So far, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson has been a far-cry from being an eccentric and outspoken character we have come to appreciate in fellows like Bob Lutz or even Karl Stracke. But not today. During a news conference this morning, Akerson went out of his way to call out Mercedes, and to tell the entire compact sport luxury sedan market to brace itself for what is about to come from Cadillac.
“They call it the C-Class because it’s very average,” said Akerson of the Mercedes compact sport luxury sedan. Aside from taking a jab at the prestigious overpriced German automaker, it also makes us understand just why there is an “A” in ATS. Cadillac’s entry-level sport luxury sedan will launch sometime in 2012 out of the Grand River assembly plant in Lansing, and expected to be offering at least 4 and 6-cylinder engine powerplants. Though its currently unofficial, we still expect an ATS-V on the horizon as well, but what will power it remains a mystery. If all goes well with the launch of the ATS sedan, a coupe should follow as well as wagon and convertible variants.
“We’ve ceded this segment of the market to our foreign competitors for far too long,” said Akerson. With those words, it seems The General has put its game face on and hurricane ATS is coming sooner than we think.Hopefully it will show its face at the upcoming Los Angeles or Detroit auto shows.
Source: The Detroit Free Press
Comments
While I like Akerson’s fightin’ words, I don’t think it’s fair to say that the C Class is average. Right now, it’s a segment leader (with the 3 series). Period.
But if they “call it C-Class because it’s average,” what does that make the CTS? The joke can go both ways Mr. Akerson. TouchĂ©.
They can’t give the ATS name for every car in the lineup. But both the ATS and CTS both will eventually be riding on the Alpha platform… and the letter alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet. And there isn’t even a letter C.
I can’t believe Akerson opened his big mouth and say that. It’s like me talking about Red Wings. I have no clue what I’m talking and neither does Akerson. This is a Detroit mentality of where senior executives say their vehicles will drive the foreign competitors into fear. Shut up, work on improving your vehicles to match/beat your competitors and then you can gloat.
Akerson’s words put me off too. Another example were someone with a higher education and extraordinary pay fails to display uncommon wisdom.