smk4565

If it is priced much higher than what I think, it will be priced against a CTS. Buick can't command Cadillac pricing, especially with their entry level car. A Lucerne starts at $27,000 and that is their top of the line car, this has to cost less, or just cannabalize sales like the CTS did to the STS. Same chassis, engine and transmission as a Malibu, even has a similar shaped interior, it is dressed up Malibu, just as a TL is a dressed up Accord.

A Malibu LTZ with 4-cylinder and 6 speed combo is 3649 pounds, a full 200 more than the MKZ with front drive and 6-speed auto. The LaCrosse will be heavier, at least 3700 pounds, probably closer to 3800, so the MKZ is a lightweight by comparison. The Aura XR has decent handling, if the LaCrosse handles better then it will be an okay car, but they will tune it to float for the geezers and make the steering unresposnive, that is what Buick does. There is no doubt in my mind that this car will be like a dressed up Malibu, 10-15 more hp, softer ride, "quiet tuning," a few more features inside, but basically the same car, and they'll price it at $26-32,000.

I actually like the MKS look, though the MKS is too big and too slow for me to be interested, but when the MKZ gets that styling theme next year, I think it will look really good. The interior looks like it will be much nicer also, plus ecoboost is coming. The LaCrosse won't be better than an MKZ, it will float and have non-responsive slushy steering, and it will no doubt be over weight. The MKZ is lighter than a 4-cylinder Malibu.

I said a year ago the G8 would be a bust, and it is. Every mistake with the GTO was repeated. Astra is not nicer or faster or better handling than a Golf/Rabbit or Mini or Civic, etc plus Saturn has less brand image than Honda or VW, so no wonder it doesn't sell. Saab shouldn't exist anymore.

Or GM's Mercury Milan.

RWD > FWD. V8 in a Lambda won't work, unless it is a bad V8 making around 300 hp, which they can get from a V6. Front drive is limited as to how much power it can take, and the bigger engine will just screw up the weight balance and handling even more. You can't compete with BMW or Mercedes (or Range Rover) with engines, transmissions and platforms shared with a Chevy. They need better than that.

It will no doubt compete well with the front drive offerings from Jaguar/Land Rover, BMW and Mercedes, oh wait...

Fail.

No one will buy that. If Mercedes is selling 100 wagons, Cadillac would sell 50, why bother. Worry about getting the CTS to E-class price, getting a 3-series competitor, an S-class competitor, making the XLR relevant and competitive with the SL, getting a unibody Escalade that isn't a front drive platform share, etc.

This car is horrible. Acura is already kind of a joke luxury brand, this just seals the deal.

To do a Cadillac version, it would (or at least should) offer Cadillac performance, and be able to do 0-60 in under 7 seconds, which is a far cry from what the Volt can do. Cadillac doesn't need a slow, front drive compact based on a Chevy, that was an epic failure in the 1980s. If they take the technology and implement it into a rear drive electric vehicle that at least matches the CTS DI in acceleration and handling then they are on to something. But that won't happen, even the Escalade is going front drive. If a Chevy Volt is $40k, what is a Cadillac version, $60k? And can Cadillac get people to pay $60k for a small sedan?

The concept looked better, the headlights look too much like a Civic, and the car looks like it is made out of plastic. $40k for a Chevy will be tough when people can get a Prius (with the more reputable "T" on the front) for $26k. Some will buy it because it is all electric, but people that just want high mileage and low purchase cost will look at the Insight or other non-hybrid compacts.

The 335d has 265 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque and 23/33 mpg, that is better than CamCord 4-cylinder economy, but with Corvette level torque, so it should be quite good. The 335d and 535d are quiet too, about 66 dBA inside, which is Lexus LS460 territory. And the 3 and 5 series has always carried their brand volume, for the past 25-30 years those 2 cars have been considered best in their segment. Worldwide they are selling 1.3 million or so vehicles, they're doing fine and will continue to do so.

With the new $250,000 entry-level Rolls, sales should really take off! I do like how the Rolls-Royce emblems on the wheels stay in place while the car is moving though. The 5-series sells pretty well for a car that has been around a while and is $50-70k. The 8-series is coming back, and bringing a new V12 with it, should be interesting.

I don't like how it looks, because I hate how the Prius looks and it is too similar. This is a little better looking, but it is still odd. But no matter how ugly it is, if it gets 70 mpg and costs $20,000 they will sell a ton of them. 70 mpg (even 50-60) is huge.

I don't think they should throw in the towel, 2 years ago I said they should dump Saab, Hummer and Buick and just put more money into Cadillac. Saab and Hummer have to go, maybe dump Pontiac and keep Buick, regardless, Cadillac needs more money, more current models, nothing with a transversely mounted engine.

Agreed. The public isn't buying it, the Impala is around 55-60% fleet sale. Avis probably needed cars this month and got a nice deal.

I get my car serviced at a Cadillac dealership and it is no nicer than the Honda dealership down the road, and pails in comparison to the Benz or Jag-Land Rover dealer that are near it. Most Cadillac dealerships aren't that nice and could use an upgrade. They can't even make a V8, they'll never make a V16. Mark LaNave believes most luxury car buyers want a V6 engine. Which is why we get a V6 only front drive SRX and the competing vehicle from Infiniti Infiniti has a 390 hp V8 and 7-speed transmission and is rear drive.

GM can talk about how the CTS, Malibu and some crossovers were up, but Cadillac was down 20%, and GM as a whole was down 20%. There are far more weak models in the lineup than there are strong, and that leads to a perception problem and sales problem. The cars like the CTS and Malibu that were up, still get beat on volume by other cars in the segment, GM lacks a car like a Camry or 3-series that sells in massive volume. I find it interesting that Infiniti is up 8%, because all the other luxury brands dropped. I just saw a commercial for the new FX, 390 hp V8 and 7 speed transmission, which seems better than the front drive SRX that is coming.

They're dead. Bad product mix in their lineup, and their products have poor interiors and just aren't competitive. The Chrysler brand was outsold by Kia.

An STS with the chinese interior would be better than what we have now, but still not better than a Jag XF or the German trio and no where near the S-class. Cadillac can't just make a lineup better than what they currently have, they have to make one better than what Mercedes or BMW has. And the E-class and 5-series are all new in under 2 years.

I know the Aurora's overhangs aren't excessive, but there is still a good bit up front. The Aurora is better designed than the Lucerne though, Buick took what Oldsmobile had and made a step backwards. I agree that Zeta has a weight problem.

The G-platform was fine back in the day, I have a G-platform I agree that there is nothing wrong with it. However, for $40k or more cars, there is better out there now. In 3 years there will be even better stuff out there, the G-platform is just past its prime, as is the Northstar. I am pretty sure the G-body can't accommodate the 6-speed, and the overhangs on the Lucerene are bad. Buick sold 309,000 cars in 2004, yet is on pace for 180,000 or so this year. This brand is sinking, it is almost impossible for them to get younger buyers at this point.

The Lucerne platform is already 14 years old, come 2011 that car is going to be ancient, and that is their flagship. Much like the DTS does to Cadillac, it just makes the brand seem outdated and geared toward senior citizens. A Buick car on Delta could work if it is nice, and not just a rebadge.

The DTS has already "soldiered on" too long. It looks like Cadillac is headed for 2 crossover SUVs based on platforms form other brands, a CTS in the $40-50k range and a BTS in the $30-40k range, and maybe a luxury Volt. So they are Lincoln plus an electric car.