Cadillac is still in the midst of transforming what the brand is, what it does and why you should care. When all is said and done, though, Cadillac sells luxury vehicles.
Therefore, we decided to bring this forth to mull around: should Cadillac launch a bespoke vehicle program? That is today’s subject for a GMA Community Question.
Foremost, we mean bespoke as in one-off vehicles. Cadillac has recently unbundled many option packages, which has led to higher revenues, meaning it could be on the right track for a program of this type. However, with bespoke comes high customization, which is costly.
In our hypothetical, bespoke program, the Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac CT6 seem like excellent starting points, as they are both flagship vehicles for the brand. Maybe even the V-series cars could jump in on the action.
Custom embroideries, door sills, paint hues and more would only begin our bespoke program.
Of course, Cadillac is currently no Rolls-Royce, which does employ a bespoke vehicle program. Yet it could help Cadillac separate itself from the pack in some way, and could make a big statement in the market.
With that said, it’s time for you time chime in. Does Cadillac need or deserve a bespoke vehicle program? Or, should resources be spent elsewhere. Vote and fill the comment section below.
Comments
Cadillac should definitely have a ‘bespoke’ program for the Escalade and CT6 in particular. It is long overdue.
It should have a laundry list of available options, be ultra-luxurious and a significant premium over the Platinum models.
Absolutely, a Customization program should’ve been launched with the CT6’s introduction.
A program that can rival BMW Individual, AudiPorsche Exclusive & Mercedes Designo is a must for Cadillac in their quest to reestablish themselves as a proper luxury marque …
They have to kill the Platinum trim mentality first …. Its the biggest obstacle in the customizations program’s face.
I have confidence in Johann’s abilities & I believe he’ll do such a thing once everything is in order.
Cadillac should be bespoke by 2025…..with a CT8.
Eventually it might be a good idea , but Cadillac needs to get it’s portfolio in place first . Also believe it needs to be something other than the CT6 . This vehicle is really going to take the XTS’s place , which means that there has to be another car coming as the flagship ( CT8 ) .
A program like this is going to be expensive to produce , and it needs to be more than just a special paint color or trim level . It could be somewhat produced on the same line as a regular CT8 but then taken to either a different part of the facility or even a special building where the car can be truly be outfitted with premium items , like the leather or carpet and the most advanced technology . The car in the end shouldn’t even look like the standard car it once was .
Having Cadillac move the Escalade further up-market is a wise move . Especially when they come out with the 7-8 passenger model that is coming and this model can take the place of where the Escalade sits now .
Agreed… you beat me to the comment. I think this is a great idea but like you said the CT6 is not the car for that.
No it would not be available on any base model ..you would make the bespoke option available only on the top of the line platinum version of that model.
Bespoke items are about customization first and foremost.
It is not a matter of if but when.
It is early in the turn around but with more new product this will come.
I had to Google ‘bespoke vehicles’ to get a better idea of typical examples. The one that stuck with me is an option I think most Cadillacs should already offer: custom color.
Or 50 car colors with 50 matched interiors. Each would have a name. And as trends pass new ones would come in. Out with Pomegranate — in with Minty Mango.
Cadillac – Bespoke.
Or be broke.
What would you give the odds of success? I’d guess 70-30%?
I was wrong about Brexit, so – as an oddsmaker – I’m no pro, obviously. Then again, I remember a Barron’s cover story, buy GM, in – what – 2006 or 2007?
Ok – I checked.
Barron’s cover story, June 2008 (!): Buy GM! So I suspect it was a typo – ‘short GM’, maybe that’s what they meant.
There was another in 2015, another buy reco.
So first, if you bought in 2008, you’d have gotten killed.
Then the new GM was issued @ 30+, I think it sunk to 19 (?)) – that’d be your buy. Now it’s back – nice if you’re getting artificially-depressed options, but for the retail buyer, eh …
So – back on topic – really, isn’t there more for Cadillac to do to get their house in order? Like models and features people really want? And a dealership experience on par with Audi, etc?
And drop the distractions like SoHo coffee shops. And sending LHD cars to RHD countries? And bespoke cars?
This marque needs to stay on-brief. As does Buick. And GMC.
Like, Ralph Lauren was well-established before they introduced Purple Label and made-to-measure.
Cadillac needs to focus – their core isn’t solid enough to do all this dabbling.
Its a no-brainer!
But here’s how you do it: instead of trying to do it “right”, do it cheap and let it build itself.
Build the car, then partner with a customizer to customize it with margins. Don’t cause performance or quality holdups in your current plant environment to try to incorporate it. That guarantees positive margins, and by reinvesting the funds it could create a new profit center with no risk.
No, because it uses the same crap tier components found in the down market siblings. Wrapping cheap plastic with glued on materials does not bespoke make.