smk4565
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Everything posted by smk4565
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According to Car and Driver numbers, 2013 M5 is 4387 lbs, and the 2012 CTS-V is 4220 lbs. The 5-series with and height are within a half inch of the CTS, the 5-series has 3.5 inches more in the wheelbase and 2 inches more overall length compared to the CTS. But I think the 5-series has gotten a bit big, although it still splits the difference between the 3 and 7. The current CTS on wheelbase, height, width and length is within 0.5 inches in every direction of a Mercedes E-class. The E-class is the sales champion, it's a good size car, no reason for the CTS to get bigger, it is already the same size as the heart of the segment. And for whatever it is worth, the CTS is already about an inch longer than the Lexus GS, though smaller than the Infiniti M37.
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It does look bigger which makes me fear we have STS part 2 coming, but even Cadillac can't be that dumb to repeat that mistake. The grille looks big like an Audi grille, not really a fan of massive front grilles, but maybe the final product will be more like the current CTS size grille. Looks like a fairly evolutionary design though.
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Lexus News: Rumorpile: Next Lexus IS To Be "Revolutionary"
smk4565 replied to William Maley's topic in Toyota
It will no doubt be ugly, and probably not a very good sports car, since Lexus never figures out how to make something sporty. But if they start with the GT86 chassis it should be light, if they use the 8-speed as the base transmission and turbo the the 2.5L four and 3.5L V6 they could have some good powertrains. But my guess is we see carryover engine and transmission and they'll be sunk. -
Mitsubishi still makes cars?
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I have to disagree with your statement. The German trio have a few cars that are above the CTS with interiors that are very nice, but in the same size/price range, the current CTS is very competitive. Well I'd agree that the CTS competes well with the G37, A4, C-class and 3-series, but the CTS gets outsold by all those except for the A4. Now the ATS is supposed to compete with those 4 cars, so that leaves the CTS as what, Acura TL and Lincoln MKZ competitor? A midsize V6 entry lux car for $36k. The CTS will have to move up market, thus have a substantial interior upgrade to compete with the A6 and E-class or Jaguar.
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They should refresh the ZDX by killing it all together. The RLX seems like another dud in the waiting. "The RLX will be offered in a 310 horsepower, front-wheel-drive version, which will deliver superior handling performance through the application of a new Acura technology- Precision All Wheel Steer™." Yeah, the 300 hp AWD car from 2005 couldn't compete with the Germans, so now they'll try 310 hp and FWD. Why do I get the feeling that precision all wheel steer won't deliver BMW 5-series handling.
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It is interesting and sad that the Infiniti M which is a pretty good car, gets outsold 3-1 by the JX, which to me isn't much more than a Nissan Minivan with fancy trim. I guess buyers would rather have a 3 row SUV with 265 hp than a RWD V8 sedan.
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I drove a Sonata and it was pretty quiet, pretty good for a low $20s midsizer. Never drove an Optima, but I agree with mudmonster about the styling, I like it. I like how the center console angles toward the drive also, give the interior more of a sporty feel, compared with the Sonata that has a generic layout.
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I like the A-class. I can see people buying it. Personally I'd still want a rear drive Benz though.
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Well I didn't really mean to compare the GT-R to a Mustang or Camaro, just saying that Magnetic shocks may be good, but there are still better suspensions out there. So Cadillac might as well use them like crazy because at least it sets them apart from the mainstream cars and gives them something unique.
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Right, that is why it isn't good for Chevy, but a Cadillac is supposed to be expensive.
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The Mustang has a solid rear axel, I would hope the Camaro can win the suspension battle there. The Camaro being heavier and less powerful makes it slower in a straight line, but obviously the Camaro beats it in the corners. So it is a win for the suspension there to overcome the power deficit. But by the same token, a GT-R can slap either of those cars around because of what it's chassis and suspension can do. But if I were Cadillac, I'd put magnetic ride control on every single model they make.
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Yes, CAFE sucks. Hopefully this thing isn't painfully slow and runs out of range in 50 miles. But if it performs okay, they'll fool some wealthy environmentalists into buying one. If it means we get to keep the V12 S-class, then I'm okay with it. So few B-classes will be on the road, most people won't notice it.
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Let's hope, because if you take XTS platinum interior, with ATS handling and put that with a twin turbo v6 into a CTS you have a winner.
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The CTS doesn't have the interior to challenge the German mid-sizers. CTS lives in the entry level price class and doesn't sell outside the North America either. They still have ground to make up, although I believe if they go all out they can get in the conversation with the German trio. My fear is, that they dumb down the CTS interior, so they can continue to justify the XTS's existence.
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But a CTS with a longer wheel base, RWD, a light weight chassis and Magnaride will ride and handle better than the XTS. I'd like to see them upstage the XTS interior in the new CTS as well. It is very possible that the 2014 CTS is lighter, quicker, better handling, better riding, more fuel efficient, roomier and with a more luxurious interior than the XTS. And that will be a win for CTS and for Cadillac because they will finally have the car they need to challenge the Germans.
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Cadillac News: Rumorpile: More Details on The Cadillac ELR
smk4565 replied to William Maley's topic in Cadillac
Unless they build this car out of carbon fiber it is going to be obese, and no one wants a 4,200 lb Delta platform car for $60,000. That makes a Cimarron look good. I think GM is making an error here, unless they can find away to deliver electric drive at ATS level performance. If they can make a performance electric car I am all for it, if this is a Cadillac that drags to 60 in 10 seconds and drains the battery in 30 miles, then no thank you.- 15 replies
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- Cadillac
- Cadillac ELR
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Bingo, and the XTS embraces the old image of Cadillac, it doesn't help to change it. That is my #1 problem with the car. The people that don't give Cadillac a chance now, aren't going to have their mind changed by the XTS.
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They spent $4.7 billion on Mercedes Benz Car line (SUV included), the commercial trucks and Freightliner and Western Star, etc have a different budget.
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$7.6 billion in 2011, which is the same number Daimler-Benz posted. But GM is off to a slow start this year, $1 billion first quarter. GM had one big year, but Opel is bleeding money, and I still wonder if they will really invest in Cadillac or if they will keep diverting it to trucks or dividends to try to keep the stock price up. The government still owns a lot of that stock so who knows where the real priorities lie this close to coming out of bankruptcy. Interesting though is Daimler spent $4.7 billion on R&D for Mercedes-Benz Cars in 2011. I don't think GM spend $4 billion in one year on Cadillac. Cadillac v. Mercedes is a bit Pittsburgh Pirates v. New York Yankees, the deck is heavily stacked in one team's favor.
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How do we know that things are any better now. Opel is losing nearly $1 billion a year, GM turns out less net profit now than they did in the 1990s when they couldn't afford to do things right. I still don't think GM has the money to fund Cadillac.
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Cadillac has had years (and in reality decades) to get it right. In 2002 when they started with the CTS, STS, XLR and SRX that was supposed to be the product wave and that flopped. There is nothing to indicate that the ATS and next gen CTS won't just be more of the same. When they redid the Deville and decided to call it DTS in 2006, that was supposed to be a stop gap and 6 years later, yet another. Who's to say that in 2018 there isn't a new version of the XTS and the CTS failed to go up market, so it has to go back down to where it is now, and the ATS is striped down to fight the Acura TSX and Audi A3. Not saying that that will happen, but I think it is just as possible as Cadillac moving up to take on BMW and Mercedes.
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So basically (to steal a line from The Dark Knight), the XTS isn't the flagship they deserved, but the flagship they needed right now.
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Although Cadillac is charging $10,000 more for an XTS than a CTS. And if they increase the CTS $10,000 in price, what does that do to CTS sales, and what happens when 2 cars with the same price are on the same showroom floor. That strategy didn't bode well for the DTS and STS.
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I don't think the ES is really a LaCrosse competitor. The LaCrosse is $30,000, the 2013 ES350 is $38,000 (estimated), and the XTS is $45,000. The LaCrosse isn't up-market enough, nor does it have a true luxury badge to really compete with the ES head on. Likewise the ES is a bit smaller and cheaper than the XTS. I can however see people cross shopping the ES350 against a high end LaCrosse or base XTS. It is like shopping vanilla ice cream from Breyers, Haggan Daas and Ben and Jerry's, it is basically all the same, just different package and price. The Toyota Avalon actually carries a higher price tag than the LaCrosse, I see that as Buick's competition. Of Lexus models, the ES350 is closest to the XTS, and I don't really see the XTS competing too directly with any German sedan. MKS is very similar in size and pricing.
