6 vehicles we will miss the most when they leave in 2026

Yahoo

19-02-2025

The automotive business is a cutthroat game, and not every car survives. A vehicle can end production primarily due to waning sales, declining interest in certain segments or powertrains, changes in technology, a decrease in profitability, or a combination of these factors. If a vehicle isn't up to snuff with market demand or fails to align with company strategy, it essentially heads for the chopping block.
Even if a vehicle is adored by critics and owners (e.g., Chevy Camaro, Kia Stinger), its survival is unlikely if it can't make a strong business case for itself over time. Even a vehicle that's been around through numerous generations can still get killed off, no matter how established it has become. Here are six vehicles we will miss the most when 2025 is over.It's hard to believe the venerable A4 sports sedan is at the end of its road, so to speak. The car has been a member of the Audi stable since 1995, and it has consistently been lauded for its driving manners, style, comfort, and safety. It has always competed with the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class, striking the best balance of sport and luxury between the three contenders.
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It would be stupid for Ingolstadt to kill the A4 in its totality, and technically, it's more of a name change than anything else. The gas version of the A4 will be given the A5 name, and the A4 will likely get revived as an EV in the not-too-distant future. The current A4, as it stands, will end production after the 2025 model year. Along with the A6 and A8 sedans, the A4 has been the longest-running production car Audi has made, and we'll be sad to see it go away in its current form.The slow-selling V6-powered grand touring RC coupe will be dead at the end of this year, but it's the naturally-aspirated 8-cylinder RC F performance-focused version that will cause us to shed tears when it disappears alongside its lesser brother. The RC F has managed to survive 10 years of production, and during that time, it has received high marks for its smooth and potent powertrain, long-range comfort, and rakish aesthetics. Expensive sport-luxury coupes have always been a tough sell, and the $94,000 RC F has never sold in big numbers.
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As Lexus moves toward a strategy that employs multi-technology electrification, multiple powertrain options, and fuel efficiency, a thirsty V8 no longer makes sense. It's too bad because we adore the RC F, not because it's the quickest sports coupe around but because of its wonderful combination of Batmobile-like styling, sporty cabin, sonorous 472-hp V8 engine, adaptive suspension, limited-slip differential, and Brembo brakes. It truly is the last of a dying breed.
There are probably only a handful of people who know that Subaru still produces the Legacy in its sedan form. Buyers typically flock to the far more popular Legacy wagon, now simply known as the Outback. The sedan has been around since 1990, and this 7th-generation version will be the last. Rather than missing the Legacy sedan in its mushy-driving current form, we will lament what the Legacy embodied: a practical, roomy, four-seasons capable, and attractive family sedan. The last thrilling Legacy was the 4th-generation turbocharged Legacy GT.
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We honor the Legacy for its pioneering all-wheel drive sedan configuration in a segment that had precious few contenders. The Legacy stayed true to its form over its entire lifespan, and other entrants, namely the Buick Regal, Ford Fusion, Chrysler 200, and Dodge Charger, didn't live as long. You can still buy the Subaru Legacy sedan, and every trim level comes standard with the brand's excellent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and EyeSight Driver Assist Technology.Few sedans look as good as the S60, both inside and out. The slinky Swede has been around since 2001 and spanned three generations, each one better than the one before it. The third and current generation offers mild hybrid power, all-wheel drive, and what can easily qualify as the most beautifully executed interiors and exteriors in the business. The top trim 456-horsepower S60 T8 All-Wheel Drive plug-in hybrid delivers 41 miles of pure electric driving range and will still hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
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Sedans are a hard sell these days, and the S60 is a casualty in a segment consistently led by the Germans. The S60 has always presented a strong alternative case for the European sports sedan, but it never resulted in robust sales. The current S60 is coming to an end only halfway through its life cycle, and that's a tragedy because it does so much so well.We lump these two motoring icons together into a single devastating blow to the automotive world. Both the hardtop and convertible versions of the wonderfully telepathic 718 will reportedly end when 2025 comes to a close. Their mid-engine configurations are balanced, and their steering feel is some of the best around. Consequently, 718s are beloved by automotive enthusiasts and car critics alike. Even though both cars still sell tremendously well, Stuttgart has seen fit to kill off the gas versions, replacing them with electric powertrains.
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There's a silver lining here. After the news broke that Porsche would kill both the 718 Cayman and Boxster, their strategy to go hard after electrification has softened. Porsche EV sales have not been nearly as strong as they once were, and the brand is currently reassessing the possibility that the gas Cayman and Boxster will have their lives extended. We can only hope.The Macan is a new legend in the sport-luxury SUV segment. When it comes to driving thrills, it's one of the best, if not the best. Aside from the electric Taycan and the Cayenne Coupe, the Macan is the newest model in the Porsche stable, having been introduced in early 2014. Last year, it was reported that Porsche would discontinue all gas-powered Macans in favor of an electric version. There are currently four trim levels ranging from the turbo-four 261-hp Macan S all the way to the twin-turbo 464-hp Macan GTS.
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It's very possible that Porsche will actually bring back the Macan in gas form, and that confirmation could come at any time. The brand is rethinking its electrification strategy in light of the reduced demand for EVs across the board and hits to its once-hot Taycan electric sedan. The Macan is currently the brand's best-selling vehicle, and its demise could be a huge mistake.
When some vehicles reach the end of production, they go with hardly a tear shed. Then there are those we will mourn for years. These six vehicles have had a tremendous impact on the industry, and they're all dying before their time, in our opinion. Whether it's the stunning Volvo S60 or the telepathic Porsche 718 series, none of these should disappear from the automotive landscape.
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