smk4565

Since the M3 will have a straight six, my guess is the ATS goes with a turbo V6. They want to be like BMW in the worst way it seems.

I think people just don't want to pay $25k or more for that Malibu Eco, especially when it looks similar to the current car that costs much less. Even after the '12 Malibu is gone, I think customers still won't want to spend over $25k for a Malibu eco and will just go to Ford, Hyundai, Nissan, or Toyota.

On the hybrid front, if the Mercedes E300 Bluetec hybrid is estimated at over 50 mpg. It's possible to have a fuel efficient luxury hybrid, but most are just marketing ploys and don't provide enough mpg gain to justify the price.

This looks like a mid-cycle refresh and not a new car. The exterior hardly changed, and they basically changed the dash design and some interior bits. And I don't know if Lexus noticed, but The S550 has over 500 lb-ft, quite a bit more than 367 lb-ft of this car, the F-sport seems not so sporty. The S550 gets 25 mpg also. For them to build a "sport" version of this car is a joke, this is a snooze mobile selling on badge alone at this point, as this customer base dies off they are in trouble, just like the Town Car and Deville of 15 years ago.

A used Jag XF is still a bit pricey for me, but I figure I will be car shopping in about 1 years time and see what I can afford. Reliability could come into question there, but I do love how they look, although the 2012 update corrected the dumb headlights and now they really have it nailed. My mom has a 124,000 mile Audi and she has spent under $500 in repairs on it (not counting oil changes and tires) and the interior and body are like new still. To quote the Sham-wow ad "it's made in Germany, and you know the Germans make good stuff." I don't much care for Audi or BMW, but would look at a used Mercedes. The STS V8 is a bit floaty, I didn't like driving that car, CTS is better, but I don't like the current CTS. I liked the original car more, it had better proportions and the console angled toward the driver, the interior materials came up short though. The ATS does a lot to get Cadillac back in the right direction, the current CTS I feel like they made it to compete with the Germans, but also the Lexus ES, Acura TL and Lincoln MKZ as well, they are trying to have the CTS wear too many hats, and it looks chunky and blocky. It needs to get streamlined like it used to be, and more of a driver's car. Volvo is mediocre FWD with dated engines, and their interiors don't impress me at all. I see them as a weak automaker, and Lincoln and Acura are teetering also, Cadillac should be able to clean up if they could get their act together.

And if the long term durability is good, they will get repeat business and positive press. They are on fire even with no track record, imagine what they will do with 10-20 years of a solid reputation. Honda and Toyota must be nervous.

The Passat does look very bland, you have to have the upgraded sport wheels to give it any hope. The interior is plain too, but it is well organized and well put together. VW may have dumbed it down a little, but Toyota and Honda have made a fortune on selling bland and dumbed down, so they are giving the people what they want. Which is fitting for the "people's car"

Oh ok. The Malibu seems like a refresh of the current, even if they did change a lot under the skin. And I like many other cars in that segment more. The Impala having only to deal with the Avalon, Taurus and perhaps Dodge/Chrysler rear drivers should have more success. The ATS I think will hit the right spot also, as long as the inside isn't too small. The German trio pretty much own that segment, the ATS can rocket right past Lexus, Acura, Volvo, Infiniti, etc.

The Camaro isn't so much of a cheap performance car any more. It seems to be heading into where a Corvette was priced several years ago.

Could be the Catera in reverse. They could tweak the front and rear fascias and call it a day, wouldn't surprise me if they did. I doubt many people in Europe want one regardless of what they do with it.

Why is that?

Looks like the same as the current car, aside from the new grille, which is hideous. The tag line for this car could be "the new LS460, now with more Camry!" The 2007 Lexus LS460 looked decent, it was boring, but it at least had a subtle sophistication to it and some elegance. Since it seems like in their desire to make it less boring, it just got uglier and uglier. Just another victim for the S-class now, and the posers that buy a LS460 for $65k because they can't afford and S-class can now buy an Equus, which is better than this thing.

The 2.0T even rated at 260 hp and lb-ft wouldn't be too far off than the 275 hp and 300 lb-ft from the DeVilles. Plus a 6-speed transmission rather than a 4. The 0-60 times would still probably be 7.5 seconds, which is adequate for the type of people that buy an XTS. I think they will probably sell the 2.0T XTS here in time, they definitely need it in China where gas is above $4 a gallon, and that could rise with demand. I think the type of buyer that buys an ATS will be more discriminating of the engine than the typical XTS buyer, so if the 2.0T is good enough for the ATS, it is good enough for the XTS. As long as they always offer a V6 option, because there will be old school buyers that are mad about losing the V8, they may accept a V6, but probably won't buy a 4.

If Hyundai can make a DOHC V8, then Cadillac can. It could be used on the CTS, as well as LTS (if that is the name) and possibly future Escalade or a future sports car. And there could be different tunes obviously, with naturally aspirated and turbo or they could do a couple different displacements also. They need a diesel also.

I must say though, that I am glad Cadillac is going for it, and I'm glad they are trying and aiming big. I'd rather see them go all in and see what happens, rather than be like Lincoln and just sit stagnant waiting to die.

I'm excited for this car and to see what they come up with, but Cadillac hasn't had success in this price range in over 50 years. The Allante, XLR, STS-V all bombed out. Different era, but still, this is territory that GM hasn't been been able to break into. If they can nail this car, it will be huge for Cadillac, both in terms of image, and in terms of developing new technology that can trickle down the line. I am not so sure they can hit a home run on this car though, GM will try to go back to the parts bin to cut costs and cut corners, and if they do it will show. The 2 big problems though are 1: Cadillac has very little international sales presence, while the others do, and 2: Cadillac doesn't have the brand image the others in this class do. Even now, Cadillac's top sedan has a base price of $45k, and in 3 years they want to get people to spend perhaps $90k for a full size sedan, it is a big leap. When the traditional Cadillac buyer walks into a dealer and sees a $45k XTS, and a $90k whatever-TS that are the same size, that could be confusing.

Jaguar leather and wood is excellent, the carpets are good, the interiors are just top notch. Plus Jaguar styling is so good, the XK has been around 6 or 7 years now and still looks amazing. Jaguar in 2009 was #1 JD Power in vehicle dependability, snapping the 14 year streak Lexus had. They were below average in 2010, but #3 in 2011. So they aren't the disaster they used to be. The ATS I'd consider, it is the most appealing Cadillac to me in years. From the photos I think they did get interior build quality up to where it needs to be, but I need to sit in on to see. The 3.6 with RWD should be good, because I thought the CTS felt burdened by the weight, the ATS should solve that problem.

You're not convinced that GM can build a car that can last, yet you run straight to the manufacturer with the absolute shortest testimony on build quality (of which the jury is still out on) just because of a 429hp V8........ You make no sense dude... not that you ever have. Valid point, but the Genesis has a bigger warranty than anyone else, so if something does go wrong it is covered. And as mentioned, they depreciate so they don't cost that much on the used market. The Genesis gives a lot for the money. I'm not saying I'd buy one, but I'd consider one. I'd rather have a Jag, but they cost a lot.

S-class has sold 37,539 in first half of 2012, they say that is the most in the segment. I could only find that the 7-series sold 17,000 the first quarter, so they are close. But the 7-series is new, this generation S-class has been on sale since 2006. Sales will pick up when the new model comes out, they are on pace for 75,000 this year, but when the W221 first came out they were selling over 90,000 a year. The S-class is more expensive than the 7-series also, more revenue comes from it. The S-class was just named world green car of the year as well, so the Volt, Prius and Leaf have been put on notice.

I am not saying Lexus was a failure, it was brilliant marketing on the part of Toyota and they attacked a market that was ripe. Cadillac and Lincoln in the 90s were mostly garbage, Toyota was rising through the 80s and 90s and had buyers looking to trade up, and loads of baby boomers were nearing age 50 (luxury car buying age) around 2000 and it was a perfect storm. Lexus did the first luxury crossover SUV and they dressed up a Camry and those 2 alone were selling about 175,000 vehicles a year in their prime. Lexus really captured the baby boomer market and left Cadillac and Lincoln with the baby boomers parents, which really hurt them in terms of sales and perception. Lexus has a mediocre line up, with a strong perception, so kudos to them for Jedi-mind tricking people into buying their cars. Mercedes and BMW have stronger product and stronger perception though.

The ATS gives me hope for the next CTS, on a midsize car they can do more, bring more power, bolder, more dramatic styling, better interior, etc. The next CTS could be a very exciting car. But I can't afford a car that expensive and wouldn't buy a new car anyway because used ones are such greater value. When I car shop I will probably be looking at 2008-2010 era luxury car, Genesis or Jag XF or something like that. This ATS or the next CTS probably won't hit the used car market by the time I buy a car.

Agreed. GM is building better, but everyone in the market is building better. GM convincing the naysayers will be their biggest challenge. And on luxury cars the badge matters, sometimes more than the car behind it. Nope, if that was the case Lexus would not have had foothold and now stronghold in USA. Perceptions, Perceptions, Perceptions. Lexus did go from nothing to top selling luxury car in the USA in about 10 years, and hold that spot for 8 years or so. They are still number 3 with weak product, just because they have a badge. Lexus's problem is Mercedes and BMW have a better badge on the hood.

What if it doesn't have a V8? (aside from ZL1 trim) Hard to justify the CTS-V being the only Cadillac with a V8, then putting one in the Camaro and Chevy SS which cost much less. CAFE makes GM do weird things. I hope V8s survive, especially on cars regular people can afford. I'd like to see the CTS in non-V form get a V8.

It has a unique look, but I am not really a fan of it. They put a lot of features on this car, but at the end of the day, this is still a Fusion. Although the 2013 Fusion looks better.

Agreed. GM is building better, but everyone in the market is building better. GM convincing the naysayers will be their biggest challenge. And on luxury cars the badge matters, sometimes more than the car behind it.