The automotive industry is constantly changing with new models being released every single year. Manufacturers are always looking to create new and exciting vehicles that will set them apart from their competitors while offering reliability, safety and drive quality to really capture the attention of the general public. However, sometimes older models are given the chop to make room for these new releases, with some vehicles even being cut off before they ever really took hold. From well-known brands such as Honda and Peugeot to pop culture classics like the Delorean, here are 6 of the shortest-lives car models, and why they didn’t last long at all.
Infiniti Q30
Manufactured and released for the UK in 2016, the Infiniti Q30 was a premium hatchback intended to be a rival for the Mercedes A-Class. However, despite big goals, it was only in production until Summer 2019, after which Infiniti removed not just this model, but most of their production from Europe at the time. Uncertainty around the brand and its withdrawal from the continent means that there are approximately only 3,000 of these vehicles on UK roads today, and only available as used vehicles.
The Delorean DMC 12
We all know and love the Delorean DMC 12 as the vehicle that took Doc and Marty Mcfly soaring through time, but its feature in the movie was actually its greatest downfall. It might’ve had a pivotal role in the movies, but the car itself never quite seemed to mesh with the everyday driver. Initial designs and features were dropped for the movie and as a result, the road-ready version was very average and in a lot of cases, not very practical. The vehicle was taken out of production by 1982, just a year after its production as the Delorean Motor Company folded.
Peugeot RCZ
This 2010-2015 2+2 sports car was not only small but was barely promoted during its launch. This vehicle was a new and unusual path for Peugeot to tread, not least due to its sporty appearance, however its ability to offer rear-seat passengers should’ve had the RCZ sitting amongst the more popular sports cars. However, with only around 11,000 left on the roads today, the RCZ just simply wasn’t popular enough to maintain long-term production.
Honda CR-Z
The Honda hybrid range is certainly up there amongst some of the best, but the CR-Z didn’t have quite the same reception as some of the other models. A sleek and stylish, 2+2 hatchback, this car had a solid hybrid powertrain but was very possibly released ahead of its time. While hybrids and electric cars are the focus of the moment today, back in 2010, they weren’t quite as popular, which could be why the CR-Z only lasted a few years, falling out of production in 2013.
Chevrolet Volt
Another hybrid, the plug-in Chevrolet Volt was first released to the UK market in 2013 but fell out of the UK market by 2015. It had a pretty costly price tag at the time, but it was quite possibly the brand’s uncertainty in general that put people off of buying this car. Despite having a two-year run, the vehicle was taken off of the UK market when Chevrolet departed the UK, leaving just 100 or so of the Volt left on UK roads today.
Fiat 124 Spider
The Fiat 124 Spider was first released in 2016 and was designed to be the sister car to the Mazda MX5. It was designed to be the slightly more affordable alternative, however, there was also an Abarth version of the 124 Spider which offered sportier performance overall. As a result, the Fiat version didn’t sell particularly well and while no reason was ever given for the ceasing of its production, it could simply be a case of low demand. Today, there are still around 2,000 Fiat 124 Spiders out on the roads.
If you own any of the cars above or have another vehicle that’s no longer in production, our team can still offer maintenance and repair when things go wrong. Simply get in touch to book your vehicle in with our team.