8 of the Rarest New Cars on the Road

Source: Cadillac

As strange as it sounds, there are plenty of rare cars on the roads. Some may be a once a common model that has dwindled down to a few remaining survivors. Others are orphans from now-departed companies like Mercury, Pontiac, and Saab. Others still may be expensive classics or exotic one-offs.

Plenty of classifieds for these cars will include things like “rare model,” “rare options,” or ask “when was the last time you’ve seen one of these?,” but in reality, there are plenty of brand new cars out there that are just as rare.

But how could that be – if a car is still in production, is ordered straight from the factory by dealers, and comes with a warranty and full parts support from a manufacturer, how can it be rare? Aside from the obvious numbers that prove there are fewer Maserati Ghiblis than Toyota Camrys, there more than a few cars out there that have such low production numbers that they’re practically exotic.

While there are plenty high-end luxury cars, supercars, and one-offs that could make up this list, we took a look at cars available by well-known manufacturers available for less than six figures, and came up with a surprisingly diverse group of 8 of the rarest new models you can find on dealer lots – if you’re lucky.

Source: Dodge

8. Dodge Grand Caravan

Through June, Dodge has sold 36,876 Caravans. That might not sound too bad, but compared to 13 years ago, when it sold 244,911 of the things, you start to get a picture of how far the once-ubiquitous Caravan has fallen. Hampered by a production shortage, Dodge struggled to get just 7,512 of them to buyers in June, while facing stiff competition from the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, and the ever-growing crossover segment as well. Parent company Fiat Chrysler isn’t giving up on the minivan just yet, and is working on a next-generation minivan in hopes that it can turn sales around. Unfortunately, its plans don’t include the Caravan, which will be discontinued after the 2016 model year.

Source: Volvo

7. Volvo V70

Like Chrysler’s minivans, Volvo station wagons were once a common sight in certain parts of the country. Today, the brand is struggling to stay relevant in the American market, and is in the midst of a massive brand reinvention. The S70 is part of Volvo’s old guard, and is set to be replaced by an all-new car by 2018; but with just 437 V70s sold in June, and 2,299 cars sold on the year, help can’t come soon enough. Priced above entry-level luxury brands like Acura and Infiniti, but not quite upscale enough to steal sales from Mercedes or BMW, Volvo needs to make some big changes in order to survive.

Source: BMW

6. BMW Z4

Since the worldwide release of the Z3 back in 1995, BMW’s sporty Z-roadsters have bridged the gap between the entry-level Mazda Miata and the plush Mercedes-SL. And while rival Mercedes has lost the plot a long time ago with its rival SLK roadster (soon to be renamed the SLC), the Z4 is better than ever – too bad it’s so hard to find people willing to spend $49,250 on a two-seat convertible. In June, just 105 buyers took home a Z4, bringing this year’s total up to 1,072 cars.

Source: Porsche

5. Porsche Cayman GT4

While it still battles the stereotype that it’s a Porsche for buyers that can’t afford a 911, the Cayman has become a truly great car, and in GT4 spec, it’s one of the greatest Porsches in modern history. At a $30,000 premium over the Cayman’s base price, the GT4 is a lowered, lightened, 385 horsepower track-day weapon that can embarrass cars that cost three times as much. The GT4 might not be for everyone, but with rumors swirling that only 600 cars will be imported to the U.S., it won’t be nearly enough.

Source: Cadillac

4. Cadillac ELR

The idea of a sporty, premium plug-in hybrid coupe sounds like a great idea. Basing its design on the show-stopping 2009 Cadillac Converj concept sounds even better. But when General Motors compromised on the design and gave the world a tarted up Chevy Volt for $75,000 instead, it was a throwback to the darkest days of GM’s corner-cutting engineering. After just two years in production, Cadillac is doing damage control and offering the car at a $9,000 price drop, while it readies a facelifted model for 2016. Rare enough that it’s a topic of conversation at Autos Cheat Sheet every time we see one in the wild, just 593 people have given the ELR a chance this year.

Source: Alfa Romeo

3. Alfa Romeo 4C

The 4C is an Italian supercar that can be had for less than $55,000 – and no one is buying them. It’s a carbon fiber-based, turbocharged, mid-engined rocket that sticks to the road like glue, can make the zero to 60 sprint in the low-four second range, and tops out at close to 160 miles per hour. But compared to competitors like the Porsche Cayman, Chevy Corvette, and Jaguar F-Type, its build quality and ergonomics are atrocious, and with a loud, cramped cockpit and virtually-nonexistent trunk, it’s a tough sell as a daily driver. But for all its faults, it’s a great sports car; too bad only 320 people have been willing to give it a chance this year.

Source: Mitsubishi

2. Mitsubishi MiEV

The tiny MiEV may be one of the cheapest electric cars you can buy, but it’s far from a great one. As EVs get more advanced and car-like (see Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S), the MiEV’s fragile 90s-era looks and limited range (62 miles per charge), have made it a tough sell, with just 72 cars finding buyers through May this year.

Source: Ford

1. Ford Mustang GT350R

The new Mustang may be a major sales success for Ford, but when it comes to the car’s hottest models, they’re still practically forbidden fruit. Picking up the gauntlet thrown down by the Chevy Camaro Z/28, the GT350R is the most advanced track-focused beast to ever come from the Blue Oval. Pumping out 526 horsepower from its especially-designed 5.2 liter flat-plane V8 engine, we got our first look at what the GT350R could do at last month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed – and it proved to be as insane as we expected. While more will be coming for 2016, Ford has limited production to just 37 cars for 2015.

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