{"id":33649,"date":"2024-11-11T15:04:26","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T19:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=33649"},"modified":"2024-11-11T15:04:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T19:04:26","slug":"as-government-ev-regulations-rise-performance-models-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/as-government-ev-regulations-rise-performance-models-fall","title":{"rendered":"As government EV regulations rise, performance models fall"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sonoma, California<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Subaru Corp. this fall rolled out its WRX sedan performance lineup for the 2025 model year, and noticeably missing was an updated, $40,000 WRX STI, the Sopwith Camel-winged, 300-plus horsepower hellion. Previous generations of the STI are known for wowing cars \u2018n\u2019 coffee gatherings and speeding past more pricey Porsches at track days.<\/p>\n

But the latest model couldn\u2019t outrun government regulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the current regulatory environment, it\u2019s not possible to sell a vehicle with that kind of capability,\u201d Subaru Product Line Manager Chris Charles said at a Subaru media event here. Automakers are facing federal and state fines if their product lineups don\u2019t meet emissions targets.<\/p>\n

\"Under<\/figure>\n
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Under regulatory pressure, the Subaru WRX STI has been discontinued. Tyler Gourley, Subaru<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Not since the 1974 CAFE laws has the U.S. auto industry been under so much government regulatory pressure. Familiar patterns are emerging \u2014 Chrysler (now part of Stellantis NV) is in financial duress, regulations have opened the door for low-cost Asian competitors, and low-volume, high-power, internal-combustion-engine enthusiast vehicles are getting the axe.<\/p>\n

The incoming Trump administration campaigned on a deregulatory platform to unwind federal emissions mandates aimed at eliminating internal combustion engines sometime in the next decade. But automakers say California \u2014 the country\u2019s biggest auto market \u2014 is the tail wagging the dog with its stringent Section 177 zero-emission auto sales mandates that zero-out gas and diesel engines by 2035.<\/p>\n

Subaru, for example, acknowledged the difficulty of meeting current federal regulations but said the larger concern is so-called Section 177 states that have adopted California\u2019s tough emissions mandates \u2014 states including Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, where foreign makes like Subaru sell well.<\/p>\n

Fifty years ago, Detroit muscle cars like the AMC Javelin, Dodge Challenger, Plymouth Barracuda and Pontiac GTO were canceled. Fast forward to today, and once again, popular models like the V8-powered Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Chevy Camaro also have been shelved.<\/p>\n

\"Hemi-V8<\/figure>\n
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Hemi-V8 powered Dodge products like this Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody have run afoul of federal emissions regulations and have been discontinued. \u00a0FCA US LLC, Dodge<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This time, it\u2019s not just Detroit performance brands feeling the pain. In addition to Japan\u2019s Subaru STI, European performance icons like the Jaguar F-Type, Audi TT and ICE Porsche 718 are ending production.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese performance vehicles aren\u2019t coming back, and with regulations in place we don\u2019t expect any model changes until after the 2028 model year,\u201d said Stephanie Brinley, S&P Global associate director of auto intelligence. \u201cAutomakers have to meet emissions requirements 18 months before the model year.\u201d<\/p>\n