riviera74

I Really Like this. One question: where do the SRX and Escalade fit in ?

Nobody said Mercedes-Benz's alphanumeric system actually made sense. Do I agree with Cadillac's decision to ditch names for alphanumerics? Not really. Then again, words do have different connotations around the world, even assuming the same language.

Just remember where Cadillac was in 1998 . . . . . and look at it now. Cadillac is at least very relevant if not thriving, unlike Lincoln. The current SRX is an acknowledgment to realities of the marketplace: no one buys X3s and X5s, they want RX350/RX400h clones and GM correctly followed the market. The SRX went from 7th in sales to #2 behind the RX series from Lexus: that is HUGE. The ATS is arriving, the CTS is doing well and is filling out properly (perhaps a little underpriced), and the Escalade still works and sells at a time when luxury BOF SUVs seem to be on their way out. The XTS ought to be a NG Lucerne, period. As for a flagship, Cadillac need only look at the Equus and Genesis for inspiration (and what to work on now). They can raise the bar to XJ/7-series/S-class levels soon enough.

I would make a couple of changes. DItch the ETS since that is by definition a Buick LaCrosse. I also question the need for a T3L V6 engine. Why can't that engine be a T3.6L V6? One last thing: a 7.2L V12? Why not do what BMW and Mercedes already do and have a 6L V12 instead? I otherwise like the lineup a lot, except for the fact that you are ditching the Escalade name. That one should probably be retained.

deanh8, interiors matter. Nobody in their right mind would want a cheap interior in their $45-80K Vette. As for steering wheels, I will defer to those who own a Vette, particularly on race day.

Big interior improvements? Did you ever get into the last gen LaCrosse and compare it to this one? The new LaX actually has a decent interior compared to the last one. Could it stand to be better? Probably. But BIG interior improvements, I think not.

GM tried building cheap. Try 1975-2005, especially in small cars and very cheap interiors. It did not work. No one will tolerate cheap crap anymore, even at $14K. (Of course, most of those buyers should buy an off-lease car that is 1-3 years old instead.) As for China overbuilding and trying to cheapen their way to conquest: +1 and QFT.

You did. Enclave may get a smaller 6cyl, but there is a smaller vehicle for Buick that get a 4cyl (the upcoming Encore).

Fixed it for you.

Maybe we will see better in MY 2014 or 2015. Right now, GM is in a form of survival mode.

A Park Avenue aimed at Lexus and Acura 20 years ago? . That would make no sense now with the recently departed Lucerne. Now at least the current LaCrosse can safely (and correctly) be cross-shopped with an ES350 and a TL, maybe an RL.

Sterling grip? The IIHS and insurance companies have buyer thinking on 24/7 lockdown! Safety = more weight at a certain cost. There is a reason Jaguars can be very safe and weigh less: no one pays less than $45K on a new one.

Agreed.. I like SMK's line, I'd especially like to see the Fleetwood, Eldorado and de Ville names return, though most likely they will go with boring *TS names. A smaller-than-ATS entry-lux model may be needed to compete w/ the 1-series, A1/A3, A-class, CT, etc. Something around the size of the Spark or Aveo, like the radical city car concept last year..that would be an acceptable use of FWD in the line. The reason Cadillac went with alphanumeric designations rather than names was to emphasize Cadillac, as opposed to DeVille and Eldorado. Also, most luxury marques use alphanumeric in order to emphasize the brand itself.

Uh, no. Here is why the Escalade should NOT be on Lambda: Buick Enclave. And a better reason: Escalades are more profitable because they are on GMT900, not Lambda.

One Word SAmadei: Zeta, if GM dares to build them for GMNA. The Camaro is not what is called for. A large RWD Cadillac (and Buick, I might add) sedan is what is called for. GM: Build it NOW.

Unless the demand is there, this new Sonic is overpriced by at least $2500-3000. I guess it is supposed to be a better car, but at least somebody has to demonstrate that these little cars are as worth as much as a two-year-old Civic (or this year's Fit). Call me old school, but I still remember when a car of that size went for well below $10,000 brand new. Now Starting at $14,500?! WTF?!

Who would buy an El Camino now? Virtually all car-based trucklets (which an El Camino was) fail. That new Colorado (assuming GM builds them right the first time) will fill in that niche well. What we need is a RWD sedan that will sell, and then you can tack the El Camino onto that platform.

I like those ideas, SMK4565, but I doubt there will ever be a Fleetwood or an Eldorado again. Types of car, yes. As for the Escalade, I suspect that the GMT900 successor will probably dump a few hundred pounds in order to upgrade MPG across the board. Prices might be a bit high, but if GM makes a Cadillac-exclusive interior that shames the Germans (and Japanese) luxury marques, that would be worth the premium prices. Interiors really matter now. GM cannot afford to cheapen them or F*** them up.

And the next step would be to develop a real flagship for Cadillac, something that is meant to crush the 750i and S430 and the XJ.

The Cadillac that used to exist (pre 1985) is over. Time for all of us to deal with that. Cadillac-exclusive engines have either disappeared or have essentially tricked down the line to other GM vehicles. Most of the innovations in cars now lie elsewhere, so Caddy needs to adapt. Ideally Caddy can be a RWD car marque and leave the FWD stuff for Buick. The notion that Cadillac died because the Northstar is no more and the Ultra V8 got canceled is hilarious on its face. As for BMW or Mercedes, they have no downmarket equivalents so that idea is fallacious. VW/Audi, Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, and especially Ford/Lincoln all share engines to lower costs and maximize efficiencies. If the OP thinks that Caddy is bad off, try Lincoln. Lincoln has had nothing truly unique for itself in almost 30 years.

For some reason, Ford thinks that Lincoln can survive on Ford platforms and My Lincoln Touch as unique selling points. While I am impressed by that new tech, there is no reason under the sun as to why anyone would buy a Lincoln over a Cadillac or something else. If Chrysler can have a luxury-oriented RWD car in the USA, why can't Ford import that Australian Falcon as a Lincoln (or build it here)? If Ford is not careful, Lincoln will become a Ford clone of Acura's role in Honda, if that has not already happened. Basically, Lincoln needs an identity. Will Ford allow it to build one?

Good to know that too. Thanks.

That is a comforting thought. Thank you.

I was looking at a few sites (particularly chevrolet.com, buick.com and cadillac.com and there was no information as to this question: if I plug in an iPod into the USB port provided in today's GM cars, do they only play MP3 music files? Can they play lossless files such as AAC files? Please advise since I will likely look for this feature in my next GM car.

No one is telling GM to kill the small block at all. If they put in a better interior AND an upgraded small block, GM can raise prices on the Vette. And what is wrong with a DOHC V8 as an option not named ZR1 or ZL1?