10. Suzuki Equator – 155 sold

Did you know Suzuki sold a mid-size pickup truck? Apparently, based on the few sold in Canada in 2010, the answer would be an emphatic, "No!"

Just as the Japanese brand moved away from its partnerships with GM (bye-bye Verona and XL-7) the $34,995 Equator, a rebadged Nissan Frontier arrived on Suzuki dealer lots. Interestingly, Nissan Canada managed to sell 2,272 copies of the Frontier in 2010. Go figure.

9. Audi R8 – 137 sold

With 14,333 cars and trucks sold in Canada last year, Audi led the industry with an overall sales increase of 27 per cent. So while the 137 examples of its all-wheel-drive, mid-engine, two-seat R8 supercar may not sound like a lot, the R8 is Audi's rarest model. And yet, the R8 sold at a rate of almost twice what Lamborghini sold in Canada last year.

Despite its relative popularity with those looking for a budget supercar, between the least-expensive $144,000 R8 4.2 FSI (V8) with 420 hp, and the $173,000 5.2 FSI (V10), with 525 hp, we suspect the R8 will always be a rare but appreciated sight on Canadian roads.

8. Jaguar XK – 117 sold

Like the R8, the Jaguar XK grand touring coupe is a demi-exotic with a relatively low-price-to-attention-grabbing looks ratio. But unlike the Audi, it still made up a good chunk of the 755 Jaguars sold in Canada in 2010. For the record, that's down from the 804 sold in 2009.

A mild styling refresh is expected next year to keep this grand touring duo in line with the modern-looking XJ sedan that was introduced in 2010. Until then, though, the XK - which starts with the 385-hp, $96,500 Coupe, and tops out with the $114,000 XKR Convertible, with 510 hp - will remain a rarity on Canadian roads.

7. Mazda RX-8 – 111 sold

Sure, the RX-8's been around since 2003. And other, more powerful 2+2 coupes, such as the Audi TT, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis and Chevrolet Camaro have stolen its fire. But despite its low sales numbers, Mazda's RX-8 is still one the best handling - and imaginative - sports cars you can buy today.

The purest RX-8 is the underrated $41,995 R3 model. Its 232-hp, 159 lb.-ft. torque 1.3-litre Wankel rotary engine revs like signing angels. But beyond the engine, it also has such driver-oriented kit as a limited-slip rear differential, sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shocks, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and lightweight Recaro front seats.

6. Acura RL – 64 sold

While its sales were flat last year compared to 2009, Honda's premium Acura brand hung onto third place in the luxury brand sales, with 17,340 vehicles sold in Canada during 2010. Not helping its cause was the $63,900 RL flagship sedan.

While the abrupt change from relatively conservative to a more aggressive styling look has been cited as one of the problems with Acura's lack of sales growth - and one not specific to the RL - the RL must face other top-line premium sports sedans that offer more advanced technologies and more powerful engines, not to mention the TL, which in Type-S form packs more of a punch and offers a similarly-sized interior for thousands less.

5. Nissan GT-R – 62 sold

In truth, the Nissan GT-R supercar will never sell in big numbers. For the few who will experience Japan's most technologically advanced performance car, this probably isn't a bad thing. After all, exclusivity is part of Godzilla's appeal.

On a closed circuit - like Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife track where it's been clocked as one of the fastest production cars - nothing can touch the 485 hp GT-R for its $99,500 price. And for 2011, the GT-R will arrive with 45 more horsepower plus body and suspension modifications.

4. BMW 6 Series – 61 sold

In a hard fought battle for new luxury car buyer wallets, with 27,202 cars and SUVs, the BMW brand finished second in 2010 to rival German brand, Mercedes-Benz, which led last year with sales of 29,632 vehicles.

Not helping the Bavarians' cause was the slow-selling 6 Series grand touring coupe and convertible. In its defense, BMW let buyers know that the current 2010 model, which has been on sale since 2004, was set to be replaced by a new, more powerful and more luxurious model as of spring 2011. This more than likely stifled sales; after all, if you were about to drop six figures on a luxury car, wouldn't you want the latest and greatest?

3. Dodge Viper SRT10 – 54 sold

The fact that the iconic V10 roadster ceased production last July probably didn't help its sales numbers.

After a couple of failed attempts to sell off the Viper brand as a whole, Dodge's new caretaker's at Italy's Fiat is moving ahead with plans for an all-new Viper, due in 2012.

2. Cadillac STS - 46 sold

Soon to be replaced by the new XTS sedan for 2012, we can understand if you thought Cadillac's $61,135 STS midsize luxury sedan had already been put out to pasture. The STS shares a similar problem as Acura's RL - despite having a much heftier premium, it is not much larger on the inside than its CTS sibling.

Not likely to improve its sales this year, GM Canada is trimming back its STS lineup for 2011. Last year's optional V8 has been axed, leaving only the 302-hp V6.

1. Lexus SC430 – 29 sold

Lexus saw its sales drop 9.8 per cent last year, down to 14,249 cars and trucks sold in Canada. And while the RX crossover sold an admirable 7,383 units, the SC430 convertible was a mere drop in the bucket with 29 units moving off dealer lots.

Originally built to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster (which 230 examples were sold in Canada last year), the second-generation $82,000 SC430 retractable hardtop roadster is now pushing 10 years on the market without any significant changes.