2013 models hit their expiration date

Fall is upon us, and as we all know, autumn marks the beginning of new-car season. Brand-spanking new models get the opportunity to make their debut in the automotive world, while others are lucky enough to continue their journey into the next generation.

But other vehicles are hitting the end of the assembly line. Why won't some cars live on in 2014? The New York Times makes it easy to understand: “With few exceptions, a canceled car is a slow-selling car.” Read through this list, and ask yourself honestly: Did you even realize any of these vehicles were still on sale until we reminded you?

We begin list of the condemned with the Acura ZDX. This vehicle was characterized by its SUV-like height, coupe-like roof, and four-door sedan styling. Said to be a more traditional Acura MDX, the ZDX came up short with buyers, leaving them a little confused. Acura originally set a modest goal of 5,000 sales per year but did not even come close to hitting that mark.

Next on the chopping block is the Audi TT RS. The TT's 360-hp turbocharged five-cylinder engine and six-speed manual was up to snuff with other Audi products, but the problem was there were just too many other cars on the market like it. So to the Audi TT RS we say, Auf Wiedersehen. And don't worry, there are still plenty of other Audi TT variants for you to enjoy.

The Cadillac Escalade EXT prides itself on the legacy of the Cadillac name, and in a sense rode the coat tails of the Cadillac brand under the radar for 11 years. The fact that the EXT was considered a “luxury pickup” might have been the reason for its demise. Our guess is that people that want a heavy-duty vehicle are not as concerned with luxury reputation as they are with finding value and performance at a reasonable price.

Like the Cadillac, the Chevrolet Avalanche bids the automotive world farewell after this model year. A strange cross between an SUV and a pickup, this vehicle definitely had its priorities in order when it came to hauling around people and cargo. But its ride came to an abrupt end when updated versions of more conventional pickups hit the market: The sibling rivalry between the Chevrolet Avalanche and the Silverado ultimately ended in favor of the latter.

Cousin to the Chevrolet Avalanche is the Chevrolet Corvette. With the recent release of the Vette's seventh generation, the impressive 2014 Corvette Stingray, it's no surprise that C6 models are on their way out. Fortunately, the all-American sports car is only moving onwards and upwards in its new incarnation.

From the start, the Mustang Boss 302 was a dead man walking: Ford originally intended to sell this special-edition 'Stang for just two years. The model was an attempt to evoke the spirit of a vintage muscle car, and it certainly packed a punch -- even if some Autoweek editors found it a to be a bit rough around the edges at times. With a redesigned Mustang on the horizon, the Boss nameplate may yet live again, so let's call this one a tentative retirement.

Nissan shuts the door on its Altima two-door design after this year due to the fact that it catered to a very narrow audience. Coupes may look sleek, but the reality is that four-door sedans make a lot more sense to a lot more buyers. With Toyota's Camry-based Solara coupe six feet under as well, Honda's Accord now monopolizes the affordable two-door coupe market.

Suzuki threw in the towel in the U.S. market late in 2012. Their newer models, the SX4 subcompact and the Kizashi midsize sedan, were underappreciated vehicles. But when it comes to cars, it only takes a few bad eggs to ruin the bunch -- and that's exactly what the Grand Vitara SUV and Equator pickup did. So to Suzuki we say, sayonara.

When General Motors cut the cord on the Pontiac brand in 2009, it left the Toyota Matrix all alone without its mechanical twin, the Pontiac Vibe. The two shared a manufacturing plant at the time, so the move forced Toyota to relocate to Cambridge, Ontario -- giving the Matrix another four years on the market. The Matrix will not reappear for the 2014 model year, but it definitely put up a good fight.

Volvo will be putting the brakes on the production of its C30 and C70 models at the end of this year. The C30 was a very unique vehicle for the Volvo lineup: a hatchback with a five-cylinder engine and all-glass rear. But just wasn't enough for the majority of luxury buyers.

The C70 was also a departure from the conventional Volvo design, ditching the trademark boxy lines of other Volvos and featuring a soft-top convertible. Later generations of the C70 featured a retractable hardtop. Now under new management of the Chinese automaker, Geely, the Swedes are trying to return to their mainstream design roots for their upcoming lineup.

By Natalie Sejnost