After months of silence, the face-lifted 2019 Cadillac CT6 sedan has been photographed testing incognito for a second time, dropping a bit more camo and showing off more of its refreshed Escala-infused design. Cadillac’s current CT6 full-size luxury sedan was brought out for the 2016 model year, making 2019 about the earliest GM’s most premium marque would likely want to release a big mid-cycle revision.
The latest spy shots give us a clearer look at the Cadillac CT6’s new upper grille – something that certainly appears to have drawn from the Cadillac Escala concept for inspiration. The lower grille has been even more dramatically restyled, mirroring the upper trapezoidal aperture. The headlights, still obscured by camouflage, can faintly be seen in outline, looking more horizontally-formatted than the vertically-stacked lenses on the current CT6. Yet much like the current model, slender, vertical LED lights are still present beneath each headlamp.
Out back, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on, but the decklid appears to have lost its point, instead maintaining a smooth, curved line along the bottom edge. The rest of the sculpture, especially around the rear fenders, appears to be essentially unchanged.
We don’t know if any new powertrain options are in store for the 2019 Cadillac CT6, but rumors of a new twin-turbocharged, 4.2-liter DOHC V8Â are rampant. In fact, Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen has confirmed that the automaker is working on the engine. Currently, options consist of a base 2.0L four-cylinder (LTG), optional 3.6-liter V6 (LGX), a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 (LGW), or a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4Â mated to an electric motor on the plug-in-hybrid model.
You can see the latest Cadillac CT6 spy shots over at Motor1.com.
Comments
Theres also a refresh camaro right behind it as well
Cadillac is integrating styling and design cues from the Escala into the CT6 which says Cadillac is admitting they blunder by not simply building the Escala instead of the CT6.
Sorry but when you the CT 6 was started the Escala was not even on the board.
The Escala was the third of three planned show cars that each evolved their design thinking for the future.
The truth is the CT6 was a car that was started under earlier leadership. It was put together by Mark Ruess under duress from the board. Then by the time JDN arrives it just was not what was wanted as a flag ship or CTS replacement.
It was more a victim of the leadership revolving door.
Blunder? It is called evolution of styling as the years progress.
I do like the Escala, but design and manufacturing process internationally is much more complex than many can imagine. Then throw in the China factor and sometimes great concepts cant get built. Escala was styling direction, but not an actual car all along.
“Cadillac is admitting they blunder by not simply building the Escala instead of the CT6.”
You actually thought the Escala was production worthy?
The Escala is nothing special
A new exterior is not what CT6 needs. The current exterior is very well done. Instead the cheap interior and parts bin powerlants are what need to go. And while they’re at it, I’d find something more alluring to call it. CT6 2.0 PHEV just doesn’t conjur up a very strong or inspiring image.
You will see improvements to the interior along with the outside.
This is just a refresh till it is replaced.
This cars is a hint at 5he future not the full future.
There will be a major realignment of the sedans and this refresh is just to buy time wile investment goes into he CUV lines that will draw the money to fix other models.
With GM, the story is alway “just wait”. There’s always something better coming but it never materializes. CT6 was supposed to be a watershed car what would wow. It arrived with much goodness (the structure and excellent proportions) but with serious deficiencies inside and under the hood.
Meanwhile, the world (and me) keeps buying German luxury cars.
First you have to put this all into context before yot can make sense of this.
First we had decades of GM running Cadillac and not Cafillac running Cadillac.
This was a major issue as it lead to many cost savings with Olds, and a Chevy cooperate engine with cars that were just light make overs of other GM models.
Remember the whole we have to make this all FWD on shared platforms of the 80’s.
Then we had people come in to lead Cadillac and give them their own engines and more distinct models. But they were never given the money or full control to pull it off. We ended up with N star engines with all sorts of issues.
Then they tried to bring RWD back but were only given a Catera and Impala to use. No one can turn a fupivision around with that.
Finally the bottom fell out and they went bankrupt.
Lutz at this time started to move to give Cadillsc more autonomy and freedom. Mark then came in and tried to help stop the revolving door of Cadillac managers not willing to work under and fight the Gzm board.
Finally Mark and Mary brought in their bull dog JDN who could give a flying hillbilly f#&k about the board. He is not a GM lifer affaid of losing a long GM career if he defies the board.
At this point he has been given major seed money, the space from a Detroit to prevent interfearance and the time to remake the brand as a company and not as a division of GM.
This puts all the past into contex of the false starts and blunders.
Will JDN be successful? No one knows as a lot can happen. At this point we are seeing the right things being done. We also even at lower volumes seeing them making more money than they were with th3 past crap that was discounted to the price of a Buick.
Right now we wait and watch.
Not everything is going to be a home run and no one model will change the whole division. But a series of improvements and compelling designs in segments that connect with customers will improve sales and earn trust with th3 customers as they rebuild 5he image.
The key will be can a Mary and Mark block the board brom interfering before they are done.
In the past Cadillac was run by those who were the problem but now they are in the hands of those who are not the problem.
Now they have a staff of dedicated engineers that only work for a Cadillac. They have their own stylist now that only design Cadillacs.
In a nut shell this is why this time it may be different.
To understand you really have to look at the big pic5ure and not the petty complaints from people on forums.
So sit back kick up your feet and let’s watch what happens. For sure you will see more change at Cadillac in decades. Will see how it goes and how they pan out.
The key is that they do not have to dominate the segment just make steady and consistent gains. They just need to show growth and sustained and increased profits to be successful.
Scott3, are sedans “dying” because no one wants a sedan anymore, or because the sedans that are being made do not appeal to a wide enough segment of the public? Not everyone wants a “sports” sedan (most polls show only about 15% of the public cares about this feature), but the professional auto writers rate them highly and most of the car executives want to make them. You’ve laid out the typical “3 offering” sedans for a luxury car-makter, but what if someone wants a smaller sedan that’s comfortable rather than sporty?
“Prodriver” here was lamenting that no one wanted to get in the back seat of the Cadillac (apparently an ATS or CTS), as it was too small. IMO every car branded “Cadillac” should have plenty of legroom for every seat. That’s always been a core brand value for Cadillac, until very recently. Cadillac lost its way on that, and the brand is suffering as a result. “Henry” here had a great idea of having an ATS replacement that had 2 comfortable seats instead of 4 cramped ones. That’s a way of retaining the Cadillac core value in a smaller, more affordable footprint. But there seems to be some recent unwritten rule now that Cadillac can’t make a car that doesn’t “properly” fit into someone else’s existing specs. Sad to see this from a former leader, that never cared what the competition was doing – they just made Cadillacs to be great cars and true to their own values.
If every luxury brand offers the same 3 sedans, same dimensions including the seating, same emphasis on “sporty”, then effectively they have 3 choices only. Sure they can choose among brands, but it’s still becoming the same 3 sedans across the board. That’s not much choice. And with JDN changing the Cadillac brand to more closely match the specs and appearance of BMW and MB, what does a brand even mean?
People do love their SUV/CUVs, and there’s good reason for that. Drivers like riding up high (better view for driving), and they like being able to carry a lot of cargo. SUV/CUVs are not “sporty” in terms of handling, but you’ll hear no complaints about that from the 85%.
Perhaps one way to get more people into sedans would be to give people a substantially more comfortable ride in the sedan than the SUV/CUV. Another way to compete might be to offer more liftback sedans, not just in compact size but all the way up to full size. But if everyone just builds the same 3 sedans to the same specs as everyone else, I wouldn’t expect the overall sedan market to grow, no matter how many brand entries there are.
We are never going back to cars being built like land boats! You can’t compare cars today to cars of 40 years ago!
You can make sedans as comfortable as possible but suv/cuvs will be in demand because of the cargo space available!
Cadillac will be just fine! Cadillac will fix what problems people think they have!
Drew the reason sedans are dying is people like the Versitily of the SUV or CUV.
The provide the same comfort as a large sedan but you can really use it for more than just putting a few suit cases in the trunk. You can haul anything from three rows of people to bags of crushed marble.
They sit higher something many women like and with 50% and over of new vehicles bought by women this is a key feature.
Today many SUV and Czuzv models handle and ride better than many of the past Cadillac sedans.
Now here is your problem you could give them a proper luxury sedan and the will still opt for the SUV.
The reason the sedan is relegated to being a sports sedan vs luxury sedan is because no one was buying the luxury boat.
Lincoln did not replace the Town Car as it just became a fleet taxi vs a customer car. There was no money in it and if there was they would have updated it.
The makers found that the only way to keep the sedan alive is to make it more performance oriented. Why because it is the only way they make money with them.
Every attempt at a pure luxury car has failed. Deville dead, DTS dead, STS dead, Town Car Dead, 300 discounted to Malibu prices and dead as a true luxury car. Buick LaCrosse dying. Should I continue?
These models if they were making money would be living on. The only reason the XTS is still alive is fleet sales.
The reality is the car you crave is no longer a profit center and you are a very small part of the segment not worth serving anymore as there is no money in it. If there was they would make them.
As for you criticism of JDN it is totally unfounded to this point as non of the present product is his. The investment is in the new product we are about to see.
Will JDN turn this around that remains to be seen. But to be fair you can not condemn a man for work you have not seen or have been able to be properly judge.
Let’s see just what we get and how 5he market responds and if we see a upturn in the next few years we will know if he has succeeded or failed.
So cut out the short sighted petty personal bickering and let the sales results speak.
Yes the ATS should have had more leg room in back. It dosen’t And JDN is replacing it. I suspect this will be resolved so suggest you had better find a new talking point to pick at.
Scott3, you make many good points there, and it’s true that we won’t really know what the JDN products will be like until they arrive. I do feel though that his values are not aligned with what I consider “Cadillac” values, and that’s based on where he says he wants to take the brand. If he does what he says he wants to do, I feel the brand will no longer be recognizable as Cadillac (except in the modified badges). But we’ll see, yes.
As far as SUVs vs. sedans, yes women seem to like the higher seating position (being generally a lot shorter than men) but men like that too. I am 6’3 and that’s something I like about SUVs and trucks, the higher perspective while driving. And with all the SUVs on the road today, the higher perspective is especially useful in order to see around other vehicles.
And yes the cargo capacity is great too, though for smaller cargo a sedan can be nicer than having cargo sliding around in an SUV, if the driver doesn’t have it properly secured. I do think that a medium sized or large liftback sedan could help with some of the cargo capacity difference, obviously not all of it.
I disagree regarding “failed” attempts at pure luxury cars. The DTS is dead yes, because GM chose not to update or continue it. I’d say though that selling over 58k units (in the USA) one year and over 51k units the next year was not exactly a failure. I wonder how many units the CT6 will sell this calendar year, in what should be its best year (first full calendar year). The DTS also probably made a lot of profit for GM, using an existing engine and being not much different than the DeVille. I realize that complexity sells today for its own sake, but when you can have a less complex car that sells at a fairly high price and in high volume, you can’t ignore that profit picture as a business.
It does seem possible today with modern technology that sedans could be made to be both comfortable and somewhat sporty. My point though is that the Cadillac brand has long been known for comfort, so that’s something it should not have abandoned, in any models, even the small ATS (or its predecessor the Catera). Without roominess, comfortable luxury, and brash angular sytling – what is Cadillac as a brand?
I’d like to see Cadillac consider something like Citroen’s hydropneumatic suspension, updated with computer technology. But the mindset at Cadillac seems to be “if the Germans aren’t doing it, we won’t do it ourselves”. And I think that’s no way to be a leader or a continuation of the American icon that Cadillac has been. Those who favor German cars may feel differently – but if so, why not just buy a German car?
Well JDN has been actively involved with the segment. He is in tune with where it going not only from his point of view at GM but also from working it at some of the competitors.
Drew what have you done lately. Sorry JDN holds the edge between his experience and yours. Does that mean he is right too soon to tell.
The bottom line is a Cadillac fell behind and squandered their heritage. Their past means little to the public today so they need to reset and start over. Most of the Cadillacs that have real heritage are over 50 years old before the common man could own one.
The DTS failed because it was crap. Upgrade? You can’t polish a turd.
The DTS was just a common GM platform with a compromised V8 funded by committee. GM got in this mix and compromised what Cadillac wanted. The quality was an issue and the styling was far from compelling.
I know the DTS well having in laws who had one that was nothing but trouble. Quality was piss poor. The issues with oil use and head gaskets were common. The AC unit failed 3 times and the air pump was another well known failure. I normally never recommend the extended warranty but in this case they got more back than they paid.
The DTS issues they saw were common and the DTS is one of the reasons there is a need for a make over of their image.
Yes they sold or should I say leased many. But this was at a time it was cheaper to build the cars and lease at major discounts as the lost less money than they would shutting the line down due to the poor union contract they had were they had to pay the workers nearly full pay even if the did not work.
Your view of the DTS is with road color glasses. It also is the reason Lutz went to the STS and changed the name. But limited funds and GM interfearance hurt it as it was never better than the CTS and was more expensive.
Now as for today’s cars being comfortable. My point of view as well as most in the market the Magnetic ride is great. The Citroens deal was a warranty nightmare in the past and still is yet today. Hence not much love for the outside Europe.
The SUV has universal appeal for men and women. The CUV is the perfect storm as it gives the things a mini van has females like but yet enough butch for a man to be comfortable to be seen in or drive. It also get better mpg that the customer and company like and need. Also in varied sizes most can match needs and price.
As for bench marking you benchmark and beat the class leaders. Last I looked Citroen was not anywhere close to a class leader.
I get it you though Cadillac was good enough when they offered the DTS. Sorry but it was just one of 5he models that brought up to where we are today an$ that is not a good place.
The Germans redefined the segment in the absence of good Cadillacs in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
To succeed in the future it will take product that match today’s market not 1977. At som3 point you need to stop living in the past.
Cadillac needs to be class leading in technology, styling, quality and all around performance to rebuild their image.
I will say your take is very defining. Here is the definition below.
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Scott is 100% right!!
Scott3, the insanity of doing the same thing and expecting different results is what Cadillac is doing now, and is planning to continue to do under JDN.
I have listed “Cadillac core values” in the past, and I promised not to list them again for the rest of this year, so you’ll have to search to find them (the are on the topic of “JDN disusses the future of the brand” – originally “his brand” until changed by the author or site owner). As I have said, Cadillac should be making MODERN cars but true to their original values. It was only when Cadillac started to look in the rearview mirror and imitate the Germans that they fell from #1 in the USA to #5, and they will probably be #7 by the end of this year.
The “theory” was that Cadillac needed to offer cars and engines like the Germans, so we got the V8-6-4 (1981), the Cimarron (1982), and the Catera (1997). All of them disasters which hurt the Cadillac brand overall, and all of which could have been avoided if Cadillac had stayed true to its core values rather than chasing the Germans. Lexus picked up many of the Cadillac core values, including reliability (long forgotten by Cadillac once they started imitating the Germans), and Lexus quickly moved well past Cadillac.
The “new theory” (pretty much same as the old theory), was that it wasn’t imitating the Germans that was a problem, it was continuing to make American style cars alongside them. If only Cadillac could make “proper” sized cars like the Germans, sporty and RWD, and move away from anything else, then the sales would come. So the ATS and 3rd generation CTS replaced the old CTS, and neither of these is selling well now. Once again, moving more to the Germans and away from Cadillac core values has hurt sales.
So what does JDN choose to do? He wants Cadillac to be EVEN MORE German. ALL the vehicles will be “driver’s cars” (i.e. sports suspension) once he replaces the current models. ALL of them will be RWD. NONE of them will have the bold angular definitively “Cadillac” styling.
What will the result of all that be? I say it will be more of the same – even further declining sales and profits. You say that its insane to keep doing what isn’t working, I agree – and the proof will be when JDN continues to imitate the Germans rather than returning it to the core values that made it #1, a real brand that meant something, the subject of great admiration and numerous songs.
So now don’t come back and say I want to make replicas of the Cadillacs of the past, or that I think Cadillac should have made the DTS forever. I’ve said no such thing. Of course cars must be modern and incorporate technological advances. But a brand without core values is not a brand. What will Cadillac stand for under JDN? No one has answered that. It appears to me that rather than being the leader it once was, it will simply be a follower of the Germans along the lines of Genesis, but more expensive. Sad. And not likely to succeed. That field is already crowded. Build something else to find the large base of underserved luxury customers. If the public wants German cars, there are plenty of German choices. Cadillac did not become #1 by imitating the Germans. Cadillac did drop to #5 and falling by imitating the Germans. Which path is the “insane” one?
By the way, the STS and DTS were nice looking cars for their time. They both used similar design language. You can claim all you want today that they look outdated, but you can do that with any older car. The STS was the sportier, RWD sedan, and it never sold as well as the DTS, even though it did look sleeker thus it had more visual appeal.
Your in-laws may have gotten a lemon DTS, but that’s not typical of the experience of most DTS owners, including myself. You can’t base reliability on a sample of one. Furthermore, the design goals of a roomy sedan with a comfortable ride were pure Cadillac – whether or not the execution was there (reliability). A sporty RWD car can be unreliable, if poorly executed.
Don’t get hung up on a model and miss the core values. If Cadillac had stuck to their core value of reliability, your in-laws might have been happier. But pointing to one sample of an unreliable in-law’s car does not mean that Cadillac should never make a roomy car with a comfortable ride again. Your logic seems to be lacking on this one. And again, which part of “insanity” don’t you get, when JDN is doubling down on a strategy that has been a loser for Cadillac for over 35 years now?
These core values you keep talking about is a total waste of time, you only use them to prop up what you want to see in this car company!
So you think a company should should always keep it’s same core values? Cadillac has been around for 100 years and do you really think the core values that Cadillac had back then are still the same today? NO! Companies evolve! What is important 100 years ago are not even talked about today, or 50 years ago, or 20 years ago!
Building a certain set of cars simply because we use to is plain ( )! You feel in the blank cuz if I do I’ll get kicked off this site!
The point I have been trying to explain to you but you refuse to listen is cars that work for you don’t work for the other 99%! Cadillac doesn’t make cars for you and you alone. That car has to be appleaning to all people, different shapes and sizes.
This idea that you can only have a roomy car that has a nice ride in a fwd land boat is pathetic.
A rwd car can be just as comfortable, roomy, and have a nice ride as a fwd! Fwd cars have a perfect place in the low rent area of the automotive world, but at the top having both nice riding and performance versions of a rwd Cadillac are where it’s at!
Working on this formula may lose you as a customer but will gain in thousands more.
Please stop with this idea of putting down sporty Cadillacs, this is where the future technology comes from! It trickles down to the normal cars years down the road. Then new advanced technology replaces the old sporty technology! But I guess a guy like you would just rather ride on the old outdated technology cuz it feels like it use to!
So I hope Cadillac never listens to people like you, I hope they build cars that can run circles around the German and Japanese cars and if that means that the front seat doesn’t come with enough room for a lazy boy chair that will be perfectly fine!
Yes you are just looking at this from your own heart and not objectively.
The kind of car you wish for just does not exist and it does not exist because it is not what the market seeks anymore. No matter how much you like it there just is not enough demand for it.r
You really need to get a grasp of the market realities here.
Hell I am a life long suffering Cleveland. Towns fan but even I know better than to bet on them to win. Think with you head not your heart.
This is a deal where they must address the market for what it wants and not to the whim of the heart of the few who got left behind.
Life and the auto industry moved on and for better or worse you have to live with the results line everyone else.
I don’t always like the changes but the market rules not the individual.
FYI the core to Cadillac has been to build the best cars in segment that can not be disputed. It has been decades since they have done that. That is an attainable deal but not with the kind of products from 20 years ago. If you think the DTS was the altimate Cadillac then you really need to re evaluate your judgment.
This is business and about making money not artistic creation.
Brian and Scott3, you obviously didn’t read the list of core values. And if you do read the list of core values, tell me which one you would change or reject. Every successful brand needs a set of core values, otherwise the brand is not a brand, stands for nothing.
The core values I listed made Cadillac the #1 luxury car in the US market for over 50 years in a row. And nowhere did I list FWD as an essential core value, yes they can make RWD and still fit their core values. Personally I prefer that they keep the option of FWD open, unlike JDN who wants to reject it outright. Also, I never said Cadillac can’t or shouldn’t build sporty cars. What I did say was that roomy seats and ride comfort are core Cadillac values, which should not be dumped in order to yield a more sporty ride. But if a car can be sporty AND comfortable riding, then it certainly could be a Cadillac.
Apparently you never heard of “The Cadillac ride”, otherwise you’d realize that’s a core value for virtually a century. It’s what the brand success was built on, along with Cadillac reliability, Cadillac roominess, Cadillac stying, the latest in consumer electronics and comfort, etc.
I realize that you’d like to see a successful luxury brand remade into an unsuccessful sport brand. Because for you, there aren’t enough sports brands. It’s been tried at Cadillac and it’s not working. It’s been a bad business decision.
You “keep trying to educate” me, when all you are doing is showing that you want all Cadillacs to be built for your personal taste, just as JDN wants all Cadillacs to be built to his personal taste. I’m talking about a proper business decision, to sell cars and make money once again for GM. Again, every successful brand needs to establish and maintain core values. That is not the same as making the same products year after year.
Again, read the list of Cadillac core values I laid out, and tell me which ones you think should not be Cadillac core values. Otherwise you are not making a logical argument, by assuming things are on the list which are not, then saying that the brand can’t be held back by core values which I never listed as core values.
Drew, we’ve all heard your “core value” and we’d like to remind you again that it’s not 1950 anymore. Building cushy boats is part of what put cadillacs reputation in the toilet and and still haunts the brand. Like scott and Brian said time change the market is different then in was 40 years just because you want a 1970s cruiser doesn’t mean anyone else does. Most people who were buying the DTS 10-15 years ago are either dead or no longer driving and demand for the cheap car that offers nothing but a boat ride died with them. Comfort and roominess are not the values they need to focus on. Power and elegance are what the brand stands for now.
Carguy, obviously you did not read the “core values” I listed, because I DID include power and elegance as core Cadillac values. You seem unwilling or unable to grasp the concept that core values are not locked into a particular era. Such as reliability, one of the core values I listed. Are you saying that reliability is only desirable in certain decades, not others?
I also mentioned that Cadillac should never sell cheapened “base” versions (such as the vinyl seats and halogen headlamps of today’s base ATS and CTS) under the brand name – do you disagree with that too, and think it to be out of date?
So TELL ME which core values you think Cadillac should not be following today. Are you saying that comfort and roominess should no longer be core Cadillac values, and that Cadillacs of today should be cramped and hard-riding? That’s what has been killing sales of Cadillac; the ATS has never been a strong seller, despite a cheap price.
You refer to older Cadillacs as “floaty boats” and you claim that this is what killed the brand. Have you actually ridden in a roomy comfortable Cadillac, or are you just basing that on the writings of other people, who themselves have a preference for cramped, hard-riding cars?
If making roomy cars with the best ride this side of Rolls Royce “killed the brand”, why was it #1 for over 50 years with those qualities? Actually what hurt the brand is when they tried to imitate the Germans, and came up with the V8-6-4, the Cimarron, and the Catera – ALL of which were major flops, ALL of which were NOT in keeping with the brand values, ALL of which were due to trying to imitate the Germans. Those are the FACTS. Look them up if you don’t believe me.
JDN WILL FAIL because he’s killing off the last vestiges of what made Cadillac a successful brand. Obviously you lack the foresight to notice this. That’s ok, most people lack wisdom and foresight, which can be seen by the “just keep imitating the Germans” and “Cadillac doesn’t need brand values” comments here.
So ok, you think you are right – in 10 years you’ll be proven wrong. I don’t know why you need another 10 years for this however. It’s already been 35 years of decline, all of which can be attributed to abandoning Cadillac’s core values and instead trying to become a clone of BMW. It hasn’t worked in 35 years, it won’t work over the next 10, but if you need those 10 years to understand the obvious, then so be it, I can’t help you. Time will prove me to be correct, even if you can’t accept the truth today.
I am saying people don’t want a soft ride, and that they are fine offering base models. And what worked 50 years ago won’t work today the market has changed and so have the buyers that’s why Cadillac fell behind while they were still making DTS and STS and the other brands took over. Cadillac still has one of the oldest average buyer ages of all car brands because of the baggage of those cars. And I have seen your core values 50 times.
Carguy, ok – thanks for the clarity in your response. We’ll just have to disagree regarding the best path forward for Cadillac. My belief is that JDN’s long-term plan to limit Cadillac to RWD only, and “sports” suspension (aka “driver’s cars”) only, will only NARROW the customer base for Cadillac, not expand it.
And I believe that JDN’s plan of eliminating Cadillac’s angular American lines in favor of Euro-rounding will make for a bland brand. I wonder why they even retain the name “Cadillac” when the brand will no longer have any resemblance to Cadillac. Killing a successful American icon doesn’t make sense to me, and it hasn’t been working thus far.
But only time will prove which theory is correct, the JDN theory which you embrace, or the theory that they should return to the core values that made them #1 in the USA, the subject of hundreds of songs, and a brand that actually meant something. So see where they are after 10 more years as a BMW-wannabe. I say that the brand will continue to sink under JDN, but it didn’t have to be that way.
Your wrong.
Drew the problem is the core values you see are mostly what you interpret not reality of the market.
Second you have no clue to what all JDN has planned.
First off yes they will have RWD as that is what the market requires at a higher price point. But as we see with the CT4 it will be a FWD AWD model like the CT5.
There will be EV models as well as some surprises along the way.
Your personal likes get in the way of seeing clear here.
There is much I would like to see too but I only speculate on what is going on not just what I want to see.
I would love to see a BMW like gt roadster but I know there are much more important things for them to fix first.
The problem is Core Values = Drew’s dreams. Sorry 5he future if Cadillac needs to capture the imagination and desires of those in the market now.
Most could not even tell you who sold a 16 cylinder car in their past or even care if they did.
The 2.0T needs to go except for China and replaced by a proper DOHC V8 engine mated to the new 9 speed transmission. The 3.6 and 3.0TT are great engines.
There german’s didn’t get were there are over night, it took them may years to get there. Wan’t you check out Cadillac sales globally these world is not just buying german luxury cars.
Your English is so bad I can’t make out what you’re trying to say. Cadillac world market share is 3%. What’s your point?
People buy german car’s because of these name, that’s my point.
A brand becomes desirable when a company builds an outstanding product along with an excellent customer experience over an extended period of time. That’s why people hand over money for a named brand and often pay a premium for it.
This idea that you have to build cars for years in order to have a great following or good reputation is laughable.
Tesla comes on the market and people love them!
I am convicted that Cadillac could do everything right and people will still complain
What’s really laughable is your belief that it isn’t and using Tesla as an example is a faulty premise. People like Teslas because they have a completely unique product in a brand new market and offer a unique ownership experience. Once they have competition, they will be judged against other auto brands like any other. The perception of Cadillac, due to decades of neglect, will take years to change. Other than by a minority of people in the US, it’s just not perceived as a very desirable product. In a side-by-side comparison, you would have to be blind not to see it. And then there’s the abominable dealer experience.
Name all the top names and brands in each and every segment and it has taken years to get there. Camry, Civic, Ford pick-up… In the luxury segment, the long-time established brands who dominate have been at it for decades. Newcomers like Acura and Infinity are struggling. Given enough time that may change.
I like that body style ,It should be a great luxury Automobile !
The truth is it is image that sells these cars. It can take time and investment to cultivate that image.
Some like Tesla get lucky traveling the road untried but if they do not upgrade the S soon people will tire of it and move to the Porsche Mission E.
Tesla is more like a fashion statement that may last with enough support or vanish over night with increased competition,
Cadillacs mission is now to build compelling styled cars with the most advanced mechanicals and technology. They need to earn the trust of the customers to earn the right to their money.
The truth is the Germans never did always have the best cars but the image the car bestowed on the customer often was enough. Hell Ferrari sold POS for decades but got away with it due to styling and image.
But again many here equate a win in beating the Germans. Hey at some point that would be great. But a win here is to grow sales and retain high ATP as this is all about profits. This is not really a total volume segment it is all about how much you make be it on 2k cars or 200k units sold.
You can have all the image you like and volume but if at the end you are not making money what good is it?
I disagree with one point scott3 about Tesla: Discriminating luxury buyers loved what they saw, and the tests support the high quality of the product. They are here to stay. New automakers have the benefit of previous technology and design of others manufacturers and can do quantum leaps to get to the head of the class (Think of how quickly Hyundai/Genesis caught up).
I remember the 1970s when some (like GM) did not take the Japanese automakers as seriously as they should have.
Cadillac should mean something. The CT6 is a beautiful and phenomenal vehicle, and the style will evolve. It’s just hard to know what the younger generations will want. It’s certainly not the same time as when I grew up and the family had an Olds or Buick but aspired to own a Cadillac. That kind of prestige isn’t as important to most especially when you can have near luxury in a Chevy Impala or a Buick.
I disagree on several points.
The Tesla quality was there at the start of the S model. It has since fallen off. The X model has been problem prone since the start. The Roadster the Lotus part was th3 best part and that is not saying much.
Any visit to the Tesla forums will bear this out.
Tesla is more status symbol to the Discrimining Buyer.
Hyundai did improve from horrible to average at best. They require more maintenance than many cars and have suffered warranty issues all along. I have a buddy at one of the dealers that tells al, the tales. Better yes but not stellar.
I do agree it is hard to tell where this is going. Right now the used ATS has really done well with the 45 and younger drivers. The CUV will play wel, to them as we see this already with Audi, Lexus and even Porsche.
Technology is one area that does interest them hence GM’s investment. Even if they are wrong the investment will not hurt anyways.
Also if you earn the image the public can be much more forgiving. Just look at VW with the Diesel cheating and quality issues. They got away with it due to a loyal following and image earned over the years.
I do agree that even when Cadillsc does get it right they will still have their critics in and outside the ownership circle.
You will never win over everyone.
If GM doesn’t build a full sized sedan I am going to scream. We tried to go for lunch in a new Cadillac sedan ?TS and no one could even get in the back seat when the front was occupied. Don’t the GM engineer’s ever go for lunch and figure out that the cars are too small for the NA market.
I’d bet that they know this and enjoy forcing everyone that like full sized cars from the past into higher margin pickup trucks and SUV’s.
Please build some full sized cars and a new full sized impala with AWD.
I don’t know what you are complaining or referring to but Cadillac already have full-size models, XTS, CT6 and Escalade unless your friends are over 7 feet tall.
However, XT7 is coming which will be bigger than the CT6 as Cadillac’s legitimate flagship to do battle against the S, 7 Series and etc.
Gm does make an AWD impala its called the Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac XTS….. also CT6 is even larger, tons of back seat space. They make 4 sedans they aren’t all small.
Here is the problem sedans are dying. They build them but few are buying.
Cadillacs best hope it to realign the three sedans they have knot non competing models. Make one large and comfortable with a confident suspension. Make the mid size flexible to be comfortable but yet sporting. Then make the small one affordible for luxury with bits of performance in the product.
Styling needs to have a family trace but they all need to be more different than they are now.
Let the CUV and SUV models carry the volume as they do not need to be as exclusive as the sedans are.
As for luxury trucks leave them to GMC.
As for the Impala AWD. We have a Lacrosse on a better and updated platform. It is a much better car than the older Impala but yet it is a tough sell. The Market is different and these cars are not selling. Same for the Taurus.
Those crying for these cars are one of two things. Too few in numbers or not buying what they claim they want. Hard to justify production when you have two months of unsold sedans sitting there while the CUV models are hard to keep in stock.
Have you driven CTS? Preferably CTS V-sport? I have as well as 5series BMW and MB. Nothing on the road like it for that price. Even more expensive cars don’t drive like that. Can it be better? Yes, but it’s a genuine car with character and style that is just good if not really good. Be different for once. Stop pointing out negative. Just admit that Germans make good cars and Cadillac makes good cars. Let’s just have some pride about a wonderful American made vehicle and go at least test drive one. Dealership experience (I’ve been to few, Cadillac and others) is comparable. Cadillac premium maintenance program is excellent. BMW and MB did, have and will always be relatively more unreliable, way more expensive and loose their resale value as quickly if not quicker as Cadillac does. I like my caddies and will always like them. Powerful and beautiful cars! Would not change them. Remember, about 10 years ago BMW almost got bought by Chinese company. And I don’t see them outshining GM/Cadillac in sales. Escalade is still the beast to have. CTS V is still better than M and AMG. And Cadillac following is very much ownership oriented than lease oriented compared to German following that is very lease oriented.
My point is I love the new product out of Cadillac and GM. I had a new XTS AWD when they came out and it was roughly the size as a ’90’s mid sized Chev Lumina. Not something that I want to pine for. These are all still mid sized cars and I know the Crown Victoria sized car is probably not going to happen, but I will hold out hope for the CT7?
I tried to buy what looks like the last full size American sedan the C300, but I can’t do a dodge car. I have not driven a CTS, but will take a look, thanks. I like the CT6, as it has a way bigger front clip than the XTS, just wish it was bigger.
A CT6 is 6 inches longer then a Chrysler 300 and has more interior space. It is the largest American sedan in production right now and you can get 400hp. I would go take another look.
Thanks, I did not know that. I will take another look at the stats. While I love the fact that I have been forced into full size Tahoes and pickup, I am starting to get tired of the mileage and fuel cost and will look hard at the CT6, love the new Super cruise that is coming in the ’18’s.
When is the CT7 coming out?
Nothing is final as yet but I had been reading and gathering information from some sources. There is a proposed architecture called VSS-R for RWD models built alongside w/ XT7 to compliment the next Escalade on the VSS-T BOF architecture. However the CT7 could be a ’21-’22 model which is only 4 years away.
I hope GM steps up and gives the CT6 an interior that blows the S-class away. I always get more when I give more to my clients. When GM makes an interior that is so awesome the customers will come and the dealers will get more over invoice. No more discounting
This will never happen! The people who hand out awards would never give Cadillac credit for being better then Benz, or BMW!!!
Especially when they’re not. Lol
Have you even looked at an S class?