The cars we lost in 2016

Cause of demise: Audi’s retirement from the World Endurance Championship

Citroën C5 – introduced 2000

The Citroën C5 was introduced at the turn of the century, but was discontinued in the UK earlier this year. With the C6 long gone, and the C5 now no more, the Grand C4 Picasso is now the largest and most expensive car Citroën produces.

The old adage of large French cars having a limited shelf life has never been truer.

Cause of demise: axed from UK market due to shrinking sales

DS 5 hybrid – introduced 2012

DS’s diesel-electric hybrid was one of a rare breed; most hybrids are petrol-electric, so it’s little surprise that it was chopped from the DS lineup only four years after its introduction due to slow sales.

The hybrid-shaped gap in the DS lineup will be plugged by DS’s upcoming hybrid SUV.

Cause of demise: accounted for just 3% of DS 5 UK sales

Ford Ka – introduced 2008

Ford’s second-generation Ka never lived up to the reputation of its quirky first-generation city car. The original car’s twelve-year production run wasn’t matched by its successor either, but Ford kept the Ka alive for eight years, as the Fiat 500, with which it shared components, stormed the market.

Cause of demise: market moves away from three-door city cars, replaced by five-door Ka+

Land Rover Defender – introduced 1948 (arguably)

Land Rover’s iconic Defender was first introduced in 1948 as the Series 1, and maintained a reputation over its marathon 68-year production life as one of the toughest off-road vehicles available. It eventually succumbed, having aged too much to keep up with the latest safety and emissions laws.

Before it had even been discontinued, rumours were swirling about when Land Rover would bring it back. Watch this space.

Cause of demise: couldn’t keep up with modern safety and emissions legislation (old age)

MG 6 – introduced 2010

SAIC took over MG after the company’s infamous demise, and began selling its 3, 6 and GS models in the UK. Unfortunately, the British public aren't as starry-eyed over the MG brand as they once were, and it remains a rather niche marque, with only a small share of the UK market.

MG discontinued the 6 earlier this year, and pulled out of UK production following the Brexit vote. The 6 will return, though, but it’s not yet been revealed when.

Cause of demise: MG chose not to continue the model in the UK, to comply with EU 6 emissions law

Nissan Note – introduced 2007

Nissan’s micro-MPV was in a quieter class of cars, rivalled only by the Honda Jazz. Earlier this year, after the new Micra was unveiled, Nissan revealed that the Note would not be continued in the UK after the new supermini goes on sale, as the two cars will overlap more than before.

Cause of demise: Pre-emptive - sales will be absorbed by the new Micra

Saab – introduced 1945

The dream has been dead for Saab for a while now, but 2016 confirmed our worst fears, as new owners NEVS (National Electric Vehicle Sweden) agreed not to use the brand name.

Cause of demise: Agreement between original owner and current owner

Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé, Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead – introduced 2008, 2007

Rolls-Royce’s Rolls-Royce Phantom variants will be pruned from the Rolls-Royce range. The Phantom has already been taken out of production in anticipation for the next Rolls-Royce flagship, which will also be called the Phantom, and Rolls-Royce announced that the two models would not be continued into the eighth-generation Phantom lineup.

The Rolls-Royce Dawn convertible and Rolls-Royce Wraith coupé, Rolls-Royce says, already fill the gaps which the two models will leave.

Cause of demise: Rationalisation of the Rolls-Royce range

Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet – introduced 1979

Okay, so the last generation Golf Cabriolet hasn’t been around since 1979, but the Golf Cabriolet as a whole has. Volkswagen trimmed the drop-top version of the Golf from its lineup in 2016 having only facelifted it a year earlier. The slower-selling Beetle Cabriolet will continue, but the Golf took the bullet.

Cause of demise: Shrinkage in the convertible segment, cost-cutting

Volkswagen Polo WRC – introduced 2016

Volkswagen’s shock retirement from the WRC was one of the great surprises of 2016’s motorsport news. Although the dream may not be completely over, Volkswagen itself will not be participating in the WRC any longer, after years of dominance in the sport.

Cause of demise: Cost-cutting

Volvo S60 Cross Country – introduced 2015