Production has ended for the Audi R8, with no successor in the pipeline. Photo: Audi
Production has ended for the Audi R8, with no successor in the pipeline. Photo: Audi
Production has ended for the Audi R8, with no successor in the pipeline. Photo: Audi
Production has ended for the Audi R8, with no successor in the pipeline. Photo: Audi

Audi R8 and Ford Edge: Seven car models that will be discontinued after 2023


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Change is an integral part of the automotive industry. Some model lines – such as Porsche’s 911 and Chevrolet’s Corvette – have enough inherent brand value to continue evolving and prospering more than half a century after their inception. However, in some cases, model names that have existed for several decades are axed as they no longer remain commercially viable.

A few long-running stalwarts that have perished over the years include the Alfa Romeo Spider (1966-1994), Chevrolet Impala (built from 1957 to 2020, with a couple of breaks along the way), Ford Escort (1968-2002) and Volkswagen Scirocco (1974-1992 and 2008-2017).

Here are seven more iconic nameplates that will cease to exist come 2024.

Audi R8

Audi’s radical sports car was a revelation when it debuted in 2006, as its mid-engined format and eye-catching design was a major departure from the brand’s formerly conservative image.

Initially available solely with a 4.2-litre V8, the R8 morphed into a genuine supercar with the 2009 launch of a V10 version, the motor of which was sourced from sister brand Lamborghini. A second-gen R8 followed in 2015 and the sonorous coupe/spider is still available in showrooms. However, production has now ended, and there’s no successor in the pipeline.

It’s rumoured a full-electric sportster will eventually fill the void, but that’s still at least five years away.

Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro kicked off America’s love with the compact and affordable 'pony car'. Photo: Chevrolet
The Camaro kicked off America’s love with the compact and affordable 'pony car'. Photo: Chevrolet

In the mid-1960s, Ford’s Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro kicked off America’s love with the so-called “pony car”, a moniker coined to describe compact, affordable coupes with a sporting edge. These two, along with the Dodge Challenger, racked up millions of sales over the decades.

Even so, the current, sixth-generation Camaro will no longer be built after January 2024. There’s no direct replacement waiting in the wings, but Chevy promises “this is not the end of Camaro’s story”.

The sixth-gen Camaro ran for nine years, selling 72,705 units in 2016 – its debut year – but sales dwindled to just 24,652 vehicles in 2022.

Dodge Challenger

The Dodge Challenger is being retired as the focus turns to electrification. Photo: Dodge
The Dodge Challenger is being retired as the focus turns to electrification. Photo: Dodge

The Challenger is a veteran, as the nameplate was born in 1970 and the current generation dates back to 2008. Despite its age, the brawny Challenger has held its own against newer, more sophisticated opposition, with a series of updates and new model variants – such as the wild 727hp Hellcat – endowing the Challenger with cult status.

However, with Dodge and its sibling brands (Chrysler, RAM and Jeep) now part of the Eurocentric Stellantis Group, the Challenger is being retired as the focus is on electrification. There may be a battery-powered Challenger successor in years to come, but there’s as yet no confirmation of this.

Ferrari Portofino M

The Ferrari Portofino M will be taken over by the carmaker's Roma Spider. Photo: Ferrari
The Ferrari Portofino M will be taken over by the carmaker's Roma Spider. Photo: Ferrari

The Ferrari Portofino might lack the outright punch and sizzle of stablemates such as the 296 GTB and SF90 Stradale, but the alfresco tourer still has appeal. The original debuted in 2018, but the updated Portofino M (for Modificata) that superseded it in 2021 is a substantially better car in every respect.

Even so, it’s set to be pensioned off as the recently released Roma Spider takes over as the prancing horse’s entry-level convertible. The latter also features a twin-turbo V8 and 2+2 seating layout, but foregoes a complicated, heavy folding hardtop in lieu of a lighter, more traditional soft-top.

Ford Edge

Ford is restructuring the assembly plant where the Edge is built. Photo: Ford
Ford is restructuring the assembly plant where the Edge is built. Photo: Ford

The Edge has been a steady seller for Ford since the first-gen model debuted in 2006. Be that as it may, the mid-size crossover is now nearing the end of the road as, in order to allow space and resources to manufacture its new fleet of electric vehicles, the company is having to restructure the assembly plant in Oakville, Canada where the Edge is built.

This plant will be the production site of five EVs scheduled to launch from 2025 onwards. The 2023 model year will be the final one for the existing Edge, so if you're in the market for one, this is your last chance.

Lamborghini Huracan

The Huracan's V10 engine is set to be substituted by a twin-turbo V8 plug-in-hybrid powertrain. Photo: Lamborghini
The Huracan's V10 engine is set to be substituted by a twin-turbo V8 plug-in-hybrid powertrain. Photo: Lamborghini

The intoxicating V10 scream and user-friendly dynamics of the Huracan makes the raging bull’s entry-level sports car a delight to flog – be it on a racetrack or winding mountain road.

However, the sportster’s decade-long run comes to an end in 2024, as an all-new replacement debuts late next year.

In keeping with Lamborghini’s tradition, the newbie is likely to gain a fresh bull-themed model name, and the charismatic V10 engine is set to be substituted by a twin-turbo V8 plug-in-hybrid powertrain. The Huracan signs off with a flourish though, as the dirt-track-loving Sterrato is the final variant of the likeable Lambo.

Nissan Maxima

Production of the Nissan Maxima has been halted. Photo: Nissan
Production of the Nissan Maxima has been halted. Photo: Nissan

The Maxima has long been a favourite in the UAE, but production of the medium-large saloon has been halted due to shifting buyer tastes. Although still available in showrooms, the model is headed for the exit.

It’s believed the nameplate will be resurrected in due course, but in its new avatar it will likely be an electric vehicle. Nissan has already demonstrated its ability to build a capable electric car in the Leaf, and a battery-powered Maxima could be positioned as an upmarket sibling to the former.

Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up

Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm

On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm

The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm

The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm

Romang, June 28 at 6pm

Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm

Underdog, June 29 at 2pm

Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm

A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm 

 

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Thor: Ragnarok

Dir: Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson

Four stars

Your rights as an employee

The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.

The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.

If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.

Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.

The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.

List of officials:

Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.

Five films to watch

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Only Yesterday (1991)

Pom Poki (1994)

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

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Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

The Scale for Clinical Actionability of Molecular Targets
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Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Play-off fixtures

Two-legged ties to be played November 9-11 and November 12-14

 

  • Northern Ireland v Switzerland
  • Croatia v Greece
  • Denmark v Ireland
  • Sweden v Italy
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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
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Honeymoonish
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

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TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

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What is a calorie?

A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.

One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.

A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.

Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.

Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram. 

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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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While you're here
Bullet%20Train
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Updated: September 28, 2023, 3:58 AM`