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Another year gone means another batch of cars officially buried, with either lacklustre sales or a change of corporate direction spelling the end for cars as diverse as the Abarth 124 Spider to the Hyundai Veloster, and even the very last (ever) Holdens.
So while we’ll spend the next 12 months welcoming - and reviewing - a whole heap of new metal to our shores, we thought we’d take a moment to remember those that have fallen, the cars that have taken their final drive over that rainbow bridge.
1. Ford Endura
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“With the expansion of the Ford SUV line-up in 2020 to include the all-new Puma and Escape, as well as our growing Everest offerings, we’ve decided to hone our SUV line-up to these three vehicles, meaning Endura will depart our Australian line-up by the end of 2020.”
With those words from Ford, the not-so-enduring Endura departed Australia officially in November.
The reason? You'd have to think sales. The numbers of Endura finding homes in Australia plummeted around 40 per cent in 2020 - despite it being only its second full year on sale in Australia.
Put it this way; in a segment that shifted some 91,000 vehicles in 2020, just 1311 of them belonged to the Endura.
2. Hyundai Veloster
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Yep, Hyundai’s quirky three-door hatch was farewelled in 2020, but slow sales aren’t the culprit here.
In fact, according to our own Tung Nguyen, the Veloster was the second-best selling model in its segment when it was discontinued in December, with its 639 sales in 2020 putting it ahead of cars like the Mazda MX-5, the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota 86.
Instead, Hyundai says a change of company direction is to blame, telling CarsGuide it was “shifting focus to our rapidly expanding N and N Line model range.”
3. Abarth 124 Spider
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The Mazda MX-5’s twin under the skin is a goner, too, with FCA in Australia reportedly following its UK company’s lead in axing the sports car from its line-up.
Despite sharing much of its hardware with the popular MX-5, the Abarth 124 just never caught fire in Australia, and last year the vehicle managed just 58 sales over 12 months.
4. Chrysler 300 SRT
FCA Australia is yet to officially confirm it, but reports point to the Chrysler 300 SRT being withdrawn from sale in Australia, after being essentially reduced to a single model earlier in 2020.
With it will go one of the last rear-drive, V8-powered vehicles available in Australia (or anywhere that’s not the USA, really), and will likely leave the NSW Police Force searching for yet another replacement for the Holdens and Fords that once filled its fleets.
The big Chrysler managed some 218 sales in 2020, thought many of those would have been the aforementioned fleet sales.
5. Holden Colorado
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It’s time - or at least, very nearly time - to wave a final goodbye to the last of the Holdens in Australia, with the once dominant brand’s sales now slowing to an absolute trickle as the few remaining cars left here find homes.
Some 16,688 Holdens found home in 2020 (a strong year for the brand) as people rushed to snap up a piece of history, and a run-out bargain.
In December, though? Just 28 Holdens found homes - all of them 4X4 examples of the Colorado.
It seems the bell has finally tolled for Holden in Australia.
6. Mercedes-Benz X-Class
It was officially axed back in May - with Mercedes-Benz confirming that “it has been decided that from the end of May, 2020, we will no longer produce this relatively young model” - but the X-Class fire continues to burn in Australia, with 2358 finding home in 2020, which is more than were sold in 2019.
Whether that’s down to bargain hunters or true fans of the model is anyone’s guess, but what we do know is that Merc’s commendable push into the commercial space with what was billed as the world’s first premium ute is over.
7. Subaru Liberty
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The Subaru Liberty’s 31-year run in Australia is over, with the brand confirming its sedan stalwart will not be renewed.
According to our own Thomas White, the blame falls at the feet of slowing sales, with just 925 finding homes in 2020, compared to a massive 13,727 examples of the Toyota Camry.
8. Chevrolet Camaro
One of the cars we were most excited about welcoming to our shores bowed out this year, with the HSV/Chevrolet Camaro killed off in March and April.
HSV converted some 1200 2SS and 350 ZL1 coupes in Australia - a fraction of the Ford Mustang's sales results - with higher prices owed to a worsening exchange rate likely a factor.
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