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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    The 4.2 liter V8 could have been used around 2013 for the ATS-V and the CTS V-sport, perhaps CTS-V as well depending on how they tune it, and Escalade and CT6. In the 2013-2016 time frame as fuel prices dropped, that V8 could have been good to have. By 2018 or 2019, only the real high dollar stuff will have a V8, and electric will be growing, so that V8 could be too late.
  2. smk4565
    BMW as a brand caters to driving enthusiasts and people that are more likely to want a car. But Cadillac being an American brand and a GM brand could win truck and SUV buyers more easily. GM is a truck/SUV company for the most part. 5-6 crossovers might be too much for Cadillac, but crossover is what the people want, people are paying $40-50k for Ford and Honda crossovers in droves, yet Cadillac can't most ATSes.
  3. smk4565
    BMW has X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7 on the way. Jeep has 6 SUVs, 2 of which are over 10 years old and people still keep buying them, Jeep sales are on fire. Crossovers outsell sedans, Cadillac has ATS, CTS, XTS, CT6, which is 4 sedans, they could easily have 5 crossovers plus Escalade as none of those sedans at the Escalade base price. Chevy needs more crossovers too. I don't like crossovers, but sadly the new look car line of the 2020s will be 5-6 crossovers, 3 sedans, 1 coupe/convertible, 1 van, 1 pick up.
  4. smk4565
    In hindsight, it would have been better to use the Alpha platform to launch 2 crossovers rather than ATS and CTS. Or use another platform for 2 crossovers. The front drive SRX went on sale around 2011, they could have followed in 2012 or 13 with a smaller crossover and a CTS size crossover at 195 inches long, they could get a small 3rd row in there and still have room for a Lambda sized bigger crossover. They could have left the 08 CTS run on a couple more years and just used discounts to move them and the XTS. The ATS and CTS were sort of a waste of money, if they had 4 crossovers right now plus the Escalade and an 8 year old CTS, XTS and CT6 they would be selling more cars and making more profits. Chrysler has done this, they sell 10 SUVs and a 10 year old and 2 or 3 sedans that are just discounted like crazy, and they seem to make money doing it.
  5. smk4565
    They could put the Evoq concept into production now and it would be the best looking and most modern looking Cadillac and it was from 1999. The XLR washed out a lot of the good looks and had weird shape. The Evoq still looks stunning today.
  6. smk4565
    Lutz is pretty much right on, Cadillac advertising is doing nothing, and they need crossovers in a bad way. Too many 5 year plans and lack of consistency to stay on the attack. I liked the Seville of the 90s and the 98 redesign as well, and the Northstar in the 90s was very competitive, it beat most other V8s in power. Then they let it rot on the vine like GM often did with products back then.
  7. smk4565
    Sadly with where the market is today, Cadillac could roll out 10 crossovers and all 10 would outsell a full size sedan. It is amazing how similar the La Scala looks to the 1992 Seville, took them a long time to get there.
  8. smk4565
    I have no problems with the car or design, I think big grill is good and can translate to other products. I do have a problem with Johan saying this : “Escala is a concept car, but one based upon the unrelenting rise of our product substance. Depending on the development of market segment for large luxury sedans, Escala is a potential addition to our existing product plan.” Unrelenting rise of product??? What the CT6 and the $39k XT5? Not really unrelenting or all that much of a meteoric rise. The thing for Cadillac fans to worry about though is when he says depending on development of the large sedan segment. Well the large sedan segment is shrinking, people just want crossovers. Johan has already built in an excuse why not to build the car.
  9. smk4565
    I would agree on the horizontal lights, it gives it a bit of an Impala look and a Cadillac should have vertical lights. Overall I like this car. I am not a big fan of lift back rear ends, but it does add to cargo space, so that is a plus. Few minor issues aside, I think it looks good. The name is stupid, I thought right away of Escalade without the "de" and Spanish for scale? Why would you name a car scale. I guess it won't matter because it will be called CT8 if they build it. Thing is though, this is a small segment that is shrinking. Many here have said how the S-class has sinking sales, but the S-class outsells the A8, 7-series and Jag XJ combined.
  10. smk4565
    If they super wealthy clientele push for it, I could see them building a limited run, they can charge a crazy price and build 500 a year. You never know, they built all this stuff:
  11. smk4565
    222 inches long to make production is unlikely, but maybe at 210, and it would have to be an 3 inches taller, to get a bit more side glass and green house, this concept is only 52 inches tall. Those are 24 inch wheels, obviously they would go to 20s, real mirrors, and they aren't that far off. They already know how to do gullwing doors, they could build this, and charge $300,000+ for it. The question is will they build it? I think they should, it would set a styling tone, and kick off their electric brand in grand fashion.
  12. smk4565
    MB is just going to copy Tesla's naming scheme?? ?Why? BMW is still using 'i' for 'injected' 45 years later! lolLol I hadn't really realized that's almost exactly what Tesla does.. But they kind of mimicked what MB has been doing just with battery size instead of engine size. I mean they could always add an extra zero like they already have. I mean they were 3.5L but still added a "0" for 350. They could do the same with batteries.. But then it's basically the same they have now again.. They can't sell an E60e, E70e, etc because they already have a C300e, GLE550e, S550 and next year have GLS550e, E300e or E550e, maybe both, a GLC300e, etc. They are going to have 10 plug in hybrids already using "e" after the name.
  13. smk4565
    It wont handle better than the Tesla Model S. It probably wouldnt out accelerate it either. Therefore inferior product as compared to Tesla Model S in that high performance regard so bragging rights could be waved off... Tesla flaunts and does not hide the fact that the Model S is a high performance machine. Mercedes-Maybach has to find a way to market this vehicle where the heavy batteries are under the hood in a way to lure Tesla consumers without the high performance image....and by the looks of that concept, it has high performance shoes to fill in. Good luck wit dat! Being the Maybach, they aren't going for all out performance. A Tesla is faster than a Rolls-Royce Phantom, heck and Audi A8 is faster than Rolls-Royce Phantom, but is it better? The Maybach coupe is about over the top luxury and style, and it would still be pretty fast. They could do an AMG electric, (like a better battery version of the SLS electric car) or an AMG hybrid that has Telsa Ludicrous mode performance.
  14. smk4565
    So the official specs are in, 4 electric motors with 738 hp and an 80 kW battery. 222 inches long, so it is more like 5.7 meters rather than 6. If this is a sign of what is to come from Mercedes electric cars, look out Tesla and wimpy BMW with their carbon fiber box.
  15. smk4565
    I meant Tesla would't make a large coupe or a really dramatic looking car. They make a sleek looking car, but 4-door sedan and crossover is all you get at Tesla, no other body styles. What if the Mercedes-Maybach has batteries under that hood?
  16. smk4565
    I would imagine the Vision 6 has a V12 engine. They could get a version of this to production, something that Tesla or most other luxury automakers would never take the chance on. Keep in mind this coupe is 236 inches long. Mercedes did build the McLaren SLR, the gullwing SLS, the G63 6x6 G550 4x4squared, S-class convertible, and the Maybach S600 Laundelet is returning next year. They do build some dream cars, I think they will act on this one because they need a Maybach halo and they see Rolls and Bentley increasing sales and want a piece.
  17. smk4565
    Tesla does not have one of these: Full reveal and details Thursday. They have to find a way to get this to production.
  18. smk4565
    It seems there is a new CLS coming in 2018, but I think this is a good time to drop the CLS and put the electric car in that $70,000-100,000 price range and make it look like a 4 door coupe, much like the IAA concept car. The E-class has a full range of body styles and engines, CLS buyers can go to the E-class or the electric car.
  19. smk4565
    We don't know what the electric Mercedes will cost. It might be cheaper than the S-class and not really compete with it. I think they should do an S450 with the 360 hp bi-turbo V6, they use that engine in the SL and GLS, it would give them a S-class starting around $88,000 which would help compete with the 6 cylinder A8 and 7-series, that is a way to boost S-class sales while hurting the 7-series. On to Tesla, the Model S can be leased for $667 a month with $6,362 the S550 base model lease is $1,149 a month for 36 months with $6,943 due at signing. Both are 10,000 miles a year. Since the S-class is $500 a month more, I wonder why the Tesla outsells it. If you want to buy a Tesla, base price is $66,000 - $7,500 tax credit, - $2,000 Pennsylvania incentive for me + $1,200 destination = $58,700. That is starting $40,000 below the S-class. A better comparison would be E-class to Model S, the E-class is closer in size and price. And for the record, if I couldn't have a Mercedes, Tesla would be my 2nd choice for an auto brand. I am not anti Tesla, I like Tesla, I like the EV driving idea a lot. Most people here bash EV's because they say the range is too low or no one will buy a 200 mile range car, but I like electric cars, I am excited for the EV take over.
  20. smk4565
    S-class is old school, Tesla is new school. S-class even though it is loaded with technology has classic styling in and out and is a big rear drive sedan with a long hood and V8 and V12 power. It is kind of a throwback vehicle while most cars got smaller bodies and smaller engines, the S-class has hung around as the classic big sedan. Tesla Model S is the size of a CTS with a 20 inch touch screen and a minimalist interior, it has a different appeal. My guess is the Mercedes electric cars have a more futuristic and techy interior, to make it more appealing to the type of people that want electric cars. Little is know about these cars, but Mercedes wants up to 310 mile range, and they do favor a 2 motor set up and they are working on electric motors that make up to 540 hp. They are also pretty big on active aero to extend range and think they can get a .19 cD. I don't think these cars will disappoint on speed or range. I am sure they'll have a 200 mile, 300 hp sort of level for the small crossover, obviously they aren't putting 540 hp in all of these, not everyone needs or is willing to pay for that kind of power.
  21. smk4565
    And Mercedes is about to take a big bite out of the Model S and Model X sales. I happen to like Tesla, but they don't make any money. At some point they have to turn a profit.
  22. smk4565
    If names don't matter, they would change Escalade to XT7 or XT8 to fit with their other offerings. The name must matter.
  23. smk4565
    You keep telling yourself that. Doesn't make it true but by all means, keep telling yourself that Mercedes isn't worried about Tesla. Either way, late to the game. Where is Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, Lexus, JLR, and the rest of them? They don't even have electric cars in development yet. As far as you know they do not have anything in development, but they very well could. Remember this is a company that caught the whole world with their pants down when they showed off the BOLT and announced it going into production. The BOLT forced Tesla's hand in regards to the T3 and it also is forcing all auto companies to move forward with an EV. Cadillac very well could have a whole group of EV's on the drawing board that you and the rest of us know nothing about. MB is reacting to the fact that Tesla S is making inroads into their top end line of auto's. More and more people buy a Tesla over an S model from MB. Tesla Model S sold 50,300 units worldwide in 2015. The S-class was close to 100,000 the past 2 years. Tesla also has the only electric performance car on the market, what happens when there are 5 cars in that segment? I also read the average transaction price of a Model S is $79,000 vs $106,000 for an S-class, so we have a bit of a gap there.
  24. smk4565
    You keep telling yourself that. Doesn't make it true but by all means, keep telling yourself that Mercedes isn't worried about Tesla. Either way, late to the game.Daimler used to own 8% of Tesla but sold it. They know what Tesla is but they aren't going to abandon 2 million sales a year to chase 50-100k electric sales. Mercedes will have 10 plug in hybrids by next year, they have 3 for sale right now, so they offer electric driving already, just not pure EV besides the b-class that no one wants. The 4 EV's are coming and at a good time when the market will want them.Where is Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, Lexus, JLR, and the rest of them? They don't even have electric cars in deleopment yet. Again, you keep telling yourself that. The fact that they are creating this sub brand says otherwise though. And what is Cadillac's response to Tesla? Tesla sales will surpass Cadillac by 2020 at the current rate.
  25. smk4565
    You keep telling yourself that. Doesn't make it true but by all means, keep telling yourself that Mercedes isn't worried about Tesla. Either way, late to the game. Daimler used to own 8% of Tesla but sold it. They know what Tesla is but they aren't going to abandon 2 million sales a year to chase 50-100k electric sales. Mercedes will have 10 plug in hybrids by next year, they have 3 for sale right now, so they offer electric driving already, just not pure EV besides the b-class that no one wants. The 4 EV's are coming and at a good time when the market will want them.Where is Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, Lexus, JLR, and the rest of them? They don't even have electric cars in deleopment yet.
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