smk4565

I do agree about trim level names. What is wrong with Luxury package, technology package and sport package, it works about on any car. Things like Lincoln Continental Reserve are dumb, how do I know if Reserve is better than Select, or Select better than Limited, or Titanium better than Platinum. It is all garbled, probably to confuse the customer into overpaying for options they don't want. Problem with the Envision is the boat anchor 2.5 is priced higher than the 279 hp V6 Acura RDX. The Envision should have a standard turbo 4 and cost about $2k less than the Lincoln MKC or Lexus NX.

Agreed with Olds hurst, but I like Balthazaar's idea of the full size coupe. Something like the Phantom coupe that is just huge and over the top would be awesome.

And we can all assume you will purchase one of these cars? How about just having a car that dominates BMW, Audi and Benz in all areas at a price that is competitive with the others. You do that it will amount to a hell of a lot more than a car that few will buy. You have to earn trust first before you dream super car. I am not in a position to buy a $250,000 exotic car, nor will I ever be unless I hit the Powerball. From a practice sense, I was thinking Cadillac should build an Omega crossover with turbo V6 and turbo V8 power. People like the crossovers. But my wish, or in this case dare would be more of a moon shot product, just so they can say they did it. It isn't a car that makes financial sense, but I am sure VW loses money on every Bugatti sold, but they made it just to prove they could.

I dare Cadillac to build a V12 supercar, something to compete with Ferrari and Lamborghini and really stir up excitement. This could probably be done with a twin turbo DOHC V8 and electric hybrid powertrain too. Carbon fiber body, 200+ mph top speed, 3 second 0-60 time. So really moving toward that hyper car territory.

Since "Dare Greatly" is the current ad campaign, I thought it would be a good idea for everyone to come up with one thing they dare Cadillac to do. It can be anything, it could be to put the Sixteen intro production, to make a pure EV Tesla fighter, a mid-engine supercar, to changing the naming scheme to introducing a new marketing campaign, or anything you want. But you only get 1 Dare, people can up vote their favorite idea.

Cadillac has been saying wait till next year since 2002. Remember they launched the STS, SRX performance crossover, and XLR roadster in the same year. That was to be an assault on the 5-series/E-class, the X5/M-class and the Mercedes SL and Jaguar XK and Lexus SC430. They attacked 3 segments in the heart of the luxury market at one time, and got no where, they gave up on all 3 products. They have been saying "wait till next year" and "this product is on the way" for the past 15 years. The other guys have that product on sale now, and that is where the people are going.

The advantage Cadillac has over the Japanese brands and Audi for the most part is a long history and their heritage. That is something they could play up to boost their image. If they are going to try to advertise their technology and make that the focus, they better have the best technology out there. And they don't even have Super Cruise yet, when even Volvo has semi Autonomous driving. There isn't really a true identity or clear focus that they use to differentiate themselves from the crowd.

Here is another one, "Since 1886" Cadillac could easily do a similar ad, and talk up the heritage. Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti have no heritage, unless Lexus wants to run that video of the 1991 LS400 balancing champagne glasses on the hood. Cadillac needs their word names back, Fleetwood, Eldorado, play up the heritage they have, spark some emotion, you strike the memories of older buyers, you teach the young ones who you were. To people under 35 they only know Cadillac as a poorly made American land yacht who only recently tried to make sports sedans, and has the Escalade, that rappers and athletes drive. The millenials don't know Cadillac was the first modern car really with the 3 pedal set up, and gear shifter on the floor that every other car adopted, that they had interchangeable parts, first V8, etc. You gotta tell the story. https://www.ispot.tv/ad/A5ac/mercedes-benz-since-1886

Cadillac needs ads like this, that play on heritage. They never talk about their history. They could copy this ad with Since 1902, "standard of the world" put, talk about the first electric starter, the first mast produced V8, the 1930s V16 Phaeton, 50s Eldorado, hopefully they won a race at some point in their history that they can throw in, show the technology of the CT6, lightweight construction, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8QnBqH-KfM Sorry, I didn't know how to put the video so it plays on here.

Yes, Cadillac has to market to the people that aren't buying the car now. This is what they are awful at. They aren't conquesting from the Japanese and Germans. If they don't conquest, they have to get huge numbers of first time luxury buyers, I don't think they are doing that either. They have to market to people that can afford the car though. If they make a car that 30 years think is cool, but they can't afford more than a $25,000 car, it doesn't do Cadillac any good. How about the Corvette? Median buyer age of 61, and they don't build it with VTEC for the younger buyers, they build it to suit the fan base, and the fan base buys it. They aren't trying to sell it to 30 year olds that can't afford it. You're right Cadillac doesn't do that. MB does though MB markets towards that same group of 30 year olds, hence the CLA and the heavy marketing push by MB touting its "under $30,000" campaign. Funny how you don't mention that. CLA median buyer age is 46. But Mercedes brand overall is 52-56 depending on what survey you believe. So they are marketing toward younger than their norm with the CLA, but they aren't ignoring their customer base. CLA is a way to get new buyers into the brand. That is what smart companies do, they cover all bases. They sell 4 crossovers, 5 if you want to count GLE coupe as separate. I have long said Cadillac desperately needs a small crossover, that is a way to attract younger buyers. But their older buyers probably want V8s and classic American luxury, give it to them. Cater to both.

You are aware PDL is an ex GM-copywriter who was 'slighted' in the early '80s and hasn't 'seen a GM ad he likes' since, right? CT6 campaign so far has been very decent- has created nice aspiration & mood. FAR better than the mercedes 'disco chicken' ads. I agree that 'Escalade S' is a poor suggestion. Mercedes & BMW are hoping to get to Audi's margins too, but they don't have a vast volkswagon part warehouse in which to make it work yet. Audi A2 thru A6 : VW powertrains. For shame. Uh oh, found this on Forbes. com "The boost in volumes has also trickled down to Mercedes’ margins. As automotive companies typically have large fixed costs, they have a high degree of operating leverage. This means that a significant increase in volume sales/top line trickles down to the profits, as well. Driven by the high volume rise and product and price mix, Mercedes reported EBIT from ongoing business of €2.2 billion in Q3, up 38% year-over-year, and profit margins of 10.4%. The company has recuperated well after one-time costs associated with the launch of new/refreshed models had lowered operating margins to around 3% in the first quarter of 2013. High demand for the luxury automaker, and favorable pricing, should boost profitability in the last quarter, as well. In fact, Mercedes’ 10.2% operating margins for Q1-Q3 2015 are more than Audi’s 9.2% and BMW’s 9% reported operating margins during the same period." Mercedes had a 6.2% operating margin in 2013, and up to 8.3% in 4th quarter 2014. Slow steady climb up to the 10% of today. And exactly where they want to be. I guess their strategy worked. And a lot of people say the CLA has a lot of volume, the CLA barely outsells the S-class. Uh oh. You are trying to compare the entire Mercedes lineup against one brand of GM instead all the brands of GM, which (btw) has increased it's profits every year since coming out of bankruptcy. Just thought you should know before making yet another apples to oranges comparison. Johan has stated his goal was to get Cadillac to a 10% operating margin. He never said his goal is to get all of GM to a 10% margin, just Cadillac. Audi has been over 10% before, the Germans are running 9-10% margin now, (Porsche I am sure higher), why does Johan think it will take 10 years to get there? If you want to compare to GM, here is from their April 21, 2016 press release: "The company set first-quarter records for earnings and margin, with earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) adjusted of $2.7 billion and EBIT-adjusted margin of 7.1 percent. These compare to EBIT-adjusted of $2.1 billion and an EBIT-adjusted margin of 5.8 percent in the first quarter of 2015." ​

Yes, Cadillac has to market to the people that aren't buying the car now. This is what they are awful at. They aren't conquesting from the Japanese and Germans. If they don't conquest, they have to get huge numbers of first time luxury buyers, I don't think they are doing that either. They have to market to people that can afford the car though. If they make a car that 30 years think is cool, but they can't afford more than a $25,000 car, it doesn't do Cadillac any good. How about the Corvette? Median buyer age of 61, and they don't build it with VTEC for the younger buyers, they build it to suit the fan base, and the fan base buys it. They aren't trying to sell it to 30 year olds that can't afford it.

You are aware PDL is an ex GM-copywriter who was 'slighted' in the early '80s and hasn't 'seen a GM ad he likes' since, right? CT6 campaign so far has been very decent- has created nice aspiration & mood. FAR better than the mercedes 'disco chicken' ads. I agree that 'Escalade S' is a poor suggestion. Mercedes & BMW are hoping to get to Audi's margins too, but they don't have a vast volkswagon part warehouse in which to make it work yet. Audi A2 thru A6 : VW powertrains. For shame. Uh oh, found this on Forbes. com "The boost in volumes has also trickled down to Mercedes’ margins. As automotive companies typically have large fixed costs, they have a high degree of operating leverage. This means that a significant increase in volume sales/top line trickles down to the profits, as well. Driven by the high volume rise and product and price mix, Mercedes reported EBIT from ongoing business of €2.2 billion in Q3, up 38% year-over-year, and profit margins of 10.4%. The company has recuperated well after one-time costs associated with the launch of new/refreshed models had lowered operating margins to around 3% in the first quarter of 2013. High demand for the luxury automaker, and favorable pricing, should boost profitability in the last quarter, as well. In fact, Mercedes’ 10.2% operating margins for Q1-Q3 2015 are more than Audi’s 9.2% and BMW’s 9% reported operating margins during the same period." Mercedes had a 6.2% operating margin in 2013, and up to 8.3% in 4th quarter 2014. Slow steady climb up to the 10% of today. And exactly where they want to be. I guess their strategy worked. And a lot of people say the CLA has a lot of volume, the CLA barely outsells the S-class.

Delorenzo has some good points, the CT6 marketing campaign is craptastic. However the XT5 should not be called Escalade S or Escalade sport or anything like that. Horrible idea when you are going to have at least 3 crossovers, you can't call them all Escalade-something. Interesting that Johan wants to get to an 11% operating margin in 10 years. Audi is there now. People want to say sales don't matter, margin does, well Cadillac margins must be terrible if they are 10 years away from getting to Audi's level, especially when you can platform and engine stare with other GM vehicles.

Yes people know CTS now because they spent 15 years advertising it. So they throw that away and spend 10-15 years advertising CT4 and then they'll throw that away and start over again. GLK to GLC isn't that bad of a change, when there is already a similar looking C-class. And they changed SLK to SLC even though it has nothing to do with the C-class chassis. GLC sales up 84% in February and 97% in March. GLC is on fire!

Rumor is the Terrain will have the 1.5 turbo base and the 2.5 liter will be the optional engine, so I'd imagine Chevy will do the same. In a way that makes sense, because the Buick Envision at $35,000 has the 2.5 liter, I don't think a $23,000 Equinox would have the same engine, they'll make you pay more for it. I guess time will tell. I am sure CAFE will dictate a lot of what engines end up in these new crossovers.

So, were there thousands upon thousands of consumers scratching their heads & waving their hands in the air when "Grand Am" came out, as it was completely unknown then?I mean, there already was a 'Trans Am' AND a 'Grand LeMans' -- IMAGINE the WIDESPREAD CONFUSION!! What about 'CTS'- still think 'people don't know it'? - - - - - CT6 is just shipping to dealers now, new product names ALWAYS take some time to register at large. I would've thought that didn't need explaining... But they are killing the CTS name also. Any equity it may have built is about to be erased.This is a brand with zero focus. If sales stay low you know Johan will get pressured to fix it, and the quick fixes will come with Cadillac Cruze and Cadillac Equinox models at low prices. Their attack on the 3 and 5 series is a total failure, the ATS and CTS are selling worse than the CTS and STS did 10 years ago. While Lexus and the 3 Germans all have sales increases since then. 15 years they have been saying they will topple the Germans, still waiting....

It is always better to look at a full year to really see how a car is selling. We all look at the monthly sales report to see what is up or what is down, what is hot and what is not. But it isn't all doom and gloom with one bad month. S-class was up 9.7% in February. If it is down again in April maybe they should worry a little, but the S-class outsells its next 3 or 4 competitors combined. But if crossovers are up when sedans are down, as long as overall brand volume rises, they are fine. BMW goes through the same thing with the 5-series and X5. If 5-series is down 1,000 units and X5 up 1,000 units, what do they care, they got their money.

An excellent idea to move to Delta2 and make it smaller. The current Equinox is about a foot longer than an Escape or CRV. This will get it right sized, and it opens the door for Chevy to add a crossover in between the Equinox and Traverse. Being smaller, this might be close to the Malibu's weight, the 1.5L turbo could be used, that should top 32 mpg easily.

March 2016 GLA up 15% GLK/GLC up 97% GLE up 17% Hmm, good thing they saw the crossover boom coming and were prepared.

Of course, because MB follows revenue above all else! March 2016 ~ cla-class : DOWN 28% c-class : DOWN 13% e-class : DOWN 19% s-class : DOWN 36% VANS :: UP 29% Expect to see increasing emphasis / dealer stock on from the etherial "van division" of Daimler in the coming year as the rest of the brand is entering a sales 'slide'. Do not forget the rebadged Nissan Truck that will show up along side the vans for sales sA one month snap shot, E-class is on a model change over, C-class adding 2 body styles this year. They'll stabilize, but sedan sales are dropping, crossovers are rising. The overall luxury sedan market was down like 15% last year.

Cadillac and Mercedes or BMw are not the same. The 3-series has been around 35 years, the Mercedes SL for 60 years the S-class for 50 or so years. They have consistancy of that naming convention and those products. Cadillac had a history of word names, people don't know CT6 or XT5, they are easily forgettable. It is like when Pontiac introduced the G6, no one knew what a G6 was but they knew Grand Am. I have long said I think Cadillac is better with word names, just like I was glad to see Lincoln bring back Continental, it is just too bad it is wrong wheel drive. Cadillac has done a good job making stand alone showrooms in recent years, I think their dealerships are fine. Maybe they aren't as large or luxurious as Lexus's but I don't think it matters. We all know Cadillac needs crossovers badly and they have some on the way. I think they need a convertible too because convertibles are aspirational products, and a luxury brand is aspirational. This can relate to when 1/3 of CTS sales were coupes. Take away the coupe and a buyer wanting a 2 door car just goes elsewhere.

C-class sales were up 15% last year, and they only had the sedan body style, they are adding coupe and convertible, and a hybrid this year. So the CLA isn't stealing sales from it, and the CLA isn't hurting the Mercedes brand image either. The CLA isn't anywhere near as good as a C-class, but when you compare a CLA to an A3, or an Acura ILX or 1-series it doesn't look so bad. If nothing else the CLA helps their CAFE number, they need something to do it.

The Cruze is dog slow. If the Cruze was as good as a CLA, but $10-15,000 less, then it should be whipping the Focus, Civic, Corolla in sales, everyone would want one. Cruze is no better than the other cars in that segment. I also think the back seat is not the reason the ATS doesn't sell. I think the badge on the grille is the #1 reason, #2 is the exterior look is a bit bland, and #3 is the interior overall isn't that great. Audi and Lexus are better, Mercedes way better, and the 3-series has a class average interior, but it has such a loyal following it gets away with it.

The "small segment" is a couple hundred buyers. Yes, it 'can' be ignored. And if having a convertible doesn't sell any more sedans/coupes, and almost no convertibles themselves sell, how does it "help" in any measurable way? General Motors has rebuked the 'Cruze-based future Cadillac', so Cadillac has decided they DON'T need a competitor. The convertible is something that looks good in a commercial or on a dealer lot. So it can draw people in, help with brand image. From that stand point it could help overall sales. I don't think having an E-class convertible helps sell E-class sedans directly. But if a luxury buyer wants a convertible with a back seat, they basically have Mercedes, the A5 and 4-series as their choices. Not sure if Lexus or Infiniti still make a convertible. If you want a 2 seater, there is Porsche, Jaguar, Z4, etc a few more options. But Cadillac can't just ignore convertibles and not even attempt to bring in those buyers. You have to at least offer a product to get people to consider the brand. Chevy has 2 convertibles, even Buick has one. Cadillac should have at least 1, probably 2.