Darth Xed
11-24-2003, 09:49 AM
from The Car Connection:
Upward Sales Mark 20-Year High for Cadillac
A 200,000-unit year now seems probable for the first time in 20 years, thanks to resurgent demand among younger buyers for the angular CTS sedan and XLR roadster. Cadillac's surge has been ignited by a blatant appeal to younger Gen X buyers, who had defected from the GM luxury brand's aging Seville and Deville sedans in droves. The CTS, XLR, and new SRX sport wagons are built, moreover, in plants dedicated to world-class quality products - Grand River in Lansing, Michigan, for CTS and SRX and the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the XLR.
Boosting sales to 172,325 units in the January-October period, a gain of nearly five percent, Cadillac dealers have been even more cheered by their conquest of Honda, Nissan, and Toyota owners for the once-controversial CTS sedan. More than 41,000 STS sedans were sold n the first ten months of 2003, and the average age of all Cadillac buyers has been cut from 64 in 1999 to 59 this year, according to Business Week Magazine (November 24).
As reported, Cadillac General Manager Mark R. LaNeve is orchestrating the sharp swing in the brand's marketing strategy towards a younger clientele. The product piece of the new approach is reflected in sportier suspensions across the line and embracing the SRX wagon. Cadillac is pointing towards a critical launch next fall when the STS replaces the graying Seville sedan, carrying forward the macho grille looks and angled lines of the Escalade SUV, CTS, XLR, and SRX.
Cadillac dealers, pleased with the return of younger buyers from Japanese brands, now have set their sights on catching up to the Germans. The 2005 STS is aimed squarely at the cynosure BMW 5-Series, LaNeve says. To underline Cadillac's new potent push, the "V" editions of each model are planned, starting with a 400-hp CTS-V entry in the Sports Car Club of America's 2004 races. In true 'race on Sunday, sell on Monday' style, LaNeve says he wants to erase forever "the image of Cadillacs as non-performance cruisers" - or as the seller of such turkeys as Cimarron, Allanté, and Catera. -Mac Gordon
:thumb:
Upward Sales Mark 20-Year High for Cadillac
A 200,000-unit year now seems probable for the first time in 20 years, thanks to resurgent demand among younger buyers for the angular CTS sedan and XLR roadster. Cadillac's surge has been ignited by a blatant appeal to younger Gen X buyers, who had defected from the GM luxury brand's aging Seville and Deville sedans in droves. The CTS, XLR, and new SRX sport wagons are built, moreover, in plants dedicated to world-class quality products - Grand River in Lansing, Michigan, for CTS and SRX and the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the XLR.
Boosting sales to 172,325 units in the January-October period, a gain of nearly five percent, Cadillac dealers have been even more cheered by their conquest of Honda, Nissan, and Toyota owners for the once-controversial CTS sedan. More than 41,000 STS sedans were sold n the first ten months of 2003, and the average age of all Cadillac buyers has been cut from 64 in 1999 to 59 this year, according to Business Week Magazine (November 24).
As reported, Cadillac General Manager Mark R. LaNeve is orchestrating the sharp swing in the brand's marketing strategy towards a younger clientele. The product piece of the new approach is reflected in sportier suspensions across the line and embracing the SRX wagon. Cadillac is pointing towards a critical launch next fall when the STS replaces the graying Seville sedan, carrying forward the macho grille looks and angled lines of the Escalade SUV, CTS, XLR, and SRX.
Cadillac dealers, pleased with the return of younger buyers from Japanese brands, now have set their sights on catching up to the Germans. The 2005 STS is aimed squarely at the cynosure BMW 5-Series, LaNeve says. To underline Cadillac's new potent push, the "V" editions of each model are planned, starting with a 400-hp CTS-V entry in the Sports Car Club of America's 2004 races. In true 'race on Sunday, sell on Monday' style, LaNeve says he wants to erase forever "the image of Cadillacs as non-performance cruisers" - or as the seller of such turkeys as Cimarron, Allanté, and Catera. -Mac Gordon
:thumb: