Five vehicles hearing that mournful bugle in 2013
Owners of one very popular Chevrolet pickup truck will be disappointed if they look for it next year.
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5 Vehicles You Won't See in 2013...
By Alex Taylor III
– 27 Sep, 2012
In addition to hundreds of millions of dollars in
sunk costs, a lot of marginal profit is being sacrificed -- the
profitability of a car line can actually increase as it ages, because the
development costs have been amortized.
At some point, a
mercy killing for the weak is required.
Sales have fallen too low,
another model has come along to replace it in the product lineup, or the
car has simply become an embarrassment.
At least two of the three were the reasoning behind Daimler's decision to stop making all five Maybach models in June, six months ahead of schedule.
At least two of the three were the reasoning behind Daimler's decision to stop making all five Maybach models in June, six months ahead of schedule.
Often
compared to an airport executive lounge on wheels, the car never found
an audience among either the established, or nouveau riche.
Its sales had
sunk to a pitiable level.
Through July, only seven Maybachs had found
buyers, this year, vs. 224 for Rolls-Royce, according to numbers compiled
by Automotive News.
Other models breathing their last at one point or another in 2013:
Chevrolet Avalanche
GM is getting ready to launch a new platform for its full-size pickups, and decided not to make a re-engineered Avalanche one of the spin-off models.
Chevrolet AvalancheGM is getting ready to launch a new platform for its full-size pickups, and decided not to make a re-engineered Avalanche one of the spin-off models.
Sales of the once-popular truck/SUV combo have been slipping for
six years in the face of higher fuel prices and the greater
availability of crew-cab trucks.
In past years, GM might have kept the
old vehicle in production as a "classic" -- its owners are exceptionally
devoted -- but that doesn't appear to be in the cards, this time.
Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town&Country
Chrysler is starting the 2013 model year with two minivan brands, but it will likely end the year with just one.
Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town&CountryChrysler is starting the 2013 model year with two minivan brands, but it will likely end the year with just one.
Badge engineering is a no-no for CEO,
Sergio Marchionne, who says customers are smart enough not to be fooled
by minor cosmetic differences.
It remains to be seen whether the Caravan
or Town&Country gets the ax.
Mazda CX-7
A crossover unlike most others, the CX-7 was an outlier in the segment, with its minivan-like interior packaged in an aerodynamic shell.
Mazda CX-7A crossover unlike most others, the CX-7 was an outlier in the segment, with its minivan-like interior packaged in an aerodynamic shell.
It
makes way for the smaller CX-5, which is already winning kudos for its
efficient use of space and unusually sprightly handling.
Mitsubishi Eclipse
The Eclipse struggled through the 2012 model year -- only 601 found buyers since January -- and it will not make it to the starting blocks for 2013.
Mitsubishi EclipseThe Eclipse struggled through the 2012 model year -- only 601 found buyers since January -- and it will not make it to the starting blocks for 2013.
The last one was built in August, 2011.
Those with long
memories will recall the Eclipse was introduced in 1990 as
triplets.
Two versions were marketed by Chrysler divisions now defunct:
the Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon.
Now a senior citizen, by sporty car
standards, the Eclipse outlived both of them.
Lexus HS 250h
Toyota stopped building this hybrid in January, though it waited until May to confirm production was ending.
Lexus HS 250hToyota stopped building this hybrid in January, though it waited until May to confirm production was ending.
Customers clearly objected to paying
a $10,000 premium for what they viewed as an upgraded Prius, and only
four HS models were sold in July.
Its demise was hastened by the looming
arrival of another Lexus hybrid, the ES 300h, which gets to dealers in
August.
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