evok

They are not at capacity or close to it. They are holding production to address the "real world" demand and maintain close to optimal pricing.

NO There are NO breakout products in the near term pipeline. And their best selling vehicle just went out of production. Sales should be flat for the next couple years at best.

"Ford’s October U.S. sales totaled 215,985, up 8 percent compared with a year ago." FORD MOTOR CO. ....................... 237,369 Sept - 06 Total Ford Motor Company ............... 255,112 Aug - 06 FORD MOTOR CO.......................... 240,011 July - 06 FORD MOTOR CO. ...................... 267,862 June - 06 And now for competeness: FORD MOTOR CO.......................... 198,700 Nov 05 and 267,457 Nov 04 And BTW Fusion sales are down in Oct 06 compared to the same period above. Any questions?

Moments was successful to me because there was an Emotional Connection to the brand. It defined where Cadillac was and where it is going. Since 1902 feels contrived and it does not say anything besides Cadillac as a brand is over 100 years old. There is no link to innovation, luxury, prestige and it does not make me feel anything for Cadillac. The commercial feels if anything disjointed and just a slide show. As I said earlier and I think we can agree the concept is good but the execution sux.

http://www.darnellworks.com/rps/cadillac.html

I do not recall but I think it would not fit. remember these were based on the international minivan platform.

You are correct. The size difference (length, wheelbase and width) between the 3-5-7 and 7-L is significant. Considering the wheelbase between the CTS and STS differs only by 3 inches. The STS dimensionally is a bastard since it does not go up against either the 5 or 7 very well. Looking at sales and MSRP, the BMW models are a lot more successful. BMW sells more volume at a higher price point. Cadillac is having a real tough time moving the STS even with give away leases. And the total dollar for the BMW lease is a lot more than the Cadillac. This past summer when I computed the numbers, it was cheaper to get an STS than a 3. The Flint article has many good points in it.

Yes, do you have an actual point? You did not support balthazars opinion nor did you have one of your own.

The commercials are very weak. Like the other Modernista attempts at defining Cadillac, they lack soul. It is easy to understand thieir attempt but they continue to be contrived. Granted, these are Cadillac's best ads since the Moments commercial for the CTS launch. Again this is a good attempt and a poor execution. The products in the commercial lost continuity with the 80's Seville, poor color and poor choice of car. Same with the Allante. The 85 era Eldorado leading to the 92-2002 vintage Eldo to the XLR may have worked better. Again, another Modernista ad that lacks credibility. In summary - Good attempt but it really did. . . suck. I did like the music.

OK so what you are saying is you have nothing to support your statements! "Good question; I wonder what bmw 5-series buyers would say and how few "moved up" from a 3-series?" Thought so.

There was a RL Polk study they conducted that I posted a link to (I believe) in a Tundra thread some time last winter if you care to search it out. I think I used the phrase pickup truck usage study or something along those lines. But here are some of the results: *While only 9% of Heavy Pickup owners have a farmer/agricultural occupation (included in ‘Other’), this is significantly more than the lighter pickup owners. *The highest percentage of Heavy Pickup owners have blue collar occupations. *Heavy Pickup owners find ‘carrying heavier loads’ to be more important than the other lighter pickup owners. *Heavy Pickup owners are significantly more likely than other pickup truck owners totow items such as trailers or campers – in fact, 60% of Light Pickup owners “Never” tow. *Heavy Pickup owners also transport items in their beds and drive off-road significantly more than Light Pickup owners. *Business/commercial use increases with the weight of the truck. (35.7%) In summary - the heavier the pickup truck the most likely it will be used for its intended purpose. It is not a majority but it is a high percentage according to this study.

Good question; I wonder what bmw 5-series buyers would say and how few "moved up" from a 3-series? 209526[/snapback] OK - And you base your statements on what exactly?

http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/20/news/compa...on=money_latest Now for the avacado eaters out there, it seems GM is still thinking about their own unibody pickup. "The Outlook is a move in that direction but Saturn will have to avoid stepping on the toes of other divisions. For her part, Lajdziak is showing admirable flexibility. Asked whether Saturn would ever get into the highly-profitable pickup truck business, she ruled out a fullsize model like those sold by Chevy and GMC but left open the possibility of a crossover pickup on a car platform like the Honda (Charts) Ridgeline."

These trucks are for workers and again I will say not for not for pompous yuppies and auto critics to be fondling and abusing like Congressional pages! These trucks most likely will be used and operated by people that do not purchase them or own them, just operate them. For the weekend Red Neck that still wants a pickup to tow the jet skis or someone that wants a more refined every day dual use pickup they have the option of purchasing the premium interior. IMO - As someone who is critical of interiors, I have no problem with the premium interior used in the pickups and SUVs. If I was in the market for a pickup truck that is what I would select. The option is available for the more demanding customer. Given that the current Ford F Series cost FMC a lot more (estimates I have seen are $2000) to build than the previous generation, currently they are not getting any bang for the buck given the recent collapse in the truck market and who their cliental is for the entry truck. I highly doubt day laborers in southern California are caressing the IP top pad on their way out to the fields to pick avocados so that you can have guacamole with your Sunday brunch. <<Sarcasm for emphasis>> PS: A year ago last summer I was walking through the neighborhood and some day laborers were loading up lawn mowers and other landscaping equipment into a brand new $50k Lincoln MkLT after a hard days work. Than they drove it away...

These IPs and dashboards are designed for clipboards and screwdrivers to be thrown on top of while construction workers and landscapers go about their day, not for pompous yuppies and auto critics to be fondling and abusing like Congressional pages! These are work trucks! For their intended, captive audience the base T-900 interiors work.

I would not get too excited yet. GM is just thinking out loud! They are conceptualizing.

Well the guy you want to get to know is Reggie Bell out of the S&M department. Tell Regs one of "His Favorite" students recommended you introduce yourself.

Really why do you guys listen or care what these talking heads have to say? They have a voice because of the internet. Don't kid yourself that anyone of value in the industry reads these guys as fact or seeks their opnion. If you don't like what they have to say, don't comment and link to their site. You know why, you eventually will give them money because of their site traffic. Fargo is a writer for Rides and Variety (never heard of it, I wonder if it is related to MPH?), Lieberman is a brewmaster, Mehta is a student etc. They are talking heads and no different than comedian Al Frankin for Air America, ex-KC Chiefs radio announcer Rush Rimbaugh, or my dad was a VP for GM but I used to sell billboard space for auto ads and now I am an auto guru Peter "Auto Extremist" Delorenzo. They write an internet blog and who cares. No one with any insight into the business will take anything from TTAC seriously. They have no credibility when it comes to the analytical. None, but they do make for an entertaining read if nothing else. They are amusement and nothing more. Again, if you don't like it, don't comment or more importantly don't link to their site. Their resume as it appears on TTAC. No where do I see I worked in (fill in blank auto company) for 15 years as a director for (finance, product planning etc), graduated with and MBA, MS from a Big Name School, etc. Big deal, the only common denomiator is "I like cars". Enjoy Robert Farago Robert Farago is the founding editor of www.thetruthaboutcars.com. He's a freelance automotive journalist whose reviews and rants are published by RIDES and Variety magazine and www.jalopnik.com. Jonny Lieberman Jonny Lieberman is a Los Angeles-based writer and award-winning home brewer. After receiving a liberal arts degree from Sonoma State University, Lieberman rode the dotcom boom from San Francisco to New York City as a technical trainer and software consultant. When the boom went bust, he returned to LA to partner the now defunct DiannePruesse gallery in Chinatown. Lieberman caught the car writing bug when Portland's "Too Much Coffee Man" magazine asked him to explain the Japanese tuner craze. Sajeev Mehta Sajeev Mehta wears the comment "you are completely obsessed with cars" as a badge of honor. His higher education featured an automotive twist: Mechanical Engineering, Fine Art, Industrial Design and Operations Management. These days, if Sajeev's not studying for his MBA there's a good chance he's restoring, modifying or racing one of his obscure Hot Rods somewhere in the Lone Star State. Frank Williams Frank Williams is a retired military officer and congenital smartass. He currently works as an IT strategist for the State of Georgia, but still doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up. His wife has given up trying to count the cars he's owned over the years. She just wishes he'd make up his mind. Jay Shoemaker Jay Shoemaker is the CEO of Francis Coppola's food, wine and resort companies based in the Napa Valley. Shoemaker's passions include his Chinese wife, cameras, computers and his Chihuahua. Shoemaker's alliteratively-consistent interest in cars has led to his one vice: buying them. At last count, 117 mostly-German vehicles have passed through his expert hands (he only keeps four or five at a time). Shoemaker favors luxury high-performance cars that don't distract or annoy him.

Marketing names assigned to anything in development can be irrelevant. Marketing has the final say on brand names, not engineering.

97 Regal Sent this to me: Could this be the future of the US for both F and C? http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/061003/...anada_sales_col

Yea ever think of becoming an auto analyst. Seems you picked up a big faux pau some of these brilliant analyst missed: "Ford is really starting to take advantage this month of some of the new products they've brought out," said David Hilton, an analyst with Capgemini in Southfield." and "But George Magliano, an auto expert with consultant Global Insight in New York, cautioned against interpreting the numbers as the start of a rebound at the struggling automaker. "One month doesn't make a big difference," he said, even if Ford is beginning to get traction with the sedans. "Are these the saviors? I don't think we can say that." ... and if any of them actually looked at the numbers they would have realized this BS. Still, Pipas said the automaker is "pleased with the month" and suggested the company is doing better than internal forecasts projected. Taurus 2006/22,811 2005/13,897

See the vehicle for yourself.

After seeing the production interior the only word I have for it is "Sloppy". The adjustible arm rest on the center console and automatically opening cup holder cover on the console were nice touches. But the execution was "Sloppy" and "Cheap" compared to the competition. The "orange" interior was more vinyl that Moracan leather and comes across as cheap in person. The fake wood is so out of place it magnifies all the problems with the interior. The worst part is the interior just does not go with the exterior. It looks like it was designed for a differnt car. It definitly could be a show stopper for me at $27K+ for the XR. This is in sharp contrast to the world class execution for the market segment that GM managed with the 07 SRX MCE. http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...2&t=11662&st=20

You have to see it in person. The materials are first class and the real stiching on the IP is impressive. The pictures do not do the interior justice. What does not come across in the photos is the elegance of the brushed chrome accents and how well everything is integrated. It adds a lot to the expressivness and tastefullness of the interior. It is by far the best executed GM interior to date and with almost zero excuses. The material used on the IP top pad is not only intersting but unique to GM; show not only promise from GM but also that they are innovating instead of following. The material feels hand crafted and rich. I have a few minor gripes like the vinyl inserts grainig on the doors. But that does match the vinyl on the seats. But my few issues are minor and by no means a show stopper. I just wish they carried over the IP material where that vinyl insert is. I would also like to have seen more novel color choices such as a wine option. A less conservative color pallete would add a lot of perceived elegance to the interior. These are just minor issues and given that the SRX is a low volume vehicle what I point out as issues is understandable. Not only is the interior very respectible on its own merits the MCE changes to the interior match the vehicle dynamics. Getting out of the 07, and into an 06 SRX, GM will get no argument from me. For the most part, this is a no-excuse interior and ranks up there with the competition. It is world class. Now see my comments that I will post on the Aura for comparison. http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...73entry199973

Yes - they can be parked right next to the Lincoln Town Car, Ford Crown Vic and Mercury Grand Marquis.