smk4565

The supercharged V6 seems likely, but Krafcik did say they were considering a 450 hp V8. A V8 in a Genesis coupe would be a tasty treat indeed. Perhaps they can do both, but that would be 4 engines for a coupe that doesn't have a lot of sales volume. Maybe they should just supercharge the V8 instead.

$26k seems a bit steep for this. If Package 1 was included with auto up windows and fog lights I would think it was a good deal. But the Malibu isn't a full hybrid, and a Fusion hybrid gets 41 mpg city compared to 26 mpg on the Malibu, big difference. The Fusion hybrid for example has standard power front seats, auto dimming mirror, rear parking aid, fog lamps, and leather steering wheel for $28,700. With the same features, the Malibu Eco and Fusion Hybrid will be really close in price, and the Fusion has that 15 mpg advantage in city. The other question I have is what does eAssist/Eco cost, $2k maybe? So are we looking at $24k for a base Malibu? Which I am fine with if the car has the equipment to back up the price, but they seem to have most features optional.

I like it if the running boards and wheel on the trunk come off it. Although I preferred the late 80s Seville to the early 80s, I like the smaller one.

I am not surprise the 500 hasn't sold, it is sort of expensive for what you get. It has some unique Italian styling quirks and I like the fold back cloth roof. But it has about 106 hp and only gets 32 mpg highway. There are 40 mpg cars with more power for less money.

But in 2005 after the CTS, XLR, STS, and SRX were on sale, they did the DTS rehash for 2006 and an Escalade update also. Why in 2006 were they not planning for the next generation of rear drive Cadillacs? It is like they re-did the CTS and let the rest die on the vine. To me the most frustrating thing about Cadillac is they won't get the model line in order, like you said, they have CTS, SRX and Escalade right now. It seems like even with 4 brands GM can't keep the pipelines full. BMW has had that 3, 5, 7 set up since the 80s, after 30 years Cadillac is still trying to get to the small, medium, large sedan line going, and they keep fumbling the ball.

Even just on handling alone, I'd take an Audi over a Buick. The A4 is pretty similar to the CTS as far as handling, but the A4 is firmer, probably has less body roll (but it is lighter too). I can't see any Buick handling like a CTS. I'd actually be interested in driving a Regal or LaCrosse to see how far GM fwd has come since cars like the Aurora, Seville STS, Grand Prix GTP, Malibu, 9-5 Aero because I have driven all those. But I am driving my last fwd car, and my next car will be rwd, so I haven't bothered to look at anything fwd. I am not anti front wheel drive, for compacts and mainstream sedans it is great, for the demographic that buys an ES350 and doesn't want power and performance it suits their needs. But Cadillac should build "Standard of the World," take magnetic ride, hyperstruts, air springs, etc and put that on a rear drive chassis. I'd like to see them take the CTS-V suspension and put it on the base model ATS and go BMW hunting, but the bean counters won't allow that.

The S-class is the most profitable sedan in the world, any car maker wishes they had that. You all can hate on it, but it has set the standard for 30-40 years now, and Daimler is pretty well run and profitable company. They know what they are doing, and everyone else seems to try to copy them.

If they make a Jaguar edition of the Tata Nano I might just have to give up on cars.

Cadillac isn't a leader, but the frustrating thing is they could be up in the conversation with BMW and Mercedes. Infiniti, Lexus, Acura, Lincoln, and even Audi have flaws that Cadillac could be and should be exploiting. If they added $10,000 to the base price of the CTS it would allow them to equip the car so that it can go against the A6, M, 5-series, E-class. Problem is I think that is where they will price the XTS, then you have the DTS-STS price overlap all over again, just with different models. The ATS is what I am waiting for, it is a Cadillac I might actually want to buy. But my fear there is they cheap it out too much to keep the price under the where the CTS sits now. The 2012 3-series pricing basically matches the CTS, so does the ATS cost as much as a CTS or does it become a poor man's 3-series with compromises.

The S-class is worth the price. Even after 6 years on market while everyone else has a fresher model, the S-class still outsells them all despite costing $10-30,000 more than its competitors. The S-class interior may be a simple design, but it has sophistication and the build quality and materials are outstanding. Plus the technology, the engines, and when you buy an S-class you are buying a legendary reputation.

Impressive, but a 550 hp SUV is pretty pointless. But in true Mercedes fashion, they will build it just because they can. And some crazy rich people will spend $90,000 on it because they have money to burn. When does the SRX-V come out to battle this, oh wait, that is right, the SRX is front wheel drive the a V6.

The A6 3.0T Quattro does 0-60 in 5.4 seconds. That is over a full second quicker than a LaCrosse, that is much quicker than a CTS even. The Audi would run 4 rings around a Buick, a CTS AWD would probably struggle to keep up with an A6. Plus the A6 interior is better than any American car interior. Although I personally don't like Audis, they do a few things well.

Police and Cab companies wouldn't want a CTS because it would fall apart. I've seen 25 year old S-classes with 300,000+ miles on them still in good condition. An American car just won't last like that, the leather will tear and crack, the body panels get gaps, transmission or engine goes, etc. Most car companies don't build a car with the thought that they want it to still be on the road a quarter century later. Mercedes might be the only one that does.

I have not driven an A6, but have driven the A4. I think an A4 Quattro has better handling than a CTS, it at least feels more nimble, but it is smaller and lighter. The CTS does have better ride though. I have not driven the LaCrosse, but I know it doesn't handle better than a CTS. I doubt a LaCrosse can keep up with an A6 Quattro, which is a pretty solid car. Personally though I don't care for the A6, and neither do many other people since the E-class and 5-series outsell it about 8 to 1. Maybe Audi needs to dump that platform and make a true RWD car.

So Cadillac should be able to price a base model CTS with a 4-cylinder at $45k then, and about $51k for a base V6. And then sell 250,000 per year, instead of 50,000 per year.

I just read an article that listed the most profitable vehicles in the past 20 years, the Detroit 3 pickups were the top 3, followed by the S-class. And they only listed cars sold in the USA, so I imagine this was a domestic study. Worldwide the S-class must generate huge amounts of profit. When you build the best car with the best reputation you get people to pay for it.

It said a version of the E-class platform. The wheelbase and track will be way different, and AutoCar is speculating anyway. And the "mass-market" E-class is still more expensive than any American sedan, so it isn't like they are starting with crap.

The XTS isn't going to match a 528i, an ES350 sure, I think Jeremy Clarkson said every Lexus sedan is like driving a bucket of wall paper paste, and I imagine he is correct. If the XTS is $39,000 then handling to beat a LaCrosse, Lincoln, ES350 is fine and will be all those buyers want. At $50k, you can get a 5-series or E-class or A6, Infiniti M, etc. Once you get against the big boys you better bring the A-game.

Have you see the pricing yet? The Ferrari borrowing from Cadillac reminds me of Suzuki Kizashi comparison ads, or Lexus IS350 ads saying they have more horsepower than a C-class. It just shows how they are followers when they have to try to convince people they are in an elite class. Think of a Mercedes S-class ad (or any Merc ad really) what car do they compare the S-class to??? No car, they already know the S-class is the best car in the world and has been for 30-40 years, the competition doesn't matter. On the 2nd point, I have not seen pricing, that is why I said "my guess" is $10,000 more than a CTS, and I posted earlier $46,500 was what I thought the base price would be. Agreed. My first car was a Cavalier and the Cobalt was better of course. But by 2011 standards, the Cobalt is pretty much was the Cavalier was in the 90s.

This is, of course, correct. "Faking" such a thing isn't really possible. Video can be edited... anyway, it's a moot point since the Cobalt is defunct...no one cares. Yeah, if the Cobalt were so great, it would still be here. I never drove an SS model, but the base Cobalt was miserable to drive.

The base price of the XTS will be more than the base price on any other Cadillac sedan. That is what I meant by it will be their top end (or most expensive) car. My guess is the XTS V6 is $10,000 more than a CTS V6.

That's the same scenario with the LaCrosse & the XTS; not at all similar. It isn't the same, because the Camaro will be able to have acceleration and handling like a 3-series or G37 so it should match up well against a Mustang, Genesis Coupe, 370Z etc. The platform won't limit the Camaro's performance. The XTS can't handle like other luxury sedans with the same price point. And the LaCrosse has a lot of the features that the XTS has, the Impala has the same engine/transmission. The DTS is a sales dog, and Cadillac just rebuilt the same car on a different platform. Weak effort.

That was the marketing angle of the Lacrosse at the time, but my belief was always that the LaCrosse competed with the Avalon, Taurus, Chrysler 300, maybe Maxima and Azera. I never saw Buick as a Lexus competitor, the ES350 bases higher than a CTS, the LaCrosse upon debut based around $26 or 27,000.

The XTS will be more expensive than an ATS or CTS, so for the foreseeable future it is their top sedan. The ATS chassis doesn't exist on any car currently for sale. It it new, and the Camaro will be based off the ATS. That I am fine with, the Camaro is a sports car, they should base it off a sporty platform. And the Camaro will have a basic interior, it won't be at all similar to the Cadillac. I was fine with the XLR and Corvette platform sharing, I thought the XLR was a great looking car too, the interior and performance just fell short of the price tag.

No, they make the Pullman now, it is basically a limo. They make an armored Pullman also that you have to special order and clear a background check to buy. But it does come with its own air supply, fire extinguishing system and can withstand 5 grenades at once. And y'all can hate on the S-class all you want, the new one will be awesome, just like every previous generation was awesome and with technology and power years ahead of the competition. I am excited to see what they come up with next. Magic Ride Control is going to blow away everything on the market.