How Will Cadillac Manage?

[FlatBlackCaddy]

The 3 series is BMW's best selling car. No one really buys V8's anymore.

There is a difference between what sells and what gives you a image.

Large cars do sell, V8's sell as well. Often times the presence of a larger car with a optional V8 will sell v6 models of said car, look no further than the chrysler 300.

GM can use a bit of both at this point, and subscribing to the whole "nobody's buys them, so who cares" GM mantra is foolish.

[Vinsanity]

Its is fine.

The XTS will be "fine" in the same way the late-90's Seville was "fine". It'll be for buyers who go straight to the Cadillac dealerships without stopping by Lexus and Mercedes dealerships as well. And there are fewer of those buyers around today than in the 90's.

[2o6]

The XTS will be "fine" in the same way the late-90's Seville was "fine". It'll be for buyers who go straight to the Cadillac dealerships without stopping by Lexus and Mercedes dealerships as well. And there are fewer of those buyers around today than in the 90's.

People don't realize that Cadillac's clintele really liked the DTS. The XTS is a way to retain those customers who find the CTS and similar to be too harsh and sporty.



Even so, there is going to be a super-sized RWD car coming, too.

[hotrodalex]

I wouldn't call a luxury division with NO v8's and NO full size car(on the lots at his moment) fine.

CTS-V?

[Vinsanity]

People don't realize that Cadillac's clintele really liked the DTS. The XTS is a way to retain those customers who find the CTS and similar to be too harsh and sporty.



Even so, there is going to be a super-sized RWD car coming, too.

Well I do admit that I like the DTS for what it is. And although the XTS will be an objectively better car, its proportions just don't sit well with me. It looks like a Toyota Avalon with Cadillac styling cues. It has a Camry-sized hood in front of a Lexus LS-sized passenger cabin. Part of what I liked about the DTS is the classic long-and-low look of the car.

I can only hope that the RWD flagship will be a real "OMG look at that" type of car. Like Cadillac's Mercedes CLS or Audi A7. I can only hope.

[Atomic]

Well I do admit that I like the DTS for what it is. And although the XTS will be an objectively better car, its proportions just don't sit well with me. It looks like a Toyota Avalon with Cadillac styling cues. It has a Camry-sized hood in front of a Lexus LS-sized passenger cabin. Part of what I liked about the DTS is the classic long-and-low look of the car.

I can only hope that the RWD flagship will be a real "OMG look at that" type of car. Like Cadillac's Mercedes CLS or Audi A7. I can only hope.

bro, we have been in agreement on many things! cool. the DTS was really sweet looking with the restyling and more traditional caddy styling elements. it lost much over the years, but still maintained good classic looks. i, too, find the proportions odd on the concept version of the upcoming XTS. not bad looking, but lacking appropriate proportions. i doubt, since GM admits it is a dead ringer from the actual sedan that it will change much for the better. yes. it will be better in most other ways over the lame duck DTS.

the "one again, off again" ultra cadillac sedan will more than likely look awesome, but wow! over $120,000.00. imo, caddy should be targeting the two large models from hyundai -- price included.

[Vinsanity]

the "one again, off again" ultra cadillac sedan will more than likely look awesome, but wow! over $120,000.00. imo, caddy should be targeting the two large models from hyundai -- price included.

Another thing we agree on

A car with the underpinnings and proportions of a Hyundai Equus with a body and interior of a Cadillac would be eleventy thousand times more awesome than a Toyota Avalon/Buick Lacrosse with Cadillac styling cues.

[Atomic]

Another thing we agree on

A car with the underpinnings and proportions of a Hyundai Equus with a body and interior of a Cadillac would be eleventy thousand times more awesome than a Toyota Avalon/Buick Lacrosse with Cadillac styling cues.

dude, you put down the capital and i will manage the business from a beach house in malibu (california)... not the backseat of a chevy malibu (chuckle) 

yes. the equus would be an idea car for cadillac to model a new sedan after... price, quality, RWD, room, features, values... and the classic styling elements that would make this america luxury car a true "standard of the work"... the "cadillac of cadillacs"... the next generation hyundai is expected to have AWD added as an option (no word on the equus), but something that this upscale caddy should offer.

[Cookie Monster]

dude, you put down the capital and i will manage the business from a beach house in malibu (california)... not the backseat of a chevy malibu (chuckle) 

yes. the equus would be an idea car for cadillac to model a new sedan after... price, quality, RWD, room, features, values... and the classic styling elements that would make this america luxury car a true "standard of the work"... the "cadillac of cadillacs"... the next generation hyundai is expected to have AWD added as an option (no word on the equus), but something that this upscale caddy should offer.

I could see them doing that to the STS, which sits at about the Equus' price point. Although, if they made an Equus fighter for Equus money, they'd have to make the CTS slightly cheaper so they aren't so close together.

[2o6]

I could see them doing that to the STS, which sits at about the Equus' price point. Although, if they made an Equus fighter for Equus money, they'd have to make the CTS slightly cheaper so they aren't so close together.

The XTS replaces the STS and DTS.

[GoCougs]

The XTS is a stunner; GM is doing fantastic by Cadillac especially relatively to the    efforts by Ford (Lincoln) and Mopar (Chrysler).

Lack of a Cadillac V8 is relative meh; not may E550s or 550is are sold and the A6 doesn't even have a V8 option. GM's 3.6L even in just the lowly Camaro has more HP than the M-B and BWM 6-cylinder motors and is but 10 hp shy of the S/C V6 in the A6...

[Vinsanity]

The XTS is a stunner; GM is doing fantastic by Cadillac especially relatively to the    efforts by Ford (Lincoln) and Mopar (Chrysler).

meh. The XTS is just GM's better-looking counterpart of the effort by Ford/Lincoln (MKS). They're both derived from plebian FWD family sedan roots, and because of that, they're both too compromised to be true competitors to the mid-range luxury segment. The CTS is more purpose-engineered as a luxury car than the XTS.

[2o6]

The XTS is nowhere near as compromised.


It clearly has FWD proportions, but GM did a whole lot of work turning that platform into a whole different bird.

[Vinsanity]

The XTS is nowhere near as compromised.


It clearly has FWD proportions, but GM did a whole lot of work turning that platform into a whole different bird.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. That short hood really bothers me to look at, though. For some reason, it reminds me of a guy wearing a very nice coat/tie/shirt combo, but with a pair of pleated khaki shorts below. Why they decided against using the Zeta platform, I'll never understand.

[2o6]

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. That short hood really bothers me to look at, though. For some reason, it reminds me of a guy wearing a very nice coat/tie/shirt combo, but with a pair of pleated khaki shorts below. Why they decided against using the Zeta platform, I'll never understand.

It's old. (ish)

[the Teuton]

...for now. I'm still worried about the XTS taking the brand in completely the wrong direction.

If I say it is fine, it is fine. Don't question my authoritah!

[Soup DeVille]

If I say it is fine, it is fine. Don't question my authoritah!

Cadillac has survived the first gen Seville, the crazy trunk Seville, the Seville Opera Coupe, the Cimarron, the Allante, the death and hibernation of RWD, the Catera and the Escalade.

The XTS is nothing to worry about.

[the Teuton]

Cadillac has survived the first gen Seville, the crazy trunk Seville, the Seville Opera Coupe, the Cimarron, the Allante, the death and hibernation of RWD, the Catera and the Escalade.

The XTS is nothing to worry about.

I say this with love: By all indications, Cadillac is on the up and up. Don't ask me what I mean by that other than to say that Cadillac will be fine for now and the future.

[Soup DeVille]

I say this with love: By all indications, Cadillac is on the up and up. Don't ask me what I mean by that other than to say that Cadillac will be fine for now and the future.

What do you mean by "Don't ask me what I mean by that?"?

[the Teuton]

What do you mean by "Don't ask me what I mean by that?"?

Cadillac is fine.

Also, read Automotive News from last week. They have a very good speculation piece on Caddy that is likely spot-on.

[68_427]

meh. The XTS is just GM's better-looking counterpart of the effort by Ford/Lincoln (MKS). They're both derived from plebian FWD family sedan roots, and because of that, they're both too compromised to be true competitors to the mid-range luxury segment. The CTS is more purpose-engineered as a luxury car than the XTS.

The sole purpose of the XTS is to cater to those who still want a large comfortable Cadillac cruiser.  It's not meant to face off against other mid/large luxury cars from BMW/MB/Audi.  That's reserved for the larger next generation CTS.  The ATS will be smaller than the current CTS and battle directly with the 3 series.  Then the flagship model comes ready to play with the big dawg S Class/7 series/ A8.

[Vinsanity]

Cadillac has survived the first gen Seville, the crazy trunk Seville, the Seville Opera Coupe, the Cimarron, the Allante, the death and hibernation of RWD, the Catera and the Escalade.

The XTS is nothing to worry about.

You're probably right, although you have to admit that the Escalade played a big part in Cadillac's 21st century resurgence, and those first Seville's breathed new life into a brand and company that was struggling to stay relevant during the time (much like what the CTS did 8-9 years ago). Most other products in the lineup over those years were complacent benchwarmers that slowly drove the brand into irrelevancy, which what I'm afraid the XTS is returning to. Though it looks like there will be stronger products in the pipeline to pick up the slack, the existence of the XTS might cause redundancy and overlap.

[68_427]

I wonder how close the ATS will end up looking to this sketch.

[Atomic]

^ looks mighty nice

[the Teuton]

The sole purpose of the XTS is to cater to those who still want a large comfortable Cadillac cruiser.  It's not meant to face off against other mid/large luxury cars from BMW/MB/Audi.  That's reserved for the larger next generation CTS.  The ATS will be smaller than the current CTS and battle directly with the 3 series.  Then the flagship model comes ready to play with the big dawg S Class/7 series/ A8.

I support this post.

[Madman]

Cadillac has survived the first gen Seville, the crazy trunk Seville, the Seville Opera Coupe, the Cimarron, the Allante, the death and hibernation of RWD, the Catera and the Escalade.

The XTS is nothing to worry about.

Hey, don't be hatin' on the Catera! 

[Soup DeVille]

Hey, don't be hatin' on the Catera! 

No hate at all. On any of those cars. Honest.

They are however, all examples of being outside the normal Cadillac customer base.

[Madman]

No hate at all. On any of those cars. Honest.

They are however, all examples of being outside the normal Cadillac customer base.

One could also argue the CTS was outside Cadillac's normal customer base, too.

[Soup DeVille]

One could also argue the CTS was outside Cadillac's normal customer base, too.

True.

[Galaxy]

Lack of a Cadillac V8 is relative meh; not may E550s or 550is are sold and the A6 doesn't even have a V8 option.

The A6 did have a V8 option untill 2010. It would not surprise me if the E 550 and the 550i also disappear. The S, RS, AMG, and M cars will always be there for those who want it.