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10 Cars Being Discontinued in 2017

Brent Dunn
by Brent Dunn
April 12, 2017
4 min. Reading Time
2016 Chevrolet SS ・  Photo by Chevrolet

2016 Chevrolet SS ・ Photo by Chevrolet

Just because a car is being discontinued doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily bad. Some cars are discontinued because they’re aging, some because the manufacturer has a new model in the pipeline, and some just because they aren’t selling as well as expected. The expert editors at Autobytel have come up with a list of 10 cars that are being discontinued in 2017, some of which we’ll miss, and some we won’t. If you’re in the market for one of these cars, we’d recommend that you get a move on, because as they say, "Once they’re gone, they’re gone." (You might even be able to get yourself a good deal.)

Aston Martin Rapide S

The 4-door Aston Martin Rapide should be returning in 2018, but without its gasoline-powered motor. Instead, its motivation will come from an all-electric powertrain, rumoured to make anywhere between 550 and 1000 horsepower and with a range of somewhere around 200 miles. The new model will also probably see a name change to RapidE to accentuate its newfound green cred. In the meantime, 2017 models are powered by a sonorous 5.9-liter V12 that makes 552 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, so if you are a fan of the internal combustion engine and want a Rapide, you might want to hurry to your nearest Aston Martin dealer.

 Photo by Aston Martin

Photo by Aston Martin

Buick Verano

This is the last year for the Buick Verano, a victim of the decline in sedan sales as customers continue to flock towards crossovers and sport utility vehicles. For 2017, all Veranos use a 180-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission; unfortunately, the optional 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter f4-cylinder with its available manual transmission that made the Verano slightly more fun to drive is no longer available. The Verano isn’t a bad car, but neither is it particularly good, and we aren’t terribly sad to see it on our list of 10 cars being discontinued in 2017. It’s just too bad that it will be replaced by yet another crossover.

 Photo by Buick

Photo by Buick

Chevrolet SS

As the 4-door Chevrolet SS is built in Australia, where GM (or Holden, as it is known there) is wrapping up operations, 2017 will be its last model year. Power from a 415-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 is sent to the rear wheels, and both a 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual transmission are offered. The SS is sporty and firm, yet comfortable, and comes equipped with Brembo brakes, a sport-tuned suspension with Magnetic Ride Control, and a dual-mode exhaust. This and the Chevrolet Caprice PPV Police Pursuit Vehicle (another vehicle that is built in Australia) are two cars that we wish weren’t on our list of 10 cars being discontinued in 2017.

 Photo by Chevrolet

Photo by Chevrolet

Dodge Viper

The Dodge Viper has been on its last legs for a while now, not because it isn’t a good car but because no one seems to be buying them (Dodge builds less than 1,000 of the cars a year), and 2017 will be its last year. The Viper’s party piece is its massive 8.4-liter V10 that generates 645 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, all of which is sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission. The newest version isn’t quite as brutish as the older generations, and includes a 5-mode electronic stability control system and the Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system (with SRT Performance Pages). There’s even an optional driver-selectable suspension system.

 Photo by Dodge

Photo by Dodge

Ferrari F12berlinetta

The demise of the Ferrari F12berlinetta will be particularly sad for fans of Pininfarina, as it was the last model in the brand’s lineup that was designed in collaboration with the coachbuilder. In typical Ferrari fashion, the F12berlinetta is powered by an amazing naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter V12 that makes 730 horsepower and 509 lb-ft of torque, all of which is sent to the rear wheels by a 7-speed dual-clutch paddle-shifted transmission. If you’re a fan of front-engine rear-wheel drive Ferraris, don’t fret; the F12 has been replaced by the 812 Superfast, which features an even more powerful 789-horsepower 6.5-liter V12. That extra power should at least help to ease the Pininfarina fans’ pain.

 Photo by Ferrari

Photo by Ferrari

Ford Mustang V6

Don’t despair, Mustang fans, it’s only the V6 model that’s going away for 2018; the turbocharged 4-cylinder will become the base engine and the V8 remains optional. While earlier generations of the V6 Mustang were much maligned for their lack of power, the current V6 is a 3.7-liter unit that generates a healthy 300 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Hopefully, the next time we see a V6 in a Mustang it’s even more powerful, something like a slightly detuned version of the new Ford GT’s 647-horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, and maybe paired with a fancy dual-clutch transmission. Until then, we won’t miss the availability of the V6 too much.

 Photo by Ford

Photo by Ford

Jeep Patriot

The Jeep Patriot and the Jeep Compass are closely related, and while both models are still currently available, they are both being replaced by a single model, the all-new 2017 Jeep Compass (which looks like a two-thirds-size Jeep Grand Cherokee). The Patriot’s main selling points are its relatively low price and its off-road ability, a feature most owners will never make use of. The trade-off is a rough ride, a functional but not particularly inspired interior and average fuel economy, while some models come with a particularly annoying continuously variable transmission. The Patriot was due for an update, and the new Compass looks like it should be better in just about every way.

 Photo by Jeep

Photo by Jeep

Mitsubishi Lancer

Though it will continue on in China, 2017 marks the last year of the Mitsubishi Lancer in North America. The current model has been showing its age for some time (though we are still a fan of its recently facelifted styling), and we largely lost interest once the high-performance Evolution model was dropped. Several engines are available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, but none are particularly impressive. It’s the interior that really lets the Lancer down, with an annoying infotainment system, uncomfortable seats, low-rent materials and a general lack of space. With a bit of updating, the Lancer could be competitive again, but instead it finds its way onto our list of 10 cars being discontinued in 2017.

 Photo by Mitsubishi

Photo by Mitsubishi

Smart Fortwo

The 2017 smart fortwo is powered by a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, but that motor won't be returning for 2018 when the new electric-powered Fortwo Electric Drive is expected to be introduced. While the gasoline version develops 89 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque, the electric version is expected to produce around 80 horsepower and 120 lb-ft of torque and have a range of approximately 100 miles. The gasoline-powered Fortwo isn’t particularly economical or fun to drive, so we aren’t overly disappointed to see it on our list of 10 cars being discontinued in 2017 (and we’re excited for the return of the smart fortwo electric drive Cabriolet, the only electric-powered convertible on the market).

 Photo by smart

Photo by smart

Volkswagen CC

The Volkswagen CC is a 4-door "coupe" with a steeply sloping roofline that sacrifices both rear headroom and cargo space in the name of style. The only models currently available are powered by a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that’s paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. The CC has a sporty feel and a good ride, but it faces some stiff competition from Volkswagen’s own cheaper and more practical Passat. For the 2018 model year, the CC will be replaced by the all-new Volkswagen Arteon, a 4-door coupe that will be positioned slightly upmarket of the CC.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen


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