Cadillac replacing DTS and STS with one vehicle, entry-level model coming

[Bravada]

To all of you - there is world out there, not just the US. By making vehicles that sell great in the USA and don't sell at all elsewhere, GM changed Cadillac from an American-only luxury brand to an American-only luxury brand. I guess it takes more.

The SLS has just the right combo of classy touches and understatement it takes to succeed outside of the US. Sure it is a tad behind the times now, but then I'd expect it to be cheaper - and it is here NOW, as opposed to some imaginary replacement that might or might not come and be just as polarizing as the CTS.

Even the haters at TTAC had to admit they nailed the interior

Call me when people at UltimateLexusFansMBWhores&BMWDevotees.com will

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by drew770

Since we are into the 2nd generation of the CTS, why is GM just now making these decisions?
There have been 3 Series, C-Class and an Lexus ES for years so why is GM dragging their feet?
Plus, the moment someone decided to increase the CTS size, a firm decision should have been made concerning the life or death of the STS & DTS.

GM should have been working these details out years ago!!

This is what really ticks me off about GM. Piss-poor brand management (of which half the brands don't even need to exist) and horrible long term planning. While Toyota is planning for 20 years down the road and consistently executing it, GM can't even figure out the details for 6 months down the road. Truely Maddening.

[blank disk]

I like the STS a lot, but I seem to recall that the DTS had twice the sales. That tells me people prefer FWD to RWD. I wonder if going to RWD could be a mistake. They already have the CTS.

[Bravada]

That tells me people prefer FWD to RWD.

Rental companies prefer DTS discounts to the lack of STS discounts.

[asrapid]

Originally Posted by blank disk

I like the STS a lot, but I seem to recall that the DTS had twice the sales. That tells me people prefer FWD to RWD. I wonder if going to RWD could be a mistake. They already have the CTS.

if cadillac decide to compete against big boys (audi, bmw, mercedes) it will have to offer models with big HP number too. So it will have to offer AWD or rwd model. FWD and 350+ HP doesn't go together. Especially if they put new v8 ( i don't think GM is developing new DOHC V8 with over 350-400 hp just to put it in CTS only) or even bigger V12.

[eaton53]

as opposed to some imaginary replacement that might or might not come and be just as polarizing as the CTS.

Cadillacs are supposed to be flamboyant. If you don't want flamboyant buy a Buick or Saab.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by blank disk

I like the STS a lot, but I seem to recall that the DTS had twice the sales. That tells me people prefer FWD to RWD. I wonder if going to RWD could be a mistake. They already have the CTS.

Has little to do with it. The DTS is larger, plays to the old-school Cadillac clientele, and has a bigger trunk which is just what livery/fleet customers are looking for. Plus, it's cheaper than most of the STS's out on dealer lots.


And the SLS won't cut it, guys. Cadillac needs to make a more radical departure from the STS than just a stretching and some make-up.

[CmicasatheGreat]

Where's the news here? We've only been hearing this for the past year that the STS and DTS were being combined into the XLS and that the BLS would come here as a 3series competitor. The news to me is the confirmation of a vehicle of the XLS to go against the Bentley...

What trips me out is the fact that the STS has sold 13,156 units with absolutely no marketing versus:

the Lexus GS300/430/450h 15,400,
the Acura RL has only sold 4,562 units all year,
the M35/45 has sold 15,033,
Audi A6/S6 7,636

and I am hearing nothing about them being cancelled. Furthermore it would make more since to simply combine the DTS, which is part of the old Caddy Philosophy and U never hear even me praise, with STS and still call it the STS... with a variant named SLS, which could be brought over or at least designed like the one from China (Below)with the new fascia (2008) and the Complete Chinese interior, put a more powerful engine option on the list to be over the NorthStar... like a LS3 (430HP) and give the Vseries a limited LS7 (505HP) run until the Ultra V8s come into play.




The combining of the 2 cars should have been done in the beginning when the new for 2005 STS came out in the first place. The DTS had already been on the market at the time for it full run and no longer fit in with the RWD moves. The DTS has sold 33,368 units this year and is in no way a sales flop . Also it must be noted ONCE AGAIN that the STS barely has any Fleet sales and the DTS is not the Luxury Fleet car leader.



in retrospect this should have been seen on the walls, since the CTS is now as large as the 5series and E-Class. Caddy HAS NOTHING in the 3series/C-class range in N.A. and the CTS only competes with them on pricing. It is now essentially going to be the THIRD piece of competition on the Dealer lots between the STS and DTS.

I'm betting the line up will be by 2010...:

The Entry Level BLS, RWD with a turboed 2.8L, 3.6L and a V8 (Vseries), Coupe and Convertible
The Mid Level CTS, RWD with a 3.6L, V8, Supercharged V8 (Vseries, and Diesel/Hybrid.. Coupe and convertible
The Top Level XLS, RWD with a V8, another V8, Diesel/Hybrid (and possible V12, but I see no point in this as the Ultra V8 is rumored to have a naturally aspirated Top-End of 600HP)
The BRX as a smaller SUV under the SRX
The SRX possibly redesigned on a modified Lambda
The XLR with a V8, another hi-Po V8 and a MCE that actually will address many of the issues people here have expressed about it.
The Escalade with V8, Diesel, and Hybrid.
and perhaps this ULS flagship

[Bravada]

Originally Posted by eaton53

Cadillacs are supposed to be flamboyant. If you don't want flamboyant buy a Buick or Saab.

This IS flamboyant, Cadillac, and everybody likes it:



When you go flamboyant, you have to know HOW.

[CrunkedRL]

Well I would imagine with this announcement the next gen BLS will be sold both in the US and Europe. Right now it's redundant to have both the STS and CTS since their almost the same size and share the exact same rivals ie: 5-Series, E-Class. With that said I'm hoping GM execs are still working to develop the ULS as the Cadillac flagship. This is the only way I believe Cadillac will be taken seriously in the luxury market.

[jlt0x]

OK...seems like GM is taking a page out of Chrysler's playbook. Take two under appreciated models...one a sporty sedan (300M), the other a large, well purchased luxury sedan (Concorde)....combine positive attributes to get an in-between vehicle that should appeal to both an older (35-60) and younger (25-35), more affluent crowd...then introduce luxury trim levels that clearly differentiate the vehicle from basic, up-class, to powerful and loaded.

It should work, but the new vehicle must be exciting. And GM must be prepared to lose some long-time customers to gain more new customers that appreciate updated modern designs with additional "helpful" technology.

And like the newer 300, there are people that love it, and those that absolutely hate it. But at the end of the day, both of those groups of people knew something about the product and had been discussing it. That created additional product recognition and advertisement that DCX (at the time) could not buy. This is what Cadillac needs to do.

[bhoppes]

I don't think this is a good idea. The DTS should be the flagship and be competing with the 7 series/Lexus LS, and Mercedez S-class. Cadillac should keep the STS and make it a upper 5 series, Lexus GS, and upper Mercedez E-class. The DTS should also have the long wheelbase option. I don't think the CTS has enough luxury options to compete with the 5 series, GS, and E-class. It doesn't even have Bluetooth yet! Don't get me wrong, I love the new CTS, but it just isn't ready to compete (technology wise) with the mid-range luxury cars yet. Maybe when they have a MCR, then they can make the CTS a real midclass competitor. Now we only have to hope the BLS will be what the CTS is now.

[KingElvis]

$28,000? For a Cadillac.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! !!!!!!!!

Bye bye Buick. It's been real.

This will of course make a brief splash with Cadillac, but of course, in the long term having a Buick (even an Impala SS is $28G) price will finally drain Cadillac of whatever prestige it once had.

[Z28x]

I hope the next STS/DTS comes in 2 wheels bases. Like the 7 series

[eaton53]

Don't get me wrong, I love the new CTS, but it just isn't ready to compete (technology wise) with the mid-range luxury cars yet.

Doesn't it have one of the biggest hard drives available in any car?http://crave.cnet.com/audiophiliac/8...9764888-1.html
If you mean by not offering I-Drive like controllers, well good for Cadillac.