work underneath you. Then, having the possibility to adjust the way the car goes around the bend. Nice and tidy, or maybe a bit lairy with the rear stepping out? The beauty of having the possibility to choose, is not something to be taken for granted. You need two things for that: A generally well set up chassis, and low curb weight.

Emotion

No exhilarating drive is complete without a nice dose of emotion. And which element of the car can give you that? Of course the engine. The beauty of the internal combustion engine is, that there are virtually endless variations. I3, I4, I5, V6, I6, F6, V8, V10, V12, W16, rotary, and what have you. All of them can give you a very unique, distinctive and organic aural experience. Listening to the spine-tingling howl of a Porsche flat 6 chasing its redline, experiencing the unique bark of an Audi 5 cylinder, feeling the rumble of a gnarly V8, getting your eardrums blown out by the frenetic scream of a Lambo V10 or Ferrari V12, or just getting your ears treated with the beautiful, creamy combustion noise of BMW Inline 6. This, especially with slightly older cars can be accompanied by fluttering, hissing turbos, whining superchargers and the likes. Although, thanks to ever so stricter getting emission standards as well as increasing refinement of the newest bunch of cars, we are already loosing these characteristics, many of them are still present to this day. These aural sensations are such an integral part of driving a performance car, that I am having a hard time believing you can take that away from the drive and still be able have a fulfilling experience.

And here is exactly my concern with electrified or fully electric cars. They DO NOT deliver any of those traits.

A) You simply don't have this kind of interaction in an electric car. You don't have to worry about the engine, because it just delivers bucket loads of torque from 0 RPM. You don't have to change gears, because it has none. The driving part overall is getting incredibly computerized and assisted.

B) Electric cars are heavy. There is no way you can have a playful chassis with 2,5 tons having to be maneuvered around. Physics sadly just don't work like that.

C) Electric cars all produce the same terrible, miserable, uninspiring noise. Yes, Porsche for example has realized that and put a "sound enhancer" into the Taycan. But do we really want that? I'd rather have a real, organic combustion noise instead.

Did you realize that I never mentioned speed? You ask why? Because speed simply does not matter. You can have a fun and engaging drive at almost any speeds! Unfortunately car manufacturers nowadays are moving in this questionable "speedification" direction, and this will only get worse with ongoing electrification. They are trying to mask the the lack of emotion and interaction with raw grip and straight line speed. Cars are on the verge of becoming dull and blunt speed machines. Where is the point in having a car accelerating you into unconsciousness, then having the autopilot take over for you, so you don't crash? This bold number-chase is getting more and more ridiculous, especially in a time, where a few miles per hour over the already very low speed limits can put you into jail in the blink of an eye.

Also, to be entertained, I don't need my car to make stupid farting noises and have other kinds of silly Easter eggs in its repertoire. These are all "one trick ponies". Fun to use once, or twice, but they will never be able to keep the enthusiast interested.

The overall car industry by now is way too heavily influenced by a bloke who, sorry, simply has no idea about cars and what makes cars great and fun to drive. Trying to convert cars into driving IPads, whilst making more and more steps towards autonomous driving is the best way of completely voiding everything that makes us love automobiles.

I know I may sound harsh, but please, dear car manufacturers, look away from these distractions, don't try to copy, but go back to your roots and recall what makes a great driver's car. Many of you achieved that over the course of the last couple of decades, and some still do to this point! Don't be blinded by misleading recent developments and try to find a way to contain this "secret sauce" for years to come. Regardless of how the drivetrain of the future may look like. There will always be car enthusiasts who actually want to drive their car, be engaged, and be entertained, not by silly onboard computer gubbins, but by the drive itself.

If you have made it to this point in the article, congrats, I dip my virtual hat! But what is the conclusion for you and me here? Not all hope is lost! Good car manufacturers always listen to their customers. So it is also up to you and me to show them, what we want. Don't go asking for even more refinement or the newest tech shenanigans. Go out and buy cars that a are still great driver's cars. Buy your Lotuses, Alpines, Caterhams, and brilliant machinery of the likes. Send a powerful message. They will take note! They will at some point find out, that we don't need a 2,5 ton speed device with a gazillion horsepower and torque. Give us a 1 ton, 200 HP electric two seater with no driving aids, the least refinement you can offer and no onboard entertainment.

Maybe I will then come around and change my mind...