C/D: 2016 Cadillac CT6 revealed

[kevm14]

Naming wise, this could probably be the STS for where it is in the market, except that would not convey that it is all new and very good. STS was always kind of a cut rate 5-series.

[kevm14]

It's boring for me. It looks too much like the CTS. And no chrome in the back?? Common Cadillac! Put more chrome!

It's comments like these that underscore what might be the real issue here. It's not so much that "Cadillac needs to decide what they want to be," but it's more that the marketplace can't agree on what they want Cadillac to be. The Germans and Japanese have done a pretty good job catering to their market and with a couple exceptions every decade, their buyers seem to agree with the design choices made. I could have a separate argument that they could do a wide variety of things and be accepted due to brand loyalty...but I digress.

However, with Cadillac, a LONG established brand, you have people that are all over the map on what they think Cadillac should be. What Cadillac CAN NOT be is a collection of vehicles designed in a vacuum exclusively for the American market. So that idea needs to stop.

Yet, even if they WERE designed exclusively for the American market, this market already appears to be segmented on what they want from Cadillac. The all-important east/west coast markets (think New York/LA - where trends are born) seem to be critical for the brand fully establishing a luxury name. And they aren't there yet. So far, it seems like the goal is to beat the Germans at their own game. There are different ways to approach luxury, but until these image-conscious folks want the new Cadillac crest in their driveway in order to impress their neighbors and friends, Cadillac has not accomplished their goal, like it or not.

Cadillac will never be accepted as a luxury icon the way it was in the 50s and 60s, because the culture has shifted. There was pride in owning the best of what America could produce. And the foreign makes really didn't have any competition. So those conditions no longer exist.

You could argue Tesla is pulling it off and they are American. But they are SLOWLY pulling it off and will take a long time to approach what the major automakers are doing. More importantly than that, the brand has the same luxury-technology cache as Apple does. They are a Silicon Valley company, not a Detroit company. That is a hugely important distinction. And they already enjoy much of the same license that Apple does. A rabid fan base that will defend the product to the death, and completely gloss over any design flaws or other weaknesses (doing so would make you a hater). But pointing out the benefits of the competition makes you a fanboy.

[bill25]

Tesla is great, but they are not profitable, so it doesn't matter today that they have a rabid fan base. The Mini has a rabid fan base. Who cares.

Back to Cadillac.

My opinion. Cadillac should forget about the Germans. They were better off when they didn't design to compete with the Germans in the same way the Germans sell/make cars. WE AREN'T GERMAN. We should do what we do best, not try to copy what they do but better. The Germans and Italians had good and cool cars in the 60's. That didn't stop Cadillac from making kick ass cars that were nothing like them. People want variety. They don't want the American version of a 3 series. They can just buy a 3 series.

Cadillac, figure it out. What the fuck are you doing with a flagship that isn't actually really a flagship, big CTS with more speakers than you should need to sound good, and crying running lights?

Pick yourself up, stop crying and dominate. STOP DOING COOKIE CUTTER SHIT!!! You have had pretty interesting concepts.

Why is the greatest auto company (GM) so afraid to do something different and lead? Enough with your stupid failed Infinity naming conventions, enough with your "make a model to directly compete with Audi and BMW". You can't lead if you are copying. Ask Hyundai.

GM, I am accepting job offers.

[kevm14]

To be fair, the only thing they are trying to "copy" is to make a status symbol and a world-beating driving experience. They aren't trying to clone the 5-series, but they are saying "hey, instead of looking at the 5-series, check out the CTS - it has a different style and even more of the driving experience we think you want."

What's wrong with that? They can't do their own thing, because someone has the buy the cars.

[bill25]

I mean, don't make a car for every category/class/series to match BMW. That is letting them lead.

Instead, they could make cars based on purpose. You aren't being a leader by saying "This is our answer to the 5 Series". That is the 5 Series leading, and you trying to beat it, which by definition means Cadillac believes they are sub par if they think they need to beat it.

Maybe there are more cars than 3.5,7 Series counterparts. I know they need to sell cars. I am not suggesting a Fiero Cadillac or something out in left field.

[kevm14]

Well here's a newsflash...they tried to do what you said with the first and second gen CTS. They sold fine but not in the numbers GM needs. Both cars were sort of 3-series priced, 5-series exterior dimensions, and a little smaller than the 5-series inside. Like it or not, the Germans have create a pretty well defined segment and everyone plays in it.

A4, 3-series, C class
A6, 5-series, E class
A8, 7-series, S class

That's just the fundamentals. You can throw Lexus in there, too:
IS
GS
LS

And probably more that I don't feel like digging up to prove my point. At this point, these established sizes are like shirt sizes. You're not going to come out with a new size and sell it as its own thing. You need to explain to people what it is, so they can understand how they may be able to use it.

[bill25]

I swear, I did not sign up on Car and Driver as Alex L:

Alex L.

Why start this alpha numeric foolishness when Cadillac's have always had cool names? Your flagship is called the Escalade, the Deville carried you through many lean years, the Seville used to be a bright spot. This new car should be a Seville or Deville. When I think of the ATS it's name makes me think of an ATV. The XTS, I immediately think all wheel drive. You tease us with the El Miraj, an then you produce this slug? Why waste valuable development dollars to only create a concept car you don't intend to produce? That's a waste of time and money, the shareholders should be up in arms. The new Cadillac's are well engineered and expensive, so expensive that younger buyers can't afford them. They were aspirational cars. With the exception of the ATS, at their current pricing only older more affluent buyers can afford them. So what market are they trying to reach? Just figure that one question out and aim for that market. The Escalade sell well because it has no rival. Before you disagree with that statement as late as February of this year GM reported that it can't keep up with the demand for the new Escalade (see a car with a real name), while inventories of the ATS and CTS continue to grow. People with money to buy Escalades could care less what Range Rovers, Mercedes, Lexus or anyone else has to offer. People were drooling over the El Miraj, the Ciel, yet you produce a stretched CTS. Make a car that people actually want and you won't have any problem selling it.

[kevm14]

I don't think names are all that important. They are somewhat important. I do wish they brought back the old names. Because the brand has so much history that the names still mean something. Obviously bringing back old names can be risky but perhaps they have finally earned a decent enough reputation to get away with using "DeVille," "Seville" and "Fleetwood" again, for example.

The Escalade, by the way, was a brand new name for 1998, not an old name. It IS a good name, but I don't think that's why it's sold out.

[bill25]

Escalade is a good name. I have no problem with them having new names. Just spell them right, and have class. I just think the number letter thing is garbage. There is no personality, style or emotion. People even come up with nicknames for their cars to show affection or add personality. Nobody that ever loved a car called it CT6. Well, maybe if R2D2 bought a car...

[kevm14]

The only name for this car that would really make any sense would be Seville. DeVille may not be usable again. The Seville, since 1975.5, was a German fighter in one form or another. The first gen was extremely popular.