Just a couple of days ago, we asked for your questions about the 2013 Cadillac XTS. Well, we answered most, if not all, of your questions in this video:
Stay tuned to GM Authority for our in-depth review of the large Caddy sedan and for GM News.
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Just a couple of days ago, we asked for your questions about the 2013 Cadillac XTS. Well, we answered most, if not all, of your questions in this video:
Stay tuned to GM Authority for our in-depth review of the large Caddy sedan and for GM News.
By Alex Luft
GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.
Comments
How does the XTS handle vs the A6/A8?
Pretty good video review Alex I really like the XTS. The car itself seems confused and out of place after reading countless reviews its clear to me that this car is basically a DTS/XTS, nothing more nothing less. Another thing that’s clear is that no one owning a 5 series , E class or A6 would trade in or cross shop for an XTS the FWD architecture and pricing is what dug it’s grave. My question is what trim level did you review? Was it the platinum I understand that the platinum has all the bells and whistles the suede headliner etc is there a huge difference between the platinum model and the lesser trims.
Can someone help me?
Another person saying the XTS cannot compete with the A6 due to the FWD nature of the XTS. Yet the A6 is FWD. And the A6 has a CVT! And honestly I have never heard anyone complain about the Audi’s being FWD.
Help?
The XTS can’t compete with the A6 in a consumer looking for a luxury vehicle in that segment it just won’t happen. I understand what you are saying based on Audis being FWD I have those conversations frequently . From a luxury stand point you mentioned the Audi is FWD and has CVT the transmission on the Audi is more refined the layout is based fwd but you have to take into account their Quattro and engine lineup , the superior car is obvious.
You don’t want a near luxury experience you expect one in the XTS all that is evident until you start diving it……….
I am really proud of you Alex and Manoli.
You’ve made a major contribution to the XTS oeuvre.
My 78 year-old father has an XTS premium on order to replace his 2001 Deville and I’m the original owner of a 2008 DTS.
This video is the most substantive thing I’ve seen on XTS on the interwebs.
You guys have once again proven your relevance.
Thanks.
How is the A6 so subsatually better than the XTS have you cross shopped both, driven each side by side. Listen Audis are insanely expensive to maintain… While the A6 may be sexy it is still a front wheel drive like the XTS. Iam of the mind that the XTS has a place as a Cadilac because this is what consumers want, a front wheel drive option outside of the rear drive CTS and ATS… I do wish Alex would have addressed this point in the video instead of making assumptions that this should be a Buick…
The difference is that Audi has its engine longitudinal, while the XTS has a transverse egine set up. Hence while the Audi might be FWD base, its lay out is quite similar to a Rear drive set up.
Valiance… Wooptidooo… whats the advantage…
@yaba So that’s the thing about Audis. The “real” (non-VW-derived) Audi vehicles have a longitudinally-mounted engine, resulting in significantly better weight distribution than a purely FWD vehicle like the XTS. The result is a significantly different driving experience — you’d be surprised to feel the difference that moving the engine back a few inches can do!
In effect, the new generation of Audis are very well-balanced cars, with the engine mounted longitudianally behind the front axle (as opposed to above and over, transversely, like the XTS)… and it shows when you drive it, especially when taken to the limits.
So the take-away for me is this: some Audis are FWD in nature, but they really exist in a class of their own, and can’t be compared directly to MBZ, BMW, or Cadillac. Audi doesn’t take a common FWD architecture, slap in a transversely-mounted engine, and call it a day. If you look at the engineering behind accommodating a longitudinally-mounted engine on a FWD/AWD Audi, you’ll see what I’m talking about.
The end result is this: as Cadillac works hard (measuring ounces in weight vs. BMW) to create a performance luxury image for itself, the XTS flies straight in the face of that. That doesn’t mean that the XTS is a bad car; to the contrary, it’s an excellent car. But is it worthy of being a Cadillac? Is it worthy of being a Cadillac in the age of the new, reborn, performance-focused Cadillac? The answer is no.
And here’s perhaps the more interesting part: it’s not that Cadillac really wanted the XTS… nope, what Cadillac wanted was a full-size sedan. Omega wasn’t ready… and not offering a full-sizer meant losing customers… potentially for life. So the quickest way to deliver such a vehicle was to tweak an existing vehicle/vehicle architecture… and voila, XTS!
Personally, I wouldn’t think for a second that Cadillac was chomping at the bits to get the XTS… it simply needed a vehicle in the general full size category.
Once again, the XTS is a fine vehicle… but it’s a stop-gap product.
I honestly think that Cadillac put this vehicle out because they know they still have a bunch of DTS/STS owners so if they didn’t do the full size car that’s comfortable they would loose their customers and many people don’t wanna go from a Cadillac to a Buick yet….nor do they wanna go buy a car that looks big on the outside and feels small on the inside (aka MKS) nor do they just wanna go to get a Avalon.
Thanx for making that clear Alex and I never said the XTS is a bad car it’s interior is one of the best in its segment it’s nothing else on the road like it ,the only point I was trying to make is that someone who owns or owned one of the German luxury brands will think the caddy is nice but ultimately other factors weigh in on determining what luxury brand they would purchase
It’s a stop gap vehicle one
It just doesn’t make sense, no identity in caddys lineup
Engine/transmission
No performance variant ,M/AMG
Brands image
have you ever test if some kind of electric lines interfere with the cue capacitive touch system?
Very good review, Alex and GMA staff!
This was full of information that other publications just don’t have and couldn’t compare to. For one of your first video reviews (I’ve seen all of your reviews, by the way), you did a very good job with keeping it all professional and educational. Though if you don’t mind, I, as a friendly critic, suggest that you could change up the video angles 🙂 .
Maybe when you are talking about the interior, have the camera inside the car with you, with close-ups on the interior gaps. When you are talking about NVH levels, do the narration while driving the car at highway speeds, or over bumpy roads. If you’re talking about the car in general, do some shots with the camera gliding by the car, making it look alive, not just parked.
Keep up the good work, Alex! GMA has really become part of my daily life.
Thanks so much @wisdom seeker! I really wanted to get the “answer” part of the Q&A published first and published quickly… the full review, with all of the different angles, shots, etc. is on the way… and it will be the best one we’ve done yet! Should be about a week or so until that’s out 🙂
Alex
Alex, thanks… Like wisdomseeker I approve…
Mike/Alex Interesting, I agree that GM should know its customer and create product relavent to each brand, but to say that every brand should be hacked up into specific segments is not realistic… If Cadillac offered only the most refined sport luxury vehicle and said if you want a different type of luxury then you need to go to Buick… Who is to say that customer would go to Buick if they wanted a Cadillac and expected Cadillac to offer a vehicle they were interested in. The XTS is a perfect example, I dont believe it is or should be a stop gap vehicle… In fact it is the perfect vehicle for some people who enjoy the Cadillac “Look” and achieves relatively strong driving dynamics. These people prefer front wheel drive over rear wheel drive or may not have a preference for one or the other… The bottom line is if you are a person with preference for German vehicles then the likely hood that you would buy an XTS would be because you A. Finally relized what absolute Garbage the cars are in regards to maintaining them and your wallet has been cleaned out. B. You like the styling of Cadillac in recent year over the Germans because you cant tell your 3 series from a 1 or a 5 series… C You relize that Cadillacs are no longer just for old people and you want to give the brand a try because you have stupid amounts of money and you like making the 99% of the population feel less when you role out of your vehicle storage facility in a different car every day for a month…
I believe that GM has the perfect lineup up, Buick and Cadillac can be extremely successful . Pure assumption Gm has Cadillac setup to go against the germans plain and simple RWD platforms luxury/performance vehicles (Merceds,Bmw,Audi*) and for Buick its primed to be Gm’s entry level luxury brand(FWD/AWD)to take on brands such as Acura,lexus,Infiniti etc…I believe GM is the only car manufacturer to have two luxury brands at their disposal the next couple of years for GM are going to be EXCITING
Aww! I thought that brake test would be too much.
I suggest taking what I call a “bravery swig” from a bottle of whiskey…..unfortunately you might not be able to drive the XTS. 😉
wonderful job, Alex, and well-executed in every way…an elegant car and sounds like a dream to drive…GM is really picking up the game 🙂 Anxious to see the next edition too…
Mike, agreed looking forward to the comming years and GM excellence…