Cadillac

[kevm14]

These numbers are interesting.

U.S. sales of the CTS remained resilient last year in a tough market for midsize luxury sedans. The car's U.S. sales slipped 4 percent to 31,115 units last year, compared with a 3 percent decline for the segment. The decline in CTS sales was not as steep as its key competitors, including the BMW 5 series (down 7 percent to 52,704 units) and Mercedes E class (off 5 percent to 66,400).

But those CTS sales required steeper discounts. The average incentive on the car last year was $9,213, research firm Autodata says. The 5-series average incentive was $6,831; the E class was $7,219.

It just means the market doesn't yet value the product as equal to ze Germans. I say "just" like it's no big deal...

[kevm14]

And I want to highlight this about the new Cadillac President:

The price reduction marks a shift in strategy for Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen, who has been mapping out a broad strategy to elevate Cadillac since taking over the brand on Aug. 1 from Infiniti.

The man didn't exactly leave Infiniti with an awesome product line. In fact it's kinda lame. At least they are RWD based cars.

A much better success story is that he used to be chief of Audi of America. And they have made a real come back. In spite of their engines being approximately 16 feet ahead of the front axle.

So when referring to his legacy, we'll conveniently gloss over Infiniti and point to his performance at Audi.

[kevm14]

I do like these kind of moves.

Cadillac also has made some more popular optional features standard. For example, an UltraView sunroof with navigation and a higher-quality Bose sound system -- options before, cost $2,155 -- will now come standard on Luxury models, one step up from the base trim level.

Give the car more content for the dollar. Really helpful when shopping used cars, BTW.

[kevm14]

The car's base price of $46,340, including destination fee, did not change. Neither did that of the priciest CTS: the vSport with a twin-turbo 3.6-liter engine, which remains $71,880.

I thought the V Sport started at like $59,999 or something. Hmm. Also, important to note that the base price did not drop. That may help protect resale somehow.

[kevm14]

But relative performance is also worthy of discussion:

So the CTS outsells the GS, A6, Q70 and XF but it's poor-selling?? Hmmm, that one is lost on me.

I don't have the class numbers but that right there doesn't seem to qualify as a disaster, imo. Hmm. A6 surprises me. I thought Audi was killing it in sales. The rest? Yeah, sure. Lame.

[kevm14]

From the C/D Escalade article, is this comment:

I don't see Cadillac attempting to be MB, nor do I see any correlation with Ralph Lauren. What I do see is a car maker that wants to think beyond that. What you or I think Cadillac "is" or "was" doesn't matter because what Cadillac has been for the past thirty years is not a sustainable business model anymore. You can't keep a brand this size alive with one successful truck, and you can't have a real luxury brand with feeble products. There is no REAL Cadillac. Cadillac, and any brand, is what they make of it. What they make of it will be a cultivation of brand image and exceptional vehicles that supports the image they want to project. If that alienates the traditional Cadillac customer who wants a front wheel drive rebadged economy car with plastigold trim package, then fine. Lexus serves those people now.

That was kind of my point. Cush-mobiles on a platform that, at best is "smooth" and "quiet" is a Lexus (and Buick) think. Cadillac is aiming higher than simply comfortable vehicles.

I also like his point about there not being a "real" Cadillac.

[kevm14]

http://blog.caranddriver.com/if-a-vehic ... marked-it/

Somehow I missed this.

As we previously outlined, every new Cadillac car model introduced going forward will receive a name consisting of CT + a single-digit number, while every SUV or crossover will wear an XT + number badge. As of this week, Cadillac has trademarked CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT7, and CT8, in addition to the CT6 name it previously carved out for itself. The company also snatched up XT2, XT3, XT4, XT5, XT6, XT7, and XT8.

As for the one we know something about, many folks refer to the CT6 as a “flagship,” but it’s really just going to be the top-of-the-line sedan; a proper flagship, likely with the CT7 or CT8 name, is coming later