[desmo9]

This morning, I had my first close-up with a 2005 STS on the road. The first thing I noticed was the little old lady behind the wheel, carting around a couple companions on their way to morning bingo. Squarely in Deville's demographic, here she was driving Cadillac's new flagship.

Is it any wonder? This car, to my surprise, is a yawn. I knew it was a softened-up CTS, but didn't realize just how softened. CTS's striking creases at the front fender to hood junction are gone. They make the car, and help define Cadillac's character. And on the STS, they're completely gone. From the side, the car could easily be mistaken for the latest Honda Accord.

I won't nit pick GM's design group for releasing such staleness. It's well understood that the original STS on their boards, which would have been launched a year or two ago, was much more striking. When Bob Lutz arrived, CTS's clay had been frozen, but he ordered the softening of the STS. To lauch a duller car, countless millions were added to the budget, and the car arrived very late. Imagine if Lutz had arrived a year earlier. Where would Cadillac be now?

The two latest releases from GM's top divisons bear the influence of Bob Lutz and are absolutely nondescript. Neither the LaCrosse nor STS will garner the type of praise bestowed upon the Chrysler 300C, even. Cadillac's best effort in recent history, the CTS, is going on a half-decade old, yet remains much more striking and compelling than its larger sibling. It's a true shame.

The influence of Bob Lutz will populate GM's product pipeline for years to come. Time to sell your GM stock.