Sports cars were all the rage in the 1980s and 1990s. Now, everyone seems to want an SUV or a truck instead of track-inspired greatness. This trend shows as sports car sales have fallen every year since 2001. Additionally, more automakers are killing off classic sports car models in favor of cross-overs and all-terrain vehicles.
The trend is worse for some models. Some high prices drive buyers away, others see owners looking for a weekend sports car, and daily driving sports cars continue to dwindle. Only the most iconic models are keeping the sales churning, and the ones on this list amount to only a handful compared to the best-selling vehicles of the last year.
10 Subaru BRZ
Subaru is known for making cars that sell well. In fact, some of the most popular models are the WRX and STi. On the other end of the spectrum is the Subaru BRZ. Selling 2320 units in 2021, the BRZ is the worst-selling model in Subaru's lineup. But that doesn't mean it's a bad sports car!
Being Subaru's only RWD car, the BRZ isn't as daily-able as other models. But with a 228-hp 2.4L four-cylinder, the BRZ is plenty fast! Further, the BRZ has a six-speed manual for sports car fun, and people are buying it as a second car to join their collection. Despite the poor sales numbers, the BRZ is an excellent ride!
9 BMW i8
The BMW i8 was revolutionary when it was released, or so the concept showed. In reality, the i8's plug-in hybrid system allows only 18 miles of range when using battery only. The 1.5L three-cylinder gas engine also allows power to peak at 369 ponies!
Considering the specs, it's no surprise that only 21 sold in 2021. Additionally, Car and Driver gave the i8 a score of seven out of ten, citing interior quality and power as significant cons. Plus, BMW thinks highly of the i8, pricing it at $147,500, compared to Tesla's Model S, which starts at $95,000!
8 Ford GT
Sports cars tend to have a higher price tag, but the Ford GT takes the price to a whole new level at half a million dollars. The GT is virtually unattainable, perhaps because of its rich racing history, such as the 2016 24 Hours Le Mans victory.
Ford's GT doesn't flash extreme luxury, just race-inspired brilliance! Though the EcoBoost Twin-Turbo V6 isn't so exotic, the interior is minimalist and driver-focused. The high price may exclude many, but the GT still sold 123 units in 2021.
7 Acura NSX
Gearheads cheered when the NSX returned in 2017. Its run is short-lived, as 2022 will already see its demise. With a starting price of $170,000, Acura puts a premium on the NSX name.
Though its 3.5L twin-turbo V6 can pump out 600 hp, giving the Ford GT a run for its money, it lacks sales. 124 NSXs sold in 2021, with the biggest complaint being that the interior lacks luxury appeal. It's sad to see another NSX bite the dust!
6 Nissan GT-R
Arguably one of the most iconic JDM sports cars out there, the GT-R isn't selling well. In fact, Nissan sold only 228 last year. The GT-R may be one of the fastest cars out of Japan, but it hasn't seen a major update since 2009, adding to the low sales numbers.
The $113,000 price tag doesn't help the GT-R. Further, the Nismo version, which pumps out 600 hp, goes for $220,000! Plus, the R35 lacks the same appeal the Skyline R34 had, making buyers think twice about the current generation supercar!
5 Audi R8
Audi's R8 turns up in search bars more often than any other supercar. Despite the search mania, the R8 isn't a hot seller. The Audi R8 only sold 648 times in 2021, with most consumers complaining that it isn't exotic enough!
Surprisingly, the R8 fits a sizable 5.2L V10 engine under the hood, the same engine that sits in the Huracan. It doesn't help that the R8s starting price is $149,000. High prices and consumer perception keep buyers from wanting the R8!
4 Audi TT
Along the same lines as the R8, the Audi TT is another sports car nobody is buying. Only 987 TTs sold last year, and the starting price above $50,000 is a big reason to blame.
The Audi TT is luxurious. It features a 228-hp 2.0L four-cylinder that's perfect for its size. Despite the pros, the TT isn't aggressive enough. Plus, Car and Driver gives the TT poor marks for reliability, putting it 23rd out of 29 carmakers!
3 Jaguar F-Type
The luxury sports coupe that sells for $70,000 is stylish and classy. So classy, in fact, that KBB gave the F-Type five out of five for the interior quality and excellent drive! The Jaguar F-Type looks the sports car part.
Additionally, the Jaguar F-Type features an adaptive suspension that adjusts for the perfect ride on the track or road. It has a supercharged V8 engine capable of 575 hp. It really is a shame only 2,112 of these bad boys were in 2021.
2 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
The paltry 460 units the Mercedes-Benz and Mercedez-AMG SL-Class sold include models from the entire lineup. The low-end SL350 starts at $91,000, and prices climb rapidly for nicer models. Price alone describes the lack of sales, but that isn't the end of the story.
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Though the largest engine is a 4.7L V8, the largest horsepower number sits just shy of 450 ponies. Additionally, the interior feels outdated, even lacking features, something consumers are aware of in the SL-Class Mercedes!
1 Toyota GR86
Similar to the BRZ, the Toyota 86/GR86 is an underrated model that really deserves more than 1046 cars sold in a year! Toyota rebranded the 86 to the GR86 for the 2022 model and added some modified suspension dampers and ride height to set it apart from the Subaru counterpart.
This sub-$30,000 sports car provides an exhilarating drive with a 228-hp 2.4L four-cylinder. The manual transmission is engaging, and the exterior design is impressive. We're hoping the GR86 sells well enough to keep it off the chopping block!
Sources: Good Car Bad Car