Emission regulations are forcing automakers to hybridize internal combustion engines or retire them all together in a quest for a cleaner future. While supercar manufacturers were the last to be affected by electrification due to the low volume production and the bespoke nature of their products, the time has come for them to follow the new trend towards electric mobility.

So is there a way to keep internal combustion engines alive in a fully electric future? Well, it might impossible for street-legal cars, but the good-old gas-burning engine could survive inside track-only hypercars.

Building a multi-million non-street-legal car might sound absurd, but during the last decades, there have been many examples of fire-spitting hypercars designed exclusively for track use.

To name a few, Ferrari launched the Enzo-based FXX (2005), 599XX (2009), La Ferrari-based FXX (2015), and FXX K Evo (2017) programs and Maserati came up with the limited-production MC12 Versione Corse (2006). McLaren replied with the P1 GTR (2015) and Senna GTR (2020), while Aston Martin produced the Vulcan (2015) and announced the Valkyrie AMR Pro (2021). Moreover, Lamborghini revealed the Essenza SCV12 (2020) and Bugatti just announced the impressive Bolide (2021).

Read Also: Lamborghini Boss Outlines Electrification Strategy, Readies EV Fourth Model Line for 2025+

This strategy allows automakers to free themselves from the numerous regulations accompanying production vehicles in terms of design, cost-cutting, sound and emissions, creating the ultimate driving machine. Even racecars have to comply with rules restricting their performance, exterior dimensions, and aerodynamics, meaning that the fully unrestricted machines can be even faster around the track.

In order to survive, supercar manufacturers have to offer electrified street-legal models. Ferrari is already into plug-in hybrids, Lamborghini has announced its electrification strategy including a PHEV-only range and an upcoming BEV, Koenigsegg has also gone hybrid with the Gemera, while Bugatti is already working on a fully electric hypercar after joining forces with Rimac.

However, this doesn’t mean that they necessarily have to abandon their screaming V8, V10, and V12 engines which could march on in future track-only specials. Supporting this claim, Lamborghini’s CEO Stephan Winkelmann left the door open for future pure combustion track-only hypercars similar to the Essenza SCV12 during a recent interview with Autocar.

Another fitting example is the track-only Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro that was recently revealed in production form with a naturally aspirated V12, ditching the hybrid system found on the road-going Valkyrie for less weight. The same goes for the Bugatti Bolide, which will have a limited production of 40 units and will be fitted with a quad-turbo 8.0-liter W16 engine producing 1,578 hp (1,176 kW / 1,600 PS).

Read Also: Bugatti Bolide Goes From One-Off To A Limited Production Of 40 Models

The fact that those hypercars do not need to be street-legal would allow them to use an internal combustion engine even after the imminent ICE sales ban all around the world. If this is the case, tracks would be the last resort for gas-powered vehicles, although manufacturers like Porsche are developing synthetic fuels that, they hope, will make ICE cars greener and help prevent their demise.