smk4565

The Mercedes-Nissan/Renault alliance doesn't mean the Nissan V6 is going to Mercedes. Mercedes is going to have Nissan build turbo fours (of Mercedes design) in Tennessee to be used n C-class production in Alabama and for use on future Infinitis. Then there will be platform sharing on the next Smart car and Renault Twingo, and Infiniti is supposed to get an A-class based car. There will also be joint powertrain development for 3-cyldiner engines for Smart and Renault. So the partnership is about compact cars and a Europe-only entry level van. I pulled this from egmcartech.com "All rear-wheel drive Benzes of the future will be based on their new global Mercedes Rear-wheel drive Architecture, or MRA. This means that it is subdivided into 93 different modules with the only two fixed points being the front and rear firewalls, leaving different axles and drivetrains to be applied." Right now Mercedes uses different platforms for the sedans, another for sports cars, another for the ML and GL. So this will allow them to put all the sedans and SUVs on a common platform to give them economies of scale needed. Cadillac could do the same with Alpha and Omega. If they make enough ways to vary length, width, etc, the ATS, CTS, big sedan, SRX, Escalade, etc could all be build off them.

Personally, I always thought GMC wasn't needed, but I doubt they are going anywhere. We are led to believe that GMC is profitable, as are the four brands that survived bankruptcy. So if all these brands are needed, and making money, then GM should have enough money to give Cadillac what they need. CTS and ATS will share a platform, Omega can be the second. Two exclusive platforms for Cadillac is very little to ask, especially when Alpha will probably produce a Chevy. Cadillac needs their own engine also, and other technologies and equipment not seen on other GM cars. They stuff on Cadillac can trickle down when they replace that model.

Ford doesn't have to print 2 brochures, run 2 websites, have 2 customer service lines, have 2 sets of office personnel or run 2 different marketing campaigns. If it is one brand, they should just have Chevy trucks and a Denali trim option, and close GMC dealerships down.

That's something I've never understood..why would they go for a very different Ford rather than a Chevy that is virtually identical to a GMC...People are weird. I still see no reason for GM to have two truck brands...Ford and Chrysler each have one truck brand and don't need a redundant brand--they offer their trucks in a wide range of trims from stripped to loaded, Chevy could do the same thing. Agreed. Then maybe the F150 won't spend the next 30 years kicking the Silverado's ass, as it has done for the past 30 years. I would guess the F150 is more profitable than the Silverado and Sierra combined are, because they advertise once for it and buy one set of parts for it, and they got people paying $1000 extra over the cost of a V8 for a V6.

That makes no sense. The Sierra and Silverado look the same (sans grille and badge change), drive the same, ride the same, handle the same, have the same equipment and features and cost the same. Why would a Sierra driver go to Ford for something different? Ford cut Mercury, I didn't see every Mercury driver flee to Chevrolet. And the ones that did leave the brand were probably going to leave even if Mercury had stayed. I'd like to see GM post profit of each brand to see who really makes the money. Really if you put 50% of GMT900 development cost on GMC, they are losing money.

If you look at the S-class range, it does it all. You can get 31 mpg, or 0-60 in 4 seconds, 4-matic and adjustable height suspension makes it work in snow or mud, it has ride, handling, technology, luxury, etc. It does everything well, so if Cadillac wants to go there, they need a car that does everything well.

If GMC is pure profit, then GM should have plenty of money to send Cadillac's way. I am not so convinced that GMC is the cash cow many think it is, they are basically running a whole separate marketing campaign to sell what Chevy already does. Buick sells the Verano, LaCrosse and Enclave which are all Chevy under the skin and the Regal came from Opel. And they are selling in China, so where is all GM's money going? And why would GM put money to mid-levels like Buick and GMC or money losing Opel, and keep it from Cadillac? Chevy because volume is GM's most important brand, but Cadillac is their icon and really should be the leader of GM. I suspect GM could afford to give Cadillac what it needs, but chooses not to. And if they can't afford to give Cadillac the money they need, they still have too many models and too many brands.

Cadillac shouldn't be a drain, they are supposed to be the crown jewel. If GM can't fund 4 brands, then GM didn't cut enough of them in bankruptcy. After Chevy, the #1 priority of GM (globally) needs to be Cadillac.

Mustang and Camaro are far from the luxury car market. And most big luxury sedans are not aggressively styled, they are more sedate and elegant. Plus I would say if Cadillac wants to sell an $80-100,000 sedan, there better not be many trade offs in it. At that price point buyers aren't going to want compromises.

I do think that Cadillac needs to decide if they are a Contender or a Pretender. They have talked for years, let's see action. I do believe they need a flagship car, look at how weak Lincoln, Acura and even Infiniti are without one. Infiniti has 2 strong cars in the G and M, yet they can't crack the German stronghold. It doesn't matter how good the ATS and CTS are, without any halo vehicles or image builders it is going to be a long road to standard of the world. But Cadillac also has to go big or go home here, they can't run another Allante or XLR-V out there to bomb. It needs to be done right, which will cost a load of money, but I think worth it for the brand in the long run.

Audi does run parts bin, but mainly off the 2.0T engine. The 3.0 supercharged V6 isn't really seen elsewhere, and the 4.0 V8 wasn't either until Bentley got a differently tuned version for the Continental this year. Audi does have an 8-speed transmission that VW doesn't have, and that modular platform thing is more for them and not VW. The A3 is the only Audi with a lot of VW gear in it. Most of Audi parts share is with Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini, which isn't a bad thing. Audi also doesn't have the cache that BMW or Mercedes have, here or anywhere else really. Audi wins in China because the government loves them and they do cost less than Mercedes. I am not sure what parts bin Mercedes is sharing with. I didn't know the E-class got it's platform, engine, and transmission from a $25,000 family sedan. Mercedes and BMW are unique in that they don't have many global partnerships, aside from some strategic alliances.

"The way we're funding Cadillac has been from, sort of, everything else in GM. That leaves the brand with "very reduced scale in terms of individual architectures, engines, technology." I think that is the telling statement, Ruess is admitting that Cadillac is basically a parts bin brand. I don't think he wants it that way, but the financials dictate it. I believe he also knows that the parts bin isn't going to cut it in that upper echelon of sedans. And will the beancounters give the money for low economy of scale architectures, engines and technology.

GT-R and Porsche 911 turbo are different animals. Both have 500 hp sixes, but not really set for luxury car tune. Luxury sedans need the power, but with smoothness and refinement and quietness. V6 is where most buyers buy, that is why you need a good one (or inline with BMW). But someone like me who finds the 3.6 liter lacking torque and wants more power needs another option. TT V6 in the 350-375 hp range is a good option to get a quick car without crushing fuel (hopefully). A lot of buyers will like that. I'd still rather have a V8 than a V6 though.

Ecoboost in the F150 is what he is referring too. You could compete with a NA V8, especially a weakish one like Audi has, with a twin turbo V6. However, BMW and Mercedes have twin turbo V8s and Jaguar has a supercharged V8. And a V6 isn't competing with those.

And it's a V8...you can't compete w/ a V8 w/ a V6... Yes you can, Lincoln says so. When the MKS Ecoboost came out, they said it was better than the V8s from the imports. And the MKS has been very sucessful... oh wait, nevermind.

BMW V8 for 2013 is getting a power bump to 445 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. So I don't think they are going after the 550i with this engine.

Agreed with Reg, that Caddy interiors are getting a bit gaudy, but it is bit too early to tell still on this one. There are things I like more than the current CTS interior (which I don't care for too much) like the upper dash and center console, I like no pop up screen, and that they moved the center vents. But I don't like the center stack buttons or how those AC vents look sort of Camaro-like. It shows promise though, would like to see how it turns out and how build quality compares to the Germans. Am curious as to the displacement of the Twin Turbo engine. Assuming the 3.6 carries over with 318ish hp, I would think they have to be going high 300s, plus with better torque delivery. Unless the 3.6 dies and they go 2.0T 270 hp and V6 twin turbo with 350 hp or so. I hope there are 8 gears behind that engine though.

I thought about the Regal also, sales are down on it. But not surprising, the Veranao has the same engines, basically as good interior, just smaller. And many people may like smaller and more economical. Makes the 220 hp Regal turbo look weak now. Although I agree with putting a turbo in, Jetta has a turbo. I don't think they can move the Regal up any, the LaCrosse starts at $30k, Regal already overlaps it a lot in price.

Cheers. Great looking car.

This could be a sweet car if done right. To me, the Genesis is a great car in a bland package. The Charger and 300 have bold packages but sort of old chassis at this point, and despite the improvements on interior, Chrysler isn't setting any standards. Chevy has a chance here to have a modern, updated large RWD sedan that is a good car and has good styling. I fear though we get another car like the GTO and G8 that don't quite hit the mark.

Passat is larger than an A4, and you can get an A4 with a 310 hp/325 lb-ft supercharged V6. The Toureg Hybrid is also priced like an Escalade, it costs more than a Q7, they share a diesel and the Q7 V6 makes more power than a Toureg V6. And they do make a V12 Q7, they just don't sell it in the USA. Porsche shares a couple of those powertrains but they also have a 500 hp option. Obviously Cadillac is going to share turbo 4s and V6 with Buick or Chevy, but Cadillac still needs something to make Cadillac special. GM is putting in a plan to make three V8 Chevy cars, while Cadillac has 1? What happened? It used to be every Cadillac had a V8, they were the first automaker to mass produce a V8. Now they are just sending Cadillac down the CAFE highway to hell so they can make V8 Chevy sports cars and V8 Chevy trucks?

So put the baby duramax on sale already. I don't think developing a new engine is a waste of money. (and a diesel V6 can be used in cars and suvs) Ford did the Ecoboost, Ram is about to do Pentastar V6 and a diesel V6 in the pickup. I think gas and diesel V6, then a gas V8 obviously and duramax diesel. They could do 2 gas V8s if they feel need to have one for more regular trucks and one for HD. For the second pickup, I like the idea of doing one closer to S10 size. They need separation from the Silverado's size and price.

Is the Hemi getting the 8-speed in 2013? If so that could be an option worth waiting for. But if you don't want/need a V8 why bother, it will just drink gas and cost more on oil changes, tune ups, etc. I like V8s so to me it is worth it, but if you don't care about V8 sound and exhaust note, then it isn't worth spending the extra money on it. Especially when the V6 is putting out 290 hp, that is as much as a lot of V8s made 10 years ago.

The 2012 update helps the exterior a lil bit. I agree, it is bland though, I wish they did more with it. I like the interior a lot though, the layout is similar to the S-class, and that is a good thing. The R-spec 429 hp V8 is pretty awesome though, I drove one, only around town at low speed unfortunately, but it is very quiet and you can tell very powerful.

I am not saying power can't overlap, obviously a Camaro and Corvette are going to have 400 hp engines because people buy them for speed. But GM can't keep doing high performance Chevys while Cadillac gets a bunch of 4-cylinders and the V6 from an Impala. I don't care if they drop a Corvette engine in a big Chevy sedan, they aren't going to sell that many anyway, they would need a V6 model to go against the V6 Charger. I am just saying GM can't forget about Cadillac, that is the crown jewel, Cadillac should do everything better than Chevy, that is why it is a Cadillac.