http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../61019001/1508

 

It had better stay in Europe if that happens.

Caddy is rebuilding its image (quite nicely) as a premium brand. No need to water it down with $20k model...

 

I agree.

Bringing anything smaller/cheaper than CTS to the North American market would contradict everything Mr. Lutz has said about that segment to this point, and make his previous criticism of BMW and/or Mercedes doing that rather hypocritical.

 

EpII Caddy =
Kappa sedan Caddy =

The only way they could pull it off without distroying the new image they have worked so hard for is to build it off a RWD platform and make it either V6 or DI Turbo I4. Lest say $27,995 base for a RWD 252HP 3.2L Kappa sedan with the same equipment standard as the base CTS (plus heated seats).

 

I think it makes alot of sense, especially for Europe. CTS is considered a full sized, large car in Europe. The NG CTS will be even larger. If Caddy wants to seriously compete with the BMXW 1/3 Series, MB C-class, or Audi A4......it needs a smaller than CTS car.

My regret is the timing - that they couldn't have aligned and merged a program like this with Camaro. I think we could have gotten a smaller lighter Camaro as a result.

 

Good point, Charlie.

I think the Kappa sedans (or Torana-like sedan) are starting to gain momentum. A larger volume Pontiac would help justify a business case as well.

 

Why does GM think it has to copy everything its competitors do? I thought they were tired of following and wanted to lead for a change. And I agree with Darth that the CTS was supposed to be the bottom of the range for Caddy and I think that makes sense (although I do wish it was a little bit smaller).

BMW and Merc bring out smaller cars because they don't have the multiple brands GM does to cover all segments. So if they want to increase volume, they need to expand into other markets and the only direction they can go is down. But Caddy should stay up high and let Buick or Saab cover the lower end of the luxury spectrum.

As to Europe, GM's North American brands are never going to get serious volumes there so maybe it's time for GM to realize they are just going to be a niche player. Accordingly, they should play to their North American heritage and sell just premium, large-sized cars. Let Saab and Opel cover the lower luxury range.

 

I'm not sure purtting all your eggs in the "larg-sized" segment is necessairly a good idea.

The public seems to be gravitating toward smaller, lighter gas-sipping vehicles...if that continues then it would seem prudent for Cadillac to be a player in that market. As BMW and others have shown, you don't necessairly have to be "big" to be safe, efficient, powerful, fun to drive or desirable.

 

I generally agree that the recent inflation of gas prices made a lot more people think about fuel economy when deciding on a vehicle...

However:

1) Fuel prices have eased back as much as 30-40% from their peak of not all that long ago...

and, more importantly:

2) If someone is considering a Cadillac, I seriously doubt that many more than a handful would not buy a Cadillac based on the fact that they want a smaller car primarily based on the idea that smaller = better fuel economy.

If people are that concerned with the price of gas, they'd be shopping brands lower than Cadillac.

 

High gas prices are still on peoples minds and most people believe that $3 gas will be back again within the year. Just because people can afford a $30K-$40K car doesn't mean they want a gas pig. Most people with money have it because they spend it wisely. No one wants to spend a lot on gas. Lexus hybrids seem to be doing ok.

Maybe when you are buying cars like the STS-V or V12 BMW or Mercedes gas is the last thing on your mind. But the $30K buyers still care.

 

Why is everyone so concerned about fuel prices on Cadillac's cars? V6 CTS fuel efficiency is not out of line with any other sedan on the North American market. Has it really gotten to the point that fuel efficiency is the end-all, be-all of future product planning----brand image/mission be damned?

The 1-Series sized Cadillac is fine for Europe. That's what they like and expect. The North American market is not interested in "tiny luxury". No one wants a luxury car that you have to Crisco yourself up to get in and out of. Never have been.

 

...and upscale.

 

It seems the case for this GM small sports sedan has just about reached critical mass. If you want to hear GM thinking aloud, or know where GM is on a product, listen to Lutz's comments.

On one hand, I have to agree that making a 4 cylinder Cadillac sedan, even though it's RWD, seems self destructive. I would have reccomended Opel marketing the car, and keep Cadillac a quasi-exclusive brand, like the upper Mercedes & BMWs. BMW in Europe is a much a full line brand, and doesn't have the mystique as it has here. On the other hand, Lutz is the only upper GM executive that not only has spent a good portion of his career in Europe, bur also actually worked at BMW. Either he has good insight to them, or he's got that normal urge to beat a company he used to work for.




On a side note about this RWD sedan structure. If it does come to light (which is seeming amazingly probable now), it's very possible it will eventially replace the G6 at Pontiac. This was what that "All RWD" rumor a few months ago was based on. Although I thought it a ridiculous rumor at 1st, there was a proposal that Pontiac would get a range of small RWD cars based on the structure, displacing the G6 & G5. Again, this was an early proposal.

 

Any chance the platform they are talking about in the article is the Kappa replacement?

 

"IF" Cadillac had small upscale , sporty and versitile RWD Kappa based sedan with a say the 260 hp turbo 2.0 and a upgrade to the 3.6 , as well as diesel and hybrid options , had manual trans options in both cars , as well as DSG trans options and nail the driving expirence .....it would do nothing but VAULT Caddy's image as desireable lux brand , not hurt it ....especially in Europe . If Cadillac ever hopes to be a major player worldwide like Bimmer and Merc , they really really need a small car like this . They basically should have had one ready by now .

Give Cadillac the sedan , and since SAAB needs to be here too do a 3-door/5-door hatch version of this car for for SAAB and subsitute the 3.6 upgrade for SAAB's own 2.8 turbo engine .

If these cars were FWD , thats what would be a image killer for Cadillac .