In contrast to how the Dodge Charger and Challenger are getting a decent send off as they fade off into the sunset after 2023 (with the former having a 1000+ hp model), do you think there were any cars that you think kind of went out on a whimper? The model or name doesn’t have to necessarily be of one that has ended and has never seen a revival. As an example, I think the original concurent run of the Ford Thunderbird kind of ended in a “meh” way in 1997 with the supercharged Super Coupe being absent for the final year, even though there would be a brief retro revival from 2002 to 2005.
The Mitsubishi Colt and ASX models in Europe were just replaced by rebadged versions of the Renault Clio and Captur, respectively. I love my previous gen Clio but it hurts to see a Mitsubishi logo on them. Weirdly, I’ve seen many these last few weeks!
Pontiac…
I had a G6, it was a great car… but not what the brand legend was.
A white pontiac 4 cylinder G6… might as well been a fleet rental.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-last-pontiac-ever-built-met-an-unfortunate-end
The euro ford escort.
The mk 5/6 were shadows of their predecessors
Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta in Australia.
The abysmal reliability, especially the dual clutch transmission and electrics, and multiple lawsuits left such a bad reputation that the nameplate ls will unlikely every return here and also had an impact on the small Puma SUV that came after.
Such a shame as the Focus was seen as a cheaper Golf hatchback competitor with excellent driving dynamics.
US market 300zx turbo was down on power in 1996 and then no longer sold.
The Acura TL. Made it ugly and then completely dropped the name.
Eclipse, 3000gt , MR2, and Celica(probably the worst ending, lives on with the supra and FRS though)