New Cadillac Website

[megeebee]

I visited the site this morning.


The provisional server is gone (wwww.23.....)


The entire site now functions as www.cadillac.com



.

[1G6]

Originally Posted by nferr

Because today that type of car is associated with 70+ age retired drivers going 50 mph and blocking traffic in the fast lane. Sorry, build that type of car today and you're finished in the automotive business. This isn't 50 years ago. Look at the mess Buick is in because of catering to the senior market for the last couple of decades.

Buick hasn't done a proper "large engine, large body" car since 1996.

skylark68 is right in deducing that buyers of that type of car have been more or less forced into old cars or a full-size, BOF SUV.

The "senior market" is now serviced by Toyota, as my mother-in-law's driveway attests. Pay attention next time you see an old GM "boat" out and about - more than likely you'll see a younger person driving.

[Xenon]

Originally Posted by OLDSCHOOLGMFAN

SIGH, here we go again. Yet more "Caddy needs to be a shameless BMW clone to succeed" talk.

How come when BMW stays true to it's heritage it's cool, but if Caddy did it, it'd be called "Looking back"? Would it be considered "Progress" if BMW decided it wanted to build mostly full size luxury cars that had nothind to do with it's "Ultimate driving machine" image/heritage? And not 7-Series either, but AMERICAN-style fullsize luxury cars!

Did I ever indicate that Cadillac should be a BMW emulator with that statement? Most people who want a BMW will get a BMW, and theres no way around that. All I suggested Cadillac should be more progressive about the technologies that are available for their cars, and not rely on the past so much for designs. For example, no Cadillac in the lineup utilizes the magnetic suspension, and that can easily allow for both a sporty setup, while offering a soft ride, and thats pretty sad. And on the design side, they can (and should) find new ways to incorporate cues from heritage Cadillacs, but not blatantly copy them.

And lastly Cadillac needs to bring "American Luxury" to cars of ALL classes, not just large cars, and Cadillac definitely shouldn't build only large cars. If GM wants Cadillac to be successful they will need a unique identity for the brand. There's many ways to interpret luxury, and Cadillac simply has to show theirs

[jlmartin99]

Originally Posted by megeebee

Lots and lots new:


wwww23.cadillac.com


(Yes, 4 w's)

megeebee,

Thank you for this link. I have reviewed the site. I like it over the current one. I have made this my Cadillac site of choice. Again, thanks.

JLM

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Originally Posted by skylark68

I agree. I'm not sure why everyone thinks that a luxury car has to be synonymous with a firm ride and a sports suspension. Cadillac built its reputation by having large engines, large bodies, and a ride close to being on air. IMO, the Escalade is the closest vehicle in the fleet to that tradition. Is it any wonder that for a time it was the most popular?

THANK YOU & EXACTLY!

[mgescuro]

The site is OK.

Some really glaring issues:

1) When setting the origin country, the Cadillac logo that is superimposed really looks screwed up and overlaps images. It's tacky. Unless that's a Firefox issue... then the issue is Browser transparency.

2) Escalade Pricing is completely bonkers. Is that a typo!!?? How can Escalade Plat MSRP at $81K... and Escalade ESV Plat MSRP at $67K??

3) DTS Plat.... Shows bonkers pricing. MSRP $59K. As Shown price $51K. Obviously showing Non-platinum then. Or is that the discounted price?

Other than that... the site is pretty clean and easy to navigate.

I still hate the fact that they have to call SRX the SRX Crossover. You don't see other car companies making that designation!! Why does Cadillac?

[ClassyEldo]

Cadillac should be leading the way with full-sized products, featuring their signature soft, quiet ride. They dominated in that segment for decades. There may be variable versions or suspension settings for a firmer ride, with greater handling, but they should still feature outstanding, luxurious full-sized sedans worthy of their tradition of decades of magnificent Fleetwoods. Obviously, Cadillac also needs to expand into other luxury segments, to remain viable and succeed in attracting a variety of consumers. However, the Cadillac line-up and its products should not mirror each segment of BMW's (or any other manufacturer's) products. Cadillac rose to the top on styling leadership, with full-size models, and styling should be given priority, along with big-car supremacy. The CTS makes a fabulous "other type" of vehicle to offer--it kept edgy styling cues from Cadillac's heritage, while improving the sportiness, performance and build quality. It will just take time to get each other model segment up to that par. Hopefully, the XTS will be an appropriate model to bring back a respectable big-car model, with plenty of "Cadillac character."

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

[quote]

Originally Posted by 1G6

Buick hasn't done a proper "large engine, large body" car since 1996.

THANK YOU& EXACTLY.

skylark68 is right in deducing that buyers of that type of car have been more or less forced into old cars or a full-size, BOF SUV.

Damn right!

The "senior market" is now serviced by Toyota, as my mother-in-law's driveway attests. Pay attention next time you see an old GM "boat" out and about - more than likely you'll see a younger person driving.

All TRUE, but folks who think that EVERYBODY wants a tiny, hard-riding sports sedan with a tiny, high-revving motor can't stand to hear the truth.........



[quote]

Originally Posted by Xenon

Did I ever indicate that Cadillac should be a BMW emulator with that statement?

Not directly, but indirectly.

Most people who want a BMW will get a BMW, and theres no way around that.

EXACTLY. And someone needs to tell Caddy and Lincoln this, and Acura & Lexus, for that matter too!

All I suggested Cadillac should be more progressive about the technologies that are available for their cars,

I 100% AGREE. Caddy should spare no expense in using ALL the tech it can get it's hands on to make it's motors as fuel-efficient as possible, to enhance it's rep as the world's BEST builder of big luxury car engines!

and not rely on the past so much for designs.

Why can BMW & Merc rely on past designs for inspiration but Caddy can't? That's not fair partner.

For example, no Cadillac in the lineup utilizes the magnetic suspension, and that can easily allow for both a sporty setup, while offering a soft ride, and thats pretty sad. And on the design side, they can (and should) find new ways to incorporate cues from heritage Cadillacs,

I plum agree. Not doing that is the famous GM stupidity that put them in this pickle they're currently in.

but not blatantly copy them.

Caddy should be Caddy, period.

And lastly Cadillac needs to bring "American Luxury" to cars of ALL classes,

NO! It tried this and FAILED! See Cimmaron, see Allante, see Catera, see XLR, and see BLS! ENOUGH already!

not just large cars, and Cadillac definitely shouldn't build only large cars.

Tell Land Rover and GMC they can't only build suvs/trucks. Tell Porsche they can't build only sports cars. Be fair.

If GM wants Cadillac to be successful they will need a unique identity for the brand.

Caddy HAD/HAS that! As a specialist in FULL SIZE LUXURY CARS! That's what they need to go back to!

There's many ways to interpret luxury, and Cadillac simply has to show theirs

See Caddy's history to see what their identity is, though I can tell you: The ULTIMATE full size luxury car specialist!

[PAULSTS1]

I finally got to the site and while it may be better than the older (stylistically), it lacks more vehicle cues such as interior color options on some cars which are viewable, and lacks requisite music. I did review the DTS Platinum and find the $60K price laughable, as there are a ton of vehicles much higher rated for less money. Whomever gave this site the OK, should be "fired!" The development costs were wasted and most likely will just send others away unfulfilled.

[megeebee]

Everything on the site is too dark. Way too much black and tete de negre.


Why did Cadillac/GM spend the time, effort, and presumably money to update the Wreath and Crest just to stick a tiny one in the lower left corner of the page; tucked out of sight like an after thought?


I moved my cursor over the crest and there is apparently a link there, but nothing happens when I click on it.


The pictures of the vehicles themselves are too small.


No where could I find pictures of the standard wheels. (And over $3K for 18" wheels??? Seems a bit steep.)


Overall, I'd grade it a B.

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Originally Posted by ClassyEldo

Cadillac should be leading the way with full-sized products, featuring their signature soft, quiet ride. They dominated in that segment for decades. There may be variable versions or suspension settings for a firmer ride, with greater handling, but they should still feature outstanding, luxurious full-sized sedans worthy of their tradition of decades of magnificent Fleetwoods. Obviously, Cadillac also needs to expand into other luxury segments, to remain viable and succeed in attracting a variety of consumers. However, the Cadillac line-up and its products should not mirror each segment of BMW's (or any other manufacturer's) products. Cadillac rose to the top on styling leadership, with full-size models, and styling should be given priority, along with big-car supremacy. The CTS makes a fabulous "other type" of vehicle to offer--it kept edgy styling cues from Cadillac's heritage, while improving the sportiness, performance and build quality. It will just take time to get each other model segment up to that par. Hopefully, the XTS will be an appropriate model to bring back a respectable big-car model, with plenty of "Cadillac character."

I couldn't have said it better myself partner. Much obliged. Caddy needs to listen to folks like us, folks who APPRECIATE Caddy for what made it great in the first place.

[Xenon]

Originally Posted by OLDSCHOOLGMFAN

Why can BMW & Merc rely on past designs for inspiration but Caddy can't? That's not fair partner.

Sorry to break it to you, but not everyone wants to see an modern interpretation of a '64 El Dorado or Seville. Subtle cues will work (and that's something that Cadillac should definitely do), but really in this segment, no manufacturer is going to build a volume car with a largely retro design. You may be thinking of cars like the BMW Z8 the upcomming Merc SLS, but really those are low volume sellers. You wont ever see the same stunt on a E-Class or a 5 Series.

Originally Posted by OLDSCHOOLGMFAN

NO! It tried this and FAILED! See Cimmaron, see Allante, see Catera, see XLR, and see BLS! ENOUGH already!

You consider those proper Cadillacs? None of those cars offer what you would expect in a luxury car or a Cadillac. GM selling these cars alongside with cars built from the ground up as Cadillacs is like trying to sell McDonalds in a high end restaurant. The CTS isn't a full size car, yet it's one of Cadillac's gems. So why wont a smaller Cadillac, or a non-full sizer wont work if it gets the proper Cadillac treatment? I'm sure that the upcoming ATS will prove my point.

Originally Posted by OLDSCHOOLGMFAN

Tell Land Rover and GMC they can't only build suvs/trucks. Tell Porsche they can't build only sports cars. Be fair.

Land Rover's car business is Jaguar, and Porsche sells a sedan and a SUV. Let's face it, product diversity = more sales = more profits, and that's pretty much what every company wants now isn't it? How can we expect Cadillac, as a volume manufacturer, to be successful by selling only one type of product?

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

[quote]

Originally Posted by Xenon

Sorry to break it to you, but not everyone wants to see an modern interpretation of a '64 El Dorado or Seville.

You BMW worshippers don't, so GM/Caddy shouldn't pay you any attention. But TRUE Caddy fans do, so WE are who Caddy/GM should listen to.

Subtle cues will work (and that's something that Cadillac should definitely do), but really in this segment, no manufacturer is going to build a volume car with a largely retro design. You may be thinking of cars like the BMW Z8 the upcomming Merc SLS, but really those are low volume sellers. You wont ever see the same stunt on a E-Class or a 5 Series.

What works for BMW & Merc is fine for them, but Caddy has to be CADDY.

You consider those proper Cadillacs?

No I don't, but they were still sold and marketed as Caddys, and they were HUGE flops.

None of those cars offer what you would expect in a luxury car or a Cadillac.

That's because they weren't, aren't and NEVER will be REAL Caddys.

GM selling these cars alongside with cars built from the ground up as Cadillacs is like trying to sell McDonalds in a high end restaurant.

I agree, but I do love my McDonald's!

The CTS isn't a full size car,

Nope!

yet it's one of Cadillac's gems.

It seems to be popular, I'll give it that.

So why wont a smaller Cadillac, or a non-full sizer wont work if it gets the proper Cadillac treatment?

Would a BMW that was an exact replica of a 1993 Caddy Fleetwood Brougham, no matter how well it was done, be a PROPER BMW? I think we both know the answer partner.

I'm sure that the upcoming ATS will prove my point.

And I'm sure it will flop as badly as Cimmarron, Allante, Catera, XLR, & BLS.

Land Rover's car business is Jaguar,

They're not marketed as the same brand. There are no Jag Trucks/suvs, and there are no Land Rover cars.

and Porsche sells a sedan and a SUV.

True, but it's FOCUS is on the 911, Boxster, Cayman, and it's race cars!

Let's face it, product diversity = more sales = more profits, and that's pretty much what every company wants now isn't it? How can we expect Cadillac, as a volume manufacturer, to be successful by selling only one type of product?

I think the CTS is about as "diverse" as Caddy needs to be!

[AusCalais]

Originally Posted by megeebee

I visited the site this morning.


The provisional server is gone (wwww.23.....)


The entire site now functions as www.cadillac.com



.

http://wwww23.cadillac.com/ is still operating.

It's quite normal for new websites to be 'hidden' allowing people in the know (like GMI members) to test the site and latest updates, and pass comments back to the developers prior to full public release. Hopefully the comments here have been constructive.