Motor Trend Was Wrong: Next Cadillac FWD

[377Z]

[Novak454]

So, to review:

Caddy has the award-winning CTS, that is actually selling. And they did it by having 5-series size at 3-series prices. AND excellent quality. Add in the CTS-V and now a wagon (oh God please a CTS-V wagon!), all at 3-series prices for 5-series size and performance, and that whole line is good to go.
NOW WHAT??:
The 'Slades are a whole market to themselves that Caddy owns. Americans like trucks, and the 'Slade hits that mark. Fine tune it, but don't mess with it.
So what is Caddy after now?? They SHOULD be making a 7-series competator at 5-series prices, and FOLLOW THE CTS'S MARKET WINNING MODEL. But it appears they're not. I can only hope the 'mid size' sedan CAW is talking about at Oshawa is a new Caprice built on the Camaro platform already going down the line (Come on GM, you KNOW you want to build the G8 / Chevelle again!!) or a rear drive Caddy 7-series fighter that is RWD AND $20k cheaper.
The new SRX is a joke, but I'm not laughing. How they can try to 'complete' in a well defined market segment and totally miss the mark like that is only something the old GM could pull off... oh wait, maybe nothing changed!

[1931Chevy]

It looks like the MKS might get some competition

[johnstarnes]

I would LOVE to see that drawing they showed the dealers!!!!!

[Quest]

Originally Posted by EJD1984

I somewhat doubt this report. This seems to be a rehash of news reports from earlier this year. I'm leaning more towards the Motor Trend RWD news report from July 20th. They've generally been a good outlet of reliable information (and creditable industry sources).

Cadillac has been on a positive upswing over the past several years, and has been gaining great respectability around the world. I just can see them abandoning their current willing formula and take a huge step backwards to a FWD based platform for their proposed flagship/halo car.

I agree with your sentiment. The article does seem to be a rehash; it also contradicts itself and more importantly what GM (Lutz et al.) has been saying about brand positioning. I'll wait for an official announcement as one has not been forthcoming and this is a least the 3rd time making the rounds for this gem. These days considering the Company has just exited chpt 11 and that it's August means the rumor mills are busy. However, my two cents, If they were to proceed with a FWD based XTS they're competing against Buick. If they can't do RWD then don't do it all. It makes the very existence of Cadillac as a brand questionable. If this is the route they take then just go to market with Chevrolet, Buick and GMC and put to rest any pretense of a full luxury brand. FWD or Transverse AWD platforms do not belong on luxury cars; it's RWD or go home.

[1487]

So this thread will probably see 100+ angry posts from people reacting to speculation and voicing their hatred for a car no one has seen or even confirmed. A few dozen people will post about how no luxury car should exist without RWD (even though Audis and Lincolns and Acuras are not RWD) and how this unseen car will spell the death of Cadillac. Here's a newsflash- large luxury cars are about space, features and interior quality. Large RWD luxo sedans are NOT sports sedans. The A8 can handle as well as the S class or LS460 in spite of being AWD and lacking 50/50 weight distribution. The keys to this car would be styling, power, quality and gadgets, not RWD. Bashing a car that may not even exist is just stupid.

[LeSabre]

Originally Posted by Quest

I agree with your sentiment. The article does seem to be a rehash; it also contradicts itself and more importantly what GM (Lutz et al.) has been saying about brand positioning. I'll wait for an official announcement as one has not been forthcoming and this is a least the 3rd time making the rounds for this gem. These days considering the Company has just exited chpt 11 and that it's August means the rumor mills are busy. However, my two cents, If they were to proceed with a FWD based XTS they're competing against Buick. If they can't do RWD then don't do it all. It makes the very existence of Cadillac as a brand questionable. If this is the route they take then just go to market with Chevrolet, Buick and GMC and put to rest any pretense of a full luxury brand. FWD or Transverse AWD platforms do not belong on luxury cars; it's RWD or go home.

I agree though I would reword it to:

Go RWD or close Cadillac!


!!!!!!!!

[FenwickHockey65]

Wheeee lacking brand direction is funnnn!!!

[nsap]

Yes, Motor Trend was wrong. That should not be a total surprise to anyone, they seem to be wrong a lot...

[FenwickHockey65]

Does the damn thing at least look good? That might make up for the whole "wrong wheels driving the car" thing...

[nsap]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Does the damn thing at least look good? That might make up for the whole "wrong wheels driving the car" thing...

I have spoken with someone that has seen it and it supposedly looks really good. We shall see I guess...

[goblue]

Originally Posted by nsap

I have spoken with someone that has seen it and it supposedly looks really good. We shall see I guess...

Here's the million dollar question...

Is this simply a DTS replacement, priced 30-50, competing with the ES and there is a proper 7/S/A8 plan in the works, OR is this priced 45-70 and its the flagship.

I can live with the former, the latter is asanine. The reason I think the former is dissapointing, but reasonable is the DTS is a huge seller, and FWD is actually one of its attributes that causes it to sell.

However, it has no business as a true flagship.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by goblue

Here's the million dollar question...

Is this simply a DTS replacement, priced 30-50, competing with the ES and there is a proper 7/S/A8 plan in the works, OR is this priced 45-70 and its the flagship.

I can live with the former, the latter is asanine. The reason I think the former is dissapointing, but reasonable is the DTS is a huge seller, and FWD is actually one of its attributes that causes it to sell.

However, it has no business as a true flagship.

Well, I have heard both. The people that have seen it call it an ES competitor.

Let me add more confusion in that I was told from a credible source that the Zeta Caddy was still on the table, just not particularly approved...

[Quest]

Originally Posted by 1487

So this thread will probably see 100+ angry posts from people reacting to speculation and voicing their hatred for a car no one has seen or even confirmed. A few dozen people will post about how no luxury car should exist without RWD (even though Audis and Lincolns and Acuras are not RWD) and how this unseen car will spell the death of Cadillac. Here's a newsflash- large luxury cars are about space, features and interior quality. Large RWD luxo sedans are NOT sports sedans. The A8 can handle as well as the S class or LS460 in spite of being AWD and lacking 50/50 weight distribution. The keys to this car would be styling, power, quality and gadgets, not RWD. Bashing a car that may not even exist is just stupid.

Audi uses a longitudinal engine layout same as RWD. Furthermore, its high-end products are AWD. There is a difference between a Transverse AWD layout and Longitudinal layout in driving dynamics; the latter being best. Lincoln and Acura are not luxury cars, more importantly, Buick competes with both. A FWD Caddy would compete against Buick - probably be its main competition. Inter competition among brands is something that plagued old GM. Management is on record as saying they would not do this again. If they do it they are hurting Cadilac's branding in the long-run; the SRX and/or a Lambda based Escalade are a different matter all together.

The new GM has been stressing that they will strive to differentiate the brands. A FWD based AWD Caddy makes a mockery of this statement, it's more the same old, same old. It makes NO SENSE at all.

[wescoent]

Originally Posted by goblue

Here's the million dollar question...

Is this simply a DTS replacement, priced 30-50, competing with the ES and there is a proper 7/S/A8 plan in the works, OR is this priced 45-70 and its the flagship.

I can live with the former, the latter is asanine. The reason I think the former is dissapointing, but reasonable is the DTS is a huge seller, and FWD is actually one of its attributes that causes it to sell.

However, it has no business as a true flagship.

I believe it's even worse than that.

It's priced alongside the CTS, except it's larger, and meant as their flagship car.