Car Facts
11 Cars That Are Being Discontinued For 2021
There seem to be an infectious disease sweeping through the auto industry, given how many cars are being discontinued.
In 2020, everything from mass-market models with decades-old nameplates to some recent entrants, are heading for the automotive graveyard.
In some of these cases, the about-to-be discontinued vehicles have devoted followings – but that is not enough for their manufacturers to keep them alive any longer.
Here is a list of car models that are going away in 2020.
Note: In the list include some vehicles whose demise has been announced but will continue sales into the new year, as well as models that could continue to register sales in 2021 as dealers pare inventory.
1. Chevrolet Impala
The production of the Chevrolet Impala stopped earlier this year. There is no plan for a replacement. Its production started in the 1960s. With the exception of Dodge’s muscular Charger and Challenger models, the domestic brands are exiting the large car business in favour of more popular, practical, and profitable three-row SUVs.
2. BMW i8
The BMW i8 is a sporty plug-in hybrid coupe and roadster duo. The car will be dropped from BMW’s lineup at the end of the 2020 model year after a six-year shelf life.
The i8 features sleek exterior and (with the coupe) vertical-opening doors; it snapped necks with its surprisingly quick 369-horsepower electrified turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
3. Alfa-Romeo 4C Spider
Alfa Romeo 4C is one of the purest performance cars on the road. The car is capable of brisk acceleration and truly tenacious handling. On the down side it is also one of the most punishing cars to drive around town, with heavy steering, a buckboard ride, and incredibly inhospitable accommodations. Alfa managed to move just 71 units through the first half of 2020, and so it’s being shown the door.
4. Acura RLX
The RLX is Acura’s full-size flagship sedan. This technology-infused luxury car was introduced as successor to the RL for the 2014 model year. But it never sold in big numbers, with sales of late being nearly nonexistent. The brand managed to deliver only 536 units to customers over the first seven months of 2020.
5. Cadillac CT6
The Cadillac CT6 is another victim of the SUV boom. The rear-drive CT6 luxury sedan car is leaving showrooms for 2021. It has become a tough sell since it was introduced for the 2016 model year. Now Cadillac sells nearly five times as many Escalade SUVs as it does CT6s. The car will, however, be known in the annals of automotive history as the only model ever to offer GM’s 500-horsepower “Blackwing” V8 engine. Super Cruise, meanwhile, will migrate to other Cadillac and GM vehicles.
6. Chevrolet Sonic
The sale of small cars are fast reducing. Due to this, Chevrolet is canceling the subcompact Sonic at the end of the 2020 model year. They are doing this to free up production for a future Bolt EV-based electric crossover vehicle. The automaker only managed to move around 14,000 units last year. This figure is down from nearly 100,000 back in 2014. That leaves the midsize Malibu and tiny Spark as Chevrolet’s only mainstream passenger cars (the sporty Corvette and Camaro aside), and their days are also reportedly numbered.
7. Dodge Journey and Grand Caravan
The cross-over SUV, Grand Caravan minivan, are leaving the lineup for 2021. This is a tell-tale signs of how Dodge seems to be going all in on muscle cars.
The midsize Journey had lingered for far too long. It has been without anything more than a refresh, and relied on big rebates and other deals to attract buyers.
8. Honda Fit
Since it came out in 2006, the subcompact Fit hatchback has long been regarded as one of the best small autos in the car business. Honda will instead be promoting the Fit-based subcompact HR-V crossover SUV as its entry-level ride. The HR-V outsold the Fit by nearly 63,700 units last year. Further reducing its passenger car stock, Honda will also be discontinuing the compact Civic coupe in the U.S. for 2021.
9. Lexus GS
The midsize GS luxury sports sedan will not be returning for 2021, with Lexus marking its demise with a limited production Black Line GS 350 F-Sport version for 2020.
The 2020 Lexus GS is yet another victim of the industry’s shift from sedans to SUVs.
The rear-drive GS was introduced in 1993 as the brand’s answer to European performance-minded sedans like the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6. Hybrid and F Sport models were subsequently added to the line. Sales peaked in 2005, but have since fallen to make the GS one of Lexus’ lowest-volume models.
10. Mercedes-Benz SLC
The Mercedes-Benz SLC will be going away after the current model year. The company hasn’t significantly updated it in several years (other than a name change from SLK to SLC), and it shows.
The SLC is fun to drive, especially with it’s fitted with the available AMG-tuned 385-horsepower twin-turbo V6. Two models are offered, starting with the well-equipped and relatively efficient SLC 300. Topping the lineup is the powerful Mercedes-AMG SLC 43.
