NAIAS 08: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

[Elk]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

How do you build a "luxury car for America," when the standard for luxury in America is in fact European?
Cadillac can build a car that is priced like a 3-series and put in all the gizmos of a 3-series and build it as large as a 5-series. but that doesn't make it a 3-series competitor. CTS will never drive as crisply or as nimbly as a 3-series. But it's more than a match for the 5-series.
So what has Cadillac actually built? A car that's a 5-series that doesn't have the technology, amenities, or luxury of a 5-series because their target was a the 3-series.
And that's exactly how to NOT build a luxury car.

If the CTS is competing with the 5-series here in America then Cadillac has won. The CTS out sold the 5-series by 2,900 units last year.

But of course we all know it doesn’t. It’s the STS competes with the 5-series. And the STS has been a sales dud mostly because when you look at the CTS and STS side by side it’s clear the size difference isn’t big enough. So most people looking at an STS either buys a CTS or goes somewhere else.

Americans view size as part of luxury. The reason the 3-series out sells the CTS in America is because BMW has been selling in America 30+ years, not because it’s smaller.

Originally Posted by mgescuro

of course Cadillac will do horribly in Europe. It is to be expected. They still think of jumbo pink land yachts with Elvis songs blaring from the radio for crying out loud. Many are going to see the Cadillac as cheap American luxury. So, you start marketing Cadillac as they are TODAY -- Performance luxury with an American flair. And you build it with the luxury, amenities, and technology comparable or better than the Europeans. And you invest in the dealership and service center base. And you don't sell Cadillacs with Chevys -- I don't care if it's a Corvette. Standalone dealerships.
That doesn't mean GM should make the least amount of effort to penetrate the market. Might as well sell a car from an empty lot on the corner.
Lexus started selling cars very recently in Europe. Cadillac has been trying to sell in Europe for a lot longer. And Lexus outsells Cadillac nearly 9 to 1. Not that Lexus sales are exceptional in the first place in Europe. But to sell more than Cadillac in less amount of time? It says something about the differing strategies -- both product and selling.

If you haven’t notices GM isn’t in the financial position to put billions of dollars into an investment that won’t pay off until 10 years from now.

You would agree that Lexus has basically done everything right in Europe? And they have what to show for it 30,000 sales a year across all of Europe? That’s worthless amount.

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Cadillac can NEVER go back to building large, floaty cars. Cadillac needs to build cars that match the European standard -- but do so in such a way that is true to their American heritage for flashiness and luxury. They should never become an European clone like the Japanese have become. There is a difference.

From what I’ve been reading you pretty much want GM to build a 3-series with Cadillac styling.

[2008USNavyAO]

Damn thats hot, Look at those seats and interior!