Some cars have been given the proverbial axe because they’ve reached the end of their life cycle, while others are being deep-sixed because they’re simply not popular enough. Technology advances at a rapid pace, buyers’ tastes evolve quickly, and some of the cars that were considered cutting-edge in 2010 are obsolete today.
We’ve singled out ten cars that aren’t sticking around for the 2016 model year. There are a couple that have already been replaced, a few that we’ll miss, and a handful that we’re frankly happy to say goodbye to.
Chevrolet Volt (first generation)
Fitted with a fuel-sipping gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain, the first-generation Volt remains one of the most controversial – and important – models Chevrolet has ever launched. While it turned out to be a big success for the Bowtie, few would have been surprised to see it end up as an also-ran relegated to the sidelines of the automotive landscape. Anyone with access to a news outlet will remember that all was not well in Detroit when Chevrolet was designing the Volt.
To say that the new 2016 Volt has big shoes to fill is an understatement. To ensure it tops its predecessor, Chevrolet has built the second-generation model on a brand new platform designed specifically to underpin hybrids, and it has fitted it with a more efficient drivetrain that can run on electricity alone for about 50 miles.
Honda Civic (ninth generation)
The ninth-generation Honda Civic was often criticized for its overall blandness and its lackluster interior. Honda responded by rushing a comprehensively revised version of its bread-and-butter model to the market, but the updates were too little, too late. The ninth-gen model certainly won’t go down in history as one of the best installments of the Civic.
The monumentally important tenth-gen model that debuted recently promises to make up for its predecessor’s shortcomings with an upscale design, a well-built interior, and a palette of state-of-the art tech features. As a bonus, we hear the next tire-shredding Type R will finally be sold in the United States.
Infiniti Q40
Formerly dubbed G, the Infiniti Q40 was introduced in 2006 as an alternative to the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It should have been retired when the much sleeker-looking Q50 was introduced a couple of years ago, but Infiniti decided to keep it around for a little while longer as an entry-level model in a bid to lure younger buyers into showrooms.
The Q40’s time has finally come; the 2015 model year will be its last. Its spot at the bottom of the Infiniti lineup will soon be filled by a small hatchback dubbed Q30 that was presented earlier this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Built on the same front-wheel drive platform as the Mercedes-Benz CLA, the Q30 is scheduled to land in showrooms next year.
Land Rover LR2
The LR2 (also known as the Freelander 2 in some parts of the globe) was positioned at the very bottom of the Land Rover lineup for years. It offered the all-terrain prowess that buyers expect from a Land Rover-badged SUV in a relatively compact package that was easy to maneuver around town and in crowded parking garages. Launched in 2006, it was one of the last vestiges from the era when Land Rover was sardined with Volvo, Aston Martin, Lincoln, and Jaguar under Ford’s Premier Automotive Group umbrella.
The LR2 has already been replaced by the Discovery Sport. Bigger and more luxurious than its predecessor, the Sport is the only model in its segment to offer space for seven passengers – and the winner of Digital Trends’ first SUV of the year award.
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe
In a market where downsizing and fuel efficiency are the order of the day, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe stood out like the sorest of thumbs with a massive, naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine tuned to deliver 451 horsepower at 6,800 rpm. It’s remembered as Mercedes’ first serious attempt at taking on the BMW M3 Coupe (which is known as the M4 today).
Presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the all-new 2017 C63 now falls under the Mercedes-AMG banner. While it surfs the industry’s downsizing wave with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, it’s more powerful, faster, and more driver-focused than its big-bore predecessor.
