Automakers routinely weed out old models to update their ranks, but we don’t often see many nameplates die off. But for 2012, a handful of lineups are going the wayside, including a quartet of big Detroit sedans that essentially mark the end of an era for six-seat passenger cars in the United States.
Don’t go looking for the 2012 versions of any of these:
The 2012 Dead List
BMW M3 sedan
A new M3 is on the horizon, but this nameplate takes a scheduled break for 2012. You can still get your M3 jollies in a coupe or convertible for 2012, but not the family version. BMW traditionally takes a year or so off when it introduces a new model before unveiling the performance-oriented M model. With a new 3-Series set to bow by the end of the year, the E90-body (that’s BMW-speak for 2006 to 2011) M3′s time was up.
Its replacement? Since a new M3 is about a year away, 2012 hardly marks the end of the line for one of the most coveted performance nameplates in the business.
Buick Lucerne
The last vestige of “old Buick” – literally and figuratively – has bitten the dust. With it goes the option of a Buick with bench seats; other Buicks offer only individual seats up front. Lucerne was also the last General Motors product to ride on the company’s H-Body platform, a design that dates back to the 1986 Buick LeSabre and also included the Oldsmobile 88 and Pontiac Bonneville. It won’t be missed.
Its replacement? Lucerne didn’t really fit in with Buick’s more modern lineup, although it was sold alongside the excellent LaCrosse for two model years. Just why anyone would take home a Lucerne over a LaCrosse is a question worth pondering.
Cadillac DTS
See above, but replace “Buick” with “Cadillac.” DTS was an enormous four-door that appealed to the kind of buyer GM no longer wants for Cadillac. Much more modern than its Lincoln Town Car rival, the DTS was nonetheless the kind of floaty cruiser that was hard to justify for most buyers seeking something a bit more trim. Its K-Body platform was closely related to the Lucerne’s H-Body; in fact, both were built at the same Hamtramck, Michigan, assembly line that now builds the Chevrolet Volt. These times, they are a-changin’.
Its replacement? An all-wheel-drive Cadillac XTS flagship is set to debut soon.
Cadillac STS
This is starting to become a familiar story, isn’t it? The STS shared the flagship perch at Cadillac with the DTS, although the Seville Touring Sedan was based on GM’s Sigma rear-drive platform. GM had high hopes for the STS when the current generation bowed in 2005, but even a supercharged V8 STS-V couldn’t draw in buyers. Frankly, these make excellent second-hand buys.
Its replacement? For now, the STS will also be replaced with the XTS, but a rear-drive premium Cadillac is likely on the way. Until the XTS hits showrooms, Cadillac will have just three models to offer buyers.
Chevrolet HHR
Chevrolet really wanted a piece of the retro action in the early 2000s, so it nabbed talented designer Bryan Nesbitt from Chrysler to pen the PT Cruiser-inspired HHR. Bigger and better in most every way than the PT, the HHR was a pretty solid hit for the automaker. But retro designs are almost impossible to improve – after all, how many times can you reinvent a classic?
Its replacement? Markets outside of the United States receive the company’s new Orlando five-door mini-minivan, but would-be HHR buyers here are out of luck unless they step up to an Equinox.
Dodge Caliber
Chrysler thought it was onto something when it replaced its venerable Neon with the Dodge Caliber in 2006. The five-door hatchback’s design was promising, but it offered an unacceptably low-buck interior and a crappy powertrain lineup mated to a miserable CVT. Retail sales were anything but brisk, even though a ludicrous, short-lived SRT4 version with a very powerful turbo four-cylinder was on offer (can you say torque steer?).
Its replacement? For Fiat to take a larger stake in Chrysler during the latter’s bankruptcy in 2009, it promised to help the Michigan automaker develop a 40 mpg compact car that would be built in the U.S. We’ll see the fruits of that labor soon.
Dodge Nitro
Desperately in need of a five-seat crossover or SUV, the Dodge brand languished in a fit of uncompetitiveness for much of the 1990s and 2000s until the Nitro rolled along. Closely related to the equally mediocre Jeep Liberty, the Nitro has been gussied up over its career with some goofy paint schemes and big chrome wheels. But you can’t put lipstick on a pig and expect the public to come kissin’.
Its replacement? For now, Dodge will soldier on with a much-reinvigorated Journey to woo crossover buyers. The Liberty remains for at least a couple of years.
Ford Crown Victoria
Much to the chagrin of police officers and taxi cab drivers throughout the continent, the industry’s longest-running passenger car platform rode off to the sunset earlier this month. Its Panther platform was first launched in 1979 and it really wouldn’t be fair of us to say that the 2011 models were substantially different than their predecessors.
Its replacement?
Ford is essentially abandoning its stronghold on the police and taxi market, but the company thinks that souped up versions of its Explorer, Taurus and Transit Connect will keep fleet users happy enough.
Honda Element
Like a pug but never actually cute, the Honda Element was a stout, boxy vehicle. Designed as a light duty recreational vehicle, it was really tremendously useful for people who made use of its hose out-style interior and flexible seating, not to mention its available all-wheel-drive. Only problem? It was ugly. Seriously ugly.
Its replacement? Honda has vetoed a new Element, so this was a one-and-done project. Mountain bikers seeking utilitarian style might need to opt for a Nissan Xterra.
Lincoln Town Car
Built on the same line and platform as the Crown Victoria, the Town Car nameplate was Lincoln’s range topper for generations. But it was painfully out of step with the needs and wants of any buyer other than limo drivers because of its ancient platform and compromised interior room – something you’d think would be essential to those hauling people around in luxury.
Its replacement? Lincoln is billing its wonky MKT crossover as its new livery car of choice. We think that’s because the MKT is barely finding any retail buyers.
Mazda RX-8
Rotary engines are gone, at least for a while, now that the slow-selling RX-8 has been dropped. Although its styling was an acquired taste for many and its unique powertrain guzzled gas, the RX-8 drove at least as well as the company’s brilliant MX-5 Miata.
Its replacement? A Mazda coupe isn’t likely to surface any time soon, so buyers will need to be happy with the MX-5 Miata’s available power-retracting hardtop.
Mazda Tribute
Mazda and Ford have essentially split ways, with the Tribute remaining the last vestige of their relationship. But this Ford Escape-based crossover is headed out to pasture. We don’t think anyone will notice. Sales have been weak, but that’s not a surprise since it’s hard to imagine just who would buy one of these antiquated machines when Mazda’s homegrown CX-7 sat across the showroom.
Its replacement? The recently-unveiled CX-5 ushers in a new era for Mazda in a number of ways, not the least of which is a new independence from Ford.
Volvo S40/V50
Technically, these two compact Volvo four and five-doors aren’t being discontinued, but they’re being dropped from the Volvo lineup in the U.S. The V50′s departure is especially bitter for Volvophiles since it marks the end of a wagon in Volvo’s lineup for the first time anyone can remember. These were good cars when launched, but former Volvo owner Ford never gave the brand the money to continue development beyond their 2005 model year introduction.
Their replacement? Volvo doesn’t seem to be courting compact buyers in the U.S., where there’s just not enough volume to justify importing such a model. For now, its S60 – which really wasn’t much pricier than the S40 – will be its cheapest four-door.
