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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    I bet the coupe does not have the 2.5 liter, and uses the 2.0T as the base, and the V6 optional. Really that 2.5 should be dropped from the sedan also. I am curious if the Escalade interior will be another dressed up Tahoe or if they will do something with it to justify the price tag. The Mercedes GL is the #1 selling SUV in that segment now, the Navigator and Lexus LX570 seem dead in the water, so it is basically a Cadillac vs Mercedes race at this point.
  2. smk4565
    There will be a Koup version, it is on Kia's website as a 2014 coming soon vehicle. They also offer a 201 hp turbo 4, most in this segment don't offer that kind of power in a coupe either. You have to spend more on a Golf GTI or Focus ST and those aren't coupes.
  3. smk4565
    The Forte has an optional cooled driver's seat as well. I think that is a great feature because no one wants to stick to hot leather in the summer, and most cars under $30k don't offer that.
  4. smk4565
    Looks better than the CTS coupe, looks pretty good.
  5. smk4565
    Not sure about the tail lights that go to the roof. Sounds like the early 90s Chevy Lumina MPV or Pontiac Trans Sport. The interior does need to get better and not remind of a Tahoe. The Mercedes GL is the #1 seller in this segment now, the Lexus LX and Lincoln Navigator are nearly extinct, you sort of have to get it right or face elimination.
  6. smk4565
    That is a rather depressing figure to all car fans and gear heads. A bit misleading though if they using depreciation on a new car which is obviously a lot. 1/3 of their cost is depreciation.
  7. smk4565
    The diesel could be there at launch, that engine already exists and will be on sale here this summer in the E-class and GLK. They will have to move on the coupe and convertible, if the sedan comes out in the fall, the 2-doors could come in the spring. Mercedes is chasing BMW in this segment and they know they can't go a 1 or 2 years with no coupe, when the BMW has one.
  8. smk4565
    Excellent fuel economy. The only downside is it starts above $25k rather than below $25k. They need a more powerful version of this engine (maybe 30-40 more hp and lb-ft) for Cadillac. Even with a power boost they should still be able to get 40 mpg out of an ATS.
  9. smk4565
    The interior gives me a BMW vibe, compared to the current car's S-class looking center stack. I wish they'd come up with their own look, hopefully the exterior looks like a Hyundai and not just like a blend of other cars. I like the current Genesis a lot, but it is just too boring looking, and doesn't have enough unique styling cues. I hope this car is good, and the 5.0 V8 carries over, because getting a 430 hp rear drive luxury sedan for $45k is great value.
  10. smk4565
    The diesel is needed, they could get the C-class over 40 mpg with it. This is where the diverse engine lineups of BMW and Mercedes give them strength. You can't get a diesel from the Japanese or American luxury brands, and the IS, G37, and ATS don't have a hybrid either. Body styles is another strength, this is how they hit a big spectrum of the market.
  11. smk4565
    That is what is coming, it used to be V8 with a 4-speed automatic, now it will be 4-cylinder with a 8 speed automatic, and in time, 3 cylinder with a 10 speed automatic. The Mercedes 9-speed transmission should be on sale in 2014, the rest will follow.
  12. smk4565
    Doesn't make any sense for hybrid or diesel AMG cars. Diesels and hybrids make sense for the mainstream vehicles. I've never been a fan of this "performance hybrid" movement that other cars have tried to do, they aren't all that fuel efficient and they just add loads of weight and don't give great performance.
  13. smk4565
    Major car companies, i.e. Toyota, Honda, Ford, and GM love that sort of vehicle.
  14. smk4565
    4.3L V6, what is this a 1984 Astro van?
  15. smk4565
    The front looks pretty bad ass, but I don't think will make any serious threat to the Germans. Probably will just take away sales from the Quattroporte, since this is cheaper and not so huge.
  16. smk4565
    I am surprised it took this long. Toyota will take any model, add leather, wood and a better stereo and call it a Lexus. And if they add 5 horsepower and 19 inch wheels they can call it F-sport!
  17. smk4565
    ATS and CTS need sedan and coupe body styles. BMW and Mercedes do a mid-size coupe. ATS is a given since the Lexus, Infiniti and Audi have coupes, you can't be sedan only, otherwise you're Lincoln or Acura.
  18. smk4565
    Cadillacs convertibles, coupes, sports cars, 4-door coupes, etc for the USA, before they even get to Europe. BMW and Benz have so many model variants they attract a wide array of buyers. Compare to Lincoln, Acura, Infiniti who mostly have used a 2-3 sedan line and a couple cookie cutter SUVs based off a Honda or Nissan. The Germans aren't worried, Audi already sells the A3 hatch, the new A3 sedan will sell better and attract a new kind of buyer, although perhaps a VW buyer. The Mercedes CLA will sell, and probably steal a lot of people off Acura, Volvo, VW, etc.
  19. smk4565
    Lame, but people will buy it. I think the slew of SUVs is to attract female buyers that like sitting higher up and don't care so much about 3-series handling and just want BMW image.
  20. smk4565
    But BMW and Lexus have an 8-speed now, Mercedes will have 9-speed in 2014. Mercedes and BMW each make 4 convertibles, Audi has 3. Audi, BMW and Mercedes all make a 4-door coupe. BMW and Mercedes each make 2 SUVs with over 500 hp. Back in 2003 when the CTS came out, Cadillac had the STS coming to fight the E-class, the XLR coming to fight the SL, the SRX coming to fight the X5 and M-class and Cadillac only had a 5-speed but a 6-speed was coming, a supercharged V8 was coming, then when it all arrived the Germans had something better and the STS, XLR and SRX all tanked. Cadillac has to move faster.
  21. smk4565
    If it is bigger than the Tacoma, then it is going to be too heavy to get decent fuel economy, and probably too close in size and prize to the Silverado, which was the same problem last time around. And the Ram gets 25 mpg, I don't see why Chevy can't get 25 mpg from the Silverado. Put a diesel in there with an 8-speed and it should get 26 mpg easily, cut the weight and it could be 27-28. So I hope they are aiming for 30 mpg on the Canyon, otherwise what is the point.
  22. smk4565
    Cadillac definitely has to go global, but the road will be long and expensive. I don't know if GM wants to make that sort of commitment. Mercedes has 28 new or redesigned models coming in the next 7 years, and Audi and BMW aren't holding back either. I'd like to see Cadillac make a run at it, but I just can't see GM putting billions upon billions of Dollars into Cadillac to make it happen. Cadillac doesn't stick with things over time, their longest surviving nameplate is the Escalade which came out in 1999, and they have had 5 marketing agencies since 2007. Here is what Cadillac needs in the next 3 years: - 8 or 9 speed automatic standard on every model - hybrid drivetrain (either I4 or V6) - turbo diesel 4 cylinder, turbo diesel V6 - ATS coupe and convertible - CTS coupe and wagon (but the wagon won't sell here) - 4-door coupe slotted above the CTS - full size luxury sedan - 2 seat sports car/roadster - all new Escalde - all new SRX - V-series of ATS, CTS, big sedan, SRX (if rear drive) and the sports car That all is going to cost a lot, and I don't know if the General's pockets are deep enough, they still need to feed Buick and GMC and redo the Malibu.
  23. smk4565
    Lexus's top 2 sellers in Europe are the RX (which has a hybrid) and the CT200h (a hybrid hatchback). Those 2 are over 50% of Lexus' European sales, because they like hatchbacks and high fuel economy there. But still they sell in tiny volume compared to the Germans. Cadillac's cars don't fit over there, no diesels, no hybrids, no hatchbacks and the CTS wagon just died. ATS and CTS are a start, but 2 cars doesn't make a lineup. Money is the other factor, when Lexus spent $1 billion to build the first LS400, Mercedes turned around and spent $1 billion to redesign the S-class (already the class leader) for 1991. The Germans aren't going to let anyone just waltz on in, they will double down and drive newcomers right back out. I think at some point Cadillac has to try, they can't just sit on the sidelines forever, but it is a near impossible task to take the Germans on in Europe when they can't beat them in the USA.
  24. smk4565
    Europe will be tough to crack, even if they put diesels in the ATS and CTS. Their overall product portfolio is still not strong enough, and Cadillac doesn't have the brand image or marketing needed, or the dealer network. Even with the dealer network and better cars, they still lose on image, possibly the #1 reason for buying a luxury car.
  25. smk4565
    The Lambas are doing really well, that refresh worked. I am surprised Tahoe and Yukon sales are up, I thought people were moving away from huge trucks, but maybe they are used to $4 a gallon and it will take $5 a gallon to shock the market. I also can't believe 3,538 people bought a Spark.
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