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Cadillac Chief De Nysschen Says There Is Room For Halo Car Beyond Omega Flagship

Former Infiniti boss and Cadillac’s newly appointed president Johan de Nysschen recently sat down for an interview with Automobile Magazine where he discussed some of the more pressing questions surrounding the brand today. These included gaps in the Cadillac’s product portfolio, its perception problems with consumers and its future in Europe. The most interesting insights de Nysschen gave were in regards to Cadillac’s future product plans, though.

Often times executives refuse to discuss future product plans or rumors with the media for competitive reasons, but de Nysschen was undeniably forthcoming during his Q and A with Automobile. His most interesting answer came when he was asked if he sees room for Cadillac to produce an even higher-end vehicle to slot in above the impending Omega-based full-size sedan.

“There are probably two cars beyond that at least, maybe more,” de Nysschen said. “I don’t think (the large sedan) will ultimately represent the pinnacle of Cadillac’s entry into the real top end of aspirational cars. We have room for a car above that, and then these would be very prestigious, very high-performance but luxury cars.”

That could mean a number of things. If the new full-size sedan “won’t represent the pinnacle,” of Cadillac’s entry into high-end luxury than what will? A low-volume, higher-end version of the car could be released sometime down the road offering more exclusive and more luxurious features (comparable to the Escalade Platinum Edition), as could a high-performance version to join Cadillac’s ‘V’ family. A two-door model bearing a close resemblance to Cadillac’s well-received Elmiraj concept also seems like a possibility and would contest Mercedes-Benz’s 2015 S-Class Coupe well.

Another interesting notion de Nysschen mentioned was looking at one or two sports cars for the brand that consumers would “buy for emotional reasons” because they are “so sexy and so fun to drive.” One of these could be the new XLR Motor Trend has talked about, while the second might be a smaller sportscar built in the same vein as the BMW Z4 or Mercedes SLK, for example.

Performance enthusiasts will also be happy to hear another nugget of information de Nysschen dropped. He says Cadillac will have a new modular engine family that can be structured for four, six or eight cylinder engines. The first engines released in this family will be smaller capacity engines in China, with the eight-cylinder offerings coming towards “the latter part of this decade.”

The new engine family probably won’t be unique to Cadillac, as much as de Nysschen is looking for autonomy from GM for the brand. He says if he chooses to enter a market with a unique Cadillac platform he’ll either run the numbers and find it’s not financially feasible, or reach into the GM portfolio to “see what other assests exist.” This will allow for some models to be exclusively Cadillac, with others sharing componentry while still living up to Cadillac values. He says this would allow Cadillac to offer some models with brand exclusive components and engines while also keeping costs down, a page pulled from his time spent with Volkswagen Group.

Halo cars and sports cars might be expensive, but de Nysschen says “some cars have to make volume for (Cadillac), some cars have to make money, and some cars have to make image.” If you apply strict financial criteria to individual cars like more mainstream brands do “you’ll never do the halo cars.” However if the halo cars can drum up excitement for the brand, they may have a positive affect beyond immediate profits or volume.

“The way to measure it properly is to say, ‘Well, how did they help the pricing power on the rest of the cars?’—that’s their contribution,” said de Nysschen.

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. Hints are that the C8 base could be used for a different supercar later on. It would be done much in the way Audi R8 and the Lambo both are based on the same platform but are vastly different cars.

    The reason for this is to help defray the cost of the new C8 and the Corvette plant. Just this time it would be a much better effort than in the past and a very limited car.

    It may be interesting to see just what happens.

    Seeing this guy came from Audi we know a little about his thinking based on his past work.

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  2. I’m really liking the direction Mr. de Nysschen’s taking Cadillac. This is the type of leader Cadillac needs to succeed; someone looking to elevate the brand to completely new heights.

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  3. How many investment dollars were wasted on the extremely low volume ELR? GM needs to first focus on the high volume high profit segment occupied by Jeep — then get a midsize car that can sell in volume — and then maybe indulge Cadillac a bit.

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    1. What? GM outsells Chrysler, maker of Jeep vehicles. Look at GMC and Chevy sales. Look at Buick NA margins.
      An exclusive Caddy could be a cash cow. That is why Chrysler, FCA, is spending 7 B on Alfa.

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    2. Elroy the fact is GM invested no where near as much as you think in the ELR since it was bases on a already existing show car that was production ready for the most part on a platform from the already existing Volt. GM has spent more on some rebates than they did on this car.
      GM already has some of the most highly profitable SUV and CUV lines in the market. Jeep has nothing on them other than the Wrangler.

      They have sedans in the Cruze that has sold well and will be replaced with an even better model soon. The Malibu will see major changed in 2 years and you are not going to speed that up any no matter what you do. The present car is not the best but far from the worst in segment and sells decent.

      As for Cadillac you are missing the boat on profits. The segment of cars that are the most profitable is Luxury cars. Just look at them as they are not much more expensive to design and built A little higher content added is the most costly thing they need. But yet they can sell for 2-3 times of the average sedan. That is why luxury brands are important. Ford is saving Lincoln as they need the income and that s why it is important for them to fix the brand. Chrysler is going to feel the pain with the down grading of the 300 as they are doing. They were on the way up with the brand and now it withers on the vine at great discounts and the replacement is being moved down market not up at a time they and Fiat need the money.

      Cadillac can sell the fraction the number of cars but yet they can return 2-3 times the profit per vehicle. That is why GM is focused here. They are the next best thing to a pick up truck.

      Also what is more important to GM is not a mid size car but the replacement for the Nox and Terrain as the CUV market eclipsed the sedan market last year. There is a lot of sales and money in CUV models with buyers today and GM is on track with the present and coming models to lead the industry.

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    3. Halo cars in general are a good idea, the problem with the ELR is that its simply a shitty halo car.

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      1. To each their own I suppose but FYI, there will NOT be a ’15 model year but will be a heavily revised and updated model for ’16 model year and will be shown at this years LA Auto Show for November according from a Cadillac source with Edmunds.com

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  4. Buick should get a halo car the…. Omega needs to be shared.

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    1. No. Omega should remain exclusive to Cadillac. It’s a top end luxury platform for wealthy luxury consumers, not downmarket, second tier middle class people.

      Buick is forever subordinate to Cadillac, and unfit for full size cars like the CT6.

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  5. since there is room deyond the Caddilac Omega….there would be room for a RWD Buick halo car above the Lacrosse.

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    1. Or to make the LaCrosse that halo car.

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  6. Cadillac could produce a a new Sixteen as a high end luxury halo car.

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  7. FWD does not fit as a flagship enymore

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  8. RWD Buick Roadmaster…… Please.

    Reply

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