well that IS my opinion. i think its a very compromised car for large scale sales.

 

in MY opinion i don't think its price that will hold it back.

 

I hope it can get at least two successful years (whatever the criteria for that is).

This is just my opinion but, if Alpha can get on track again, and concurrently Camaro has a couple of good sales years........AND....during that narrow window of opportunity, a 6th gen Camaro gets approved, maybe the brand can be saved.

If that doesn't happen, I think it'll be very hard to justify a new Camaro, or even keeping the current one in production.

 

Audi is the only one that is taken seriously as a luxury sport sedan, and that's because of Quattro. However, that also makes their cars heavier than the competition. I really hope that Cadillac does not take the FWD-based AWD approach, because it will make their cars too heavy. Lincoln is trying this approach, and I think it's doomed to failure.

 

But the M5 also makes extensive use of aluminum -- a lot more than the GXP. Without getting a whole lot of proprietary data, we can't really say how it balances out. A nav system and seat fans and those sort of things only add a few pounds each, while replacing a heavy steel part with aluminum can save a few dozen. Still, I admit this is handwaving. But I don't think the V8 Zeta is overweight compared to other V8 sedans. The V6 is overweight compared with other platforms where they have different 6 and 8 cyl versions. That probably comes down to $$ to produce two variants of the platform for different engines.

I do know that weight has been a huge concern for BMW for the obvious reasons, yet each generation gets heavier.

 

Did you mean to say that you hope Caddy doesn't take the FWD/AWD approach?

I hope not either. As you say, Audi is the only one that can pull off that approach seriously.

These proposals to replace future RWD Cadillac programs with essentially FWD Opels, seem beyond stupid to me. Those pushing for them do not understand what Cadillac needs to be, in order to become GM's global prestige brand.

 

Yes! I'll fix that. Thank you.


I agree. It'd be better to keep selling the current CTS for 10 years.

 

i think it will have 1 if not 2 good years. its the third i think will kill it.

 

If GM refuses to invest in a new RWD platform for Caddy, the only alternative to continue to push Caddy as a dynamic luxury competitor with true value over a Chevy and relative to MB or BMW is to continue investment in Sigma. Keep Sigma around for ten years if necessary, don't do FWD on another car for Cadillac, no matter what!

FWD for a soft Caddy like the SRX which is meant to appeal to women is wholly different from another pretend luxury car that doesn't impose and empower like a RWD car can only do. don't mess with the success GM. remake the original small CTS, see if you can shorten the length while keeping the wheelbase, cut the fat, and keep interior space the same, and that sounds like a successful combo for a new entry level car. on the other scope, keep moving the CTS up with dramatic improvements to interior refinement and design...and the suspension dynamics are already pitch perfect in that car for the mid-segment of luxury cars. all sigma small for the new entry level would need to achieve is a more direct parity with the 3-series and A4 in terms of manuverability, no small feat, but even if it weren't acheived, this car would sell on looks and price/drive alone. smaller sigma = 10 million times better than FWD Caddys.

 

I just think that GM's financial programs will force it to take the same strategy with Cadillac that Ford has with Lincoln - luxurious FWD/AWD sedans based on mainstream platforms.

 

Which isn't the worst thing -- I wouldn't be surprised if Cadillac has been gushing red ink. The STS and SRX died on the lot, and the European launch was a total failure.

Forexample, I think Cadillac could do a more traditional old lady "Seville" on Epsilon (shared with LaCrosse). It would be a step backward for the brand, but it would be an easy product to develop.

 

Is it even possible for Cadillac to not exist as long as GM is around?

 

Yup, that'd be easy. How tempting, right now when Cadillac lacks strong leadership, to go the easy route.

But easy won't do what needs doing. Not for Cadillac. Not for one of GM's core twin pillars. Easy, will have Cadillac canabalizing Buick - or more probably visa versa. Easy will get Cadillac absolutely nowhere globally.

I truly hope all those people with a vision, who still remain at Cadillac, defend their ground.

 

That would be death to Cadillac. The traditional Cadillac customer is dying off, and people under 70 aren't much interested in the traditional cars.

To build a car like you suggest would totally confuse Cadillac and Buick. It's hard to re-establish a brand, but Cadillac has been making good progress with the STS and CTS, and the Escalade is even helping in its own way. Building an 'old lady' car would undo all the progress.

They'd be better advised to let the CTS grow stale than to build a old lady car for Cadillac. But I really hope it doesn't come to that.

 

I don't think Ford's strategy with Lincoln is going to work. There's not a big enough gap from Ford to Lincoln vehicles to justify the price points Lincoln is trying to sell at. Maybe they'll be able to do it with powertrains, but that will mean that Lincoln has to be better than all of the volume brands, not just better than Ford. And that will be difficult.

Take away the Town Car and how many new Lincolns do you see on the road?