Only@GMI: Cadillac Zeta Car Rumored Dead

[Chaz_23]

Sounds like Zeta won't be around too long in NA. The G8 isn't selling (not that GM wants to either) and the Camaro won't sell as much as GM thinks it should, so in a couple of years it'll be bye bye Zeta. Hello Charger.

[T-Type]

Originally Posted by 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.

I agree, you hit the nail on the head. GM's cash position has gotten so dire, that only the large volume product vital to the future of the company will be nurtured. As you say, everything else has to wait. It sucks, but it is what it is.

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

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

That about sums it up, really.

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

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.

This too, I believe to be the case. I've been saying for some time that every free dollar at GM must be spent on getting the Volt into production and done right. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Along with Volt, they need a really good 4 cylinder/ transmission to put in as many cars as possible. GM needs high volume, lower price products that can support the upper end. Put simply, they need a Camry. Until they can secure the base, the fancy stuff just has to wait. Sad but true.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by 04bonnie

...."That car is intended to replace the aging Lucerne.".... The Lucerne hasn't been out THAT long, for them to say "aging" Lucerne.

There's no "them." nsap wrote that.

[Greg Burr]

The Cadillac limousine looks too cheap. They need a new flagship, even if it's a stretched CTS.

[Sal Collaziano]

Originally Posted by 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.

Whoever this is (I'm getting tired of calling people by their screen names) makes a very good point..

MAYBE GM is feeling that it should pretty-much just let the large cars remain the way they are - and concentrate almost soley on small cars. If you can't build good small cars, than you certainly can't build good big cars. How is Cadillac supposed to compete with Mercedes when Chevy can't compete with Toyota (except for maybe the Malibu).

Maybe once they get the small cars right (competitive or better), than they'll move onto the mid-size cars, than large cars, and then premium luxury. Maybe Cadillac is just going to have to fail for awhile - in order to get the company in order from the bottom up...

[davidlane]

In addition to finances, I suspect CAFE has, and will continue to have, a significant impact product offered. Manufacturers, including GM, won't be able to meet CAFE with vehicles this size/weight IMO.

[member12]

Cadillac:


Wow. that was a half assed turnaround. The CTS is such a great car, too....

[RamJet502]

You've got to spend money to make money, inferior outdated products won't make GM profitable.

[rrwWasHere]

This can't be true. Even if the car is put on hold so that others can come in, it still has to be made. If the RWD and the size of the car are making it too unefficient, then slap the 2mode hybrid in it from the Tahoe and call it a day.

[LI CADILLAC]

Yeah... I have to admit, I am getting a little fed up here!!!! Cadillac needs a RWD flagship, NOW. GM has got to get their act together soon. Americans will always buy Caddies but the rest of the world will never care at all without a true world class leader.

[Ultra Magnus]

The part of this that really bothers me is that GM does make good large cars, just not for this market. How much would it really cost to Federalize the HSV Grange or Senator (with Cadillac DNA of course) for sale in the US as the DTS/STS replacement. Make it and the G8 alongside the Camaro. You dont need huge volumes on these cars. This move would still give Caddy relavancy on the world stage.

All of us agree GM should put a lot of effort into making itself profitable from small and mid size efficient cars but there are always going to be those that want a large luxury/performance car. The G8 is a solid entry into the mid/large sports sedan market for everyman. But if you want exclusivity, design and technology excellence, the flagship brand (Cadillac) needs to have something to compete with the best of the world. Until Caddy has the A8, S-Class, 7-Series, LS competitor, all it has is the CTS. (The Escalade is nice but needs work and a diet, and dont get me started on the STS.)

[Sal Collaziano]

You're right. But smart manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Lexus aren't taking the options away from their customers - they're simply making them pay for it. Right now, BMW (for example) is paying the CAFE fines on their own. If they continue to increase, they'll pass them on to the customer - who will GLADLY pay the fine to have the vehicle they want.

I wish Cadillac would let me pay for the vehicle I want...

Originally Posted by davidlane

In addition to finances, I suspect CAFE has, and will continue to have, a significant impact product offered. Manufacturers, including GM, won't be able to meet CAFE with vehicles this size/weight IMO.

[Al63240]

Originally Posted by Chaz_23

Sounds like Zeta won't be around too long in NA. The G8 isn't selling (not that GM wants to either) and the Camaro won't sell as much as GM thinks it should, so in a couple of years it'll be bye bye Zeta. Hello Charger.

The G8 isn't selling well? This is the first that I have heard this. Are there sales numbers anywhere?

A friend of mine is the finance manager at the local dealership and he said they can't get enough of them. The longest one has sat on the lot so far is 9-10 days.

[Family Man]

Originally Posted by RamJet502

You've got to spend money to make money, inferior outdated products won't make GM profitable.

But if you don't have money, where are you going to get it? Borrow more? Yikes...

I, for one, am happy that GM is doing this. How many potential sales would be lost? 10k/20k per year? The millions GM would save by cancelling this and using that money to make better smaller cars - ones that the general public want - is a wise investment. GM also just can't import cars from overseas... The tanking US dollar makes this extremely expensive.

Just remember folks - we're all enthusiasts here. The general publics wants a good, fuel efficient car now. GM needs to focus on that and stop telling everyone that better cars are coming in 2010. These cars need to be hear NOW...