Cadillac News: Cadillac Ponders A Smaller Crossover

[William Maley]

William Maley

Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

January 11, 2012

Following on the heels of introducing the new ATS, Cadillac is thinking about adding a smaller crossover.

“We’re looking at options there. I think it would go a little bit more head-to-head with like the X3,” said Kurt McNeil, Cadillac’s vice president of sales.

BMW's redesigned X3 has been a hit in the North American market. The new X3 was built with North American consumers in mind, which is the opposite of what Cadillac would have to do in order to profitably expand its portfolio.

“The fact that Cadillac is becoming more of a global brand will certainly play a role in that decision,” McNeil said.

If the Cadillac small crossover was approved, it could go either on Alpha platform or the Theta platform.

Source: Bloomberg

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[thedriver]

That would be stupid. I for one am tired of hearing about "small luxury" as a supposed segment. Garbage. Maybe in Europe, maybe some buyers here, but nothing that will draw in enough customers to be profitable. All I hear at my Buick dealer is people complaining about how small things are getting, no more large well optioned cars. They can't get a Lucerne so they either go up to an Enclave or go somewhere else to buy. It is enough.

[Robert Hall]

People keep forgetting about the bigger issue--the upcoming increase in CAFE standards..that alone is going to drive more and more subcompact and compact product and smaller, more efficient drivetrains across all the brands...

Edited January 11, 2012 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[z28luvr01]

Put it on Alpha. They already have the SRX on Theta, and Buick has the Encore on Gamma.

[thedriver]

People keep forgetting about the bigger issue--the upcoming increase in CAFE standards..that alone is going to drive more and more subcompact and compact product and smaller, more efficient drivetrains across all the brands...

not necessarily. . .

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/why-cafe-changes-could-lead-to-larger-cars-not-smaller-ones/

[smk4565]

That would be stupid. I for one am tired of hearing about "small luxury" as a supposed segment. Garbage. Maybe in Europe, maybe some buyers here, but nothing that will draw in enough customers to be profitable. All I hear at my Buick dealer is people complaining about how small things are getting, no more large well optioned cars. They can't get a Lucerne so they either go up to an Enclave or go somewhere else to buy. It is enough.

The Lacrosse is nearly as large as the Lucerne, and has more available equipment. I haven't looked at the numbers, but my guess is interior volume on the LaCrosse is about the same as the Lucerne, since the Lucerne platform is pretty dated. And the Taurus/MKS is about all that is bigger, the Avalon is not, and GM has the XTS coming for a bigger, nicer Buick.

[smk4565]

A smaller SUV can be a good idea, but the problem is the SRX has a lower price than the X3. Had the SRX stayed on Sigma and be priced where it used to be, it would allow for an X3 fighter under it. But by making the SRX cheaper than an X3, it doesn't give Cadillac much room to work with. Unless the new SUV is built on Alpha and the SRX goes back to RWD and a new platform for Generation 3. In which case the Gen 3 SRX would need V8 power as well as diesel power to compete with the M-class and X5.

[Robert Hall]

The Lacrosse is nearly as large as the Lucerne, and has more available equipment. I haven't looked at the numbers, but my guess is interior volume on the LaCrosse is about the same as the Lucerne, since the Lucerne platform is pretty dated. And the Taurus/MKS is about all that is bigger, the Avalon is not, and GM has the XTS coming for a bigger, nicer Buick.

The XTS only has a 111 inch wheelbase, though, not really big car territory...and it is narrow.

[smk4565]

The Lacrosse is nearly as large as the Lucerne, and has more available equipment. I haven't looked at the numbers, but my guess is interior volume on the LaCrosse is about the same as the Lucerne, since the Lucerne platform is pretty dated. And the Taurus/MKS is about all that is bigger, the Avalon is not, and GM has the XTS coming for a bigger, nicer Buick.

The XTS only has a 111 inch wheelbase, though, not really big car territory...and it is narrow.

True it is a short wheelbase, but the car overall is 200+ inches long, and that is bigger than most of what is out there. The Taurus/MKS are 204 inches long, but even the Genesis and 300C are only about 196 inches long, granted they are roomy inside because of the RWD and width. Big car territory is now the LaCrosse/XTS and Taurus, unless you want to pony up the money for an S-class. Hyundai Equus is big, but still over $60k.

[thedriver]

Lacrosse Lucerne

Seating 5 5

Front Headroom (in.) 38.00 39.50

Rear Headroom (in.) 37.30 37.70

Front Legroom (in.) 41.70 42.50

Rear Legroom (in.) 40.50 41.40

Front Shoulder Room (in.) 57.40 58.00

Rear Shoulder Room (in.) 56.00 57.00

Front Hip Room (in.) 55.20 56.10

Rear Hip Room (in.) 53.90 57.00

Wheelbase (in.) 111.70 115.60

Length (in.) 196.90 203.20

Width (in.) 73.10 73.80

Height (in.) 59.20 58.00 Track Front (in.) 61.70 63.00

Track Rear (in.) 62.00 62.50

Passenger Volume (cu. ft.) 101.70 108.00

Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) 13.30 17.00

They are not in the same class. Period.

Edited January 12, 2012 by thedriver

[smk4565]

Taurus only has 102 cubic feet of interior room, the Chrysler 300 and Toyota Avalon 106 cu ft and the Genesis has 109 cu ft. The Lacrosse isn't a small car, it just isn't as big on the inside as some of the competitors. GM cars are not all that space efficient. But for people that complain the LaCrosse is small, where else do they go really, to the Avalon for that extra 5 cu ft of room? It isn't like people shopping Buicks can go look at an S-class to get a huge car, unless they want a used S-class, which will no doubt last longer than a new Buick, so maybe that isn't such a bad idea.

[thedriver]

"But for people that complain the LaCrosse is small, where else do they go really, to the Avalon for that extra 5 cu ft of room?"

Exactly my point. The "large car" has gone away. There is a whole generation of Americans in their 50s to 80s with money to spend on a new car that cannot find a product they like. So they buy a large SUV. They aren't looking for more small crossovers. Not from GM, not from anyone. Without a Lucerne, a Crown Victoria, what do they do? In many cases keep their old car and complain they can't get what they want.

Does anyone make a vehicle that seats 6 comfortably and gets around 30 MPG? That is what I would like, but those don't exist really either.

[balthazar]

Fascinating that the calling card of the family-aimed SUV/CUV is "seats 7", yet cars have quietly dropped from 6 to 4/5 (and cramped, at that).

[ZL-1]

Alpha, Alpha, Alpha! And while you're at it make the SRX RWD/AWD again, please...

[hyperv6]

This one is more for Europe and China as they like the smaller SUV/CUV. It will not hurt here as small CUV are the rage right now.

When we see new models we need to look at them globally and not just as North American buyers.

If they are to make it globally they need to give them what they want too.