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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    The diesel S-class had 455 lb-ft and gt 31 mpg, that was a good engine, but it is gone. The other V6 is in the plug in hybrid S-class, but that car also has 436 hp/479 lb-ft and should be best in segment fuel economy. They aren't putting NA V6's with 280 lb-ft of torque in an American market S-class. I think the new inline sixes will end up in an S450 base model for the American market. In Europe they can do whatever they want, because they dominate the segment so much, and there is almost zero American or Japanese competition there.
  2. smk4565
    That cross coupe concept looked cool, but I have a hard time believing they are going to do bolder designs. They have made nothing but boring for a long time. Their last breakthrough design was the Beetle in the 1940s.
  3. smk4565
    They may have added start/stop and cylinder shutdown to the V6, but that stuff has been around a while on other car. Even if Cadillac is making the best naturally aspirated V6 of all time, you can get a 3.5-3.6 liter V6 in an Accord, Camry, minivan, Traverse/Colorado, Impala/Lacrosse, Charger/300/200, Altima/Maxima, Taurus/MKZ/Explorer, etc, etc. That sort of engine is so common. At the price point of an ATS it doesn't matter, a 335 hp V6 with 280 lb-ft is enough power for that size car, and Japanese competition has a worse V6 than that. Get into the CT6 size and prize range and that NA V6 is a knife in a gun fight. This is why Infiniti and Acura struggle to cross $50k, and the Lexus GS has sold like crap for the past 15 years, even when offering a V8 for the price of the German sixes. You need something special to sell cars at $70,000+
  4. smk4565
    They never got to sharing V12s, Mercedes until this year had the SOHC 5.5 liter V12, BMW a DOHC 6.0 liter, and lots of the industry sources the same parts. It isn't like BMW and Merceres are co-developing cars, why would you want to help your biggest rival? This is shaping up to be the best E-class ever, the current car suffered with a couple years of the 268 hp V6 in 2010-2011, and now the 302 hp V6 is old news as well. Finally the E-class will have class leading horsepower and torque and the only 9-speed transmission in the segment. It should be the fuel economy champion as well, because no one can touch their diesel mpg. The S-class inspired interior will fix the other problem of the boring interior. The technology, build quality, ride quality and safety of the E-class is already there.
  5. smk4565
    The 3.5 is not turbo, that is the V6 they have had since 2012 model year. This is a mid-cycle refresh of the ML, so when the new one comes around 2018 I'd imagine the inline engines would replace the V6s.
  6. smk4565
    But the CTS competes with the 5-series, isn'tt the CT6 supposed to compete with a 7-series? What we really need to see is how the CT6 is priced. Cadillac was selling the 3.6 liter V6 in a $40,000 CTS in 2008, I can't imagine people 7 years later wanting to pay $70,000 for a car with the same engine. Unless they price this car cheap, but Cadillac wants to price like Germans do, so I doubt the CT6 hits the market at $55k.
  7. smk4565
    Mercedes and BMW don't share anything, they are competitors. The inline 6 does save Mercedes money in manufacturing and development cots. Inline sixes have always been better, it is just that most cars and SUVs now are front wheel drive and need a V6 for packaging reasons. RWD > FWD I-6 > V6
  8. smk4565
    The Atlas engines would have made even more economic sense if they were in cars and not just the Colorado and SUVs. But when the GMT360s died in favor of FWD crossovers, there was no point to an inline six anymore. Mercedes moved away from the inline six during the Daimler-Chrysler cost cutting days of the late 90s, it was easier to chop down their V8 into a V6 and call it a day. The straight six is the superior engine, but circumstances, packaging and bean counters have made it nearly extinct. I'm glad Mercedes is going back to it.
  9. smk4565
    Because most manufacturers want an engine they can put in a FWD car. Thus they need a square that can go either way. BMW and Mercedes don't ever need to transverse mount a six cylinder engine. Inline six doesn't need a balance shaft, an inline 8 would be too long. This move streamlines engine design, production and parts for economies of scale. The 2.0 inline 4 and 3.0 inline six share something like 75% of their parts, pair two inline 4's for the 4.0 V8. So the accountants are happy with the economies of scale to lower costs, the engineers are happy that they get smooth running inline sixes. This is the advantage that BMW and Mercedes have, because Toyota, GM or VW can't copy their strategy. Because for GM or Toyota to do it would mean no more V6 engine, so every Chevrolet, Buick and Toyota sedan and crossover would have an inline four, while only larger SUVs and RWD luxury cars would have room under hood for a straight six.
  10. smk4565
    I have a DOHC engine that is N/A and peak torque is 2800-4800 rpm, relatively low and flat curve. If you don't go to the Honda VTEC school of engineering, you can make a DOHC engine make torque.
  11. smk4565
    The really big news is the speculation of the quad-turbo inline six, that makes over 400 hp in gas or diesel versions and the torque numbers are over 550. I really like this move back to the inline six, because they used to make some good ones in the 80s and 90s, and inline sixes are well balanced. Plus it makes manufacturing easier when the inline four and inline six share common parts, and it drives up the economies of scale. I personally like the look of the 2010-2013 E-class, it is starting to look a bit too similar in front to the C-class now, I hope they have a 4 light set up even if it is one piece of plastic covering 4 bulbs, the overall shape of the new E-class looks good. The current car has a boring interior, the new car looks like it will fix that with some more curvy and flowing design, rather than the T-square and ruler designed dash they have now. I think sometimes people forget this is the bread and butter Mercedes product. Yes the S-class is the flagship, the SL has been the icon, but the E-class globally is probably their best seller over the past 30-40 years. It is sort of the glue that holds the brand together, and it seems like they are going all out for the new model.
  12. smk4565
    Rumor is the new E-class has a quad-turbo inline six that in gas form makes 367to 435 hp and as much as 553 lb-ft, and in diesel form makes 313 to 400 hp and 516 lb-ft to 627 lb-ft of torque. They are bringing a pretty big gun to the fight, Cadillac may want to rethink that 3.6 V6 and just make the 400 hp engine standard.
  13. smk4565
    Bankruptcy/bailout was 6 years ago, it takes 4 usually to design a car. The cars coming for 2016 and beyond would have been started after the bailout. Cadillac is obviously better off than Lincoln or Acura, and it is good that they are trying to go up the luxury ladder. I am curious how the CT6 turns out. I am just skeptical that they can pull it off, because they haven't really beat the imports in the $35-50,000 price range, going to $75,000+ or so where the imports dominate is like putting a Cadillac on sale in Europe and seeing what happens.
  14. smk4565
    So this is another stop gap product? This is Cadillac's problem, the savior vehicle is always 5 years away. This is shaping up to be a pricier XTS.
  15. smk4565
    That is what I meant, cabin noise levels at highway speeds. Engine noise isn't a problem in most of these cars because the V8 cars don't really need to rev much past 2500 rpm for every day driving, and even a lot of these turbo sixes make a lot of low end torque.
  16. smk4565
    It should have the electronic door closers so the doors never slam. I imagine the only manual adjustable thing will be the rear view mirror, which was motorized on the 90s S-class but I think they went back to manual because that is sort of a pointless thing to motorize.
  17. smk4565
    Sound at 60 or 70 mph I think matters note than idle. How often do cars idle especially now they they all have start/stop and the engines are shutting down at stop lights.
  18. smk4565
    I took the MB USA sales figures and GM sales figures off what is posted here and C & G, and 2 of the past 4 years the GL alone outsold the Escalade.
  19. smk4565
    It was only a partial year for the Escalade. There were a few scattered on dealer lots in April, but they took till mid summer to get into full swing. They still can't build them fast enough to satisfy demand. ATP on Escalade is up nearly $20k over the previous model. Escalade sold 30,500 in 8 months when it took Benz 12 months to sell 26k. Yes.. for vehicles with $80k - $90k transaction prices... that's a blowout. I don't disagree that the Escalade is a successful product for Cadillac, it is usually 1 or 2 in sales in the segment and has been for the past 10 years, while stuff like the Navigator and LX570 have died on the vine. And the Escalade commands a high price as you stated, if you can be the highest priced in the segment and best selling, you are doing something right. What I don't get is why Cadillac doesn't use the formula that has worked with the Escalade on its cars. Instead we get alpha numerics, dull styling and the corporate V6. And I get that Americans buy big trucks so it is easier to convert a Tahoe to an Escalade and get sales than it would be to convert a Chevy sedan to a Cadillac, in that regard Cadillac needs its own chassis.
  20. smk4565
    All Mercedes SUVs? Combined they sell like 100,000. But the GL sold 26,000 in 2012 and 29,900 in 2013 which beat the Escalade (all trims combined). The Escalade outsold the GL by about 500 units in 2011, the Escalade beat it in 2014 and Escalade is ahead this year. So as I said, they have gone back and forth. The Bentley SUV will have the 500 hp twin turbo V8 standard, a 4.2 liter V8 diesel making 375-400 hp and over 625 lb-ft of torque, and the W12 from the Continental GT is expected to be an option. The Rolls-Royce SUV will have a standard V12 Rolls only has V12 engines to pick from. The BMW X7 is based on the Rolls, an optional 544 hp V12 from the 760 is expected, no doubt a V8 or diesel inline six will make up the bulk of the sales though.
  21. smk4565
    We also don't know the price of the CT6 yet either. Just like when the ELR was discussed. Had the ELR cost $49,000 it might have been a hit, but at $77,000 it is a total flop. If the CT6 is like $55,000 it could be a hit, if they charge Escalade money for a base CT6, could be a total flop.
  22. smk4565
    Escalade sold 30,500 last year, the GL sold 26,600. It is not like a total blowout. When the GL was new and the Escalade had been on market for a while, the GL outsold it. Those two have gone back and forth for the past 5 years or so. The Escalade is a product that Cadillac gets right, they give the target audience what they want, they use a V8, a word name, lots of luxury and bling. I don't know why they don't apply some of those principles to the sedans. I think a V8 Fleetwood sedan loaded with luxury will sell better than a V6 CT6. There are some new big boys coming to the SUV market though, the Bentley, Rolls, BMW X7 and I think all 3 are expected to have 12 cylinder power. I'd imagine Mercedes will put the V12 in a Maybach trim GL at that point. The Escalade will outsell all those still, but it might lose some status as the biggest, most over the top SUV.
  23. smk4565
    Under 3800 lbs would be a remarkable feat, the 100% aluminum Jaguar XJ is 3,854 for a RWD V6. I like the XJ, but even though it is lighter and cheaper than the German rivals it still doesn't sell. It will take more than lightweight construction, the interior better be fabulous and I still think there has to be a V8. But then also what happens to the CT6's weight when you put on V8, AWD, heated/cooled/massage/reclining seats at all 4 corners, a refrigerator in the trunk, etc? It is going to be heavy too. The Escalade is 300 lbs heavier than a GL550, 500 lbs heavier than a GL450, and it doesn't seem to matter, the Escalade sells just fine.
  24. smk4565
    The 3.6 TT and 6.2 S/C aren't really the hallmarks of refinement and quietness. But I guess it is back to the parts bin. Heaven forbid Cadillac develop their own V8, they haven't done that since 1993.
  25. smk4565
    Why on earth would you benchmark the loudest engine in the entry-moderate level luxury segment for your high end luxury car? And an engine that came out in 2008 and hasn't changed since. Shouldn't they benchmark a Lexus LS460 or something for refinement? The LS460 is a V8. Apples/Oranges. There is a difference between engine loudness and engine loudness that you can hear from inside the car. From auto-decibel-db.com - rating at idle 2009 Infiniti G37 3.7 - 38.5 2012 Infiniti JX 3.5 - 41.0 2012 Infiniti M37 - 42.9 Lexus 3.5 - 40.9 2013 Cadillac 3.6 - 42.4 Buick 3.6 - 41.4 Audi 3.0 - 42.9 Mercedes E350 - 38.2 Jaguar 3.0 V6 - 44.4 Acura RLX 3.5 - 39.5 BMW 535i - 42.8 If Cadillac did as they claim and shaved 4dB off of the Infiniti number, that would make them extremely class-leading no matter which Infiniti model they started from. At worst, it would put the new 3.6 in the 37 dB - 38 dB range. At best, it would be in the 34 dB range (which I doubt they'd hit) But that is how you get ahead, you benchmark your $60,000 car to be better than Lexus's $80,000 car, not Infiniti's $40,000 car. Funny how the Mercedes 3.5 liter is the quietest on that list when it is the oldest engine in the M-B lineup and being phased out next year.
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