smk4565

The Escalade is too big to compete with anything from Europe. The SRX (with a better look, and updated engines) is the perfect vehicle to compete with the X5 and Cayenne, and M-class. Even this year Car and Driver said the SRX was better than the BMW and Mercedes, and Volvo and VW. The LR3 has a 300 hp V8 and is near $50,000 and is a serious off roader as well. I don't think the BRX front drive, car based ute is going to be fording 22 inches of water, or climbing any sand dunes.

The CTS doesn't make Cadillac an entry level brand, but a BTS and BRX at lower price would. The CTS is also kind of Cadillac's flagship right now since the STS and DTS are so bad. Cadillac just needs more above the CTS, but they are concentrating below it. The 135i has 300 hp and 0-60 in 5 seconds or maybe less, I agree that is is kind of cheap looking for a BMW, but it will be a performance machine. The C-hatchback coupe was a joke, that did hurt their image, that is why they dumped it. Mercedes just has a strong image that can overcome a Cimarron-like blow.

BMW and MB make entry level, but they also have many high level cars, and many years of solid reputation. Their lineups have more models above $50,000 than below. Mercedes has the S, SL, CL classes which can easily go over $100,000 ($144,000 for an S65 AMG). That builds the image, even if they do overprice stuff. Cadillac is about to have 3 models under $35,000, and a DTS replacement at $45,000, and only the Escalade and XLR at the high end. They can't do this CUV right, it has a transverse mounted engine, and will be obese unless TE is an all aluminum chassis.

These are mostly SUVs (the RSX was canned a couple years ago), it is easier to get away with dressing up an SUV, but notice only the Armada and LX470 really top $50,000 on that list. Those are all entry level luxury cars, Acura's whole brand is entry level luxury, aside form the 5000 RL's they sell. Cadillac by doing BTS, BRX, CTS, is making themselves into an entry level brand. The SRX V8 could go head to head with a Porsche Cayenne, and actually beat it in Car and Driver. They are aiming low to try to go after Acura, Lincoln, Infiniti, rather than go after the high end cars. 1-series based on 98-05 3-series chassis 3-series/X3, based on exclusive platform 5 and 6-series/X5 based on exclusive platform 7-series, based on exclusive platform (future to share parts with $325k Rolls Royce Phantom) C-class, on exclusive platform E-class/CLS, exclusive platform S-class, platform shared with $350k Maybach

It isn't a big stretch to compare Cadillac to Lincoln, look where Cadillac's lineup is going. Cadillac just executes it better, because the Fords are inferior to GM's platforms. Escalade is a dressed up Tahoe like the Navigator is a dressed up Expedition. When the DTS/STS die and get replaced, it will be on a dressed up Impala platform, (like the town car/Crown Vic now) BRX and MKX are the same, 5 seater, $35k SUV based on a $25k suv. The difference is the CTS is rear drive, while the MKZ is front, and the MKS will be all wheel. However, the BTS and MKZ should be about the same price, and CTS and MKS will overlap in price, if the CTS goes up in price. The XLR sells under 2000 a year, that is almost a non factor. And Cadillac's only exclusive platform is dying, so they can base everything on a Chevy/Pontiac platform, like Lincoln killed the LS to base everything off a Ford global platform. Where in Cadillac's future product plans are a midsize sedan with a base of $50,000 (E-class, Jaguar XF style car) or a large sedan with a base price of $85,000 that ranges to $130,000? Where is the twin turbo V6, twin turbo V8, all aluminum chassis, 8 speed automatic, car that parks itself, etc. Cadillac used to be an innovator and led in technology for years. Now they are a follower, the CTS has 2 way lumbar support (my 01 Aurora has 4-way), Mercedes has 20 way messaging front seats. Where is the hybird/diesel? Mercedes is going to have an S300 diesel hybrid that gets 40 mpg, more than an Aveo, and from a huge car. Cadillac is lucky to get 20 mpg. The BMW 535d gets 34 mpg right now in Europe. What ever happened to Cadillac wanting to be the best in the world?

Right, but Cadillac should not be chasing RX350 and Enclave buyers. They shouldn't make anything front drive or front drive based. And they can probably make a smoother riding SUV than the RX350 with a rear drive vehicle, if a soft, female car is their top goal. I think GM's top goal is cost cutting and selling as many $28-40k vehicles as possible. Because they know they lose money on the cheap cars (and can't compete with the Fit, Civic, Camry, etc) and they know Cadillac's image isn't good enough to sell $50,000+ cars.

I agree, the SRX was Cadillac's most competitive vehicle (one of GM's top 3 with the Vette and Silverado) in the last 10 years. And they did a poor job marketing it, and gave it too much of a long, low wagon look, and never updated the exterior or V6. The SRX should have lived on on SigmaII, which the CTS should be on. The Germans update platforms (and drivetrains) much faster, that is why they are beating Cadillac.

I know there are tons of things that price overlap, but I think Cadillac needs to move up in price, like $35,000 base to most cars around $50-70,000 and some stuff around $100,000 like Mercedes. Cadillac is becoming more and more like Lincoln every day. GM has a ton of $30-40,000 SUVs, they are adding the Saab (well replacing the no-selling 9-7) and Cadillac. The vehicles are different, but it will still compete some with other GM suvs, and an already crowded segment. BMW has 2 great crossovers (3rd coming) because they are on rear drive platforms with longitudinally mounted engines, and they are in different price ranges.

The BRX better get more than 16-18 mpg like the Vue, otherwise it won't be useful in Europe. Diesel and hybrid only could make it work over there, but again, Cadillac's image in Europe is pretty lousy.

They are trading down a segment, the SRX is in the mid-luxury SUV segment, this thing will likely be entry level with the Lincoln MKX. They are going to give up about $10,000 in price tag to boost volume, that just cheapens the brand. If the BRX is $35-40,000, it then is in the same price class with the Enclave and Acadia, and upcoming Mercedes GLK, plus all the vehicles that have been there for a while like the X3, RX350 and MDX. It is a crowded segment. Many people have argued how the Enclave is better than other SUVs because it is bigger and and seats 7 (much like the CTS is better than a 3-series argument because it has 2 inches more legroom). So now the Cadillac will have similar price, same engine and transmission but much smaller than the Enclave. Will GM fans keep saying the Enclave is the best SUV or advertise it as the finest crossover ever, that is a put down to the Cadillac, and weakens the brand more.

Looks like the Vue, which is bad. This has badge job written all over it, and they aren't even copying a good vehicle. The Vue awd V6 is 4325 pounds, the SRX awd V6 is 4320 pounds. They are trading a lighter, superior handling, rear-drive chassis, for an obese, average performing, front drive small SUV. The Vue with a pop up nav screen and 40 gig hard drive and sound proofing will probably top 4450 pounds in Cadillac form, it will be heavier than an SRX V8. I bet the Cadillac MLS follows in 2011, based on the EpsilonII Malibu. The MLS can be a nice roomy front driver (gotta fill the DTS void with a cheaper car), priced in the mid to high 30s with a slushy suspension and compete with the Lexus ES350. They can keep all the Malibu body panels too, just swap grilles and dress the interior up some. Worked with the Cimarron, and Lincoln is on fire with the dressed up Edge and Fusion/Milan, they might put Mercedes out of business with that awesome plan.

They can just call it hybrid, I read Saturn was dropping Green Line and just using Aura hybrid. GM cars already have too many badges and gimmicks, they don't need more badging to designate that is is the Escalade H-series. Those little silver "GM" logos on every car look tacky too. Funny how they can make Escalades and Hummers, but not a rear drive Impala because of gas mileage.

In LTZ form it looks amazing in person (the exterior), better than the CTS perhaps, for sure better than any Buick or Pontiac. That picture of the white base model, with cheap wheels and black plastic rear view mirror looks bad though, I hope they don't produce a ton of base models for the rental companies and screw up a good looking car.

Was this vehicle "designed for action"? It looks like it was designed by Toyota to be a rental version of the Matrix. This thing will probably outsell the G8 and Solstice, no wonder Pontiac's image is garbage. I like how they have to use "designed" and not "engineered" for action. Because there is no real engineering going on at Pontiac, just badge jobs of other cars and adding spoilers and flashy wheels and ground effects.

Very nice looking car, it has the metal grille that the CTS is still waiting for. Back is kind of so-so, but I don't mind it, interior does resemble the Aura a lot. It it still a bit like 80s-90s GM where the 2 cars are really similar, but they are just executing it a bit better now. They have too much overlap in this price range, the Malibu is the best GM car under $30,000, it should gobble up sales from the W-bodies like crazy.

Cheap performance with gas mileage is easy, Mazda and some other brands do it. Downsize (and cut weight) every Pontiac, scrap every pushrod, 6 speed auto standard in every car. 2.4 liter with DI standard, 2.0 liter turbo optional on Solstice, Alpha car and G6 if it is still around. The turbo is 260 hp and was 22/31 mpg under old epa numbers, better mileage than any GM V6. G8 will probably never get small enough, but the 2.0 turbo could probably move it, or 2.8L V6 turbo if they have to. V8 model gets hybrid, maybe light system if two mode is too heavy. A small diesel V6 could also solve some problems, the BMW 330d in Europe averages near 40 mpg, and still has a 0-60 time around 6.5 seconds.

But the GTO had 400 hp and it failed. If the CTS can't handle like a BMW because it is too large, how will the even larger and heavier G8 handle as well as a BMW? I think Holden's have really bland styling inside and out, so I am not a fan of the G8's look. I thought the GTO was too bland, the G8 seems like repeating the same mistake. Pontiac doesn't have a solid image either, from all the fleet dumping the last 5-10 years, getting people to buy a $30-35k G8 could be tough. 25-30k units is probably manageable, but that isn't a big hit.

Car and Driver just tested a 535 awd and had 5.4 0-60 and said they thought without the weight from awd, it would be closer to the 5.2 seconds that the 550i posts. Plus that car is in it's 5th model year, although it had some upgrades along the way, the only major change is the engine. They are benchmarking against a 2004 car. Even the 98-2003 era 540i handles as well as and is even faster than the CTS. The M5 without a speed limiter can go 205 mph, so should the CTS-V get compared to that when the Corvette can't even go that fast? The CTS should be compared to cars in it's price range, if they move it up in price when the BTS arrives, then they can compare it to middle luxury cars.

No, I actually think no Cadillac should be under $35,000. I think the CTS was over sized to begin with, then it got bigger. Now they are mid size in a compact price range. Their sizing is just all messed up. And their flagship has a $43,500 base price compared to $87,000 at Mercedes. I like Cadillac styling, but I don't like when they use plastic like they do to keep that $32,000 base price going. Cadillacs lose value too fast for me to buy one new, I'd look at a used one, but I didn't like the 08 CTS enough to buy one. I am waiting until the 555i is out, and I'll see what Cadillac has then.

Well a CTS DI with all wheel drive is about 6.4 or 6.5 seconds 0-60, I forget which I read, but it was more than the 6.0 for the rear drive car. The BMW 535xi is 5.4 seconds 0-60. The next 5 series is going to have a lot of carbon fiber and aluminum to cut weight, it will be lighter than the current model, and they are have a twin turbo V8 and a twin turbo V10 going in it. So they'll cut weight and speed up the car, I wonder if in 2 years Cadillac will do the same to keep up.

Well I like top engines, so I was comparing 335i to CTS Direct Injection, plus all the magazines post data on those. Road and Track listed 57/43 weight distribution for the rear drive CTS, I was surprised by that also. I know most buy the lower engine BMW because they want a BMW at low cost, but the CTS is going to have most of its sales with the 263 hp engine as well. And the 335i engine doesn't make 300 hp, I read it is more likely in the 330-340 range, but they underrate it, Automobile Magazine dyno tested it at 284 rear wheel horsepower.

The Enclave AWD is over 5,000 pounds though, if it were 4600, it wouldn't be so bad. The SRX V8 is about 4450 pounds, it is 10 times better than the Enclave. The Lambdas are good, but very large, so they compete with the Tahoe too, and GM doesn't have much in the small to midsize 5 seater SUV range. But the CX-9 is good also, and one the Lambdas get options and head over $40,000, they run into Mercedes, Lexus, Acura and vehicles that at least seem prestigious and better, even if they aren't. Most people want to say "I drive a Lexus (or Acura, Mercedes, etc)" rather than "I drive a Buick." The 335i can be pretty loaded at $48k. The 3-series has adaptive cruise control which is about $1800, bluetooth and some options that Cadillac doesn't offer, even on the STS. If you get the same options on a 3-series and CTS they are almost identical in price, plus BMW, free maintenance, crazy high resale value. No luxury car matches the 3-series in performance, so I don't expect the CTS to match it, but it could be closer. And track performance must matter to some people, they are selling 120,000 or so 3-series per year, near half million world wide, they are doing something right.

A volume drop could be good if it means less fleet sales. They sold 229,000 retail and 81,000 fleet, that is a lot of fleet sales in one month, it is 25% of their sales. They need to get that to 15%, maybe make G5 and G6 75% fleet so they can stop fleeting Chevys. It is the rental market that kills it, I don't think the taxi/police cars make any difference. But it also hurts when import drivers rent a car, and it is a base Impala that handles like there is jello in the suspension and has horrid gray cloth, then they think American cars and junk, and can't wait to have their import back when the vacation is over.

Buick calls the Enclave the finest crossover ever, no automotive publication does. I say the SRX is way better, MDX is better, Motor trend said the CX-9 was better. The BMW X5 is a crossover, I think that is better than an Enclave too. I think the Camry has really poor handling and has always been bland, but I will say most of their materials are good for the price and their gap fits are tight. Overall I think it is an average car, but they have an unbelievable brand image going that keeps buyers coming in. The Accord is the best car in the segment, hopefully the Malibu can become #2 (based on reviews, not sales). Performance: 335i/CTS DI 0-60 5.0/6.0 seconds 1/3 mile 13.5/14.5 seconds skidpad .90g/.86g slalom 68.7/66.6 mph 60-0 119/118 feet gas mileage 18.9/17.2 mpg sound at 70mph 66dBA/68dBA weight balance 51/49 for BMW, 57/43 on CTS BMW has a 12 year rust warranty which is rather impressive, I didn't know anyone offered more than 6 year until I saw that. The CTS is just beat by that car except breaking, although very few cars match up well to BMW.

1 magazine once said a G35 was better than a 3-series mainly because it costs less. But the 335i is still the gold standard of small luxury cars by pretty much everyone. CTS lacks equipment and V8 power to be compared to the 5-series and that class, but if it lost to a G35, I would think an M35 would also beat it, and probably worse, the performance numbers would get closer, but the CTS's edge in features/interior would go away. The CTS (4 inches longer than the G35) is still heavier than a BMW 535i or 550i, it was 4150 pounds as tested in Road and Track, that is obese, it is more than an STS V8. Next 5-series is going to use a lot of aluminum and carbon fiber to cut weight, (or at least keep it the same when they add luxury features and sound deadening). A Jaguar XJ8 is just under 3800 pounds, and is 9 inches longer than the CTS and has a V8, yet 350 pounds less. Cadillac needs to invest it weight reduction, then handling, acceleration and gas mileage all go up.