Just as change is constant in every sphere of life, when it comes to the automotive industry, there comes a time when even the most beloved machines must bid farewell. This year’s tribute is payed to some icons of the road, acknowledging their departure from showrooms and their inevitable journey to that great scrapyard in the sky.
But amidst the solemnity, there’s a touch of irony as we bid adieu to some vehicles, for they possess names that hardly evoke images of celestial bliss. Take, for instance, the Dodge Charger and Challenger— aptly dubbed Hellcats in their most ferocious iterations. It seems fitting that such brash and powerful beasts wouldn’t be destined for car heaven.
Yet, it’s not just the Hellcats that will be absent from future line-ups. Joining them in their farewell tour is their upscale cousin, the Chrysler 300. This trio of American muscle represents an era of raw power and unabashed performance that will be fondly remembered by enthusiasts for generations to come. But they aren’t the only ones rolling off into the sunset.
Other charismatic cars on the chopping block include the Audi R8 and Kia Stinger. And these are just a handful of the vehicles that bid adieu following the 2023 model year. Below are the depart- ed ‘souls’ and a handful of vehicles of different brands that also join the list.
AUDI R8: The Supercar Silenced
The Audi R8 was a masterpiece of engineering, combining breath-taking performance with everyday usability. With its distinctive design and exhilarating driving dynamics, the R8 captured the hearts of automotive enthusiasts around the world.
But as Audi shifts its focus towards electric mobility, the R8 becomes a casualty of changing priorities. While its absence will be felt, the Audi R8 leaves behind a legacy of innovation and excitement.
It’s not just the TT that Audi pulled the plug on at the end of the 2023 model year. The luxury brand also called it quits on the R8, the mid-engine coupe and convertible (or Spyder in Audi parlance) that first entered production for 2008. Of course, this isn’t the exact same R8 as the original, with Audi redesigning the mid-engine sports car for the 2017 model year. Now, the R8’s story comes to a close. A real shame, if you ask us.
CHRYSLER 300: Luxury Farewell
The Chrysler 300 brought a touch of luxury to the American sedan market with its sleek styling and refined interior. With its powerful V8 engine options and spacious cabin, the 300 offered a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience. But as tastes evolve and consumer preferences shift, the 300 finds itself out of step with the times. Despite its departure, the legacy of the Chrysler 300 will be remembered fondly by fans of American luxury cars.
Chrysler’s two-car lineup for the 2023 model year (the Pacifica and 300) falls to just one for 2024 with the demise of the 300. The big rear-drive sedan never failed to endear car enthusiasts (at least when there was a V-8 under its hood), even if it long since started to show its age. To commemorate its run, Chrysler released a limited-edition 300C with a brawny 485-hp 6.4-liter V-8 under its hood. Expect the 300’s successor to ditch the V-8 and embrace electrification when it arrives in the middle of the decade.
DODGE CHARGER AND CHALLENGER: The Demons Depart
With their powerful engines and iconic designs, the Dodge Charger and Challenger have been staples of American muscle car culture. From the growl of their engines to the thrill of acceleration, these beasts embodied the spirit of the open road. Whether it was a Hellcat, a Scat Pack, or a Demon, these cars commanded attention and respect wherever they roamed. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and the Charger and Challenger take their final bow in 2024.
Like its Chrysler 300 cousin, the four-door Dodge Charger se- dan bites the dust at the close of the 2023 model year. Despite its age, the Charger managed to keep things interesting with a number of V-8 variants over the years, including the more than 700-hp supercharged Charger SRT Hellcat.
Though Dodge tinkered with the Challenger over the years, improving its interior and lightly updating its styling, the two-door muscle car’s remained largely the same since its 2008 debut. No surprise, then, that the current-generation Charger is meeting its maker. Alas, Dodge has no immediate replacement ready for 2024; however, the battery-electric Charger Daytona SRT concept shows the brand has plans to eventually fill the Challenger’s coupe-sized hole in its lineup.
KIA STINGER: The Underdog’s Last Stand
The Kia Stinger defied expectations with its bold styling and impressive performance. With its rear-wheel-drive platform and available twin-turbo V6 engine, the Stinger offered a driving experience that rivaled more established luxury brands. Despite its accolades and loyal fan base, the Stinger falls victim to the realities of the automotive market. As Kia pivots towards electrification and sustainability, the Stinger becomes a casualty of shifting priorities.
After six years on the market, the Kia Stinger is no more. The rear-drive four-door hatchback tickled car enthusiasts with its engaging driving dynamics and versatile nature. Alas, it seems not enough as U.S. buyers were enamored with the Stinger.
JEEP CHEROKEE AND RENEGADE
More than a decade after nixing the Cherokee, Jeep resurrected the model for 2014. Now, nearly a decade later, Jeep is once again pulling the plug on the Cherokee. We wager the nameplate will return in the coming years, possibly adorning a forthcoming battery-electric SUV.
Jeep culls its littlest SUV from its lineup at the close of the 2023 model year. The little Renegade combined scaled-down Wrangler-like looks and reasonably capable off road performance (at least in Trailhawk trim), but its small size, more than $30,000 starting price, and chintzy interior made it a tough sell to the masses. The fact Jeep also sells the similarly priced and more spacious Compass certainly didn’t help the Renegade’s case for sticking around.
KIA RIO
Kia’s subcompact sedan and hatchback are no more, as the Rio goes away with the closing of the 2023 model year. The Rio was one of just three models available in 2023 with a start- ing price of less than $20,000. Despite its entry-level position in Kia’s lineup, the Rio never felt like an entry-level car.
Well, at least from the driver’s seat, sure, no one would confuse a Rio for a luxury vehicle, but compared to similarly priced competitors, such as the Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback and Mirage G4 sedan, this little Kia may as well have worn a Genesis badge.
MAZDA CX-9 AND MAZDA MX-30
It seems there’s not enough room in Mazda’s lineup for two three-row SUVs, so the Japanese brand is killing the CX-9 to make room for the rear-drive-based 2024 CX-90. While the CX-9’s dynamic competence and rich material continued to impress car enthusiasts right up until the end of its run, the SUV’s cramped third row and small cargo area left much to be desired relative to its more spacious competitors.
With sales limited to California, the Mazda MX-30 made a small ripple in the ocean that is the U.S. new vehicle market. Despite its attractive exterior and interior designs, the MX-30 failed to impress as an electric vehicle. With a driving range of approximately 100 miles on a full charge of its battery pack and a base price north of $35,000, the MX-30 was neither a compelling EV nor a particularly good value.
MERCEDES C-CLASS COUPE, CLS-CLASS, E-CLASS COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE
Despite redesigning the C-class sedan for 2022, Mercedes continued to sell the outgoing C in coupe and convertible body styles for the 2022 and 2023 model years. This ends for 2024, as the three-pointed star kills the two-door C-class. The new CLE-class indirectly replaces the model. However, as the “E” in its name implies, this 2024 model year Mercedes will serve more as an analog to the mid-size E-class sedan than the compact C-class.
Automotive pedants rejoice! The first car to try the “this four-door sedan is a coupe” marketing ploy is dead. Everyone else can weep, as killing off the swishy CLS-class is part of Mercedes’s strategy to shrink the number of models it sells. Then again, given the E-class, CLS-class, and GT 4-Door all occupy a similar space in the mid-size luxury sedan marketplace, it’s not entirely surprising that Mercedes decided one of these four-door models had to get buried.
The reveal of a new Mercedes E-class sedan marks the end of the E-class coupe and convertible. In its place comes the CLE-class coupe and convertible. Think of it as the two-door E-class’s successor, albeit with a new name.
As we scroll through the list of departing vehicles, we’re reminded that change is inevitable in the automotive world. While we mourn the loss of these beloved machines, we also look forward to the future and the promise of new technologies, designs, and experiences yet to come. So here’s to the Charger, the Challenger, the R8, the Stinger, and all the others bidding farewell in 2024. May their legacies live on in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts everywhere, inspiring the next generation of automotive dreams.