2013 Cadillac XTS: Cadillac Aims for Import Conquest Sales. Lofty Goal?

[Schadenfreude]

I think it has AWD standard. And I'll be honest, I really hope they don't make a V version.

A V-series model hasn't been decided on yet. Regardless, if they made one, it would almost certainly be AWD only.

[68_427]

I believe the weight it supposed to be around 3995lbs for the FWD model.  Not that bad IMO.  Considering it has more rear legroom than a 7.

[Catman]

I doubt the sales would be better if this was RWD.  We will see.

[68_427]

I doubt the sales would be better if this was RWD.  We will see.

They wouldn't.  The target buyer really doesn't give a rats ass.

[Atomic]

A V-series model hasn't been decided on yet. Regardless, if they made one, it would almost certainly be AWD only.

a v-series would be interesting, but cannot image what it would look like being so large. however, the audi S8, mercedes-benz AMG series and BMW M-badged vehicles ALL look fantastic!

[MrH]

They wouldn't.  The target buyer really doesn't give a rats ass.

+billion.

Hit the nail on the head.  Cadillac finally realizes they aren't going to steal S63 AMG buyers away, so they are targeting their usual blue hairs that are the life blood of the brand.  They can try tackle the M's and AMG's of the world with the CTS and ATS.

[Laconian]

IIRC, the post-bailout rationalization is that Cadillac is the sporty brand and Buick is the geriatric brand. Now Caddy is releasing this and Buick is remaking the Regal with slashes, swoops, and turbo fours???!

[68_427]

IIRC, the post-bailout rationalization is that Cadillac is the sporty brand and Buick is the geriatric brand. Now Caddy is releasing this and Buick is remaking the Regal with slashes, swoops, and turbo fours???!

According to Cadillac this car isn't supposed to stay around long at all.  Kind of just a quick solution to replace a couple slow selling cars.  But I'm sure it'll be a great car.

[Atomic]

According to Cadillac this car isn't supposed to stay around long at all.  Kind of just a quick solution to replace a couple slow selling cars.  But I'm sure it'll be a great car.

not certain if this will happen considering development costs, marketing expenses and the brand's reputation, especially if the car starts selling well. if AWD is not standard and FWD offered, i could see a switch to a RWD/AWD platform to better compete with lexus, BMW, mercedes-benz... GM's lofty goal. now this could lead to a short lifespan.

[Colin]

Cadillac were being a alittle coy on the stand at the LA Auto Show, but they did say that there will not be a V model per se.... however, they do expect that there will be a performance version of some sort.

It is an oddly proportioned car, as there is next to no rear overhang, though the same guy was at pains to point out that the trunk is big........ though not as big as in the STS or DTS, but then he kept saying that the whole car is deliberately smaller than either of those.

A lot of his speech was given over to CUE, the Cadillac User Experience, which sounds like their answer for Ford's sync My Touch overly complex set up.

[Vinsanity]

According to Cadillac this car isn't supposed to stay around long at all.  Kind of just a quick solution to replace a couple slow selling cars.  But I'm sure it'll be a great car.

If this is just a stop-gap, then they could totally have just made this a LWB Zeta car

[68_427]

If this is just a stop-gap, then they could totally have just made this a LWB Zeta car

I'm sure that would have been expensive.  This cars platform underpins a car that starts under $30k.

[Colonel Cadillac]

IIRC, the post-bailout rationalization is that Cadillac is the sporty brand and Buick is the geriatric brand. Now Caddy is releasing this and Buick is remaking the Regal with slashes, swoops, and turbo fours???!

Management working its wonders!








Although, in reality I think it will be profitable as a replacement for the Town Car.

[93JC]

It is an oddly proportioned car, as there is next to no rear overhang,

Looks pretty damned sizeable to me!

[2o6]

Yeah, I'm a little confused by that.

[93JC]

If anything it's oddly proportioned BECAUSE it has a long rear overhang.

[Schadenfreude]

To be honest, there's going to be a larger Cadillac that slots in above this car. The aim of this particular vehicle is targeted towards those who would be looking at purchasing a DTS or similiar vehicles.

[68_427]

Looks pretty damned sizeable to me!

That concept is about 20in longer than the production car.

[68_427]

A non-Platinum Edition is on display at the San Francisco International Auto Show.  Personally, I was quite surprised to see it.  But hey, who was I to complain?
The car is big.  Quite big.  I didn't like the color.  But that's ok.  XTS finally fixes the alignments of the headlamps that I always found so disjointed with prior Cadillacs.  The light blades are a nice touch.  Glad to see them in non-Platinum cars.  
They weren't letting people sit inside, but from what you can see, it looks much nicer than any Cadillac thus far.  It's good to see them finally raise the bar.

It's a step forward for Cadillac.  But it's still quite a long haul for them.


I took a full video of the presentation from the Cadillac rep.  It's about 12 minutes long.  So check it out.  I've uploaded it to YouTube.  It was taken in 1080p on iPhone 4S, but uploaded up to 720p only.  1080p was a 2GB upload, and I wasn't waiting all night for it to upload.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J7rrVHIxNU


Here are a few pics:

I think it looks really good.

[2o6]

Yeah, I'm a fan.

[MrH]

I really wish GM would stop confusing chrome with style.

[Vinsanity]

Seems like more of a successor to the 98-04 Seville, than anything made more recently

[hotrodalex]

I really wish GM would stop confusing chrome with style.

The non-Platinum version that Cale posted looks pretty classy.

[Payman]

I really wish GM would stop confusing chrome with style.

What chrome? I see brushed aluminum. In any case, chrome trim is not out of place on a Cadillac.

[68_427]

What chrome? I see brushed aluminum. In any case, chrome trim is not out of place on a Cadillac.

It's supposedly real metal as well, not just plated plastic.

[Submariner]

The proportions are just...weird. 

[Catman]

Very nice looking

[Atomic]

The proportions are just...weird. 

agreed, but holding final judgement until seeing several in the flesh, thinking the color might matter as well as doing a walk-around.

[68_427]

Grave dig.  Just thought this looked really good.

[TurboDan]

They wouldn't.  The target buyer really doesn't give a rats ass.

The target buyer probably won't still be alive by the time the factory warranty is up.