Cadillac XTS and Buick Regal Confirmed!

[Sal Collaziano]

Originally Posted by ehaase

The XTS will probably Cadillac's competitor for the Lincoln MKS.

Exactly.

[PistonsFan]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

As Buick61 put it, slower, less fuel economy, etc. They gave it a win because the SRX felt more sporty. But, MT numbers the RX is faster.

SRX Price as Tested: $47,115
RX350 Price as Tested: $55,695

The SRX as tested did not have the premium engine. The SRX 2.8 liter is much more powerful that the engine in the RX. It will smoke the RX with all that low-end turbocharged torque.

HP:
RX = 270
SRX (2.8 l.) = 300

TORQUE:
RX = 251
SRX (2.8 l.) = 295

So no, I would not say that the engine is a high point for the RX.

...but lets leave it at that. There are two active SRX threads already.

[96_impala_ss]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

They probably jumped the gun on saying the Impy will be on EPII because rather A) the supplier info this paper got is old info( as that was the "old" plan) B) Seeing the Impala being built in Oshawa and made the assumption that it would be on EPII.

According to NSAP, the "current" plan is for the Impy to die in 2013 for a resurrection in 2015 or so and be riding on Alpha( or a version of it as the Alpha we keep on hearing about is expensive due to Caddy developing it).

I thought the Impala was going to be the same as a Commodore in 2015.

And does it really make sense for Impala to be the same platform as a Malibu?
Actually is it even logical to have the Impala living for almost 10 years with no refresh?

[vcs2600]

Originally Posted by TruckMan

Here's an easy question...would Cadillac turn away more customers having a FWD/AWD or FWD/AWD "flagship?" Seems logical to me that FWD will turn away many more customers, while RWD wouldn't. Not many people go out shopping specifically for a FWD drive car. Why would they? There's nothing to be gained with FWD except for possibly 1 or 2 mpg and a flat rear seat floor. I can't see too many people caring that much about their rear floor. And not many people spending $50k+ on a car care about 1 or 2 mpg.

No, I don't see why it is "logical" to make that assumption. Especially after STS sales crashed when they moved it to RWD and the old SRX never sold well.

My point is the "logical" approach is to do customer research to figure out what potential buyers are looking for. My guess is that FWD vs RWD is probably a minimal concern at best.

But there are many customers that do specifically want RWD, especially judging by the discussions on this thread. RWD/AWD will apeal to many more people than FWD/AWD.

Half the people who post here were demanding a return of the Pontiac Firebird. Most of us don't represent the customer base for this car.

[-World Class-]

Originally Posted by megeebee

Why? That design is 7 years old. I say "move on"!

Very true.

I don't know. To me, the Cadillac Sixteen concept is almost timeless in it's design. It's instantly recognizable. While it's not necessarily "progressive" (like the Converj) , its far from being "dated" IMO. It was and is what an ideal Cadillac should be. But perhaps, it was never meant to be...

Perhap the XTS will take it's sytling cues from the Converj...speaking of, is a sub-CTS still on track?

[JeffInDFW]

Cadillac should not have ANYTHING in its lineup that is front wheel drive. That should be the domain of Buick. Buick can try for front wheel drive luxury like Lexus and Acura. Cadillac should be REAL luxury like Mercedes and BMW. This would be like thinking you could build a front wheel drive truck. Or a front wheel drive sports car to compete with Porsche or Ferrari. Aint gonna work.

[kenman923]

So it looks like GM won't offer a RWD Impala.

[wescoent]

Originally Posted by ehaase

The XTS will probably Cadillac's competitor for the Lincoln MKS.

Effectively, this is moving the DTS closer in design theory to the MKS.

Here's a thought. The EPII Lacrosse, although similarly heavyweight, is smaller than the MKS. Might we see a LWB/Wide-Trac version of the EPII for this application?

They might need to in order to make room for the BATTERIES...

[Butz]

Where will this new Cadillac be built?

[jcgable]

Originally Posted by Butz

Where will this new Cadillac be built?

I don't wish to be rude, but it's been mentioned 5 or 6 times in this thread, and in the article which is linked in the first post. It will be built at GM's Oshawa plant in Canada alongside the 2012 Regal, the Camaro, and the new Impala.

[cad1cts]

They're gonna have to Wescoent. Otherwise be prepared for a cramped fwd mushmobile.....yipee!

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by wescoent

Effectively, this is moving the DTS closer in design theory to the MKS.

Here's a thought. The EPII Lacrosse, although similarly heavyweight, is smaller than the MKS. Might we see a LWB/Wide-Trac version of the EPII for this application?

They might need to in order to make room for the BATTERIES...

So do you feel it will have a Voltec powerplant?

[wescoent]

Originally Posted by johnstarnes

So do you feel it will have a Voltec powerplant?

Sources have indicated that the ability to have a hybrid system of some kind was a primary engineering consideration.

[CUtiger08]

Originally Posted by vcs2600

My point is the "logical" approach is to do customer research to figure out what potential buyers are looking for. My guess is that FWD vs RWD is probably a minimal concern at best.

I do think it would be quite nice, for all involved, to have a "real" customer survey to go by instead of our own opinions or the limited pool of people whose opinions we know. And not one of just current GM customers (ie how many are satisfied with the current FWD luxo-barge and/or how loyal they are to GM) but of current German/Lexus/Jaguar/etc... customers as well since GM needs some conquest buyers, and satisfied ones, to make it in this segment.

In addition to just "do you care", I would also be interested to see what percent of those who care either way want FWD, and how many want RWD. This is important IMO because, if say... 75% don't care, 20% want RWD, and 5% want FWD... it should be RWD to maximize appeal even though many don't care either way. If it's more like 55% don't care, 30% want FWD, and 15% want RWD, then I for one would stop actively complaining about the Epsilon base and at least wait till it's unveiled to see if it's good for what it is.


And I think I've already said this once in this thread but I want to say it again: A well executed VOLTEC Cadillac flagship sedan would go a long way toward getting me to forgive FWD proportions on this vehicle. I would still prefer a RWD VOLTEC setup, but at least a VOLTEC model would have something good and unique in the market segment.

[Rokovak]

Cadillac's coming out with more fwd-based cars because they don't have the cash to develop truly world-class rwd vehicles because they've been peddling second-rate crap on the public (CTS, Escalade being the exceptions), thereby digging their own grave.

What is it going to take to break this vicious cycle of stupidity?

If Citroen - a company you'd never expect an "exotic" from - can put their absurd concept into production, Cadillac should at least grow a spine and make a limited run of the Sixteen.