In memoriam: the cars which died in 2025 – Carwow
December 31, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Let’s take a moment to remember seven of the best cars which were discontinued in 2025. We’re going to miss these iconic models.
There are lots of new and exciting cars coming out over the next few years, but for every shiny new model that hits the showroom, another one has to leave.
In 2025 we lost quite a few well-known name plates, including an iconic hot hatch and a legendary Japanese sports car. Here are seven great cars which have been discontinued in 2025.
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After a 28-year production run, the Ford Focus is no more. This family hatchback really shook up the market when it was first revealed thanks to its bold styling and sweet handling, and all four versions were renowned for being great fun to drive.
And some of the greatest hot hatchbacks of the last 20 years came from the Focus. You had the spicy ST versions, and the ballistic RS models to put a huge grin on your face. The Mk2 Focus RS is one of the most iconic thanks to its wild styling and five-cylinder warble.
It’s been on the cards for a while, but in 2025 Porsche ended production of the 718 Cayman and Boxster. These were two of the best sports cars money could buy, especially the GT4 RS with its mesmerising flat-six engine.
These two cars were due to be replaced with electric-only models, but Porsche recently announced that it would also be making petrol-powered versions of the next Boxster and Cayman. Both are scheduled for a reveal in 2026.
We love the Civic Type R, but in the summer of 2025 Honda unveiled the Ultimate Edition as a final swan song before it bows out. Production will end in 2026, so you still have a chance to get your hands on one if you get in there quickly.
We’ve seen five generations of Civic Type R in the UK over the last couple of decades, and our favourite has to be the FK8 model sold from 2017 until 2021. It’s incredible on a twisty road, but it’s also the most comfortable and the easiest to live with.
The Volkswagen Arteon is a fantastic-looking large family car whether you go for the swoopy liftback or the estate-style Shooting Brake. It was essentially a Passat in a sharper suit, but it looked so classy you’d forget about the hum-drum underpinnings.
You could get an R version as well with a 320hp 2.0-litre engine and four-wheel drive if you fancied something a bit spicy. It wasn’t as fun to drive as a BMW 5 Series, but it could still put a smile on your face.
This is the second time Volvo has snatched the V90 away from us. It was first taken off sale in the UK a couple of years ago, before being reintroduced in early 2025. Fans of this big, wafty estate car rejoiced, before being brought back down to earth again when it was announced that production would be ending for good.
There’s a lot to like about the V90. The design may be around eight years old, but it’s still a really handsome thing. It’s also hugely spacious inside, and it’s super comfortable to drive. We’ll miss it, unless Volvo changes its mind again in 2026.
BMW’s big two-door GT car has bitten the dust. The BMW M8 looked fantastic when it was launched back in 2018, and even though it’s showing its age a bit now this is still an undeniably handsome car.
The 4.4-litre V8 engine also put out a whopping 625hp, so it was hugely fast in a straight line. The only real issue with it was the BMW M850i, which was very nearly as good as the M8 but cost a whole lot less.
After a whopping 17 years on sale, Godzilla has finally been put to rest. It feels like the death of the Nissan GT-R has been coming for the last five years, but in 2025 the production line shut down for good.
The GT-R was a technological masterpiece when it was launched. Nothing accelerated as quickly as this, cornered as well as this nor offered such a blend of performance and practicality for the money. They were also hugely popular with tuning companies. Over the years we’ve drag raced dozens of GT-Rs, some pushing well over 1,000hp. The top half of our drag race leaderboard is littered with them.
The R36 GT-R has some truly massive tyres to fill.
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