Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen says a small SUV — which is speculated to use GM’s rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform along with the brand’s upcoming subcompact car and currently used by the ATS and CTS — is still “at least four years away,” Reuters reports. Whatever platform the vehicle ends up using, though, doesn’t change the notion that the vehicle will likely be vital to the sales growth of the brand down the road.
Any analyst will tell you that a small crossover — likely to be called XT-something — is one of the most important products Cadillac can bring to market, from both a volume and profitability standpoint. The compact SUV luxury segment, which is defined by the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK, is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, China and Europe, and will be crucial to the automaker’s plans to catch up to BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi in the luxury sales race. The new SUV is part of Cadillac’s plan to spend $12 billion on new products over the next five years, which will include a total eight all-new vehicles by 2017.
de Nysschen also said he expects Cadillac sales to be flat in 2015 as many of its fundamental new models (and technologies) won’t be arriving until late 2017. What’s more, Cadillac will debut its all-new, full-size 2016 CT6 sedan in New York in April, however the car is expected to be the most expensive car in the Cadillac lineup with a starting price of around $90,000, and likely won’t sell in the numbers that an entry-level compact car or volume-centric SUV might. That said, a big Cadillac is exactly what the storied brand needs to define itself in the marketplace.
Update: an earlier version of this story made claim that Cadillac will use the Alpha platform as the underpinnings of its upcoming small crossover. The revision clarifies that the claim is based on speculation.
Comments
“at least four years away”
Get your friggin’ act together, deNysschen!
He is getting Cadillac’s friggin act together.
You may want to understand the changes that have taken place at Cadillac in the last year. While they could have gone with what they had planned it was far short of what Cadillac needed. The added time will take a little longer but you will get a vehicle that is done right as what Cadillac should be and not just a Fancy Denali Yukon.
Might spend a little less time watching Homer and spend more time reading learning what is really going on with Cadillac.
But then again they could just take the faster easy way out and give you the Cimarron of SUV’s. That would be Hmm let me put it into terms you would understand. “Doh!”
The changes Cadillac and GM have made have added no less than 5 more years of work. They are working to be more autonomous to appear more independent of GM. Cadillac has lived with the Spector of the use of Chevy based products long enough. While good parts were used it is a let down for anyone paying $80K for a car that has the same engine as a Malibu.
Makes me feel great having a 3.6 in my Bu but that does nothing for Cadillac.
Better defined and refined products with their own Cadillac engines are coming and it will make a difference.
The Simpsons clip was a convenient means to express my dismay. I’ll pick Disney for you next time.
Really, GM has had Gamma2 for 5 years now. Couldn’t they have had a variant made for Cadillac before Gamma was made available for global use? How difficult would have that been? It would have made Cadillac that much closer to putting out a competitive sub-compact offering in the already hot sub-compact SUV segment. 4 years from now, the segment could be dead.
Oh wait, this proposal is for an Alpha variant, something that would be too big for a subcompact segment anyway. My mistake thinking a properly sized Gamma2 variant could have helped Cadillac be competitive in high-demand segment. Gotta make sure that RWD criteria stays put for future Alpha product, even though the people buying Q3’s and GLA’s seldom care about the drivewheels.
Its to bad that they dont have one now . But thats ok . It shows to me that they aren’t interested in rebadging an Encore or Traxx . That got them into trouble before . Sounds like they learned their lesson . There is alot to focus on and it is going to take time . In four years gas prices most likely will be back up to where they were a few months ago ,and Cadillac will have a fresh vehicle to offer . I dont agree with all of Nysschen’s decisions but this one I do agree with .
You have the right Idea here.
If you want to not repeat the past sins then stop making them. Take the time to get the product right and then move forward.
So many here like to complain that they did not get what they expected but yet they will not give the time to do it right when they decide to do it right.
Some folks have a lot to learn.
cue Ballmer and Windows phone. 4 years?!? Jesus Christ. Pathetic.