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This 12 months, quite a few compelling autos exited the Australian market.
You possibly can learn a full record of each automobile discontinued throughout 2023 right here, however there’s actually not a dud amongst them.
From reasonably priced hatchbacks and household crossovers by to sports activities sedans and even a Ferrari, quite a few compelling autos confronted the chopping block this 12 months.
Some discontinuations have been extra poignant than others. These are the autos we’re saddest to see go.
Anthony Crawford: Audi TT
When Alborz and I made up all the employees at CarAdvice in 2006 (the 12 months we kicked off), earlier than Paul Maric joined as one other stakeholder and accomplice, Audi was one of many first producers to supply us automobiles to evaluate.
I believed it was actually Christmas when the PR workforce handed me the keys to an orange TT 3.2L V6 Coupe. To me, on the time, it was simply nearly as good as a base mannequin 911. And let’s not neglect the design of the TT by Peter Schreyer is an auto icon.
It was additionally my spouse’s favorite automotive.
Paul Maric: Kia Stinger
Kia Stinger. Because it was first launched, it has all the time been my go to SS Commodore substitute. Rear-wheel drive, turbo V6. It had the fitting components for being a hoot to drive and a stack of enjoyable.
Sadly it wasn’t successful with shoppers, however it’ll be missed!
Scott Collie: Audi TT
The Audi TT has been criticised since its conception for being a hairdresser’s automotive, however that doesn’t imply I gained’t miss it.
It’s a method icon that also seems to be nice right now, and lots of the issues we take without any consideration in fashionable interiors may be traced again to the present TT’s debut in 2013.
Excessive-resolution digital devices? The TT launched the Digital Cockpit we take without any consideration in 2023. It was additionally early to the minimalist development spreading throughout new automobiles in 2023, however managed to chop visible litter with out sacrificing usability because of some very intelligent engineering. Look no additional than the air vents, which managed to combine a temperature show and local weather management dials into one unit.
The demise of the TT comes as Audi ramps up its spending on electrical automobiles, making it even sadder that we gained’t get to listen to the five-cylinder TT RS sing any longer.
Jade Credentino: Volkswagen Arteon
Unpopular opinion however I’ll miss the Volkswagen Arteon probably the most. This was one of many first automobiles I check drove and it simply ticked so many bins for me.
I perceive why it left and gross sales have been a big purpose why however it’s so unhappy to see Volkswagen discontinue a automotive which was so area of interest and distinctive.
VW Australia additionally eliminated the wagon variations of the Golf and Passat which suggests VW’s prospects want to maneuver to Skoda or Audi if they need a Volkswagen Group wagon.
Jack Fast: Mercedes-Benz CLS
I’ve been enamoured with the Mercedes-Benz CLS ever for the reason that first-generation mannequin launched in 2004. I do know it’s a glorified E-Class however I’ve all the time thought it was tremendous cool.
I additionally by no means received to drive a brand-new one, which I’m very upset at. I suppose I may drive a secondhand one however it doesn’t fairly have the identical ring to me.
If I needed to decide a CLS that I would love to expertise particularly, I’d must go for the late mannequin AMG CLS 53 with the three.0-litre inline-six mild-hybrid petrol engine.
Hit me up in case you’ve received one that you just’d let me have a poke round in!
William Stopford: Kia Stinger
I like rear-wheel drive passenger automobiles which might be sensible and supply glorious efficiency. I’m additionally not a badge snob, and I like discount.
The Kia Stinger, due to this fact, ticked so many bins for me. It appeared like Kia had designed a automobile only for me. And that’s why it’s so unhappy to see it go.
The Stinger gave the impression to be a automobile aimed proper at Australia, and whereas it by no means offered in addition to the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore for which it was a non secular successor of types, its gross sales continued to develop over its run right here. Alas, whereas the US seemed to be one other market that might have been receptive to it, it was by no means successful there, whereas a automobile like this was by no means going to earn something greater than area of interest standing in markets like China, Korea and Europe.
Skip the two.0-litre turbo – most individuals did. The two.5-litre turbo that changed it elsewhere would have been good, however it nonetheless wouldn’t have deterred most Australian Stinger consumers from ponying up for that gutsy twin-turbo 3.3-litre V6.
This automotive was a efficiency automotive discount, but it was sensible too with that huge hatchback physique. The inside naturally wasn’t as luxurious as its Genesis G70 cousin, however it was extra spacious and nonetheless attractively introduced, and in GT-Line and GT guise the Stinger had an exceptionally lengthy options record.
Once I was shopping for my used 2015 Hyundai Genesis, what I actually wished was a Kia Stinger GT however my price range couldn’t prolong that far. Now I’m courting somebody who needs one, so hopefully I’ll get some common seat time in a Stinger quickly… however it’ll must be a used one.
James Wong: Volkswagen’s wagons
Why VolksWAGEN?! Why would you kill the wagons?!
The Golf and Passat Wagons have been a number of the final remaining reasonably priced estates within the Australian market, providing a load-lugging various to the SUV pandemic but in addition some area of interest fanatic cool issue.
As 2023 attracts to a detailed, the wagon-bodied variations of VW’s iconic nameplates will likely be executed, additionally spelling the tip of the Passat within the Australian market. A crying disgrace.
VW Group Australia is compromising considerably by providing the Octavia Wagon and Excellent shifting ahead, that are nice choices in themselves, however they will’t absolutely substitute the Golf and the Passat.
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