President Johan de Nysschen Responds To Rumored Cadillac Product Portfolio Cuts
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Yesterday, we reported Cadillac may have to pump the brakes on its expansive product reinvigoration. However, the man himself, Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen, has come forth to set the record straight.
The initial report and intel come from The Detroit Bureau, where de Nysschen left an extensive response to the information reported. To set the record straight, de Nysschen noted a few things.
Foremost, he reinforces Cadillac and General Motors are in the midst of a five-year plan and the flagship sedan program has indeed been cancelled. But, and it’s a major but, Cadillac will have a flagship vehicle; it’s not a sedan, though.
“There will be a flagship, but given the segment development, it will not be a large four-door sedan,” de Nysschen wrote.
He then spills what is confirmed for Cadillac’s future, stating substantial costs have already been committed to each program. Per de Nysschen, here is the future of Cadillac:
We ARE planning a Cadillac flagship which will NOT be a 4 door sedan;
We ARE planning a large crossover beneath Escalade;
We ARE planning a compact crossover beneath XT5;
We ARE planning a comprehensive enhancement to CT6 later during life cycle;
We ARE planning a major refresh for XTS;
We ARE planning a new Lux 3 sedan entry;
We ARE planning a new Lux 2 sedan entry;
He followed the greatest amount of transparency we’ve seen in awhile with, “I trust these unusually transparent insights which I have shared, will allay the fears of thousands of Cadillac fans who will greet your article with justified consternation.”
So, there you have it. Cadillac’s roadmap has been laid out by the boss man himself. It doesn’t get clearer than this, folks.
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A crossover above + below the XT5 makes sense. It seems like a waste for each GM division to have the similar SUVs.
If they do a major refresh and keep the XTS, maybe it should have a new name? It’s barely smaller than CT6,
so CT5 would be misleading. As people get older, they might be finding that there is still a demand for plush riding cars.
Some guys in the Cadillac forum are complaining that the CT6 rides to firm.
If ATS grows, maybe it should be CT4.
They left out CTS, which you would think would become CT5 on next refresh.
Interesting article.
If true to the plan, I will be liking the CT6 more in the future as I feel that it is not special enough to get it over the CTS.
A comprehensive improvement within its life cycle would do it justice because the steering wheel is ugly, the interior, while nice, is not as nice like the CTS, several shortcomings in features and doodads and lack a V8.
I really do like the CT6 but as an interim flagship, the car is not that significant over the CTS currently and not enough to be considered as a flagship. IMO, the CTS and the Escalade is more flagship caliber type cars for Cadillac at this moment.
The flagship is an interesting guess no one seems to know the answer to. Don’t be surprise if there is a mid-engine sports car or exceptionally lavished SUV out, maybe a coupe.
Excellent time to be a Cadillac fan.
All this still seems a tad muddled, but I’m glad we got a direct response. Four major aspects jump out: 1. these “Lux 2 & 3” sedans, 2. an updated XTS, 3. the substantial update to the CT6 and 4. the flagship vehicle. I assume the Lux 2 & 3 sedans refer to the ATS and CTS replacements. My only concern is that Cadillac addresses the shortcomings of these cars by making them more spacious, use high end material throughout the cabin (benchmark the C-Class for this) and place a user-friendly infotainment system in the cabin. Oh! And better powertrain options! Now concerning the updated XTS, my only question is why bother?! I hope this means the XTS is ONLY reserved for fleet duties and nothing more! This car simply doesn’t belong in the Cadillac lineup and needs to be axed ASAP!!! I’m glad to hear they’re going to provide “substantial updates” to the CT6. My only concern is that these updates go beyond the addition of a 4.2L TTV8 and the “Super-Cruise” technology! I hope to see all the shortcomings addressed: such as the cheap, plastic paneling along the bottom portions of the door and center console replaced with a more premium material, aluminum buttons and switches in place of the current cheap ones they have now, the addition of soft-closing doors, motorized headrests, thigh extensions and seatbelt adjustments, a more user-friendly CUE interface with buttons and knobs, a recalibrated 8-speed automatic, the addition of a 10-speed, and finally, a strong refreshed design that heavily resembles the new Escala concept! Can we expect to see at least some of these things before 2023?! And last but not least, the rumored flagship! It’s great to know one is indeed on the table, but I’m concerned as to what it is! Some of you hope it’ll be a no-holds-bar Escalade. I hope it’s NOT! The Escalade, regardless of its success and value, cannot represent the company’s flagship vehicle! For starters, it is not, and does not reflect in any way, the pinnacle of technological and engineering advancement in Cadillac’s portfolio! It is a re-badged Tahoe! With nicer wood and leather! With the Table’s old live rear axle! C’mon folks! Don’t let the SUV craze cloud your judgement! I’d like to see an ultra luxurious SUV come from Cadillac, but in the form of and Alpha/Omega based CUV with a V8 option! Not a leather and wood-lined Chevy with a Cadillac emblem on it! Now since we know there’s no S-Class fighting sedan coming, Cadillac has a lot of options at the moment! I’d like to see them invest in something that is more exclusive and stands out on the market. Perhaps a fuel cell super-car, an all electric, large sports coupe or a hybrid electric sports car could serve as viable options. Just as long as Cadillac “dares greatly” and push the envelope on something mind-blowing, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt…..
A fuel celled super car? Would they sell 3?
Besides being a flagship, needs to be a money maker and not a money pit!
True! It’s just a thought. Either way, I just hope it’s something that stands as the pinnacle of Cadillac engineering and technology! Something that can speak to Cadillac “daring greatly”, not just “daring” to follow the crowd! Now an all-electric CUV with tech that overshadows the Tesla Model X could be another potential option; since making a profit is a major factor in producing a flagship.
I’m convinced that the “Flagship” will be a large 4-door coupe a la Escala. The Escala was used to show design direction for Cadillac, but also has much production potential. The CT6 will receive a more expensive, stretched variant will will take on S-Class and 7-Series LWB models head on.
I’m convinced that the “Flagship” will be a large 4-door coupe a la Escala. The Escala was used to show design direction for Cadillac, but also has much production potential. The CT6 will receive a more expensive, stretched variant that will take on S-Class and 7-Series LWB models head on.
a four door coupe isn’t flagship….four door coupe tend to have cramped rears and poor rear head room…..Im not a fan of coupe like cars.
All I know is, Cadillac needs a top-of-the-line sedan, and the CT6 in its current form isn’t it. If Cadillac forgoes that opportunity, it will be killing a goose that has reliably laid golden eggs for every luxury brand from Audi to Rolls-Royce, and all the ones in between. I don’t care how hot the CUV market right now: Cadillac needs CUVs, sure, but it also needs a top sedan. It’s that simple.
What’s more complicated is whether the top sedan should in fact be the flagship for the Cadillac whole fleet. Years ago, there wouldn’t have been any question that it should; but, with the current boom in crossover vehicles, just about anything is possible. I’d watch that space.
If, as some suggest, the new flagship turns out to be a new coupe or mid-engine sports car, I suspect it may well suffer the same fate as similar vehicles have suffered: Selling in small numbers for a few years before the model’s discontinuation in relatively short order. For reference, consider the XLR roadster (2004-2009), beloved by its fans but virtually ignored by the marketplace. Officially, the XLR was one of many casualties of GM’s 2009 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and reorganization, but the XLR’s poor sales would probably have doomed the model anyway. If Cadillac is considering a roadster, it should either do it right or not do it at all.
So, back to a sedan. There is also the question of what form it should take. Johan de Nysschen did not say explicitly that the CT8 was dead, as has been rumoured; he just said the flagship wouldn’t be a sedan. So the CT8 could still be coming…eventually…maybe. But if there is no CT8–as indeed, there may not be–Cadillac would do well to stretch the wheelbase of the CT6, drop in the 4.2L twin-turbo V-8 everyone still expects is coming, and make that its top sedan. What they might call it is anyone’s guess…CT8, maybe? Ditto for whatever product might slot in above it to become the “true” flagship. But Cadillac just can’t do without a top-end sedan. Just ask Audi. Ask BMW. Ask Mercedes. Ask…the list goes on.
So, how about it, Cadillac?
I think the Flagship should be a lightweight and hansom SUV/CUV with great performance and driving dynamics.
(1) people aren’t buying sedans anymore.
(2) four door coupes have poor rear head room and doesn’t go with a flagship.
(3) coupes are a niche volume and a dying segment.
Remember the reception the El Maraj received?
Build it and they will buy it, including me.