What Improvements Would You Make to the Future DTS Replacement?

[NoNameDenton]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

XLR should sit on C7 -- NOT ALPHA.
Alpha is cheap enough to serve as a base platform for a Chevy. It shouldn't serve as the foundation of a performance roadster that is capable of keeping up with an SL55.

XLR should sell in the $80-100K segment.

Yea, that will really draw the crowds in, not to mention there is the little snag with CAFE, so what you want is a fuel inefficient, heavy sports car that is out of reach of most people, compared to an Alpha based afford, light, fuel efficient 2 seat car?

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by NoNameDenton

Yea, that will really draw the crowds in, not to mention there is the little snag with CAFE, so what you want is a fuel inefficient, heavy sports car that is out of reach of most people, compared to an Alpha based afford, light, fuel efficient 2 seat car?

You don't need to draw crowds in.
XLR is a halo car. It is meant to be sold to exclusive audiences. XLR is not supposed to be an SLK competitor. It is an SL competitor.

It is supposed to be out of reach of most people. It's a luxury roadster.
It's about exclusivity NOT volume.

But somehow, deep inside, I have a sinking feeling that Cadillac will give up on XLR. Because of the sheer fact they can't sell a truly premium luxury car. GM, by its very nature, is incapable of building exclusive cars because they don't make "financial sense" to the beancounters.

Perhaps GM should consider spinning Cadillac off.

[NoNameDenton]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

You don't need to draw crowds in.
XLR is a halo car. It is meant to be sold to exclusive audiences. XLR is not supposed to be an SLK competitor. It is an SL competitor.

It is supposed to be out of reach of most people. It's a luxury roadster.
It's about exclusivity NOT volume.

But somehow, deep inside, I have a sinking feeling that Cadillac will give up on XLR. Because of the sheer fact they can't sell a truly premium luxury car. GM, by its very nature, is incapable of building exclusive cars because they don't make "financial sense" to the beancounters.

Perhaps GM should consider spinning Cadillac off.

You only make halo cars when it makes sense, in short terms (i.e. The Ford GT) I think Caddy can sell a truely good car, and the CTS is a step in the right direction, the replacment talked about in this thread will be the next step, then the smaller then CTS model. Then after getting all the bread and butter cars out, Caddy can work on some "premium halo cars". You do not focus on the fringe when your core business is suffering.

[asrapid]

Well if GM wants for next DTS to compete against S class.. then first of all it has to be RWD or AWD. It has to have engine with more then 6 cylinders in their lineup (and no not the northstar with just 320 hp ..it is not enough).But i don't think that GM is going against Mercedes and others. GM has one new car in that class of cars (cts) and they pulled the plug on new V8, now probably even XLR . Not so long time ago there was rumors about v12 but i'm sure that is not going to happen also.

[member12]

Like Lexus, it should be a 7 series competitor for $55 grand.

I have no idea how they plan on doing that......they need about 365 horses worth of Direct-Injected Northstar under the hood along with some very high tech touches. This is a tough nut to crack. Maybe they can forgo the V series at first and throw in a 400 horsepower supercharged Northstar as standard equipment. Maybe a hybrid powertrain just to show off the technological prowess of Cadillac.

They should start by perfecting the $42,000 STS first.


Did I actually see someone complaining that the XLR is inefficient? It cost $100,000 and it seats 2 people. Do you think people are buying this for efficiency?
The XLR should go with the C7 chassis. It's doing fine now competing against the SL class. We shouldn't care that it doesn't sell 30,000 cars a year. The engines are hand built anyways...it's completely limited edition and should stay that way. The only questions we should be asking is how to make it better than the SL mercedes.

[kgm777]

Let's see, combining the STS and DTS, does anyone else get STD?

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by member12

Like Lexus, it should be a 7 series competitor for $55 grand.

Hate to break it to you, but a base LS460 is $62,000.

Originally Posted by member12

They should start by perfecting the $42,000 STS first.

Doesn't matter now. STS is all but dead. CTS will take its place.

Originally Posted by member12

Did I actually see someone complaining that the XLR is inefficient? It cost $100,000 and it seats 2 people. Do you think people are buying this for efficiency?

That's what I said.

[NoNameDenton]

Originally Posted by asrapid

Well if GM wants for next DTS to compete against S class.. then first of all it has to be RWD or AWD. It has to have engine with more then 6 cylinders in their lineup (and no not the northstar with just 320 hp ..it is not enough).But i don't think that GM is going against Mercedes and others. GM has one new car in that class of cars (cts) and they pulled the plug on new V8, now probably even XLR . Not so long time ago there was rumors about v12 but i'm sure that is not going to happen also.

Problem being is that Mercedes wants to put smaller engines into the S-class for fuel efficienty, engines that are high powered to be sure, but smaller dispclament and not gas guzzlers

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by NoNameDenton

Problem being is that Mercedes wants to put smaller engines into the S-class for fuel efficienty, engines that are high powered to be sure, but smaller dispclament and not gas guzzlers

Mercedes does that already in other markets outside the US. It includes V6's, Diesels and SWB S-Classes.
The US gets the V8 and LWB S-Class only.

It isn't a far stretch for Mercedes to put in more power V6's and diesels because they already do it.

[NoNameDenton]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Mercedes does that already in other markets outside the US. It includes V6's, Diesels and SWB S-Classes.
The US gets the V8 and LWB S-Class only.

It isn't a far stretch for Mercedes to put in more power V6's and diesels because they already do it.

Well, in the F700 concept they have a turbo 1.8 liter 4 cylinder DiesOtto engine, and that car was the size of the S-class, and could power it easily

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z...0_Concept.aspx

[bhoppes]

I'm just hoping that the next Cadillac will not be any shorter than the current DTS. And if it is, then GM should offer a long wheelbase model, like every other manufacturer does. There is just so much on this upcoming replacement that needs to be done, that the list is awful long to make.
Simple things that pop in my head are mostly rear seat upgrades. Lexus, BMW, and MB all have "recliner" like features that enable passenger to move the seat, have heated, cooling and massaging features. Heck, Lexus even has an optional seperate A/C unit in the truck for the rear seat only.
I think Cadillac also needs to improve the interior quite a bit...well also the exterior. If GM just brings some concepts from the CTS, that would be great. Things such as the accent lighting in the cabin, the silver crests that are on the seats, and they also need to put those Cadillac emblems on the seat buckles, as shown on the new CTC coupe. Little touches like that really make it a luxury car. Another things Cadillac needs to improve is their seating. The STS is way to stiff to sit in and the DTS has no support it seems. Cadillac needs a sofa like seating with support. Also like mgescuro said, the headrests need to be power. Heck, my 03 SLS has power headrests and a power fuel door release. The new replacement needs both. Pretty much everything needs to be power, including the trunk. Also MB also has a feature where if any of the doors don't close completely, it automatically does it for you. I am really hoping that the new car is really going to be sweet, because I really don't want to buy a current DTS or STS to replace my car, there seems to be so many features missing from both cars. I hope this next Cadillac is going to be like the CTS, only bigger, more powerful, more technologically advanced, and also upgraded styling and features. Cadillac better not bring out something that is blah!
Actually I do have a little faith in GM for the next car coming out. GM has gave us the Enclave, Malibu, and CTS. There are starting to learn. The only thing is, is that I don't think GM will meet mgescuro's expectations. I hope they do for sure!

[2002 Caddy]

The 92-97 and 98-2004 Sevilles and STSs were long low and lean looking. The replacement was/is WAY too boxy and upright. Whatever replaces the current STS (and it couldn't come fast enough IMO) needs to be more "stretched out" looking even if it isn't any longer.

IMO the 98-2004 STS was exactly the right size for an American luxury sedan. That car sold well too... Go back to what worked.

BTW I have one of those G-Bodies too


If you look at the proportions of the above car (which also sold like crazy.. not the limited production 442 but the regular Cutlass) the 98-04 Seville was very similar in length, width and hight... America LOVE this size of car... and we have since the late 60's

[bhoppes]

Originally Posted by 2002 Caddy

The 92-97 and 98-2004 Sevilles and STSs were long low and lean looking. The replacement was/is WAY too boxy and upright. What every replaces the current STS (and it couldn't come fast enough IMO) needs to be more "stretched out" looking even if it isn't any longer.

IMO the 98-2004 STS was exactly the right size for an American luxury sedan. That car sold well too... Go back to what worked.

I really love my car (minus the turning radius and the freaking highway shake that it is synonomous for). I still get compliments (black on black) and I keep it looking and running like new! But you are right, I have no idea what GM was thinking when they designed the current STS the way they did!

[bhoppes]

Originally Posted by 2002 Caddy

The 92-97 and 98-2004 Sevilles and STSs were long low and lean looking. The replacement was/is WAY too boxy and upright. Whatever replaces the current STS (and it couldn't come fast enough IMO) needs to be more "stretched out" looking even if it isn't any longer.

IMO the 98-2004 STS was exactly the right size for an American luxury sedan. That car sold well too... Go back to what worked.

BTW I have one of those G-Bodies too


If you look at the proportions of the above car (which also sold like crazy) the 98-04 Seville was very similar in length, width and hight... American LOVE this size of car... and we have since the late 60's

Very nice car! GREAT Taste! Did you buy it new? I think these cars are great, so do a lot of other people!

[FStephenMasek]

1) Eliminate the stripped version, as people who rent or otherwise come into contact with the stripped version take it as representative of all DTS cars they see. In fact, have just one version, with the only choices being interior and exterior color. This will also vastly improve the buying experience, as dealers will not be able to play nearly as many games with buyers.

2) Offer five interior colors (blue, green, red, tan, black)

3) Make it insignificantly more expensive than the Hyundai Genesis, unless it offers substantially more

4) Rear wheel drive with two mode hybrid using a Lithium-ion battery standard

5) Bluetooth standard

6) Yes, tilt and telescope steering column, power to allow for memorized set-ups for different drivers

7) Top IIHS wreck test ratings in all categories

8) More seat adjustments - use the 1988 Bonneville SSE seats as the base and improve fromt her, plus have heating and cooling standard

9) Make the trunk big enough to hold a 15' Little Giant sideways (my needs, but it represents true big car cargo capacity), something the Taurus/Sable offer.