In recent years, most large sedans are no longer popular, abandoned in favor of SUVs. With the exception of a few die-hards who elect them as their company car or taxi – especially when they bear a French logo – sedans no longer meet with success. Peugeot thought that its latest 508 would be honorably successful thanks to its 4-door coupe look and plug-in hybrid powertrains. But this is not the case. The Tesla Model 3 is selling better than it and also doubles the Mercedes C-Class and the BMW 3 Series, the premium Germans who are still holding up somewhat in terms of sales. Sedans are globally in danger. Starting with the Ford Mondeo whose production will stop in 2022 or the Renault Talisman, just restyled, but which is nearing the end of its career. Even the VW Passat is no longer in good shape: the days of the sedan are numbered. The Passat must be renewed in 2023 and the trunk model should be removed from the catalog in Europe and the United States. The next Passat will therefore be offered exclusively as a station wagon in France. Faced with consumer disaffection with sedans, manufacturers are removing them from their catalog as they go. Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles was also the first group, in 2016, to throw in the towel and remove sedans from the show floor. manufacturers remove them from their catalog as they go. Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles was also the first group, in 2016, to throw in the towel and remove sedans from the show floor. manufacturers remove them from their catalog as they go. nissan patrol platinum Automobiles was also the first group, in 2016, to throw in the towel and remove sedans from the show floor.
THE MONDEO SEDAN DISAPPEARS FROM THE CATALOG
It’s official: the production of the Mondeo will end in March 2022. Home straight therefore for the family sedan at the Blue Oval. This iconic model, launched in 1993 and sold 5 million copies, is simply no longer in tune with the times. Because the fashion is for high-rise cars: in 2020, 39% of Ford’s passenger car sales were SUVs and crossovers, eight points more than in 2019. The American brand therefore prefers to highlight its SUVs like the Kuga renewed in 2020 or the Mustang Mach-E, its first electric SUV . And since minivans are also put in the shadow of SUVs, the large S-Max and Galaxy minivans assembled in Valence will be available in a hybrid version to stir up the crowds.
SCHEDULED END OF THE TALISMAN
Barely restyled, the Renault Talisman is also preparing to evaporate from the catalog. This is because the Losange sedan continues to follow to the letter the codes of a bygone world: a silhouette with three distinct volumes and exclusively gasoline or diesel engines. The Talisman is now suffering the consequences: in France, the tricolor sedan runs three times less than its Sochalian rival. So that customers are not afraid, the restyled Talisman has just revised the grille slats and added chrome rods on the taillights and the lower part of the bumper. On the other hand, the dashboard has been completely redesigned to integrate more modern equipment (9-inch multimedia tablet, induction smartphone charger and digital instrumentation). The only notable pitfall: the lack of a 360-degree camera, which is a shame for a large sedan. Under the hood, no hybridization, even slight: the Talisman, definitely conservative, accommodates a 1.3 TCE of 160 hp and a 2.0 Blue dCi of 160 or 190 hp, associated with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox for the gasoline and six for fuel oil.
