Cadillac Ends CTS Production After 16 Years And 3 Generations

[Anthony Evans]

Lame!

I still remember how seeing the first gen CTS in person was transformative, when the dominant design language at the time was still the jellybean

[mbukukanyau]

GM fails to succeed for by failing to stick it out with one strategy and improve on it. CTS had finally achieved parity with 5 Series, now its dead. STS was so close before it was killed, Why did they not just name the CT6 DTS and call it a day?

[Murrow]

GM fails to succeed for by failing to stick it out with one strategy and improve on it. CTS had finally achieved parity with 5 Series, now its dead. STS was so close before it was killed, Why did they not just name the CT6 DTS and call it a day?

Cadillac's rebuilding effort has been a series of fits and starts since 1992. Whenever it looked like they were getting traction, they lost it. That's no way to build a brand. That's the difference between Cadillac and, say, Audi, which has elevated itself to top-tier luxury status (or at least very close). Audi has been consistently putting out strong and image-building products for at least the last 15 years or more, despite nearly dying in the 80s.

[Ed753]

Implying the CT5 is a "just refreshed" CTS is silly.

Tell yourself whatever you need to.....................

So...that means that the Gen 1s are going to skyrocket in value? Asking for a friend

Your "friend" he's on vacation, right?

I remember when the Gen I's came out, very modern almost futuristic; today, they just look old and cheesy.

The CTS lives on as the new CT5, they changed the S to a 5. No real story here.

Can you have a talk with my friend megeebee?

GM fails to succeed for by failing to stick it out with one strategy and improve on it. CTS had finally achieved parity with 5 Series, now its dead. STS was so close before it was killed, Why did they not just name the CT6 DTS and call it a day?

"Why did they not just name the CT6 DTS and call it a day?"

Because they named the Deville, I mean DTS, the XTS?

[ksr]

Cadillac's rebuilding effort has been a series of fits and starts since 1992. Whenever it looked like they were getting traction, they lost it. That's no way to build a brand. That's the difference between Cadillac and, say, Audi, which has elevated itself to top-tier luxury status (or at least very close). Audi has been consistently putting out strong and image-building products for at least the last 15 years or more, despite nearly dying in the 80s.

This is really true. It's Cadillac has been taking two steps forward, then one or two steps back for a long time.

The 1992 Seville and Eldorado were (and still are) two of the nicest Cadillacs ever. The purists will scream something about FWD, but those were beautiful cars inside and out and Cadillac did FWD as well as anyone. They never changed the Eldorado until it was discontinued, but in 1998 they rolled out a new Seville. It was still a beautiful car, but the design was softer, less bold. It was a minor step back. Then the STS replaced Seville in 2004 and that was a major step back, at least in style and practicality (interior room), if not performance.

IMO, even the thing happened with CTS. The first one was a kind of polarizing design, but it certainly got noticed and got Cadillac considered by a younger crowd. The second was a really good car, but again had a somewhat softer appearance that wasn't quite as head-turning. Great car and successful, but (my opinion only), something of a step back in image; it made Cadillac seem less edgy. Then the 3rd gen CTS came around. Great sports sedan, but the higher price and compromised interior room was a major step back. And while it's a pretty car, it was no longer really a head-turner.

Ever notice that whenever Cadillac launches a new car, it gets pretty good or even great reviews. 2008 CTS, 2013 ATS, 2014 CTS. And every time, the media treats it with the "Cadillac is Back!" headline. Forgetting that despite setbacks, Cadillac has built some great cars in recent decades. But they treat every new launch as the first good Cadillac since the 1950s.

[Vagon11]

This is really true. It's Cadillac has been taking two steps forward, then one or two steps back for a long time.

The 1992 Seville and Eldorado were (and still are) two of the nicest Cadillacs ever. The purists will scream something about FWD, but those were beautiful cars inside and out and Cadillac did FWD as well as anyone. They never changed the Eldorado until it was discontinued, but in 1998 they rolled out a new Seville. It was still a beautiful car, but the design was softer, less bold. It was a minor step back. Then the STS replaced Seville in 2004 and that was a major step back, at least in style and practicality (interior room), if not performance.

IMO, even the thing happened with CTS. The first one was a kind of polarizing design, but it certainly got noticed and got Cadillac considered by a younger crowd. The second was a really good car, but again had a somewhat softer appearance that wasn't quite as head-turning. Great car and successful, but (my opinion only), something of a step back in image; it made Cadillac seem less edgy. Then the 3rd gen CTS came around. Great sports sedan, but the higher price and compromised interior room was a major step back. And while it's a pretty car, it was no longer really a head-turner.

Ever notice that whenever Cadillac launches a new car, it gets pretty good or even great reviews. 2008 CTS, 2013 ATS, 2014 CTS. And every time, the media treats it with the "Cadillac is Back!" headline. Forgetting that despite setbacks, Cadillac has built some great cars in recent decades. But they treat every new launch as the first good Cadillac since the 1950s.

Everyone has an opinion... For me and I actually looked at a gen 1 CTS in the early 2000's, and was not blown away by styling or interior. When the 08 came out, I literally bought the 2nd one the dealer had in sept of 07 and paid sticker, something I had never done before. So for me, the Gen 2 was something special, and the Gen 3 did not inspire me to replace my Gen 2, which I still own and think is a fantastic looking car. So for me, it is the complete reverse as you. Sales wise, the gen 1 and 2 produced very similar annual numbers. So there is about the same number of people in your camp as mine. What caddy has not produced yet is a design that bowls nearly everyone over getting sales up to the sum of your camp and mine.

[megeebee]

Lame!

What's lame about it?

I still remember how seeing the first gen CTS in person was transformative, when the dominant design language at the time was still the jellybean

True. I had 2 original design CTS. I loved them. When I had my '03, in April of 2002, many people would stop and ask about it. We've become so used to what was called "Art & Science" design that we forget what an important watershed it really was. Other automakers adopted aspects of it for years afterward. Cadillac did not follow through though. Thanks to Mr. Lutz and his "saved" STS, things cooled off quickly. The CTS continued to sell in huge numbers while the STS fell off a cliff.

[ksr]

Everyone has an opinion... For me and I actually looked at a gen 1 CTS in the early 2000's, and was not blown away by styling or interior. When the 08 came out, I literally bought the 2nd one the dealer had in sept of 07 and paid sticker, something I had never done before. So for me, the Gen 2 was something special, and the Gen 3 did not inspire me to replace my Gen 2, which I still own and think is a fantastic looking car. So for me, it is the complete reverse as you. Sales wise, the gen 1 and 2 produced very similar annual numbers. So there is about the same number of people in your camp as mine. What caddy has not produced yet is a design that bowls nearly everyone over getting sales up to the sum of your camp and mine.

I actually agree with you that the 2nd generation car was prettier and the interior was miles better. I bought one, a coupe. The thing I think that it lost over the 1st generation was, to me, the edginess. They toned down the Art & Science look. The 1st gen car was a "love it or hate it" sort of design, but it definitely drew attention. You get used to anything over time, but when that '03 launched, it was really radical. The 2nd gen car to me was softened to broaden its appeal, but it lost that certain "out there" impression that Cadillac had created, an impression which I think helped the brand.

As you point out though, sales numbers were about the same. So maybe it didn't hurt anything.

[Mr.Buttons]

What's lame about it?



True. I had 2 original design CTS. I loved them. When I had my '03, in April of 2002, many people would stop and ask about it. We've become so used to what was called "Art & Science" design that we forget what an important watershed it really was. Other automakers adopted aspects of it for years afterward. Cadillac did not follow through though. Thanks to Mr. Lutz and his "saved" STS, things cooled off quickly. The CTS continued to sell in huge numbers while the STS fell off a cliff.

The STS-V is a beautiful car!..Almost bought one (used of course) I ended up getting a Trailblazer SS,,loved that truck till my wife wrecked it....no I still love it.

[megeebee]

The STS-V is a beautiful car!..Almost bought one (used of course) I ended up getting a Trailblazer SS,,loved that truck till my wife wrecked it....no I still love it.

Personally I think Cadillacs current quandry can be traced in large part to the failure of the 2005 generation STS. Before it, Cadillac reigned in the sweet spot of Luxury Sedans. The $ 50-60K range. After 2005 Cadillac had lost it.

[LowRider]

Personally I think Cadillacs current quandry can be traced in large part to the failure of the 2005 generation STS. Before it, Cadillac reigned in the sweet spot of Luxury Sedans. The $ 50-60K range. After 2005 Cadillac had lost it.

The FWD Seville from 92 on was a big seller the first 8 years or so, and sold pretty well right up until the end. And they were not low priced cars.

[Mr.Buttons]

Personally I think Cadillacs current quandry can be traced in large part to the failure of the 2005 generation STS. Before it, Cadillac reigned in the sweet spot of Luxury Sedans. The $ 50-60K range. After 2005 Cadillac had lost it.

Which is a shame,because the STS I felt was/is a very handsome car.

I pass a STS-V that's up for sale everyday on my way to work and if I weren't saving up for an ATS-V coupe and restoring both my 94 Trans Am and Saab 92X Aero I'd probably get it.

[megeebee]

The FWD Seville from 92 on was a big seller the first 8 years or so, and sold pretty well right up until the end. And they were not low priced cars.

True. I was lucky to have a 94 SLS. They sold in numbers far in excess of the 05-11 generation STS.
In fairness, the 98-04 SLS/STS was not as successful as the 92-97 car.

[tripowergto Jan2003]

I ended up getting a Trailblazer SS,,loved that truck till my wife wrecked it....no I still love it.

Your wife or the Trailblazer?

[jesda1]

Implying the CT5 is a "just refreshed" CTS is silly.

Indeed.

More like ruined.