I think I figured out whats bothering me about this car while watching the video autoblog has up. From some angles it really reminds me of a chopped/shrunken Escalade. It works on the truck... not so much on the car. I'd like to see it in person before I completely dump on it, but so far I don't really like the XTS.

 

I don't like the inverted crease along the waistline. It's kind of like a Ford Mondeo/BMW M3 styling trait which doesn't seem to carry over very well to Cadillac's A&S theme on the XTS.

 

If u havent ...watch the video . I liked the studio pics , but damn ....seeing more realizm with the video , this thing is PIMP . Good pimp , not ganstA pimp

 

It reminds me of a sleeper luxury car. This car does not say CTS V but it says presidential limo.

 

Looks "ok" but seems a bit too Lincoln/Lexus-ish.

 

To me the car seems more "upright" than I expected. Also, the rear end seems to sit high, and the rear overhang is too long and out of proportion with the rest of the car. It's like they tried to drape athletic styling over a DTS style car..but had to make concessions to the packaging such a car demands.

Worst of all, the car really breaks no new ground. It is not jaw dropping like the Sixteen, XLR concept, or Cien...it just looks like a LaCaross with Cadillac styling. In my mind..the new Taurus really is a better example of how to style a car of these proportions.

The worst part is the rear makes me think of this..

 

Yes.

Disappointing.

 

IMHO, it looks WAY better than the new Taurus (which I generally like).

But the rear overhang is a bit long (like the big Lincoln, whatever its stupid three letter alphabet soup name is; MKX?). I would rather the flagship Caddy sedan have a longer wheelbase, not a shorter one. This wheelbase is SHORTER than that of the CTS. That makes no sense at all (yes, yes, the rear drive CTS can have its front axler farther forward). Hell, I the other, non premium Epsilon cars are on a 112" wheelbase, also longer than the 111.7" given for this new Caddy.

I still think the styling is pretty damn impressive though.

It is really, really too bad the STS can't become the longer wheelbase SLS that China is getting. That car's upgraded interior (the current STS's is nice, but certainly not cutting edge) and extended length would be an appropriate big brother to the CTS and still allow Caddy to keep the rwd / awd platforms.

 

Would have been a better recipe.

 

Interesting you mention that you think the XTS 'sits high', then mention how the Taurus looks better. I think the new Taurus looks like an old AMC Eagle as far as how high that sucker sits off the ground...

As for comparing the 'groundbreaking' factor of the XTS to the Sixteen, XLR concept, and Cien... (Cien still my favorite concept ever)... only the XLR made it to production in any form (and that was CORVETTE based!), and the Sixteen and Cien were uber-extreme concept cars that if they did make it to production would likely sticker for well over $100k... keep in mind this is a concept that is probably very close to a production car that has to sell for in a price range no where near those vehicles (XLR included, really) and has to move in some sort of volume.

 

A couple of things from GMI.

AWD will only be standard on the Platinum. Standard base, is FWD, which is disappointing.

This is a concept, with the top of the line interior............ I'm worried about how the standard versions will look.

The car is 2+ years away.............. why??

 

Production is supposed to start Jan 2, 2012....that makes it less than 2 years

 

This car is a mistake, hopefully there is still time to cancel production.

 

I don't think that's going to happen. Sure, this is not the "flagship" alot of people were hoping for, but it'll have a ready and waiting market, it required a relatively small investment to develop and it'll be very profitable for Cadillac.

Think of it as a stopgap until Caddy gets new products in the pipeline.

 

Remember that not everyone wants RWD. There are many people that will only want FWD and why alienate this people from buying Cadillac? Give them at least an option (a good one).