[MonaroSS]

Cadillac Getting it's Rocks Off
November 1st, 2014
by MonaroSS

Would You Buy This?

​

Here is part of an email exchange I had with a man who you may catch a glimpse of in a Transformers movie and another man moving to SoHo NY....

...an observation about the Opel Adam "Rocks" project ...it could provide the cheapest fastest way to solve Cadillac's lack of CUV's. Holden added a hatchback to Cruze. If the stops were all pulled out how fast could you do a hatchback on both ATS and CTS?

They already have AWD. Adding a lift kit and SUV type dress kit with trim and front and rear clips... People don't want wagon CUV's they want sporty lift-back fastback CUV's. Offer both a TTV6 CTS 'Rocks' V-Sport and a naturally aspirated small block CTS 'Rocks' V8-Sport...

These CUV's will have more of a tough Old School persona, which matches the V8, and the traditional American customers WILL pay a large premium for a Cadillac V8 CUV.

Renault has the best selling CUV in Europe with a vehicle that in packaging is little different to a 4-door Golf hatchback. Why? And why are CUV's so popular? Because people imagine they are tough because they look tough and sporting. In the movie Dante's Peak when ordinary cars try to cross the river and float away or sink and the big SUV just drives across - that is what people, and especially women, are buying. They imagine an AWD CUV will get them out of harm's way in a dangerous world.

ATS and CTS can be amortized by cashing in on those sentiments... ...without lowering prices they will fly out the door. Keep the V8 out of the sedan CTS... it sells refinement. But the more rugged CTS 'Rocks' CUV just cries out for the Old School grunt of a small block V8......

They both responded and I was given assurances of some stunning vehicles on the way and from what was said I assume that in SoHo they may find the CUV between SRX and Escalade the most exciting...

While my 'Rocks' retro engineering of the current ATS and CTS was seen as too compromised, and they don't want to compromise with Cadillac anymore, I could not ignore the opinion "You are on to something quite interesting".

I came away from the exchange thinking, yes it would be a compromise for the current ATS and CTS, but they are probably already onto the next generations where a 'Rocks' version could be engineered into the mix without compromise.

So my question is this. What do you think? Given the world is moving to soft-roader CUV's in a huge way, would it be wise to incorporate a mild CUV version of all new sedans, thus extending the life and production numbers for dwindling sedan sales?

​

BTW, what do people think of the rear light treatment I applied to the CTS?



1, 2, 3… discuss amongst yourselves.

 

[Envoy4Life]

Re: Cadillac lacks CUV's - What about this?

Not feeling any of these, Monaro.

I actually don't mind the tail lights though.

 

[Dequindre]

Re: Cadillac lacks CUV's - What about this?

I think your CTS Rocks needs a bit more hunch in the back for it to compete with the X4 or X6.

At first I didn't like that oversized CTS grille, but if you made the whole vehicle look taller, it would look really cool!

 

[Envoy4Life]

Re: Cadillac lacks CUV's - What about this?

The idea for the renderings reminded me of this:

 

[dslay04]

Re: Cadillac lacks CUV's - What about this?

Interesting concept, I think Audi will do it w/ the Q9. Not feeling the tail lights, you might want to use the ones from the El Miraj and make the silver part white.

 

[MonaroSS]

These would be offerred 'in addition' to normal CUV's giving more choice...

 

[Mentat Bashar]

Yes, I would buy it. I like what you did with the front end, side profile, and wheels/tires. The back is a good start and at least there is something going on there unlike the current CTS. Thanks!

 

[gdsm3]

I kind of like it (the front end looks great), but I think it would be better if it had more of a sleek wagon/off-roader look like the all-road Audis.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

No thank you. Just not my thing. I love hatches and wagons, but not lifted ones. I'd just get a CUV if that is what I wanted.

 

[MonaroSS]

Re: Cadillac lacks CUV's - What about this?

The idea for the renderings reminded me of this:

Yes that's the type of thing, a mild CUV... like the Opel Adam Rocks.

 

[55Chevrolet]

Cadillac already lacks the class and sophistication that Buick offers. This doesn't help.

 

[BlackGTP]

Something looks hearse-like to me. I'd prefer to see a smooth hatchback curve vs. the small notch in back.

 

[guionM]

Cadillac Getting it's Rocks Off
November 1st, 2014
by MonaroSS

Would You Buy This?

​

Here is part of an email exchange I had with a man who you may catch a glimpse of in a Transformers movie and another man moving to SoHo NY....





They both responded and I was given assurances of some stunning vehicles on the way and from what was said I assume that in SoHo they may find the CUV between SRX and Escalade the most exciting...

While my 'Rocks' retro engineering of the current ATS and CTS was seen as too compromised, and they don't want to compromise with Cadillac anymore, I could not ignore the opinion "You are on to something quite interesting".

I came away from the exchange thinking, yes it would be a compromise for the current ATS and CTS, but they are probably already onto the next generations where a 'Rocks' version could be engineered into the mix without compromise.

So my question is this. What do you think? Given the world is moving to soft-roader CUV's in a huge way, would it be wise to incorporate a mild CUV version of all new sedans, thus extending the life and production numbers for dwindling sedan sales?

​

BTW, what do people think of the rear light treatment I applied to the CTS?



1, 2, 3… discuss amongst yourselves.

Sorry.....these aren't CUVs (Cute Utility Vehicle).

I'm not sure any "CUV" fits in Cadillac's lineup or is compatible with Cadillac design language.......perhaps you mean a small crossover. But in any case, these are just bulkier sedans with a hatchback photoshopped on.

 

[calgaryhhr]

Hideous.

 

[MonaroSS]

I think people may be focusing a little too much on the chops and not the topic.

I don't like CUV's but they are taking over the world and destroying what I love which are sedans. I'm looking at this as a way to increase sedan number, not with this example car which will never be built - but the idea of mild CUV's based on sedans. It helps the business case for sedans if you can add extra sales with a mild CUV version.

If there is a person who might buy a sedan and might buy a CUV but is leaning towards CUV, then this tweener may sell them on the RWD sedan based product instead of a FWD based blah mobile.

 

[GG_TECH]

Front end looks very modern, the backend not so much..Would I buy this, probably NOT. Never was a big fan of Cadillac. A little less pretentious but good looking and modern up to date vehicles I would definitely buy.

 

[MonaroSS]

Hideous.

Is the CTS hideous to you? Because to me these don't look much different.

 

[MonaroSS]

Sorry.....these aren't CUVs (Cute Utility Vehicle).

I'm not sure any "CUV" fits in Cadillac's lineup or is compatible with Cadillac design language.......perhaps you mean a small crossover. But in any case, these are just bulkier sedans with a hatchback photoshopped on.

Well I wasn't going to take a welding torch to a CTS for a simple discussion on if a Rocks version of a Cadillac had legs....

 

[calgaryhhr]

Is the CTS hideous to you? Because to me these don't look much different.

Both the photo-chop and the concept are hideous in my opinion. I hate all the similar vehicles like the BMW 3GT, BMW x6, Honda Crosstour, etc.

 

[Ed Arcuri]

Thanks for another interesting take, Monaro SS. Did the Lincoln XKS influence your taillight proposal?
Ed