Now there's pics of the XTS too:

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spi...os-future_cars

http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...rior-shot.html

 

I must be getting old because I'm starting to desire the big cars.

 

It is FWD???

umm why?

 

Fwd/awd

 

We've known the XTS would be FWD/AWD for a long time now. Where've you been?

XTS is basically the replacement for DTS, for those buyers who don't care about the performance aspect of their Cadillac. With ATS and CTS, I don't think everything at Cadillac has to be a sports sedan. And hopefully the large ultra-lux RWD sedan is still coming.

 

Who buys a car this heavy and large and cares about whether they can effectively use throttle to control the angle of their car in a corner?

I'd guess around a fraction of a percent.

Now, who cares about a car that handles predictably in slick conditions such as snow and ice?

I'd guess most potential buyers.

There's the answer.

 

Torque steer still sucks though.

 

I thoguht this was going to be marketed as AWD? Thats what I am getting at.

I am also saying as stated by a few above. FWD on this high of a luxury car. Does BMW or Merc have this set up? Nope. AWD would be a plus but having a FWD car like this just makes it feel kinda cheap. When I heard about this car I was hoping that it was AWD and not FWD as an option.
I could care less about performance on this car. I am taking in account what people think about cars like this. I am sure that in the back of BMW and Merc guys who went there they heard RWD and were sold on that peice of the bigger puzzle as being worth the $$$ to plunk down.

 

I live just outside of Boston tucked in between the mc-mansions and the tech belt of MA. along with some of the most costly schools where well off kids go with a brand new car ie:BMW or Merc..I can not blink an eye without seeing a BMW and or a Merc most days before hitting the main road.
In winter like this last one. It was mostly idiots in FWD cars that spun out or in snowbanks. I can tell you I never seen one of these cars stuck enough to worry the driver. Most places around here do the snow tire changeover and snow tires make almost any car driveable in the winter. My Mustang had them on and I felt better in the stang than most 4x4's.


The other reason why I say this is I have a FWD car. I have a Grand Prix GXP. The thing I get when i explain to them the car,they go "thats great V8 all this stuff and..wait what its FWD?" I get that odd look.
Now I know thats the performance aspect of it.
But take that into you showing your car off to your buddy who has a BMW or a Merc and you tell him its got this that and everything and say its FWD..and they give that odd look of..for a luxury car?
And yes the DTS was FWD..but is that what Caddy is looking for? To capture those people again?
If Caddy wants to be considered serious in this segment FWD should not be on this car. And for the winter ice belt then thats where AWD would be sold.

 

To show you how much it really matters to people in this market, I'd have to dig up that article/thread from a while ago that found something like 90% of BMW owners thought their car was FWD....

 

Don't forget all mainstream Audi and Acura cars are FWD/AWD and they sell just fine.

I think the offering of AWD is far more important than weather this car is FWD or RWD. I picture most people buying it with AWD and hopefully GM makes more of them that way.

I'm no excerpt, but I would assume FWD is also better/easier for making these cars into limos.

 

What is the size of this car though and what is its competition or marketing point.
Sure there are idiots that have no idea what FWD means. But for many of the cars out there I think RWD gives the car some presteige.
Hell a lot of people think FWD was everything. I remember people asking if my 94 Camaro was still RWD? Had a guy say point blank at a car show he was sad that the new Camaro (in 93) went to FWD..I said yea? Did a burnout right in where I was parked. Hows that for FWD.

People are not bright yes I get that. But I am saying if this is supposed to be a big sedan that is going after a more upscale market. FWD is not something I would throw in that offering. But what do I know. Why is the CTS not FWD then if your comparing Audi and Acura. Tow companies I really do not think Caddy wants to pair with. I think they are gunning for that top spot of luxury that BMW and Merc. has had dominace for a long time.
I would love to see them take a bite our or RR and Bently too if the right car came along.

 

lots of people have bought FWD "luxury" cars by Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, Lexus, Infiniti, Audi, etc.

 

Thats the thing.."luxury" or LUXURY..I thought Caddy wanted to move upscale and be in line with BMW and Merc on that level of perception. They are getting there. But are right now in that perception of what you listed above.
Sorry to say most people that "make it" buy BMW's or Merc's not caddy's. They are changing that image but introducing a fwd "luxury" car like this..well they will be in that list still of not quite there.

 

How many of those buyers actually care that there Merc or BMW is RWD?

For instance, consider how many ignorant 1 Series drivers thought that it was FWD. Or as has been stated above, Audi has continued to build momentum throughout the past decade despite being FWD based.