How Will Cadillac Manage?

[2o6]

Automakers are in the business of making money.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

And just for clarification, GM continued to be the #1 sales leader right up until it went bankrupt. The financial meltdown just moved the date up a year or two. They were heading there either way. So don't give me sales numbers to support the assertion that boundries have been drawn and classes have been drawn. Old GM is alive and well, slowly decaying the new GM that everyone believes has "finally learned their lesson".

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Automakers are in the business of making money.

Yup, isn't ford making more money(per volume) than GM.

Volume is good, but building a brand is better. Look at apple, volume or not they have a brand image that can weather just about any storm for the next decade or two. That's what GM needs, they have volume, but they need to be cultivating a image in the process.  They are not.

[2o6]

Have you been inside any modern GM cars?




Honda and Toyota are losing equity. (Civic and Corolla are prime examples. Neither can hold a candle to Cruze and Focus)

Ford proper is doing pretty good, but Lincoln sucks.

Chrysler is a hot mess.



GM got to where they are because of bad product. Their bad product is now finally good product.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Have you been inside any modern GM cars?




Honda and Toyota are losing equity. (Civic and Corolla are prime examples. Neither can hold a candle to Cruze and Focus)

Ford proper is doing pretty good, but Lincoln sucks.

Chrysler is a hot mess.



GM got to where they are because of bad product. Their bad product is now finally good product.

Typical, focus on the past(toyota as your primary competitor) and ignore the future.

Hyundai is moving faster than toyota did in the late eighties early ninties. The competiton GM faced from them will only be fiercer in the years to come from this emerging korean automaker. Coupled with the dismisal of toyota by GM fans due to "a few bad years" and you have a recipe for disaster.  Hyundai is giving it all it has, toyota has cash reserves that GM can only dream of and is willing to die trying to redeem itself(if you don't think so and think toyota will just disappear into the background then you are a fool). The war is far from won, the battle is still up for grabs and GM is far from holding all the chips.

[Atomic]

I used to not see any, but driving in rush hour the past couple days I've seen alot.  Looks awkward at some angles, but better than the RX.

i like both actually, but the "RX" has not changed much and those sharp edges of the caddy look classy. the lexus is still appealing, but could use another re-vamp.

[Atomic]

Typical, focus on the past(toyota as your primary competitor) and ignore the future.

Hyundai is moving faster than toyota did in the late eighties early nineties. The competition GM faced from them will only be fiercer in the years to come from this emerging korean automaker. Coupled with the dismissal of toyota by GM fans due to "a few bad years" and you have a recipe for disaster.  Hyundai is giving it all it has, toyota has cash reserves that GM can only dream of and is willing to die trying to redeem itself(if you don't think so and think toyota will just disappear into the background then you are a fool). The war is far from won, the battle is still up for grabs and GM is far from holding all the chips.

chrysler is looking far better with the chrysler 300 series, dodge charger and durango and jeep grand cherokee. these "large" cars with a choice of RWD or AWD, pentastar V6, 6.4 liter V8 in the SRT-8 models (no AWD on these as of yet) and 5.7 liter hemi-8... if ONLY north america does not avoid large american vehicles currently lacking in today's marketplace... with the discontinuation of the buick lucerne/caddy STS/DTS, a poor excuse of a "large" chevy (impala - with the "SS" no longer, even!), the end of mercury (grand marquis), ford crown vic (fleet only for the past few years) and the lincoln town car (with LWB edition)...

with the weathered dodge avenger and even freshened 200  sedan, a "new" 200S and a tighter 200 hardtop or soft-top convertible offered about to be replaced, a slew of fuel efficient fiat-based small vehicles and perhaps two very distinct minivans (the next generation T&C, DGC), etc. yet to be introduced, i think chrysler-jeep, dodge-ram and fiat of NA will do quite well...

FMC? yepper... lincoln is the sore spot. even with the cts series, crossovers and escalades supporting the brand until the A-series and new large vehicle looks to be in better shape because of those "remaining models" compared with ford's ailing lincoln "luxury division". BTW: where are all of those (eight, i think) vehicles that were to make up the mercury brand when ford was attempting to reestablish the now defunct division?

perhaps cadillac and chrysler are in a better place right now than lincoln, but fortunately, ford as a brand is doing very well... for now, at least...

[Atomic]

another disappointing fact from gm: the eagerly waited buick regal GS will NOT be offered in AWD (as std. equipment or option) when on sale in the u.s. i was looking forward to exploring the option of thinking about the GS as my next sedan. AWD is very enticing in the wintertime.

[Madman]

another disappointing fact from gm: the eagerly waited buick regal GS will NOT be offered in AWD (as std. equipment or option) when on sale in the u.s. i was looking forward to exploring the option of thinking about the GS as my next sedan. AWD is very enticing in the wintertime.

We won't be getting the V6 from the Insignia OPC/VXR, either.  The Regal GS will be little more than an appearance package for the 2.0 Turbo.  May as well just get the standard 2.0 Turbo and pocket the savings instead of the "all mouth, no trousers" GS.

[the Teuton]

No. The standard 2.0T has 220 hp, and the GS will have 270 hp. Learn the facts.

[Madman]

No. The standard 2.0T has 220 hp, and the GS will have 270 hp. Learn the facts.

You learn the facts.

Car and Driver says it will have 255 horsepower; 35 ponies up from the 220 horsepower in the standard turbo.  Sure, it's a nice little boost in power but it's hardly worthy of the storied GS moniker.  It's especially irritating to know that other markets get the 325 horsepower V6 and all wheel drive and we don't.  Once again, Third World America has to settle for a neutered, watered-down version of the real thing.  Thanks, GM! 

Fact-filled article here:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q1/2012_buick_regal_gs-feature

[cawimmer430]

Once again, Third World America has to settle for a neutered, watered-down version of the real thing.  Thanks, GM! 

[Atomic]

madman, thanks for the article... and that one blogger was correct about the posting being old when he pointed out, too, that there will be NO AWD in the version to be sold in the u.s. 

[giant_mtb]

How shall it compete with the A4 and 3-series without AllWheelzDrived?!?!?

[Atomic]

nearly every car company (even those losing significant numbers through the horrendous earthquake) is doing well. sustainability is what we need to see from all corporations (GM and others) and individual divisions (i.e., cadillac) for that matter. the fact that cadillac canceled plans for the luxury model based on the chevy volt was a mistake, imo. it is frightening to think of buying such a "small" chevrolet for over $40,000.00, but a cadillac version costing $50-$60,000.00 is not as daunting. the escalade is selling "good" compared to what? with unstable gasoline prices, an suv of its size is vulnerable. the CTS will become larger and on another platform in a year or two. That could be risky. The ATS? Is there a market for a caddy this small? hopefully, yes.

[68_427]

You learn the facts.

Car and Driver says it will have 255 horsepower; 35 ponies up from the 220 horsepower in the standard turbo.  Sure, it's a nice little boost in power but it's hardly worthy of the storied GS moniker.  It's especially irritating to know that other markets get the 325 horsepower V6 and all wheel drive and we don't.  Once again, Third World America has to settle for a neutered, watered-down version of the real thing.  Thanks, GM! 

Fact-filled article here:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q1/2012_buick_regal_gs-feature

Notice how old that article is?  Yeah over a year.  You learn the facts.  It will arrive in showrooms with 270hp and 295ft/lb.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/15/2012-buick-regal-gs-hits-track-with-270-hp-15-more-than-planned/

[68_427]

How shall it compete with the A4 and 3-series without AllWheelzDrived?!?!?

It only competes with the A4 and 3 series in the same ways the TSX does.

[the Teuton]

Would I be wrong in saying that if Cadillac could put the Voltec engine system in a car to help offset costs and sell it for $50k, the world would be a better place?

[Madman]

Notice how old that article is?  Yeah over a year.  You learn the facts.  It will arrive in showrooms with 270hp and 295ft/lb.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/15/2012-buick-regal-gs-hits-track-with-270-hp-15-more-than-planned/

It appears I was working from outdated information.  I stand corrected.

Nevertheless, 270 horsepower (although impressive for a 2.0 litre engine) is still well short of the 325 horsepower produced by the 2.8 litre V6 found in the Insignia OPC/VXR.  Lack of all wheel drive will also prove to be a deal-breaker for many, especially given the well known torque steer issues which plague powerful front drive Opels/Vauxhalls.  I predict tow truck operators will soon be doing healthy business pulling Regal GSs out of ditches!

[giant_mtb]

It only competes with the A4 and 3 series in the same ways the TSX does.

sarcasm.

[68_427]

It appears I was working from outdated information.  I stand corrected.

Nevertheless, 270 horsepower (although impressive for a 2.0 litre engine) is still well short of the 325 horsepower produced by the 2.8 litre V6 found in the Insignia OPC/VXR.  Lack of all wheel drive will also prove to be a deal-breaker for many, especially given the well known torque steer issues which plague powerful front drive Opels/Vauxhalls.  I predict tow truck operators will soon be doing healthy business pulling Regal GSs out of ditches!

Since we enthusiasts know it exists, for us it is a disappointment.  However the TT V6 and AWD were ditched to keep the GS in what I'm assuming will be in the mid $30Ks.  The equivalent of the VXR would probably end up being close to $50K.  With the Turbo Cobalt SS GM showed they can make a great handling FWD car, so I'm fairly  optimistic the GS will be a fine car.

[2o6]

It appears I was working from outdated information.  I stand corrected.

Nevertheless, 270 horsepower (although impressive for a 2.0 litre engine) is still well short of the 325 horsepower produced by the 2.8 litre V6 found in the Insignia OPC/VXR.  Lack of all wheel drive will also prove to be a deal-breaker for many, especially given the well known torque steer issues which plague powerful front drive Opels/Vauxhalls.  I predict tow truck operators will soon be doing healthy business pulling Regal GSs out of ditches!

You are totally wrong.


FWD and more than 100 HP does not always equal torque steer, and even so Epsilon II seems to handle its torque pretty well.

[Madman]

You are totally wrong.


FWD and more than 100 HP does not always equal torque steer, and even so Epsilon II seems to handle its torque pretty well.

You seem to have forgotten the whole reason GM gave the hot Insignia all wheel drive in the first place was because it's predecessor, the Vectra OPC/VXR was so utterly useless at going around corners under an open throttle.

Who can forget this Clarksonian gem from a few years ago?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FHLzWwghmU

Sure, there's quite a bit of comedic embellishment going on here, but the fundamental truth remains; Opel/Vauxhall have a spotty track record of building a powerful front-driver that won't understeer itself into the nearest ditch.  I hope they've cured that problem when designing the Insignia.  (Indeed the standard 2.0 Turbo is, by all accounts, a sweet handling machine) But, I'm still have concerns as to whether GM can really pull it off.  Even if they do, however, that still doesn't change the fact we're being cheated out of the real thing.

[2o6]

The Vectra is on a platform that is super old, and is known for bad torque steer issues. Saab 9-3 Viggen is on the same platform, and it had similar issues.

[Atomic]

Would I be wrong in saying that if Cadillac could put the Voltec engine system in a car to help offset costs and sell it for $50k, the world would be a better place?

the sexy coupe was an enormous hit at the auto show. that is what really set it apart from the crowd. looks, plus technology and figures that would greatly improve corporate average fuel economy C.A.F.E. the president of the u.s. rides in a cadillac. he wants improved C.A.F.E. numbers, so that is one "pre-sold"  ! and yes... the world would be a better place ;0)

[the Teuton]

Cadillac is fine.

[Vinsanity]

Cadillac is fine.

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

[2o6]

Its is fine.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

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

[2o6]

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