{"id":29983,"date":"2022-11-01T15:03:15","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T19:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=29983"},"modified":"2022-11-01T15:03:15","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T19:03:15","slug":"payne-rip-for-23-these-vehicles-are-headed-for-the-automotive-graveyard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2022\/11\/payne-rip-for-23-these-vehicles-are-headed-for-the-automotive-graveyard","title":{"rendered":"Payne: RIP for ’23 \u2014 These vehicles are headed for the automotive graveyard"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Tis the season for Halloween, ghouls, full moons \u2014 and burying the corpses of unpopular vehicles in the automotive graveyard.<\/p>\n

While the 2023 model year birthed a modern record 47 new vehicles thanks to historic trends in electric vehicle development, start-up automakers and a thirst for trucks, segments like sedans and econoboxes were spooked by low demand. Wee cars like the Chevrolet Spark and Hyundai Accent breathed their last, while greyhounds like the Acura NSX, Ford GT and Lamborghini Aventador couldn\u2019t outrun the hounds of hell.<\/p>\n

The midnight hour is close at hand for these \u201922 nameplates. May they Rest in Peace.<\/p>\n

\"For<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Acura ILX<\/h2>\n

Farewell ILX, hello Acura Integra.<\/p>\n

Acura\u2019s entry-level vehicle for the last 10 years, ILX was built on the ninth-generation Honda Civic\u2019s bones. Though it received a significant exterior makeover in 2019, its tired drivetrain and lack of manual shifter failed to excite. The introduction of the 11th<\/sup>-gen Civic marked the rise from the grave of Acura\u2019s famed Integra badge \u2014 and the final nail in the coffin for ILX.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Acura NSX<\/h2>\n

The original NSX wowed from 1991-2005 with its mid-engine thrills and endorsement from F1 legend Ayrton Senna. For its second-gen model, Acura crafted a hybrid supercar in the mold of the $825,000 Porsche 918 Hybrid, but for 1\/5th<\/sup>\u00a0the price.<\/p>\n

Still, $160,000 was a pricey ticket for an Acura flagship and sales have been a disappointing 2,548 units over five years compared to 18,000 for the OG. For one last howl at the moon, the NSX is making 350 face-lifted Type S models with 600 horsepower.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Buick Encore<\/h2>\n

The wee Encore busted open the subcompact SUV segment way a decade ago. And yes, it came from Buick, the walking-dead octogenarian sedan brand of the \u201890s.<\/p>\n

Encore (and big brother Enclave) led a brand SUV re-invention that made for one of the freshest lineups in the premium segment. Encore sales in 2019 boomed to more than 100,000 units (30% of brand sales). Naturally, autos keep getting bigger and Encore sales have been poached by its larger Encore GX sibling. A generation of cute utes (Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30) owe their careers to Encore.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Chevrolet Spark<\/h2>\n

Another GM cute ute meets its maker. Introduced in 2013 as Americans emerged from the Great Recession, the spunky Spark sported a starting price of just $14,595. It was instantly recognizable with its big peepers and clever interior. Alas, with just 98 horsepower, it could be run over by semi-trucks when merging onto I-696.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Chevrolet Trax<\/h2>\n

Another wee GM SUV with a foot in the grave? Reports of the Trax\u2019s death are premature.<\/p>\n

The cute ute takes a one-year hiatus for the 2023 model year before returning to the bowtie brand’s lineup in \u201924. Expect a new three-banger engine \u2014 and no all-wheel-drive as an option.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Ford GT<\/h2>\n

To celebrate the 50th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary of its historic 1966 Le Mans win, Ford went back to the world\u2019s most famous 24-hour race with a new GT racer. No pressure.<\/p>\n

To qualify, Ford had to \u201chomologate\u201d a production version of the car, and the GT was born, perhaps the most beautiful mid-engined supercar ever conceived. Its state-of-the-art carbon-fiber tub, F1-style aerodynamics, and 660-horse, twin-turbo V-6 meant a price tag starting at $500,000. Oh, yeah, and the race car won Le Mans.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Ford EcoSport<\/h2>\n

Brought in from India in 2018 to fill the entry-SUV void, EcoSport never gained traction as it lagged the segment in curb appeal. Meanwhile, the Blue Oval introduced the similarly-priced, 50-mpg hybrid Ford Maverick trucklet, which has been a wild success.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Honda Insight<\/h2>\n

The geeky Insight was the first hybrid in the market in 1999, but was quickly overshadowed by Miss Popularity, the Toyota Prius. The third-gen Insight was launched in 2019 but was overshadowed by its own CR-V Hybrid sibling in the more popular SUV segment.<\/p>\n

The Civic-based Insight offered an impressive 48 mpg, but cold not outrun the Grim Reaper, who has it in for sedans.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Hyundai Accent<\/h2>\n

Another sedan victim. Despite its stylish looks, $17.7k asking price, and fun-to-drive attitude, the Accent will go the way of the dodo bird for \u201823.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Hyundai Ioniq<\/h2>\n

The Ioniq is a testimony to how quickly the industry is changing. The sub-brand \u2014 offering a trio of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV models \u2014 was introduced in 2017 to battle King Prius. But not only did the Ioniq lineup fail to gain traction, Prius sales tanked as well as hybrid SUVs took over.<\/p>\n

EVs are all the rage now and the Ioniq badge has been resurrected for an EV lineup, beginning with the stylish Ioniq 5 (and Ioniq 6 to to follow).<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Hyundai Veloster<\/h2>\n

The funky three-door hatchback has been shown the door. But don\u2019t despair too much. Veloster was a treat \u2014 especially in asphalt-eating N performance trim \u2014 but its replacement, the four-door Elantra, is more stylish, more spacious and gets a fire-breathing N model, too.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Infiniti Q60<\/h2>\n

If sedans are under the gun, then their two-door siblings are even more endangered. The Q60 coupe was wicked looking with 400 horsepower in Red Sport 400 dress, but it failed to turn enough heads.<\/p>\n

\"With<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Lamborghini Aventador<\/h2>\n

When an Aventador swaggers down the road, everyone stops to stare.<\/p>\n

The Kate Upton of the mid-engine supercar set, the Aventador has stunning looks and even more stunning audio from its screaming, 769-horse V-12 engine. Expect a successor with a hybrid drivetrain soon.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Lexus RX L<\/h2>\n

The brand\u2019s perennial best-seller, the RX, gets a facelift and new interior for the 2023 model year. But the three-row RX L gets left behind.<\/p>\n

Sharing the same wheelbase as RX, the RX L offered a third-row seat that was cramped compared to Kia Telluride and Ford Explorer competitors. Expect Lexus to offer a more thoughtful three-row SUV with a TX badge.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Mercedes-Benz A-class<\/h2>\n

Mercedes offered two sedans as appetizers for its sumptuous lineup, the A-Class and CLA250. Though the A220\u2019s sticker of $35,000 undercut CLA, the latter was more stylish and more powerful. CLA lives on.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Nissan Rogue Sport<\/h2>\n

In SUV-crazed America, \u201ctweener\u201d compact SUVs like the Jeep Compass and Buick Ecnore GX have done well. But somehow Rogue Sport \u2014 a tweener between the subcompact Kicks and best-selling Rogue SUV \u2014 never stood out. Hit the showers, Sport.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Toyota Avalon<\/h2>\n

The only vehicles less popular than small sedans are big sedans. While Toyota\u2019s RAV4 and Outlander SUVs sell like hotcakes, Avalon bows out after a 30-year run. Toyota is stubborn, though, and the hybrid, more luxurious Crown sedan will replace it. Good luck.<\/p>\n

\"Volkswagen's<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Volkswagen Passat<\/h2>\n

Another sedan victim, Passat has played second fiddle to Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in the midsize segment. V-dub isn\u2019t giving up on sedans though, as the compact Jetta and gorgeous, full-size Arteon are still whistling past the automotive graveyard.<\/p>\n

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u2018Tis the season for Halloween, ghouls, full moons \u2014 and burying the corpses of unpopular vehicles in the automotive graveyard. While the 2023 model year birthed a modern record 47 new vehicles thanks to historic trends in electric vehicle development, start-up automakers and a thirst for trucks, segments like sedans and econoboxes were spooked by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29983"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29983"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29984,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29983\/revisions\/29984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}