ZITAMBUE GARI AINA TANO AMBAZO HAZITAKUWA SOKONI TENA MWAKA 2013
5 cars you won't see anymore in 2013
Discontinuing a car line isn't like closing a Broadway show or
cancelling a television series. In addition to hundreds of millions of
dollars in sunk cost, a lot of marginal profit is being sacrificed --
the profitability of a car line can actually increase as it ages because
the development costs have been amortized.
But at some point, a
mercy killing for the weak is required. Sales have fallen too low,
another model has come along to replace it in the product lineup, or the
car has simply become an embarrassment.
At least two of the
three were the reasoning behind Daimler's decision to stop making all
five Maybach models in June, six months ahead of schedule. Often
compared to an airport executive lounge on wheels, the car never found
an audience among either the established or nouveau rich. Its sales had
sunk to a pitiable level. Through July, only seven Maybachs had found
buyers this year vs. 224 for Rolls-Royce, according to numbers compiled
by Automotive News.
Here are some other models that will be breathing their last at one point or another in 2013:
Chevrolet Avalanche
GM
is getting ready to launch a new platform for its full-size pickups and
decided not to make a reengineered Avalanche one of the spin-off
models. Sales of the once-popular truck/SUV combo have been slipping for
six years in the face of higher fuel prices and the greater
availability of crew-cab trucks. In past years, GM might have kept the
old vehicle in production as a "classic" -- its owners are exceptionally
devoted -- but that doesn't appear to be in the cards this time.
Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country
Chrysler
is starting the 2013 model year with two minivan brands, but it will
likely end the year with just one. Badge engineering is a no-no for CEO
Sergio Marchionne, who says customers are smart enough not to be fooled
by minor cosmetic differences. It remains to be seen whether the Caravan
or Town & Country gets the ax.
Mazda CX-7
A
crossover unlike most others, the CX-7 was an outlier in the segment
with its minivan-like interior packaged in an aerodynamic shell. It
makes way for the smaller CX-5, which is already winning kudos for its
efficient use of space and unusually sprightly handling.
Mitsubishi Eclipse
The
Eclipse has struggled through the 2012 model year -- only 601 have
found buyers since January -- and it will not make it to the starting
blocks for 2013. The last one was built in August 2011. Those with long
memories will recall that the Eclipse was introduced in 1990 as
triplets. Two versions were marketed by Chrysler divisions now defunct:
the Plymouth Laser and Eagle Talon. Now a senior citizen by sporty car
standards, the Eclipse outlived both of them.
Lexus HS 250h
Toyota
stopped building this hybrid in January, though it waited until May to
confirm that production was ending. Customers clearly objected to paying
a $10,000 premium for what they viewed as an upgraded Prius, and only
four HS's were sold in July. Its demise was hastened by the looming
arrival of another Lexus hybrid, the ES 300h, which gets to dealers in
August.
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