AutoNews: Small Cadillac and Future Plans...

[Bravada]

Originally Posted by raygamhu

The new MPV7 probably will be GM DAT's new MPV, based on Delta II platform, which will be launched in Korea in autumn of 2009. The production of Tacuma and the existing Lacetti Wagon will be stopped with no succesor.
One of the benchmarks for this MPV it is the existing Ford S-Max.

Now that's rather pointless - they would be making another Zafira. If anything, GM could use an alternative vehicle to slot between the Meriva and Zafira - one option is the HHR as-is, another is a Roomster-like LCV.

People in Europe love the big, old cadillacs. There are Caddy car clubs all over E and W Europe - none of them have members that are excited about the cimmaron nor new BLS. A small one wont sell - and I think that is what the nincompoops at caddy are really after, the Euro market. BMW bets all of their resources on the 3 series- we just dont have the funds to focus so much on 1 car/weight class.
Why not put the smaller car in one of the other 7 divisions and shoot for a me-too 3 series?

This says all and is 100% right - case closed.

[Bravada]

Originally Posted by Sal Collaziano

The reason why the BLS isn't selling in Europe is because everybody knows it's a rebadged Saab.

More importantly - nobody really knows there is a Cadillac in that class. And even if they knew, why would they go, of all places, to CADILLAC for a compact executive?

[Chaz_23]

Nobody wants a Cadillac in that class- that's not what Cadillac is about.

Originally Posted by Bravada

More importantly - nobody really knows there is a Cadillac in that class. And even if they knew, why would they go, of all places, to CADILLAC for a compact executive?

[Sal Collaziano]

Originally Posted by Chaz_23

Nobody wants a Cadillac in that class- that's not what Cadillac is about.

Times have changed. 20 years ago, people would have thought the same of Mercedes.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Bravada

More importantly - nobody really knows there is a Cadillac in that class. And even if they knew, why would they go, of all places, to CADILLAC for a compact executive?

Even if this is true, it has nothing to do with the Cimarron or current BLS so I wish I didn't have to see them mentioned every time this subject comes up (not saying you mentioned them Bravada).

But it appears Cadillac is going to try this car anyway so if it comes out with the same quality as CTS I don't see why it can't win over some buyers.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by Bravada

No, it won't do well globally, and you and I know that very well.

I think it will.
It will open up doors to new markets, simply because of its size.

The only issue here is that Cadillac will consider this BLS an "entry level" and treat everything on the cheap. Judging GM's history, this is exactly what they will do. But what they SHOULD do is consider this car as a premium compact sport sedan -- not an "entry level because it's small" car.

Do people expect big, floaty, gas-guzzling cars from Cadillac? If that's the case, the Cadillac has to rework its image, as that will negative image will no loger float. If Cadillac is unable to change that image, then I don't care what kind of car Cadillac puts out, Cadillac will forever be a niche luxury brand, relegated to the American market for the rest of its life -- unable to compete with the global luxury cars of today.

So for all you people who think that the small Cadillac is of no use -- think again. It is more important than EVER for Cadillac to make sure the BLS is a success.

[Bravada]

Not really - Cadillac can probably sell a smaller car than the CTS quite successfully in the US. But to the wide world, Cadillacs are large, luxurious and opulent cars - and nobody said it's a bad thing! If Cadillac showed a car like that that would be up-to-date with modern technology and drive like a modern luxury sedan, I am sure it would get a lot of both positive press and sales.

Also adding a smaller car to the present lineup might be a rather hard thing to execute - do you really believe you can get away with RAISING the price of any car in the middle of its lifecycle (talking about the CTS here).

I believe it MIGHT work to some extent, but I think this is counterproductive. Cadillac should concentrate first on building first-class large cars.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Not really - Cadillac can probably sell a smaller car than the CTS quite successfully in the US. But to the wide world, Cadillacs are large, luxurious and opulent cars - and nobody said it's a bad thing! If Cadillac showed a car like that that would be up-to-date with modern technology and drive like a modern luxury sedan, I am sure it would get a lot of both positive press and sales.

Also adding a smaller car to the present lineup might be a rather hard thing to execute - do you really believe you can get away with RAISING the price of any car in the middle of its lifecycle (talking about the CTS here).

I believe it MIGHT work to some extent, but I think this is counterproductive. Cadillac should concentrate first on building first-class large cars.

Cadillac might have the image of "large, luxurious, and opulent cars," but GM can't even build a competent mid-sizer. Now you want to build a big car? Have you even seen the competition at that level nowadays?? Cadillac can't hack it at that level.

I dont see a problem with CTS' eventual price raise, if the CTS is sufficiently upgraded from where it is. Or CTS can take a page from the Germans and offer a "bare bones" version with the fake leather dash, and as you move up, it's a real leather dash, V8, etc. There are many ways to stratify the CTS lineup, expecially with a coupe on its way, which will probably base close to $40K anyways.

I think Cadillac should concentrate on getting is core models done right because apparently they can't get their high end models done right. If they can nail down a BLS family and a CTS family and a STS replacement... then we can start thinking about a larger, more luxuruious car.

[Bravada]

For Cadillac, the core models are the large cars. And if they can't do them right, they can't do the BLS right. Also bear in mind that the CTS is generating rave in North America (and especially GMI), but it's nowhere near the 5er yet if you'd ask Europeans!

If Mercedes didn't build the perfect S-Klasse, they wouldn't be able to sell a single C-Klasse.

[Dirk Wiggler]

A small RWD Caddy is great. Especially if Pontiac can use the platform for something like a 3 series competitor (coupe and sedan).

[mikesright]

I think people are a little too hung up on the "lower priced, entry-level" parts. This will compete directly with the 3 series, and will bring in people wanting smaller cars that are better handling, or people who want to downsize for better fuel economy. BMW has been dominating in that market segment for years, selling over 100,000 3 series sedans/year for a long time. It's high time GM claimed that territory.

Small does not always equal cheap, either. It will probably be priced a grand or two less than the CTS, but the options and content will push the average price well in the high $30's and $40's. The car is perfect for Europe, too. I concur with the some of the others on this thread in saying that the BLS is hardly differentiated from the very old 9-5, and that is the reason it's not selling well. A brand-new alpha rwd-based competitor would be a much bigger player in that market.

[Bravada]

The car is perfect for Europe, too.

It is not, for reasons explained above.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by Bravada

For Cadillac, the core models are the large cars. And if they can't do them right, they can't do the BLS right. Also bear in mind that the CTS is generating rave in North America (and especially GMI), but it's nowhere near the 5er yet if you'd ask Europeans!

If Mercedes didn't build the perfect S-Klasse, they wouldn't be able to sell a single C-Klasse.

As much as I would LOVE Cadillac to continue building higher end cars.... they simply CAN'T. I don't believe they fully understand the concept of high-end luxury. I think a full-sized, luxury Cadillac would arrive on the market neutered and won't have the proper mix of technology, amenities, performance, and options to compete.

Even if Cadillac could build the $85,000 luxury sedan, they couldn't sell it in a dealership that looks respectable enough to be selling a classy automobile such as that. Unless of course you believe selling the $85,000 car next to an Aveo is classy.

The core models for the Modern Cadillac are the compact and mid-size luxury cars/CUV's.
Once Cadillac establishes these... THEN they can go ahead and build a full-sized S-Class competitor -- not this silly half-way luxury car that's supposed to replace the DTS/STS.

C-Class sales are based on the reputation of Mercedes itself -- not the S-Class per se. Though, Mercedes' reputation is predicated on the longevity and strength of the S-Class.

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by mcool

I completely agree. The SRX is a great product, and its volume is solid compared to many competitors. No, it doesn't sell in Escalade numbers, but it does better than the rest of Lexus SUVs when compared to the RX350 line.

Here are some sales figures through the end of September this year:

SRX: 16,922
Infiniti FX: 15,138
Lexus RX: 64, 896
BMW X5: 24, 318
Mercedes M: 17,950
Acuar MDX: 42954
Lincoln MKX: 26, 950

So you see, it doesn't do terribly well.

I don't think a CTS wagon will meet the volume the SRX has managed here, and why not continue to develop the SRX for another generation when we know the CTS and its variants will continue on Sigma for the foreseeable future.

Perhaps not in the US, but the CTS wagon will do much better in Europe and the Eastern Hemisphere in general where the SRX is all but invisble. The SRX must die partly becasue of plant capacity. Cadillac wants to expand the CTS model range and there is only one plant capable of building Sigma platform product.

[newbalance]

Make a smaller one?? that would turn me on!
lol