QOTD: Who Will Be First Against the Wall?
So dawns a new year, ripe with promise and expectation. Millions of babies will draw their first breath in 2018, and those babies’ parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents will drive off in 16 million or so new vehicles over the course of the coming year. In the U.S., of course.
Unfortunately, to keep the automotive herd healthy, the weakest will have to die. And in 2018, some vehicle nameplates will discover their lifespan has a definitive end point.
Yes, we’ve asked you before about which model (or models) you’d like to see six feet under. We’ve also asked your thoughts on which sedan — a bodystyle now worthy of pity — is ready to shuffle into the afterlife. Perhaps your answer for that question is the same as for this one.
Because we know 2018 will bring news of a model’s scheduled termination at the hands of an automaker pursuing greater profits and greater investment in hotter segments, we’re extending the question to cover all cars, trucks, and SUVs. Which model will be the next to see an official confirmation of its looming death?
There’s much talk of the Ford Fusion’s execution these days, making it a solid candidate. The Blue Oval thinks fuel economy isn’t a big consideration anymore, at least not at a reason for keeping sedans alive. Still, Dearborn’s not coming right out and saying it — not yet, anyway.
Maybe the next model to leave our lives is one that’s long since left our hearts and minds. Maybe it never even entered. Maybe it’s the Kia Cadenza. Or, maybe General Motors has a better subcompact crossover than the Chevrolet Trax on its mind.
The possibilities are many, the choices vast. So, Best and Brightest, stop thinking about rebirth and personal improvement and all that optimistic New Year stuff and start thinking about death.
[Image: Kia Motors]
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"Who Will Be First Against the Wall?" Anything domestic that isn't a pickup and/or pickup based and/or running a V8!
If anything, the Fiesta and Focus would disappear before the Fusion; they can't possibly be profitable. I agree with you about the Cadenza. Few know it exists, and fewer know about its recent redesign. I also think Toyota will kill the Yaris and the GS. I could see VW not doing another Passat, and just having one "tweener" model in the new Jetta, which is allegedly a lot roomier than the outgoing one. VW may also kill off the Golf SportWagen and just have the Golf Alltrack for wagon duty. Speaking of wagons, I bet this is the last 3 Series wagon we get. The future of the V60, here in NA, is also up in the air. Volvo may or may not leave it alone. It's a ways off, but I agree with those speculating that GM may axe the Volt, since the market is going to crossovers, or replace it with a crossover-based plug-in hybrid. If they eventually offer plug-in and hybrid versions of everything, a dedicated-purpose car like the Volt may not he necessary, anyway. The Cascada, which is in the same market as slow-sellers like the Beetle Cabriolet and MINI Convertible, is likely dead in the water. There probably isn't going to be another Nissan Z car. Mitsubishi won't get rid of the Lancer, but should. The RLX was just refreshed, but even within its market of pseudo-flagships (Continental, S90, CT6, Q70L), it is completely underwhelming. I bet after this one, Acura will hang up its hat on the executive sedan market and focus on cramming another couple of SUVs into its lineup. The SLC-Class (formerly SLK-Class) is about done for. Cadillac needs to kill off the ATS. They probably will, but not for another couple of years.