Just like the question says..with the C7 do you think we will see a new Cadillac off Y-body. I think the idea of Cadillac having a car based off Corvette is sound..BUT it has to be a better car in everyway. You cannot have a base $40K LS3 Corvette hand a $100K XLR-V it's rear. Both cars have the same older, well off customers..so there has to be real substance to make an XLR make sense. It can't be an extra soft Vette with a heavy automatic top. It has to be a supercar with luxury touches...the old Z8 kind of comes to mind. With the last generation..if someone said..here is $80K, you can have a base XLR..or a Z06...you would have to be braindead to not pick the Vette. Really..when you think about it..a Cadillac based off the ZR1 with about $30K in lux upgrades would be a great Flagship for the brand to go after say the R8.

 

Either way there has to be a sound business case. I don't get the feel that there's much good logic on those lines in this economy.

 

Isn't that every car over $50K

That could be said for any 2 seater car under $80K, unless you wanted a convertible. C6 Z06 is just that awesome.

 

Perhaps instead of a Caddy based on the Y-body it should be based off Kappa. The Y-body width is often a complaint of the European, and now Caddy intends to compete worldwide. Also by using the Kappa chassis with incredible materials and a high powered 4 cylinder you would be able to compete with the luxury 2 seater crowd (TT, Boxer, and Z4) but not compete against the Corvette and its performance contenders (MB CLK, 911, R8). Also the Kappa chassis is easily reskinned, paid for, and has a plant just sitting waiting for it to build something (although the plant may already have been closed and the equipment taken down).

 

I don't think that's in the cards....

 

I don't know there is much logic on Cadillac not having one of the best sports cars in the world..while Chevy does.

Thats why the Cadillac has to be that much more.

 

I hate to say it, but I think GM has pretty much given up on making Cadillac "spectacular". The division lacks focus, determination and aspiration. CTS is nice, but one two trim car does not a division make. As for ATS, well, by then CTS will be old and once again, one car does not a division make.

To be taken seriously Cadillac needs a better CTS, ATS like yesterday, a REAL flagship instead of XTS, a fresh Escalade (BOF or Zeta, not Lambda) and some sort of halo performance or luxury car. THINK; Sixteen or Y-body derivative.

Instead, it seems that GM is content with continuing to fight itself with it's own brands. This tine with Buick and high line Chevrolets.

 

It's not like it's gonna come tomorrow... NOW is the time to plan for when things do get good again, just like when things are good, you have to have a plan for when thing get crappy.

I think Caddy should be making a case like this for the very reasons documented in this thread. With a minimal investment on an existing line it'll help GM make some nice coin and help to justify the ROI.

 

GM is going the direction of the Converj for their next niche/halo car. I think it is a good move especially since they have the CTS-V coupe for those that want to go fast. I'll bet the Converj out sells the XLR by a good amount.

 

I disagree completely.

 

Well Charlie, the CTS-V coupe is quite a piece. I see it as an absolute gem.

There is no business case at this point for a Cien type offering in this economic climate.

Rebranding a Y car was and remains a mistake.

As it stands right now, I see BMW and Lexus looking pretty flat footed.

 

You mean Branden...

 

I don't think GM needs a Y body car like this. You referenced a Z8 from BMW, which is now gone. MB does make several SL cars, but I don't think you are going to see many of those driving XLR's. I also don't see many Audi R8's. Who else makes a car that fits this mold? I am sure that there are others, I am just not sure there are many or a reason to join that club.


I think the CTS is good and needs to be kept current. I am not sure XTS should be a flagship sedan and also I think that the term is over used. What does the Lexus LS do for Lexus as a brand image? It has cool toys sure, but I don't buy a different Lexus because the flagship is an LS. I believe the XTS is a stop gap till another Caddy can be introduced. I also don't think that the XTS is as bad as many people make it out to be.

Also, why can't the next Escalade be on Lambda? What is wrong with Lambda? Zeta has how many crossovers on it? Why would it be better? RWD is not a valid answer to that question.

I think the days of a halo car are gone. Halo cars that sell well will stick around (like the Vette). But Halo cars are there b/c the manufacture can build them... I think those are gone.

 

The people who think its bad are a much smaller group than the people who dont . Didnt GM even state this is not a halo vehicle ?

 

CTS-V is a competent M6 fighter..but that is a small peice of the puzzle in competing with the Germans. Cadillac needs something spectaular like the R8, Mercedes SLR, Lexus LFA and so forth.

I don't think it is a matter of economic climate..as a car like this would be sold in low volumes with high enough margine it would not matter. It is more a matter of where Cadillac stands in the world.

Rebranding the Y-car failed not because the idea was wrong, but because the execution was terrible. XLR was twice the price of the Vette, but not twice the car. It was heavier, slower, and softer. Only reason I could see to buy one is if you had a bad back and could not take driving a Vette.

If Chevy can offer a Corvette for $40K that is one of the best sports cars in the world...Cadillac should be able to build a whole new world standard for a base price of $80-$100K.

I think the main issue is someone high up involved in the Corvette does not want to let it be exceeded by any Cadillac.