Cars are discontinued as they become less profitable, powerful and able to compete within the market.
It has already been announced that models such as the Audi R8, Mercedes-Benz C Class and Jeep Cherokee will be discontinued in 2024 and ATS Euromaster has used on-line search data over the last 12 months to determine which discontinued cars are missed the most:
1. Lamborghini Aventador – 18,000 searches
The ultimate supercar featured in the 7th instalment of Fast and Furious. The film’s villain, played by Jason Statham, drives a sleek black Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4. Unfortunately for many fans, the last Aventador rolled off the line in July 2022, as Lamborghini transitioned to electric/hybrid cars.
2. Lamborghini Countach – 17,000 searches
Another Lamborghini takes the second spot – this time, it’s the Countach. The low seating position, aluminium body mounted over a tubular frame, and wide door sills all contribute to the sensation of being inside a race car cockpit. Regrettably, the Countach was discontinued in 1990 to make way for a newer model – the Diablo.
3. Ford GT – 16,000 searches
An almighty car designed for speed and performance, the GT40 was named after its height, as it stood only 40 inches tall. Production of the GT stopped at the end of 2022 due to it being a low-volume, high-production-cost car. Ford’s direction has also changed, as they too now focus on EVs.
4. Toyota Celica – 10,000
The Celica was one of the first Japanese cars to be spacious enough to comfortably accommodate passengers with six-foot frames. However, tough new emission regulations made the vehicle uneconomical. Production officially ceased in Japan in April 2006.
5. Toyota MR2 – 10,000
With Toyota being a Japanese company, and with Japan being passionate about golfing, being able to fit a set of golf clubs in the car is a genuine plus point for Japanese manufacturers. The car was ultimately discontinued due to poor sales as demand for small sports cars decreased.
6. Honda S2000 – 8,700 searches
The first models of the S2000s had no clock inside, meaning you could literally lose track of time. The S2000 was discontinued in August 2009 due to poor sales caused by the global financial crisis.
7. Mitsubishi Eclipse – 7,500 searches
Similar to the Lamborghini Aventador, the Mitsubishi Eclipse featured in the Fast and Furious franchise. As focus shifted towards meeting environmental targets around the world, Mitsubishi announced the discontinuation of the Eclipse, to invest more time and effort in developing battery technology.
8. Nissan 370Z – 6,700 searches
The third and final car to feature in the Fast and Furious franchise. The car belonged to Paul Walker, one of the film’s main stars, and appeared in the fifth instalment. The car became the most expensive 370Z sold ever in an auction – selling for $105,600. The 370Z was discontinued in 2020 due to low sales numbers.
9. Porsche 928 – 5,800 searches
The Porsche 928 became an icon and an enthusiast’s dream, due to being the star car in films such as Scarface. Porsche was an independent company at the time and, when they had to consolidate to cut costs, the 928 was a logical cut. This was simply due to poor sales and the fact that it didn’t share components with other models. Production of the 928 ceased in 1995.
10. Lotus Esprit – 5,100 searches
Demand for the Esprit shot up when it was featured in the 1977 Bond film ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’. Famously, Roger Moore drove the Esprit into the sea, where it transformed into a submarine. Production ceased in 2004 and, while a new version was planned for 2008, a decline in finances and uncertainty about the company’s direction put a stop to this.