Cadillac XTS to use modified Buick LaCrosse underpinnings

[dindak]

Cadillac's next flagship sedan, the XTS, will borrow its underpinnings from the Buick LaCrosse.

The XTS is the code name for the car due in 2011, and it's a two-for-one proposition. The XTS will replace the front-wheel drive DTS and the rear-wheel STS, Automotive News reports.


http://www.autoweek.com/article/2009...NEWS/908109995

[CheetahDC]

Sad, the STS could'a been great...

[megeebee]

I think I beat you to it:



Motor Trend Was Wrong: Next Cadillac FWD



.

[mastertoby]

Another missed opportunity to bring the Zeta/Zeta II sedan to the NA portfolio. Caddy could have had Sigma, T-E, Zeta, and Full Size Pickup (soon to be Lambda I guess). All of those platforms save for the T-E have produced class-leading vehicles. That's real unfortunate.

[AMcA]

I guess it's all about mileage. (And in that connection, let me say I once rented a DTS that averaged 30 mpg in highway driving. I was impressed.)

This is essentially a serious refresh of the current DTS - they're saying it's related to the Lucerne. But the Lucerne is related to the current DTS. Don't know why they're being evasive on that point.

What engine or engines? Surely the Northstar is finished. Don't tell me that it will have the 3.6, along with every other car in the NA GM line-up.

[DarkKnight67]

I'm hopeful that all these consumer clinics don't spoil it - too many of these people seem to have a "vendetta" against GM and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them tried to spoil new product.

[Dr. Show-Me]

It very well could be that the EpiII was chosen because it could contain a 10 mile battery that "packages better"

[Carguy]

Originally Posted by AMcA

I guess it's all about mileage. (And in that connection, let me say I once rented a DTS that averaged 30 mpg in highway driving. I was impressed.)

This is essentially a serious refresh of the current DTS - they're saying it's related to the Lucerne. But the Lucerne is related to the current DTS. Don't know why they're being evasive on that point.

What engine or engines? Surely the Northstar is finished. Don't tell me that it will have the 3.6, along with every other car in the NA GM line-up.

The Lucerne/DTS as far as I know is based on the latest version of the G body from the Aurora/FWD STS. The LaCrosse is Episilon II based and has no relation to that G body. Its an entirely new version of todays Malibu platform that can be wider and longer.----I just wonder what happened to the flexible RWD platform that Lutz was talking about several years ago. The one that could be set up as premium-double A arms or base strut type suspension? Many thought that it was Zeta he was talking about but that proved to be faults. Thats what they need today instead of this FWD based mess! Cadillac is loosing its way yet again with this heavy and no more efficient FWD idea instead of a properly competitive RWD one!

[KingElvis]

Originally Posted by AMcA

I guess it's all about mileage. (And in that connection, let me say I once rented a DTS that averaged 30 mpg in highway driving. I was impressed.)

This is essentially a serious refresh of the current DTS - they're saying it's related to the Lucerne. But the Lucerne is related to the current DTS. Don't know why they're being evasive on that point.

What engine or engines? Surely the Northstar is finished. Don't tell me that it will have the 3.6, along with every other car in the NA GM line-up.

But it's the lacrosse, not the lucurne, on which it will be based - I think that's Epsilon II

[Michael_S]

I still think this crying over RWD is overblown.

There are a number of hopeful wins for the XTS:
1. It retires the DTS, which is a technological embarrassment for GM. It's a profitable embarrassment, but it's still an embarrassment.
2. It should still be profitable for GM, maybe not as profitable as the DTS, but close. They need the money if they're going to pay back the taxpayers. If the LaCrosse is profitable, then a Cadillac XTS priced at least $5,000 higher with similar options will be profitable. (To me, that's the best news about the 2010 Taurus and Lincoln MKS. If Ford can sell a well optioned Taurus profitably at $30,000, then the MKS is a fat cat - which bodes well for Ford's survival.)
3. The vehicle will support all wheel drive, which has become a must-have option for luxury cars.
4. It should arrive in 2011, which is far sooner than earlier rumors for a DTS replacement. (We had semi-official stories of a DTS replacement in 2013 a few months ago!)
5. A minimum 280 horsepower DI V6 as the base engine, and hopefully something like 350+ horsepower from a turbo DI V6 as the upgraded engine is acceptable power.

[Hoboken Tim]

Sad News! This car and the new 2010 SRX are clearly the wrong direction for Cadillac.
A missed opportunity to establish Cadillac as a true premium brand.

[377Z]

Mike North would be playing Jimmy Hendrix right now...

[Exploder]

Why can GM announce a RWD small sedan for Cadillac, but not a full-size one? Especially since the platform for the former does not even exist yet, but the one for the latter already does?

If GM really needed money, they could have saved a lot of it by NOT approving this FWD landbarge.

That said, if it really does come with a V8, that will redeem it somewhat.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by Exploder

Why can GM announce a RWD small sedan for Cadillac, but not a full-size one? Especially since the platform for the former does not even exist yet, but the one for the latter already does?

Zeta? What technological options have been put on the Zeta platform so far? A fully optioned G8 doesn't offer navigation, laser-guided cruise, proximity key with pushbutton keyless start, power closing trunk, rearview camera, blind spot assist, power adjustable pedals, power adjustable tilt and telescoping steering, memory settings for pedals, steering, seats, and mirrors, power rear sunshade, automatic wipers, an incredibly quiet ride, heated and cooled front and rear seats, magnetic adjustable suspension, and a rear seat DVD system.

LaCrosse doesn't offer all of those things either, but it offers far more items on that list than the G8. And it required a complete update to the Epsilon vehicle platform (to Epsilon 2) before it could support them. So you can virtually guarantee that a Zeta Cadillac will need to be on Zeta 2.

Epsilon 2 is far closer to where the XTS needs to be than Zeta.

[377Z]

Originally Posted by Michael_S

Zeta? What technological options have been put on the Zeta platform so far? A fully optioned G8 doesn't offer navigation, laser-guided cruise, proximity key with pushbutton keyless start, power closing trunk, rearview camera, blind spot assist, power adjustable pedals, power adjustable tilt and telescoping steering, memory settings for pedals, steering, seats, and mirrors, power rear sunshade, automatic wipers, an incredibly quiet ride, heated and cooled front and rear seats, magnetic adjustable suspension, and a rear seat DVD system.

LaCrosse doesn't offer all of those things either, but it offers far more items on that list than the G8. And it required a complete update to the Epsilon vehicle platform (to Epsilon 2) before it could support them. So you can virtually guarantee that a Zeta Cadillac will need to be on Zeta 2.

Epsilon 2 is far closer to where the XTS needs to be than Zeta.

The suggestion that any of those doodads require new vehicle architecture is rediculous.

edit: Plus, I can't wait to see which of those features are left out of the XTS anyway.