We’ve cracked out the black armbands today on TopGear.com. News first reached us that the last ever Lexus LFA had just rolled off the production line, ending the Japanese über-car’s life.

But now we’ve learned that the Subaru WRX STI - formerly known as the Impreza - will soon disappear from UK roads. Completely.

Subaru confirmed to TopGear.com that the demand for the rally icon has dwindled of late because of changing “market dynamics”, and the company is now committed to remaining “competitive on all fronts and in all sectors”, through the XV, Forester and Outback.

So when the current stock of WRX STIs runs out, Subaru has no intention of reordering any more for the UK market. This means that at some point next year, there won’t be the option of buying one of the UK’s most recognisable and formidable performance icons.

Don’t forget, it was only a few months back that Subaru slashed the price on a WRX STI by a whopping six grand (though it appears to have crept back up to just under £33k now…), in a bid to pump some life into the ageing saloon. And what did you get for your money? 300bhp, 300lb ft of torque, a 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds, four-wheel-drive, and a top speed of 158mph. Oh, and a ruddy good drive too.

So, as Subaru tells us, “there is certainly time for customers to get their hands on what we think is a bit of a motoring icon.” Do you agree? Or should it now be consigned to history?