I've been wondering why GM would want a high-performance, world-class, luxury, sport roadster (the new Caddy) when they already have one in the Corvette. GM goes to such great lengths to keep Corvette on top (like the 40-horsepower lie of 310 on the Z28), why would they allow another brand o share Corvette's platform?

Then, it struck me that only in the past 10-15 years or so, has the Corvette been seen as "luxurious." Climb into an early C4, or any earlier 'Vette, and you don't get any impression of "luxury." Later C4 models and the C5 began the trend toward cushieness, with bells & whistles & adjustable ride controls, and so on.

I'm guessing that GM thinks that they have been trying to cover two bases with one player. The Corvette has two images: the affordable, world-class performance machine, and the high-end, luxury sportster.

I'm hoping that the new Caddy's purpose will be to allow the 'Vette to be the no-excuses, no-frills, world-beating performance car, without all the doo-dads that push its price up.


For the other end of the market, there will be the XLR, with GPS and On-Star and voice-activated B.S., but which still performs close to Corvette, without being as "rough."

 

I suspect GM has been watching the average age of Vette owners and realized that they needed to put some more luxury items in the Vette if they wanted to keep selling it.

Assuming that the average age of a Vette buyer doesn't do down after the Caddy is introduced, I seriously doubt that Chevy will make the C6 any less luxurious. Besides, the little extra options are what you make the real money on.

I'm more curious about whether the Caddy will be advertised as a "detuned" Vette. That strategy will keep Chevy management happy and the Vette buyers happy, but it may alienate the Caddy buyers. If it is sold as being the same as the Vette, does GM risk distancing themselves from potential Vette buyers?

I don't have the answers, but GM (in the form of Chevy and Cadillac) will need to have a very well thought out marketing plan. Because of the joint investment in tooling and design, BOTH cars need to sell well.

------------------
2000 SS #1547
President,
Cadre Computer Resources, Inc.
www.ccr.com

 

The Corvette has always demonstrated new technology and different suspension settings have been available on Vettes prior to the C5. The Z06 exists as an all-performance alternative with none of the "luxurious" niceities you describe.

I also doubt the XLR will be advertised as a detuned version of a car costing $20-25k less.

 

Cadillac simply wants to compete with Mercedes' 2 passenger convertible, that's all. It has nothing to do with Corvette being top dog or or GM wanting to divide Corvette's demographics, or anything like that. Keep in mind, Corvette's price is more or less $48,000 and has a racy look, and Cadillac's will be $70,000 with more luxurious digs.

Corvette will still be a track racer which is not what the Caddy is about.