RIP:  These Vehicles Are Going Away        

A funeral procession of cars is rolling toward the horizon as the 2026 model year approaches. Automakers are bidding adieu to models, many once pillars of their brands—in some cases, award-winning flagships—only to be replaced by SUVs, electrics, or production priorities that better match shifting consumer appetites.

If one of these models is on your radar, you might want to make a move sooner rather than later—before dealers clear '25 inventory or before your favorites simply vanish.

End of the Road for These Models

• Acura TLX 
• Audi A4 
• Audi Q8 e-tron 
• BMW X4 
• Cadillac XT4 
• Cadillac XT6 
• Chevrolet Malibu
• Infiniti QX50 

While the days are numbered for these two models, they'll stick around a bit longer:

• Ford Escape - Production will end this year, but Ford says there should be enough inventory to sell "well into 2026."
• Lincoln Corsair -The same is true of the Corsair.

Why It Matters

These discontinuations are more than just nameplates ticking off the calendar—they’re emblematic of a dramatic shift in the auto world I’ve been talking about on the  Car Pro Show for years.

The sedan era drags on its death bed as consumers embrace SUVs and crossovers. Just look at the gap vacated by models like the TLX, Malibu, and A4—cars once adored for their driving dynamics are being phased out in favor of taller, more spacious alternatives.

Even electric models aren’t immune: Cadillac’s XT4 and XT6 make way for the all-electric Vistiq; Audi shutters its Q8 e-tron with no immediate successor; and Infiniti’s QX50 pulls out irrespective of solid sales. The industry is rapidly realigning around electrification trends, practicality, and platform streamlining.

Production strategies are shifting too. Ford killing Escape and Corsair in favor of the new EV truck shows how manufacturers are retooling real estate and supply chains for what’s next. Cadillac’s XT4 plant is being prepped for Bolt EVs—an already visible sign of how the future is being engineered.

If You Were Eyeing One of These…

Time may be ticking. Enthusiasts may see a rare chance to snag a last-of-the-line TLX, Q8 e-tron, or Malibu before they're gone. Dealers may offer sweet clearance deals on '25s of models being phased out. Heck, you might pick up an Audi A4 one last time—or a QX50—before they join the archives.  We know the incentives will be huge on outgoing vehicles.

Worried about resale value?  That is smart if you plan to trade the vehicle off in the next 3-4 years.  Killed-off cars depreciate at a quicker pace, however, if you plan to keep the car 5 years or more, grab the bargain.  Resale won’t matter down the road 5 years.

But the era of the car is quietly folding into SUVs and electrics. As one industry observer put it: the death of these vehicles isn’t just about the models—it’s about the end of an era.