Only@GMI: Cadillac Zeta Car Rumored Dead

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Only@GMI: Cadillac Zeta Car Rumored Dead
We're hearing the upcoming Caddy flagship has been cut...
www.gminsidenews.com
August 5, 2008

GMInsidenews has been informed that General Motors has cut the upcoming Cadillac DTS replacement from the product lineup. The car was to based on the Zeta platform that underpins the new Camaro and was to be Cadillac's flagship sedan. Rumors surfaced a few weeks ago that the car would be dubbed "DT7" and have a V8. It is important to note that what we are hearing regarding the DT7 program are RUMORS.

If they have in fact cut the Cadillac Zeta car, that begs the question; is the Buick Zeta still on? We have heard that the Buick is dead as well!. That car was intended to replace the aging Lucerne. Both the Cadillac and Buick Zeta cars were to be built at the same assembly plant. If true, this is just yet another twist in the ever-changing product programs at GM. Recently there has been a lot of shuffling with the product programs to reflect the changing market and GM's current financial position.

Stay tuned, I'm sure we'll have more soon!

[Ultra Magnus]

If this is in fact true and Cadillac has no world class flagship, Cadillac has proven that the CTS was a one hit wonder.

[likearock00]

This better not be true. It would hurt Cadillac but would absolutely kill Buick.

[Markld74]

The Buick idea to get zeta was killed month's ago. Unknown on exact Buick product future other than upcoming 2010 LaCrosse, which will be approx. same size as currently model. Since current LaCrosse is a big car already, really no need for a Lucerne, what Buick needs is a small fwd 4 cylinder sedan and small crossover to replace the deceased Rendezvous. No more bigger cars. That would give Buick a nice well rounded affordable luxury line-up, which the Buick Consumers have been asking for.

If Zeta is dead for Cadillac then what will they have besides CTS, XLR, Escalade and SRX?? Cadillac was saying the DTS & STS would be replaced with one car off the Zeta Platform??? Are they going to bringout a much needed smaller rwd/awd sedan and coupe??

[Sal Collaziano]

I think this is unofficially the end of the "Renaissance"...

[bhoppes]

This is bullcrap. Cadillac has to have a flagship. Isn't the DTS the best selling Cadillac or something? Or at least it was a year or two ago. The CTS is probably the best selling now. Hmmm. Give customers what they want and they will buy it. A new DTS that resembles the CTS with more luxury...it sounds like a winner to me, but not to GM.

[Buick61]

How can a true luxury automotive brand exist without a flagship? Imagine if Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, and Audi dropped plans for a new S, 7, LS, or 8.

Sigh. Sometimes I think GM should go out of business. It would save us a lot of heartache. Management of the last 35 years has almost completely destroyed any goodwill GM built up in the '20s-'60s. They just can't get it together, and it causes fans anguish and results in despair. If you lose the fans, who do you have left?

[megeebee]

Weren't we told this last week?



And no, I'm not happy about it either.


.

[Sal Collaziano]

It's kinda funny hearing the words "aging" mixed with "Buick Lucerne". The car has been on the market for a little over two years and it's already "old". If GM would build products AHEAD of the curve instead of behind, maybe their new products wouldn't be old so shortly after the roll out of the showroom...

[Sal Collaziano]

Originally Posted by bhoppes

This is bullcrap. Cadillac has to have a flagship. Isn't the DTS the best selling Cadillac or something? Or at least it was a year or two ago. The CTS is probably the best selling now. Hmmm. Give customers what they want and they will buy it. A new DTS that resembles the CTS with more luxury...it sounds like a winner to me, but not to GM.

I like the idea of a CTS looking DTS. A full-size CTS would be very nice. In fact, I would own it right now if one existed.. It doesn't have to Mimic the CTS - but use the same design strategy...

Originally Posted by Buick61

How can a true luxury automotive brand exist without a flagship? Imagine if Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, and Audi dropped plans for a new S, 7, LS, or 8.

Sigh. Sometimes I think GM should go out of business. It would save us a lot of heartache. Management of the last 35 years has almost completely destroyed any goodwill GM built up in the '20s-'60s. They just can't get it together, and it causes fans anguish and results in despair. If you lose the fans, who do you have left?

GM management is an enigma... Seriously think about this for a moment. EVEN NOW there's no Cadillac that competes with the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes S-Class, Lexus LS or Audi A8. Technically, Cadillac has been missing from this segment since - oh, don't know - how many decades? The Fleetwood didn't compete either. So this is really nothing new... Cadillac just isn't going to have a big car.

Originally Posted by megeebee

Weren't we told this last week?

And no, I'm not happy about it either.

Yes.

[mpsrent]

To be fair to GM, they really do need to concentrate on product development that is sure to produce strong sales volume. While there is probably still a market for large cars, what GM really needs right now is a fleet of small and mid sized cars for the masses. Cadillac's success was built on moving people from Chev's and Pontiacs up through Buicks and Oldsmobiles into Cadillacs. Spending money on large cars at this point in time doesn't make good business sense for GM.

Here is an alarming sidenote. My 20 year old neice was by with her family on the weekend. Her dad was speaking to me about when I am going to replace my car and if I was buying another GM given all the company's financial challenges. My neice jumped in with "What kind of car does GM sell? I don't know of any". That say's it all, a 20 year old who can't think of a single GM car. This is a girl who owns her own Nissan Maxima, her boyfriend a Hyundai, her father a Lexus and her mother a Mazda. My brother replied, your Grandmother's white Buick is an example of a GM car. She replied with a frown "oh that's what they make". A sad sign of the times.

[HoosierRon]

If the cash is not there, then the cash is not there.

It would seem that GM is pouring all available resources into the Volt and plug-in Vue. Everything else can wait. Other than the Cruze and Beat (and even even with them, U.S. introduction is delayed), what else is getting pushed forward? All I can think of are a couple of CTS variants and the Camaro.

[A.J.]

Originally Posted by Sal Collaziano

It's kinda funny hearing the words "aging" mixed with "Buick Lucerne". The car has been on the market for a little over two years and it's already "old". If GM would build products AHEAD of the curve instead of behind, maybe their new products wouldn't be old so shortly after the roll out of the showroom...

If the Lucerne would have the 3.6L DIV6 and a 6-speed auto, no one would say that it's "old".

But seriously, they can't drop the DTS replacement - Heck, I'd be satisfied if it was FWD-based with AWD as the only option.

But remember folks, it's only a "rumor"!

[04bonnie]

...."That car is intended to replace the aging Lucerne.".... The Lucerne hasn't been out THAT long, for them to say "aging" Lucerne. Anyhow, the Cadillac DTS is still a nice car, and maybe Pontiac should be the only "RWD only" brand. V8 Cadillacs that are FWD are fine for those that buy them. Most Cadillac buyers don't care which wheels drive, all they care about is luxury, and they are usually more mature drivers, let me put it that way, and usually drive at or below the speed limit anyway.

[Quickening]

Another blunder by GM management. The hit just keep coming.