Cmicasa the Great

U 4Got to say "Just like Casa said..." Anyway.. as it goes U and I think a lot alike on many subjects It was a very profitable brand and doesn't actually need it's name to do what it was doing. The Hummer name could be made into a Trim level in line with the Denali one. Denali being the upper-level near lux version of GMC and the Alpha (Hummer) line being the off-road part of the Division. OR take the opportunity for GMC to actually differentiate itself even further from Chevy. Certainly U would keep the more moderate vehicles as they appeal to the mainstream buyers.. but why not merge the H2, H3, H3T, and that gorgeous Hx (H4) into the line-up of GMC calling them all the Alpha trim level. Just replace the HUMMER insignia with GMC. I'm pissed at Ricky Boy not simply making it a part of GMC from the start. In the year 2000... there was the Terradyne. A Hummer if I've ever seen one.

^^^ Hummer didn't fail. GM decided to be "PC" for the greenies instead of just making Hummer more fuel efficient. It would have easily been done with the ideas behind the concept I posted which was ready for Diesel Hybrid tech. Not only that.. how can a brand simply built up on previous gen platforms (H2 was GMT800.. as in 2000-2006 Tahoe) making hugh profits be a fail? In reality Hummer should have never been anything other than a GMC trim.. like Denali.

This Buick should not be a GMC.. the GMC should be a refreshed version of this looking like this on the Canyon platform like it's predecessor.

Not only does Buick need it, but Cadillac needs TWO. CUVs are the fastest growing segment. GM has plenty of these things in other markets, but is paper thin in them here in the U.S. The Buick small, med, large models will be perfect. Cadillac needs this too, but could do it all on Alpha and Omega. They could kill the Theta-Epsilon SRX and move it to Alpha as well. Name is changing anyway so might as well change the layout too. Omega version would be smaller than the Escalade, maybe even a smidge smaller than the Lambdas. The Medium would be on Alpha and sized like the current SRX, perhaps a smidge larger, with the small being on Alpha and about the size of the ATS but obviously taller

Actually its supposed to be on the new D2xx Platform. Word is that the Cruze was originally supposed to be the first, but that was pushed back to 2016 and the need to flesh out Buicks offerings in China quickly enabled the Envision to be the first here in the U.S. using the platform. It's almost exactly the same size as the BMW X3, have start stop standard across the board and be available with the Malibu LTZ's 2.0L Turbo. AWD obviously will be offered

Whha... WHAT??

GMC/Buick, Denali, and NOW Cadillac are huge profit centers for GM. Time to get the Opel Europe and S. America operation back in line as well.

Oh no I agree. But it is, or could be our decision to bring it back. Gen X includes our President (b. 1961) and many members of both houses of Congress.

the reintro of Apprenticeships, bring even the most mundane manufacturing jobs, lose current ideas of entitlement and/or the idea of "that job is beneath me." Just saying.. there is something to bustin knuckles and actually, physically making stuff. I kno its cheaper to let the Asian countries make it.. until they learn how to not only sell it BACK to us, but eventually decide that they no longer need us to engineer it because they backwards engineered it. .. Looking at office furniture made in China, with wood that came from Pennsylvania.

We think alike... we think a lot alike

By and large many see the late portion of Gen X as a failure, and by default Gen Y. First time in American history, if I'm correct, that one gen does not do better than their predecessors. I blame it on liberal social programs in dealing with children and adolescents. Spank your kids ladies and gents.. tease them and push them when they don't come in first place.. and speaking of which.. for GODSAKE.. stop giving trophies, awards, and certificates for dumb $hit like attendance or coming in last. U'll either produce WINNERS or sociopaths. My hope is both, because that's what built this great country and made us #1

LOL!!! My GF saw the i3 and almost swerved off the road she said it was so ugly. I was reading in teh passenger seat and suddenly she jerks the steering wheel and says "WTF!!! Is that a BMW. Jesus that's Horrible"

Yes.. It is the silliest thing I've ever heard. What makes it worse is that the Baby Boomers demographic is the richest demographic, but the media acts like those buyers something that should be abandoned. Watch Smk come in here and rejoice that Benz is of a lower age demo not ever commenting that the age demo is indicative of the lower offering Benz has over the higher. Look at CLA, GLA, GLK, C-Class, and M-Class to see my point And before anyone says it.. When de Nysschen said that he was willing to lose certain customers he was referring to the BARGAIN buyer, not the age-income demo.

This was originally posted over at GMI, but I swiped it and brought it here for discussion. Interesting facts... and I suspect that the CLA and GLA are bringing Mercedes age demo down, furthermore it has to be pretty sick to a BEnz buyer to see that their so called "exclusive brand" is selling in numbers that pass Chrysler

Cars With the Oldest Buyers October 2, 2014 6:37 am EDT As the U.S. economy continues to recover, domestic car sales for 2014 are projected to come close to an all-time high. But while the auto sales have picked up, especially for luxury brands, older customers are driving much of the growth. Last year, the average American car buyer was almost 52 years old. Some car brands are especially dependent on older buyers. While Land Rover’s average customer was just under 48 years old last year — the youngest average age among car brands reviewed — buyers of luxury brand Lincoln were the oldest in the nation, with an average age of 61 years. Based on a recent report from global information company IHS Automotive, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the cars with the oldest buyers. Car purchases have clearly shifted to older Americans in recent years. Unlike previous generations, Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 years old are now the most likely to buy a new car, according to a recent study released by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. Still, this alone does not mean younger Americans are not driving. In his recent report for IHS Automotive, automotive analyst Tom Libby, wrote that these figures “are based on the ages of the people who register the vehicles, and they are not always the same as the principal drivers.” Cost is a primary reason why American car buyers tend to be older. Libby explained that, to lower average buyer age, carmakers “need to have a portfolio that includes products that make [car ownership] feasible for the millennial.” However, Karl Brauer, senior director of insights at vehicle information provider Kelley Blue Book (KBB), noted that price limits choices for older buyers as well. Elderly people often live on a fixed income, or will soon. But while many older car buyers try to limit costs, seven of the 10 most popular car makes among older Americans were luxury brands. According to Brauer, “Luxury appeals to people who have more money to spend and who want to treat themselves.” Older people are more likely to fit this description because they often have a lifetime’s worth of savings and may look to make to make an indulgent purchase. Brand image can also affect the average age of a make’s customers. “Once you get labelled as [a brand] associated with the older buyer, you’re really in a bind with younger buyers,” KBB’s Libby said. For example, Buick, Lincoln, and Cadillac, “have a reputation of being driven by older buyers.” Similarly, Brauer told 24/7 Wall St. “no manufacturer wants to be known as the old persons’ car brand.” Loyalty is often also often plays a role for older consumers. “Generally speaking, domestic brands and older buyers go together,” Brauer said. Older customers may fondly recall a time when American auto manufacturers were thriving. Younger buyers, conversely, have less attachment to car makes and utilize the internet to make more informed purchase decisions. To identify the carmakers with the oldest buyers, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the average age of car buyers of 44 carmakers, From “Land Rover and Dodge Appeal to the Young Automotive Buyer,” a recent report from IHS Automotive. U.S. sales data was provided by Kelley Blue Book, and additional financial figures came from the carmakers’ press releases. These are the cars with the oldest buyers. 1. Lincoln Avg. age of buyer: 61.0 years 2013 U.S. unit sales: 81,694 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): -0.6% Registered Lincoln buyers were older than those of any other car brand. Last year, the average age of a Lincoln owner was 61 years old. Like other domestic makes, Lincoln, Ford’s (NYSE: F) luxury brand had its heyday several decades ago, and it has struggled to compete as imported brands have successfully drawn in younger customers. The cost of a Lincoln, however, is not completely out of reach, as its prices tend to be on the lower end compared to other luxury makes. Brands like Lincoln are desperate to get younger buyers, as some of their relatively old current customers may never buy another car. Lincoln sold 81,694 vehicles last year, down slightly from 2012 levels. 2. Buick Avg. age of buyer: 60.3 years 2013 U.S. unit sales: 205,509 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): 13.9% With an average customer age of 60.3 years, Buick’s clientele is older than that of any other non-luxury vehicle. Buick has struggled more than other brands to move away from its image as an older driver’s brand. Still, Buick has been successfully improving its brand by adding cars that appeal more to younger buyers, according to Brauer. Two SUVs, the full-size Enclave and compact Encore, have done particularly well, Brauer said. Additionally, while Buick is not considered a luxury brand, its latest Regal model may provide a more affordable alternative to BMW and Mercedes-Benz sedans. 3. Bugatti Avg. age of buyer: 59.5 years (tied-3rd highest) 2013 U.S. unit sales: 1 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): -50.0% Super-car maker Bugatti’s target market is already extremely exclusive. The high age of the brand’s customer is likely less a question of preference and more an issue of accessibility. Car and Driver describes the target customer of a Bugatti Veyron, with its estimated price tag of nearly $2 million, as “those with all the money in the world and a desire to go blisteringly fast.” KBB figures indicate just one Bugatti was sold in the U.S. last year. Luxury cars often appeal to customers who have the means to treat themselves, and purchasing a Bugatti is perhaps the ultimate luxury expense. 4. Cadillac Avg. age of buyer: 59.5 years (tied-3rd highest) 2013 U.S. unit sales: 182,543 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): 21.9% Cadillac’s aging clientele may reflect General Motors’ (NYSE: GM) recent challenges. While the younger generations may mostly remember GM’s bankruptcy, many of Cadillac’s customers likely remember a time when GM was the indisputable number one car company in America. And although the company still leads the nation in terms of market share, its position is much more tenuous. Still, Cadillac was one of the fastest growing luxury brands last year, with U.S. sales up more than 21% in 2013 versus the year before. This year, however, sales have dropped off considerably. GM recently announced it will move Cadillac’s headquarters from Detroit to New York next year, in order to distinguish the brand from its parent and establish a better rapport with luxury buyers. 5. Lexus Avg. age of buyer: 56.9 years 2013 U.S. unit sales: 273,847 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): 12.2% Like several cars on this list, Lexus is both a luxury brand and a popular one among older car buyers. Lexus reported a 12.2% increase in U.S. sales last year from the year before, among the higher growth rates nationwide. However, Lexus — Japanese carmaker Toyota’s (NYSE: TM) premium brand — still trailed its German competitors in terms of worldwide market share and sales. Lexus also trails its German rivals in the U.S. as well. Lexus sold less than 275,000 vehicles in America last year, while German luxury brands such as BMW and Mercedes each sold well over 300,000 units. 6. Jaguar Avg. age of buyer: 56.6 years 2013 U.S. unit sales: 16,952 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): 41.1% Jaguar sales have grown considerably in recent years. The make sold nearly 17,000 cars in the U.S. last year, versus slightly more than 12,000 in 2012, a 41.1% increase and one of the largest sales increases nationwide. According to Kelley Blue Book’s Brauer, not only has Jaguar improved its product considerably, but it is also a classic luxury brand. Like other high-end makes reviewed, Jaguars are often quite expensive. Even the most affordable Jaguar starts at well over $50,000. Land Rover and Jaguar were combined into one company last year by their parent, Tata Motors. The average age of a Jaguar buyer, however, has changed little in recent years, remaining between 56 and 57 years old. 7. Bentley Avg. age of buyer: 56.2 years 2013 U.S. unit sales: 2,663 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): 17.7% Like many other car brands popular among older drivers, British brand Bentley is a luxury car maker. In fact, Bentley is considered part of the super-luxury class of cars, which includes vehicles that can a price tag exceeding $200,000. Considering how expensive Bentleys are, it is not particularly surprising that Bentley’s target clientele may require the greater part of a lifetime to build up the necessary resources to afford one. Bentley sold 2,663 cars in the U.S. last year, up 401 from the year before. 8. Smart Avg. age of buyer: 55.3 years 2013 U.S. unit sales: 9,264 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): -7.4% An average Smart car buyer was 55.3 years old last year, 1.5 years older than in 2011. While Smart’s customers tend to be somewhat old, the make itself is relatively new, having entered the market only in the 1990s. Current models have the smallest dimensions of any car on the market and boast exceptional gas mileage. Each models gets well over 30 miles per gallon, and its electric drive model is capable of more than 120 miles per gallon. Smart prices are also low compared to other brands popular among older Americans. The pure coupe model, for example, starts at $13,270. While sales are modest, the brand’s U.S. sales rose dramatically between 2011 and 2012, from 5,348 to more than 10,000. Last year, however, the carmaker sold 745 fewer cars than it did the year before. 9. Chrysler Avg. age of buyer: 54.7 years 2013 U.S. unit sales: 302,492 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): -1.8% While Chrysler buyers were among the nation’s oldest, they were also younger compared to previous years. The average age of a Chrysler buyer fell by 1.3 years between 2011 and last year, the only age decline for a brand on this list. Chrysler is also one of only three non-luxury makes with the oldest buyers. However, 2013 unit sales were lower than the year before, and brand’s sales were down 6% year-over year through September. Still, Chrysler’s pending merger with Italian carmaker Fiat may expand its capacity to build and market cars that attract younger buyers. 10. Mercedes-Benz Avg. age of buyer: 54.6 years 2013 U.S. unit sales: 334,324 Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): 13.3% The average Mercedes-Benz customer was 54.6 years old last year, older than customers of all but nine other car makes. Like a majority of car makes with older buyers, Mercedes-Benz is a luxury brand. Older customers, who may often have more disposable income than younger consumers, likely have a greater ability to afford more expensive cars. Mercedes-Benz sales have been strong in recent years, rising every year from 2011 through 2013. Last year, the make sold more than 334,000 vehicles in the U.S., more than any other luxury car brand. Read more: Cars With the Oldest Buyers - http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/10/02/cars-with-the-oldest-buyers/

Thanks for using the GS. Using sales as the gauge.. the GS is quite possibly the worst mid-size luxo in the game with exception to the TL. Furthermore the CTS, despite the extra size is a better driver all around, with gobs more style. The E-Class, if U've ever been to Europe, is the taxi cab of choice in Germany. Essentially the equivalent of a W-Body Impala. Here in the states its the luxury car of old people. Eff the E-class. I do agree that the CTS should have been what the ATS is and the CTS should have simply been the STS. What happened in this situation was that the CTS became a star. The idea was to cash in on this stardom, allowing for it to move up in pricing using the brand equity created by the positive momentum Gen2 created. Lat month the CTS took the #2 spot without any real discounts, higher ATPs, and no variants. Its down, yes. The explanation is exactly the same as the reasons I just line-up; "no real discounts, higher ATPs, and no variants." I will also add that no other line-up has a direct competitor, priced almost identically on the lot as the CTS has with the XTS. Technically Cadillac has sold almost 41K Mid-Sizied priced luxo sedans in the two cars. No coupe, no Convert, and no "Vseries." Once the XTS is fleet only, or gone to Buick, CTS sales, along with variants could exceed the 5/6 Series and E-class

Thanks for the props WM. To 67impss: Are U really balking about the Cadillac using lightweight technologies, new user interface techs, and exclusive engines? Come on bud.. the idea is for the brand to be the "Standard of the World again." There is no way they can achieve this by essentially going BACK to the time of the "rolling sofas." Cadillacs sales are down yes.. and everyone is dumping on them this year for a 4% drop.. but last year they were the toast of the town because they were up 22%. If corrected including this years 4% drop we are talking 9% increase since 2012. Using Mercedes as the metric.. whose sales were up 12% in 2013 and up 9% this year, averaging a very similar to Cadillac percentage of 10.5%. That's with a drop in overall ATP due to the CLA being the car than boosted them. To Balthazar.. I agree as always with your assessment of smk's commentary on Cadillac. To smk.. WTF does "GLK, GLA, CLA, or SLK" sound like then? U my boy are a Hypocrite with a capital "H."

As Balthazar said U are trolling and seem to be completely oblivious to reality outside of Germany... and even then its a weeee bit too "fairy tale" in your mind. The CTS is the current "best handling car in it's segment." The ATS is in it's. I have kno reason to believe that won't be transposed unto the CT6 either. Back to the point of your idiotic post.. Why wouldn't teh CTS grow in size??? The other cars in the segment have. The 5 series used to be 191.1inches last gen.. now its 193.4. The E-Class grew in size too. But that's hardly the point.. the CTS is for all intents the STS, tho smaller by an inch, because before there was no ATS.

Cadillac isn't necessarily copying any of the makers in regards to what Reuss presented. He commented many times that the goal of this top tier luxury car would be also to be a driver's car. S-Class is not, 7series has veered away from that, LS460 never was, the A8 is FWD based. BTW the S500 doesn't have jack, because it isn't even on sale yet, and reviews are literal regurgitation of Mercedes press releases. I will add that luxury is more than 0-60 times, a metric that should be exclusively used for mainstream vehicles and is in reality only relevant to getting up to highway merging speeds. Lastly, what is it that Cadillac is attempting to mimic from those who have been been in the high segment for 10, 20, 30 years already that they themselves didn;t purvey from Cadillac who had been in that segment some 80 years ago? My point is Cadillac helped create the luxury segment, and while many of it's co-creators disappeared, it maintained that segment for quite a while. I think U really need to look towards the history of automobiles. It was not that Cadillac was behind the other brands in terms of Cadillac's tech, but the inability of Smith and company to see the changing tide towards more hip Sport's geared Luxury. BMW, for instance, wasn't viewed as Luxury until the late 90s. Audi either. They were both viewed as high end Euro Sports Sedans/Coupes with youth appeal, while Cadillac, Jaguar, Lincoln, (Buick) and even Benz were looked upon as Stodgy, old people vehicles that in some cases were "highway floaters." Benz took the first step to compete with it's home-country rival, BMW, and came out squarely ahead of the rest I mentioned. Even Cadillac's sports car of the time, the Allante, had no real sporting capabilities. Had the Allante been based off the Corvette, instead of the same platform as the Eldorado and Riviera of the time, I think systematically Cadillac management would have seen the light.

Yes.. The available Haldex AWD system caused them to have to augment the exhaust system creating more back-pressue.. thus the loss of 11 HP. The acceleration of the car was not changed tho, and now it handles as well has most RWD cars I can think of with no torque steer. One could easily tune the 2.0L up to 300HP.. I've seen even more.

All seriousness. That is exactly what the Regal needs. 3.6LTT, more precisely: a 2.5L 200hp, 2.0Lturbo 260hp, 3.6L 305HP (GS w AWD), TT3.6L 370HP (w AWD GNX) Wagon, Coupe, and a convertible (same for ATS and CTS, and Verano while we are at it.. and Malibu too dang it)

Don't your legs ever get tired from all the time you spend moving the goal posts? 3 years ago you were whining that Cadillacs were too big and too heavy, but as soon as Cadillac comes out with a car that is the same size and lighter than the Germans, those traits don't seem to matter anymore. The 3.6 today is not the same 3.6 from 2004. ... just the same as the 2.0T in the Regal today is not the same as the 2.0T from 9 years ago. Just because the displacement number is the same, doesn't make it the same engine. Well what U have to understand is that typically when most of his favorite manufacturers up the HP they normally up the liters. Take Nissan for instance with the VQ. From 3.5L to 3.7L we saw a bump. GM on the other hand normally sticks with the same size and screws around with the internals to yield more power. At least since 2008. Jeezus.. the 5.7L lasted forever but the power definitely changed

So since no real driver can ever reproduce the actual states given for a car, guess this can at best in real world driving get 10 miles of pure electric driving. What a joke. He regurgitates exactly what Benz wants him to. BTW.. what the point in the stating the IEuro Cycle in the United states other than to try and make it sound more impressive? He Smokey.. I'm willing to be that Reuss wouldn;t have made his boast if they hadn't taken an S500 Hybrid out and bench-marked it before setting the goals.

Exactly. I still can not get over the fact that no one acknowledges that variation of the car sell it too. Sedan, Coupe, Convertible, GC, wagon.. and its stealing sales from the 5series I'm betting good money

^^^ Tell U the truth I don't even care as long as it makes the S500 Hybrid look like the die hure it is.