There is currently a $10,000 incentive on the fairly new Lexus RC/LC coupe with a convertible on the way. Will it sell? Should it sell? Do they care? It may simply be all about image, and image is something Cadillac could use - but should that image be car or SUV based?

Going to be a big year for the all-new Escalade...so where exactly would a convertible fit?









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There is currently a $10,000 incentive on the fairly new Lexus RC/LC coupe with a convertible on the way. Will it sell? Should it sell? Do they care? It may simply be all about image, and image is something Cadillac could use - but should that image be car or SUV based?

Going to be a big year for the all-new Escalade...so where exactly would a convertible fit?

One thing I can say is look at the Nissan Murano Convertible, what an ugly, eyesore of a vehicle that no one bought, most likely because it was an ugly, eyesore of a vehicle. My guess is that was a loud and clear message that most people don't want an ugly vehicle. The CUV body style doesn't lend itself to being a convertible - they'd all end up ugly.

And to your point, it makes me laugh to mentally picture an Escalade convertible!

 

Cadillac needs a lot of things Cadillac is never going to get, because GM. Abandon hope, all ye whom enter a Cadillac dealership..

 

Sadly I think this is right.

You still hear occasional talk of a "halo car" for Cadillac, despite the fact that there's very little evidence that halo cars really do anything for a brand. Usually this discussion revolves around some sort of ultra luxury super car. I'd forget that. Not worth the investment. While a convertible alone isn't going to suddenly revive Cadillac's car sales and maybe isn't really a "halo car," I think it's the sort of attention-getter that Cadillac could use. Convertibles still turn heads and a convertible CT4 or CT5 would attract some much-needed attention.

True halo cars aren't within the financial reach of most people. For me, and I'm sure I'm not alone, they don't even draw that much attention. I like cars, I read about cars. But I rarely pay any attention to cars that I can't possibly afford. I doubt that I'll ever be in the position to buy a Mercedes SL. Beautiful car, might look at one in Motor Trend or stare at one at an auto show. But I devote little time to it because it's just not going to happen in the forseeable future. Liking the SL doesn't somehow convince me that I'll be sorta like an SL buyer if I settle for some low-level Mercedes that really isn't in the same ballpark.

You should offer some aspirational car that, while still expensive, isn't out of the question. One that people see, perhaps dismiss at first because its expensive, but keeps them thinking about it because they actually can afford it. That's what a CT5 convertible could be. The CT5 is a nice car, but it's not going to be a "gotta have" model. A convertible could be. And with as long as it's been since Cadillac offered a convertible, there may be a pent up market.

If you want to continue trying to complete with BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, you have to offer competing products. They have convertibles, so Cadillac should have one too.

 

That looks very Camaro/Mustang-ish...

 

This is a tiny market, Crossovers are the big thing now unless Cadillac wants to do a drop top crossover ala Murano Crosscabriolet

 

This is a luxury brand, you need PRESENCE. Of course it is a niche market. However, convertibles still sell: Mustangs, Camaros, Vettes. Bmw's, Mercedes'.
2 trims max, put all the latest and greatest tech stuff on the whole lineup, all bells and whistles, only difference being the engine. Don't pull any stupid crap for a few dollars more.
Cadillac needs to re-build its image and that's not gonna come from CUVs.
But this is GM, they are closing plants and markets all over the world, they are not going to invest into this kind of a product. Long live the CUV, I guess.

So much potential with Cadillac.

 

Given there is already an excellent Alpha convertible Camaro(I own one), it wouldn't cost that much in product development to produce a CT5 convertible, along with a CT5 coupe given the costs of creating a 2 door will already be covered by the convertible. DO IT Caddy!!

 

I would have bought an ATS convertible in a heartbeat. When ATS launched, there was talk of sedan/coupe/convertible family. Maybe it was just talk. I don't think I ever even saw a drawing of a convertible.

 

if I use my neighborhood in Florida as a focus group of folks 60s - 80s with enough money to buy cars every other year and are concerned about image I believe it is necessary for Cadillac to play in the prestige league. Off the top of my head out of 45 homes there are 5 Mercedes Convertibles, a Jaguar convertible, 2 BMW convertibles and a C6 and C7 Corvette as well as a Bentley convertible. The convertibles are not replaced as frequently but are deemed important for image.

 

To answer the OP....Yes, they need a convertible, but they also need a Midsize coupe, a RWD CUV, a Flagship Sedan, a Halo Sports Car, a Halo SUV over the 'Slade, and a Entry Coupe....but we'll get another FWD CUV instead while we wait for their EV plans to come to fruition.

 

We tried so hard to get a CTS Convertible. Couldn't make it happen.

 

View attachment 42035 We tried so hard to get a CTS Convertible. Couldn't make it happen.

That's really nice. And as well as that coupe sold, seems like it should have been a no-brainer.

 

The market for Convertibles has shrunken quite a bit so I think interest is too low to worry about that right now.

 

And Mercedes... Yes even they are about to cut some nameplates and configurations. That still doesn't mean that Cadillac shouldn't have at least one Convertible. Especially when, as someone else pointed out, the CT5 and 4 both share a platform with the Convertible Camaro. Ridiculous to say the least.. That the C8 doesn't have a Cadillac sister as well for the sake of sales overall. There is an actual thread here pointing out that the C8 loses money on base models... Well guess what GM.. U could charge an extra $15K+ on a Cien and if this time around U make it worthy from git... Proper Blackwing.. Great interior materials, proper concierge services.. U won't have another XLR issue like before. And yes... While that would be the ultimate halo.. A alpha based convert CT4 would be a true grabber of entry level luxury buyers

 

Cadillac needs to improve its quality and reliability, styling, and model-naming recognition before it launches a convertible. The model names are still a Yatzee-dice-roll of letters and numbers that are confusing and hard to remember (and have no “name recognition” such as the Escalade, Eldorado, Fleetwood, etc.).

 

How about a re-skinned Camaro with a new interior and softer suspension? It would still have the visibility issues, and the usual suspects would shout "REBADGE!!!!"

No point in doing a coupe--unless it's as distinctive as the CTS.

 

It would seem more appropriate to scream "rebadge!" at the Camaro since it's on a Cadillac chassis.

The ATS Coupe rides that chassis and doesn't have the visibility issues.

 

Still love the look of the Allante. I would buy a used one if they weren't so unreliable.

 

Allante is a great point of frustration for me with respect to Cadillac and for all the GM reasons. The concept was a great idea: give a Cadillac a true ultra luxury halo to bring prestige back to the line-up but GM is GM and so the whole concept was fumbled.

It was a FWD roadster which was pretty sacrilege for an ultra luxury roadster. They could have compensated for that limitation with an AWD set up, but of course, GM, wouldn’t give Cadillac such a set up even if Cadillac asked.

It came out 57hp shy of the 560 SL, sure it was $7000 ($16,000 in 2019) less expensive than the 560 SL, but it wasn’t a good look. In 1989 it did get a 30hp boost, but the perception was already baked in. When it did get the Northstar and finally sold fairly well, GM did what GM does and killed it.

The Allante was absolutely stunning. It’s interior was more dramatic, glamorous and compelling to look at next to the SL. In fact, I found it substantially more beautiful on the exterior than the SL. But GM will always force Cadillac to cut corners and the result is always the same: Cadillac doesn’t get the product it needs to compete.

The Escalade has managed to be a big seller that ropes in lots of cash for GM, but even then GM just won’t take off the training wheels and let Cadillac do EVERYTHING it can to make the Escalade what it can and should be. It’s mind-numbing that the Escalade won’t get the Blackwing. Completely nonsensical and a lack of respect for loyal Escalade buyers.

 

Convertible no, coupe yes.

 

If Cadillac does a coupe it needs to be a larger grand touring coupe with a usable back seat and trunk.

https://carwp.blogspot.com/2016/08/2017-cadillac-escala-coupe-chevrolet.html?q=escala

Like the Elmiraj, or style it off of the Escala (I wish he didn't use such an awful color)

 

ELR should've been a convertible.
Would've been a great entry into a niche that is still occupied by no one.

 

Bottom line is that the ELR at $75K was fine IF Cadillac only wanted to sell them to niche buyers. They didn't. They FAILED to sell the intended 3000 units annually because they did nothing to market this car after "Poolside" went viral and let's be honest, its a 2-seater (eff the back seat in any of these sports coupes/Verts from Cadillac to Benz), it had no sunroof, which is insane considering the market for this car would seemingly be the well-to-do, Silicon Valley, greenie types who love to show up in something sexy that lets's their hair blow around in the wind.

This car.. THIS CAR.. should have been a sub-ATS sports car, with a convertible roof or sunroof having coupe, with a TT 2.0L 270HP and 350HP VSeries version, and ta hell with EV. The Voltec should have gone in the XTS. The XTS, with Voltec would have made sense. The XTS with Voltec would have added numbers in the realm of what Tesla sell because it would be in a car that could actually seat 5, maybe 6, with a trunk that could house a bunch of Golf Clubs.

 

Cadillac doesn't need a convertible. Cadillac needs things GM will never give them. That would be not just a CT6 based convertible to take on, if it can, the S Class. That would also be a CT4 coupe and convertible. That would also be a CT5 coupe and convertible. And a CT6 based coupe. Also, how about a front engine, RWD 2 seater that can put it to the SL, not just in statistics, not just in race track stats, but in the things that have over the decades made the Mercedes Benz SL what it is.

To put it simply, they probably needed to take the fight to Mercedes Benz in every market that it is in. So far, the patience and the resources to see these things through has been totally lacking. Allante was a nice start, but it needed at least a couple of generations to evolve. The same goes for every segment Cadillac has sought a toehold in for the last two decades. ATS, CTS, CT6, all of them needed time to become familiar to customers, and the money to truly develop the best in class. It doesn't cut the mustard to develop a fantastic chassis and place the cheapest part of the car directly into the driver's face (ATS, CT6). Of course, one has to question how Mercedes Benz sells what they do in their non-SUV non-crossover ranges,especially in this country, which is so crazy to drive what are essentially station wagons and bloated economy hatchbacks, but somehow, they've had the means to do it. Why can't Cadillac match that range?

 

Also, how about a front engine, RWD 2 seater that can put it to the SL, not just in statistics, not just in race track stats, but in the things that have over the decades made the Mercedes Benz SL what it is. ?

A re-bodied C7 with the Blackwing mill could have made a nice profitable offering.

 

Once GM brings out its 22 ev vehicles in 2022 these vehicles will most probably use a central backbone chassis design with bedford plates to hold the battery packs or rather will be the battery packs ..

They will be glued and bolted to the central backbone tunnel.

This chassis design will be the end of unit body construction leading to a chassis much like body on frame from the 1950s except more rigid than unit bodies and easier to place different top hat vehicle bodies on top of..

And that includes convertibles.

If demand actually exists for wind in the hair five seaters they can easily and inexpensively be added to the shared ev production line for low volume productivity and profitability.

Al O of fifth and sixth gen fame is in charge if GM s ev lineup.

Hold on to your hats...cadillacs halo vehicle will come from that EV production line ...

Analyze the c8 chassis development and other than flattening out the central backbone out itself...you are seeing the future of alll GM production and design.

JMO and I could without question be totally wrong.

I dont think so as GM has a history since 1997 the cirvette chassis design had great influence as a test bed for other products. Back then it was pickups hydroformed framerails...

In 2020 its the central backbone chassis and bedford plates determining the chassis...

Bedford plates becoming battery packs does in a way mimic teslas battery packs being an integral part of the chassis ans its rigidity...

Cadillac convertibles will come off of EV platforms if there is consumer demand ....

Which personally I dont see...most consumers dont love top off motoring these days...

Its exposing for the wimps of today.....

They need shelter and covering....

Jmo

 

I'm through talking about Cadillac. Why have confidence in them anymore when they are being jerked around by their parent (GM)? Escalade is the only vehicle they care about and besides that beautiful interior on the new one, they even messed that up if that spy shot is any clue as to where they took the truck.

#QTNA: Why does Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse have different bodies but the Escalade STILL shares it's body with the Tahoe? It's ridiculous especially since Escalade is a cash cow.

Now Cadillac is allegedly going back to actual vehicle names. Someone make this indecisiveness STOP.

I just can't anymore. This company makes my ***hole itch.

 

I'm through talking about Cadillac. Why have confidence in them anymore when they are being jerked around by their parent (GM)? Escalade is the only vehicle they care about and besides that beautiful interior on the new one, they even messed that up if that spy shot is any clue as to where they took the truck.

#QTNA: Why does Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse have different bodies but the Escalade STILL shares it's body with the Tahoe? It's ridiculous especially since Escalade is a cash cow.

Now Cadillac is allegedly going back to actual vehicle names. Someone make this indecisiveness STOP.

I just can't anymore. This company makes my ***hole itch.

Sounds like you have GM worms....get that checked out.

As far as being done with GM or Cadillac...I'm just going to sit on the sidelines until this much ballyhooed EV line-up drops. If it's great then I'm all in. If this EV line-up amounts to nothing more than reconstituted dog droppings (XT-6,Buick) like we've been getting for some time then I'm going all in on the GM hate machine.

 

Cadillac needs some segment leading luxury RWD crossovers first and foremost...with their best engines. Cadillac needs to stop taking 5 steps forwards and then 6 back.

 

Very true.

 

A hardtop convertible based on the new Corvette architecture, yes, and with electrification. That would do a lot more for them than their racing program, which virtually nobody knows anything about.

 

They have a racing program? Like, when they go round and round the 'ring, THAT racing program?

 

Engines? That's not where the conversation begins for the next-generation of Caddy flagships.

 

There won’t be a Cadillac convertible because it wouldn’t sell in the Chinese market. Cadillac like Holden, Opel, etc shoulder all of Chevrolet R&D which makes shareholders all warm and giddy seeing Chevy looking like the profit horse, yet every other division hovers around the red. If GM wanted to make something exciting like a convertible, it would probably be a good solid attempt at a nice ride. Sadly it would probably end up like the CTS V-sport. Short end of the stick on allocation and zero marketing support. GM needs to kill off Cadillac and focus their efforts on Buick or Just move the whole brand into the book program. And make executive fleet vehicles of cross over and SUV’s all variations of the Escalade nameplate, since all they want to do is cash in on low hanging fruit. JDN was right, if the brand doesn’t change coarse it will wilter and die. Tick tock tick tock

 

I just don't agree. Caddy is making what sells, CUV's and slade's. It is what profit driven companies do. Make what sells. I am glad they made a V wagon, but I completely understand they will not do that again. I also understand they will probably never make another convertible. Although the owners of the XLR were probably glad they did.

 

Can we bring back the G6 Hardtop Convertible with a Caddy wreath on it? Probably a bad idea...

 

The way they're doing things now....it isnt so far fetched

 

They need a clue and a plan, not a convertible.

 

The XT6 should NOT have been just another FWD/AWD GM Crossover with the 3.6. They were dead out the door there. Aviator is on a slick new RWD chassis with a potent twin turbo 6. And enough with the big curvy overlapping trim panels in Cadillacs. The CT5/CT4 are improved there but I am sure once I sit in one I will find some glaring omission where GM was like meah they wont notice.