A CAR expert has shared three beloved models that you “didn’t know” have been discontinued – including the UK’s favourite motor.
All of the trio were scrapped in 2023 despite enjoying almost universal acclaim from petrolheads.
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Matthew Goodwin, who runs High Peak Autos in Stockport, Greater Manchester, ran his YouTube viewers through the list of dearly departed icons.
He said: “We’re at a major turning point and I don’t think this has ever happened before in the world of cars.
“With every brand now shifting focus towards electric-only models, it’s a bit of a bittersweet moment.
“In 2023 alone we bid farewell to some classics…I didn’t even know that until I started researching this.
“The more I looked into this, the more I realised we’ve lost an awful lot of cars.”
He urged drivers to get their hands on one of these soon-to-be-extinct models “before you can’t anymore”.
Audi TT
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One of the most iconic Audi models ever, the TT enjoyed a near 25-year production run beginning in 1999.
The sleek, two-door design and VR6 engine won it fame and admiration across the world.
Indeed, the 2019 S model was described as “The Avengers: Endgame of cars” by Jeremy Clarkson.
The model takes its name from the equally legendary Isle of Man TT motorcycle race, which is infamous for its high speeds and extreme danger.
Audi bid goodbye to the TT with a limited run S Final Edition, which was exclusive to the UK.
Kia Stinger
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The Kia was the youngest car on the list, with production only dating back to 2018.
As such, it’s a bit of a surprise inclusion as it has been killed off within its first generation cycle.
Kia even went to the effort of giving the model a facelift in 2020 and buy advertising space for it during the 2018 Super Bowl, only to scrap it three years later.
Matthew blamed the decline in demand for sports saloons, the rise of crossover SUVs and stiff competition from the BMW 3-series.
Eagle-eyed fans may remember the Stinger as the car James May used to race a pair of skateboarders on a Majorcan mountain during an episode of The Grand Tour.
Ford Fiesta
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Perhaps the biggest loss on the list, and the one felt most keenly by British car fans, is the Ford Fiesta.
Tracing its roots all the way back to 1976, the little hatchback was one of the defining images of the last four decades this side of the Atlantic.
Amazingly, the Fiesta managed to dominate sales table for over a decade, being named the UK’s favourite car for 12 consecutive years from 2009-2020.
But just a few years after falling from its throne, the Fiesta has been put out to pasture.
The final two ever made are set to be kept by Ford to join its heritage fleets, while the brand will now focus on making its lineup EV-only by 2035.
