Rust to pieces: From Holden Commodore's latest V8 replacement to China's answer to Toyota's LandCruiser Prado, here are 11 vehicles pulled from sale in 2021.

Gone but not forgotten, these 11 vehicles have been withdrawn from sale in 2021.

For us motorists, the New Year always has a tinge of sadness.

Yes, next year we will see a whole bunch of exciting new cars to test, inspect and drive. For example, the Ford Ranger is knocking on our door. The appearance of the new Toyota LandCruiser Prado is expected. And we expect to at least see a Toyota GR Corolla.

But sad farewells come with new arrivals. It's like there's very little space in the boat of a new car, so when one gets in, the other has to get out.

So here are 11 cars (and two brands) that have disappeared from Australian showrooms this year. Let them all rust in pieces.

Chrysler (and 300 SRT)

Toward the end, Chrysler seemed to exist solely as a way to feed the New South Wales Highway Patrol with 300 SRT patrol cars, winning the tender to replace the Holden Commodore.

So it's very poetic that Chrysler once again followed the Commodore, finding itself the scum of gasoline engines in a world suddenly obsessed with electrification and efficiency.

"The global push for electrification and a focus on SUVs has led to the consolidation of the entire product line in Australia," the company said in a statement.

The brand pulled the pin in November when there were less than 30 examples of the V8-powered muscle car left in dealerships, and the police had to find another suitable patrol car.

Audi R8

People of a certain age will never forget how the first Audi R8 exploded into our hearts in the distant 2007 year with a powerful V8 engine and amazing enclosed manual controls. It was a German built Lamborghini and what a combination it was.

And from that point on, the story only got better with the introduction of the V10 engine, the convertible version and, at least in my opinion, the rear-wheel drive version of the RWS.

But this September, the mighty R8 was killed off for Australia, with the brand stating: “The current generation of the Audi R8 Coupe and Spyder are no longer offered in Australia due to local homologation reasons. The R8 will continue to be built for other markets."

Hawal H9

The Haval H9 was one of the slowest models in Haval's booming stable this year, so it was no surprise to learn that the off-road-ready SUV was slaughtered in preparation for yet another entry in the segment (the imposing-looking Haval Big Dog is a low-priced favorite) .

Only 517 have found homes this year, compared to the thousands of Jolyons now parked in driveways across the country, and so there are no old or new for Haval.

“Production of the H9 for Australia has already been completed and all remaining stock is expected to be sold by the end of the year,” said GWM spokesman Steve McIver.

Nissan GT-R

Godzilla is the first entry in a chapter we'll call Killed by the Rules, and the Japanese icon doesn't comply with the new side impact crash test rules, also known as ADR 85.

However, with a couple of special editions including the crazy NISMO SV arriving to say goodbye to the current generation GT-R, at least it came out with a bang.

And there is hope on the horizon. While Nissan won't be resurrecting this generation car, you can imagine them implementing ADR requirements in any future Godzillas.

Alpine (and A110)

More than one winner Cars Guide The journalist's "I just want one" award, the sporty Alpine A110 is another model that received the ADR 85 deathblow in Australia, as its low sales volumes don't seem to justify the engineering work required to make it up to the new standard.

And it's a shame because the Alpine is amazing. Instead, we'll have to wait for Alpine's touted electric models, due around the middle of the decade.

Mercedes-AMG GT

The death of another automotive icon in a year filled with them, the Mercedes-AMG GT order book was closed at the end of this year, ending the seven-year run of one of the coolest Star models.

It will be followed by the Mercedes-AMG SL convertible, which will reportedly be followed by the all-new GT coupe, so keep an eye on that space.

Lexus CT, IS and RC

A trio of Lexus (or Lexi?) vehicles could be added to the side kick list, with Lexus in Australia taking final orders for the IS, CT and RC models in Australia, with final deliveries coming in November.

“We have to say goodbye to IS, RC and CT from November due to rule changes that go into effect before all other global markets, here in Australia,” Lexus chief Scott Thompson told us. 

“In order for us to continue to sell these cars, a redesign would be required. We had many discussions with our parent company, we evaluated the alternatives and our decision was that we want to focus on the next generation of vehicles that will come our way.”

The IS is especially surprising given that it has unofficially ranked among the most important Lexus models, rivaling well-known sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Renault Cajar 

Renault Kadjar, one of the most short-lived cars in Australian history, was discontinued at the very beginning of 2021 after about a year on sale in Australia. 

The plan, according to Renault, was to replace the Kadjar with the Arkana, but sales sold out earlier than expected. 

Today here, tomorrow not. Vale Qajar.

Honda civic sedan

The Honda Civic sedan is dead and you have only yourself to blame. 

According to the brand, Australian tastes have shifted so much towards SUVs that the humble sedan just can't keep up, so the decision was made to only offer it as a hatchback from that point on.

"The Civic nameplate will remain the flagship model in Honda's next-generation lineup, however the sedan bodystyle will be phased out locally when the current model reaches the end of its lifecycle," the brand said in a statement.

“In the mid-1990s, the sedan made up about 60% of the small car market in Australia. Over the past 15+ years, the hatchback/sedan ratio has gone from 50/50 to 80/20 in 2020, in favor of a hatchback body style.”