No ’04 STS, Says Caddy

Buyers interested in the current generation of Cadillac’s STS shouldn’t look forward to a 2004 model. Cadillac executives at the launch of the brand’s SRX crossover and XLR roadster report that the STS will finish its production run as a front-drive vehicle as a 2003 model. The 2004 model will be skipped and a new 2005 rear-drive replacement for the STS, based on GM’s new Sigma architecture, will be unveiled late in 2004. The current STS, selling at the rate of about 20,000 units a year, is built at GM’s Hamtramck plant; its successor will be assembled alongside the SRX and CTS at the Lansing Grand River assembly plant. —Marty Padgett

http://www.thecarconnection.com/inde...&sid=173&n=156

 

In other words, there's no change in introduction plans

The new STS hasn't been planned as a 2004 since Bob Lutz ordered a redesign a year and a half ago.

 

..which is one of the few things that has me concerned as far as Lutz goes.

It's pretty well known that he wasn't a fan of Arts & Sciences, and CTS was pretty much in the box by the time he took over.

To me, that means he scrapped an STS design that was presumably based on the same styling premise as the CTS... so I hope the STS isn't a 'smoothed out' or 'watered down' Arts & Sciences design.

 

I think it will have the Art & Science look. You can see it in the spy photos.
If the STS is being built at the Lansing plant, then what will take its place at the old plant?

 

I think the Sixteen was a preview at The STS's direction...Much like the Evoq/XLR and Vizon/SRX...

 

You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

 

I couldn't disagree any more. "Arts & Sciences" design is a monstrous combination of boxy late-70's inspired shapes, and stark modern details. This doesn't harken back to Cadillac's golden age, but to its darkest days. Admitted, even when Cadillac hit its lowest ebb in 1981, it's cars didn't look as bad as they ran or drove.

Personally, I believed that the 1992 Seville was the beginning of Cadillac's comeback, and while the 1998 was just more of the same, the 2000 DeVille took over leadership in technological innovation. Then, "Arts & Sciences" took over like a plague - out with innovation, in with shared Corvette components.

It's too bad that the current Seville has become like the deceased Lincoln Continental - low volume, highly discounted and without a purpose. I'll be very interested to see if the 2005 STS is little more than an upsized CTS. Since Lutz's objection was mainly to the high Imaj-style roofline, I suspect that the big hold-up won't result in a departure from the current misguided styling theme.

 

Lemme take a stab at it...the wonderful new Cadillac Suburban errr ESV?

 

Hows is $55,000 heavily discounted? Take a $3,000 rebate off and that is still god awful expensive...and people complain about a $50K 400 HP CTS-V

Art and Science, though not my cup of tea has been successful...even if you don't liek it, you surely can admit that.

As for a reniasance in 1992 with the Seville....I think the term reniasance refers to a much larger effect than just retirement communities in southern Florida. Cadillac is back on the map now with people other than the between 60 and dead demographic....and that in itself was a major feat considering it has only been three years since they started..

 

Since Cadillac's revival is judged on how it sells and how the general public views it as opposed to the opinion of one person, I'd say Arts & Sciences is right on track.

As Branden said, 1992 Seville...are you joking? If your definition of a "revival" of Cadillac means selling to those who will need to be literally revived in hospitals, then I have to question your logic....and your sanity.

 

Keep this in mind. There will be no 2004 Seville STS, but to those who need a Seville, Cadillac will still offer the Seville SLS in 2004 until the launch of the Sigma based STS for model year 2005.

 

Actually, I've seen DeVilles discounted by $10k, and one particular new Sevile was advertised at $15,000 off sticker - I still can't figure that one out?

As far as the success of "Arts and Sciences," the jury is still out because the CTS remains a fairly low volume vehicle compared to the traditional DeVille. If anything, the new Cadillacs are about engineering conformity with unorthodox styling. Neither the CTS or CTSv really have any innovative feature, other than "shoe-box" styling, something I though had died long ago.

The new Cadillacs are also diverging from any notion of value-for-money. To me, a $52K+ DTS or DHS with night vision is an attractive Mercedes S430 substitute for about the price of an equipped E320. (The styling even reminds me of the old W140 S-Class.) It's comfortable, fast point-to-point, and the infrared sensor/head-up-display gives you a night driving edge that only military vehicles normally have. It's wonderful there finally is a point the HUD system that GM has been pushing for so many years.

Then I look at the CTS package. It's so obvious that Cadillac is desperate to emulate foriegn luxury makes, but its also obivious that they don't have a clue. The 1992 Seville might have had an interior design that was cripped from Audi, but it was stunning at the time. However, the CTS is just plain strange inside and out. The oft criticised BMW 7-series is horrible from the back, but the CTS just doesn't look good from any angle.

I know the '92 Seville reference seems wierd, but we're talking about an era where every Cadillac had been massacred by downsizing and bad engineering. Sure the Seville wasn't a quick car before the Northstar, but it had finally started to look like a decent, luxurious vehicle. From then on, every new Cadillac had given me some sign of hope for the marque's recovery.

Then they began the idiocy of "Design and Technology - The Power of AND."

 

Good news indeed. The SLS is very much the same car as the STS, with the exception of a smoother ride and probably the best value for money in the whole Cadillac line. I also can't forget to mention you can order one of the best factory sound systems in the world.

When the '98 Seville received the accolade of "the most powerful factory stereo in the world," the car really caught my attention. Then when the CTS became the first Caddy with a manual since the Cimaron, I nearly laughed myself to death. GM invented the automatic transmission, and now an old-fashioned "jerk lever" tranny is a "luxury feature."

Cadillac has given up self-respect for pseudo European values. An intelligent buyer would know that European manufacturers remained faithful to the manual transmission because of Europe's traditionally expensive gasoline and underpowered engines. (Of course, Mecedes and BMW don't send their more gutless models stateside - we get the high-powered car that only sell in small numbers in their country of origin.) Some countries went so far as to tax automatics on a higher level than manuals - France for instance.

Anyway, its interesting to see that the Seville SLS lives for one more season. Other than the DeVille and Escalade, this will probably be the last Cadillac with a name rather than a generic Acura type three-letter moniker. That just about says it all.

 

Man you just don't get it do you? It's a sports sedan. Shockingly there are some people that like rowing gears in a sporting car. Once again I think you confuse your (illogical) opinions with fact.

FACT - Cadillac (and even GM as a whole to this day) was/is criticised for NOT offering sticks in more of their vehicles.

FACT - There wasn't one product in the 90's that pointed toward a "renaissance" at Cadillac. In fact, cars like your precious early 90's Seville did nothing but enhance Cadillac's embarrassing reputation as a manufacturer of high priced, uninspiring, bloated luxo-barges for senior citizens.

I don't understand how you can disagree? It's fine that you don't like Art and Science but you can't argue with results, and you sure as heck can't convince me that Caddy was on the "right track" 10 years ago! A quick look at sales figures and the money bleeding out of every Caddy oriface at that time will show you that!

 

If Caddy would have continued down the same path they were on, with mild restyles, the company would go the way of the Oldsmobile. Before the CTS and Esclade there were probably 7 people under the age of 30 who wanted Caddys, now you can go out and show nearly anyone, aside from those 7 people, the CTSv with pretty much the same reaction. Im serious when I say that the youth loves the CTS. Caddy understands it, Im impressed.