Seven cars that should not make a comeback

There is certainly residual regard for the Reliant Robin, partly based on its usage by Del Trotter, the lead character of the hit BBC show Only Fools and Horses.

However, it is unstylish, unreliable and probably wouldn’t fare well in a Euro NCAP crash test. It was last produced in 2002.

Spiritual descendant of the Capri, and a successor to the awful Probe, the Cougar was designed as a car to bring vim and vigour to Ford’s European line-up.

Despite decent driving dynamics, its drab looks and boring interior made it anonymous and a sales dud; production ceased after just four years.

An ill-starred outcome of the Daimler-Chrysler merger, the Crossfire was based on a first-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK platform that was obsolete by the time it launched in 2003.

Its interior was as weak as its chassis, and generous equipment levels didn't compensate. A poor seller, it died after just five years on sale.

The PT Cruiser was briefly a cult hit among people who know nothing about cars.

It lacked the hot-rod skills promised by its looks, and it died in 2010.

The Scorpio certainly made an impact when it launched in 1994, but not for the right reasons.

Never a car to slow the gathering march of executive buyers towards premium brands, the car died in 1998.

Based on the Daihatsu Move, the styling of the Kenari was challenging to say the least.

The car did little to increase the reputation of Malaysian car-making, though it was at least cheap. Lambasted by the motoring press, it was axed in 2009.

Slow, ugly and impractical, the X90 failed to make an impact.

It lasted just three years before being pulled from the market in 1997.