Cadillac adversary BMW has just unveiled an all-new model – the 2019 Z4 Roadster. The German automaker pulled the wraps off the all-new ZR4 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, delivering the fifth generation of the Z nameplate.
The 2019 Z4 features a proper roadster configuration, comprised of a long hood, short rear deck, and the most recent iteration of the German brand’s exterior design language that’s rather expressive when compared to a significantly more conservative design language of its other models. An electrically-operated textile soft top is the only top available.
Inside, the Z4’s two seats are placed just ahead of the rear wheels in traditional roadster guise, while the interior “places the focus on the pure sports driving enjoyment of the new” Bimmer. Interestingly, the new digital gauge cluster has the tachometer layout backwards, but BMW says that the controls are arranged in a likewise fashion in order to deliver the ultimate driving experience.
Under the hood is an upgraded version of the German automaker’s well-received 3.0L inline 6-cylinder engine producing enough horsepower and torque to move the BMW Z4 M40i from a standstill to 60 mph in under an estimated 4.4 seconds. The M-tuned chassis features electronically-controlled dampers, an M Sport braking system, and an electronically-controlled M Sport rear differential.
The components, according to the Bavarian automaker, work in unison to ensure that the Z4 “can carve through the twists of the Laureles Grade as effortlessly as cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur.” The sport model will launch in the Spring of 2019 and will, in a rather new twist, derive the future Toyota Supra that will take on the Chevy Camaro.
And all that brings us to the topic du jour – Cadillac. Not only does GM’s BMW-fighting luxury brand not have a dedicated sports car, but it doesn’t have a convertible either – both of which BMW has just delivered with the 2019 Z4.
A quick stroll down history lane will remind us that Cadillac hasn’t had a dedicated sports car or a convertible since the bygone XLR, which was based on the Corvette C6 (sixth generation Chevy Corvette). The XLR was discontinued in 2009, allegedly due to slow sales. For all intents and purposes, the XLR was Cadillac’s flagship at the time of its existence, with XLR-V models being costlier than the mighty Escalade. A sport-luxury brand in the midst of its renaissance dropping a vehicle that serves as the pinnacle of its existence in the modern world was by no means a good sign, and perhaps even ironic in a sad kind of way.
Since then, GM’s luxury arm offered two sporty coupes – the CTS Coupe and the ATS Coupe.
Derived from the second-generation CTS range, the CTS Coupe and its high-performance CTS-V Coupe relative were released shortly after GM’s bankruptcy. They ran from the 2011 thru the 2014 model years during which time the models developed quite an ardent following, especially in their mighty CTS-V guise. The CTS Coupe wasn’t without faults, however, as many berated it for the frumpy styling of the rear end. The CTS Coupe range was discontinued in conjunction with the introduction of the third-generation Cadillac CTS, which never came to derive a coupe variant.
Succeeding the CTS Coupe range was the ATS Coupe and its high-performance ATS-V Coupe relative. The models were derived from the ATS Sedan and ATS-V Sedan. Like the CTS-V, the ATS-V enjoys quite a passionate following, though some believe the ATS-V models were hamstrung by the lack of a V8 and therefore were only “as good as” but not necessarily better than their direct rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
But as good as the CTS was and ATS Coupe is, they can’t quite deliver the gusto, styling, panache or open-air motoring experience of a roadster like the Z4 or the XLR.
And though Cadillac is on the cusp of launching its biggest offensive in history that involves introducing five (or more) new models by 2021, it doesn’t appear that any of those future Cadillac models will have a convertible variant or will be a purpose-built roadster, at least not that we know of. Here’s to hoping that the brand’s offensive pays off in a big way, thereby providing some disposable resources for a sexy open-air model along the lines of BMW’s 2019 Z4… but done the Cadillac way.
Comments
Another possible reason why Johan de Nysschen got fired as he didn’t push (or not enough) for a convertible.. imagine if Cadillac had a version of the Buick Cascada with a front fascia of a ATS and the 464 hp LF4 twin-turbo 3.6L V6.
Are you just saying words for the sake of saying them?
In what twisted world did JdN not “push” far enough in any regard? He pushed the dealers and (for the most part) got stonewalled, he pushed for exclusive product with exclusive platforms and powertrains and (for the most part) got rejected (see XT4 and XT6), and he pushed for a total revamp of the way GM and Cadillac think and treat the brand… and here he was partially successful.
A convertible is a low priority for Cadillac given its current state of affairs… it needs to get the core portfolio done first, before moving to fun projects like roadsters and convertibles… which is exactly what I outline in the article.
But the perspective your comment introduces is the equivalent of saying that the earth is flat.
Have you gone totally insane? Why in the FSM’s name would Cadillac want a convertable based on the same platform as the FWD Cruze sedan?
Cadillac already has GM’s finest platform: the Alpha. They could have made an ATS convertable if they wanted, but given their trouble selling enough ATS sedans it would have been stupid to offer it in convertable form.
BMW has X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6 and coming up X7. Cadillac has Escalade, XT5, and upcoming XT4. Cadillac will need to catch up with SUV game before it moves to roadsters. Cadillac is far behind BMW.
I worry Cadillac’s car and SUV/CUV aspirations are too narrow, and that there could potentially be too much overlap between their rumored products, but time will tell. I would personally love to see something along the lines of the Z4, only a touch bigger and less Honda looking (yes, I think BMW really went backwards with the styling).
I think a Z4 from Cadillac should be so far down the list right now that it shouldn’t even be made for a couple reasons.
1) the market for a 2 seater cruiser is dwindling monthly
2) Cadillac still has lots of work to do to round out its portfolio.
Cadillac needs the 3 sedans the 4 SUV/CUVS and the flagship all to be in sale before something like this is even drawn up. I think pony cars will continue to sell at a ‘decent’ rate because they are relatively ‘affordable’ even though some specs are pushing boundaries but a car like this with not crazy power the market will speak for itself
the most common complaint i’ve read on supra forums is that the new supra will basically be a bmw.
imagine that … people complaining that the car will be german instead of japanese.
just remember that the next time you scoff at the korean automakers.
Korean cars are still plastic boxes. Even with them now heavily engineered by non-Korean ex-BMW and Mercedes engineers.
A Supra forum isn’t exactly an unbiased source. It’s like reading GMA and concluding that Americans don’t Japanese cars.
This…
1) the market for a 2 seater cruiser is dwindling monthly
… Is actually incorrect.
The luxury two-door segment is not shrinking. It’s the only one that continues to perform rather well, and has been either steady or has grown over the past three years (which is as far back as I’ve yet to compile the figures).
The biggest reason for this is that these are very personal luxury items that are bought by discerning customers who aren’t at all interested in crossovers. The audience and demos here are completely different from those driving the crossover mania.
On the flip side, the segment commands really strong transaction prices and the margins are, by association, also very high.
That said, Cadillac has its priorities straight, and needs to get the core product out first, as it is doing (which is mentioned in the article). However, what’s concerning is that there isn’t even talk of a sporty car or a roadster…
My mistake, I don’t have access to sales for Coupes monthly I just based it on reading articles on coupes sales falling. I guess luxury coupes still sell well. I’d rather see a 4 seat coupe and one that’s a bit larger then one like this. And one that a real V variant can be made
This is right we’re i think Cadillac should do a roadster. Get it to were it is priced were someone would give it a chance.
Build it on a Alpha wit a decent trunk and make it a great handler on back twisting roads and not a G machine.
We do not need another rebodied Corvette for $100,000like the XLRv was.
Once they earn more image and customer trust then look to the C8 platform for a higher end sports car.
The Z4 is a perfect execution of what a Cadillac Kappa car would have looked like.
It steals the side skirts from the Saturn Sky, and Solstice’s oversided kidneys. Seriously, compare the side vents of the Sky and the Z4.
And the sad thing is GM has a solution to this. Take the Y-body, put rollbars in it, and put a LTG on it. Finally, put in Buick dealers. Call it the Buick Solstice, and nobody will complain. This could be done in less budget than the Kappa platform, and built at Bowling Green tomorrow.
It’s not like Bowling Green is at capacity.
The Kappa and Kappa names are history.
If you were to do this car it needs a fresh start.
We also must be mind full that the Kappa was a vehicle built under duress. GM was broke and we were just lucky to have gotten what we got. Lutz had little to no money to work with and he doesn’t get enough credit for what he did do with what he had to work with.
Cadillac could hold the price point to support such a car.
Also I agree Buick would be ok since they hold volume in China to support it.
Where in the world did I say the Kappa platform should be revived? I clearly didn’t. It would be pointless to do so, as I proposed something clearly better.
Carmakers revive nameplates all the time, so that’s bogus too. Solstice was the best selling roadster in America every year it was in production. That’s why I said it.
What I said was the Y-body (C7 platform) has value and should continue on in 4-cylinder applications after the C8 arrives as a mid-engine elite car.
China is a false premise. Don’t say China! Spend a month in China and you’ll see why nobody owns a convertible over there. The air pollution is horrible. I wouldn’t own one over there.
You brought up a Kappa and I assumed you were wanting to bring a second gen back.
Automakers revive names under the same brand of well thought of cars that did not live a couple years. Well the public image of Solstice ehh as th3 car that fell short. Second it was not a Buick.
Note the Solstice may have been the best selling but the numbers still fell short of expectations. Also Mazda limits sales of the Miata to where they average 17k units over a gen. The present one is falling short the last time I looked I hope it is doing better.
Now the C7 as a 4 cylinder? You do know how much weight is in that car even without the V8?
If you want to do it right and get a decent price for the car you use an Alpha2 to cut weight. Get this thing down below 3000 pounds. If 2600 is possible the better. You offer a Turbo 4 and a V6. Price it $32k to $50k as a Buick or Cadillac.
As for China if it is a Buick You dang sure better send it there or you will never hit a decent volume here.
Bad air? You have got to be kidding. First odds are you will never live there anyways but that is besides the point. Keep in mind yes they have bad air in some areas and others are clean. It is a very large country.
Just because LA has smog does not negate Columbus Ohio for good air.
These ideas are just tire kickers as building and sustaining a 2 seat car in the market is not an easy thing. The cheaper it is the tougher it gets.
#1 the 2 seat market is limited as few people can live daily with one or afford it as a weekend cars. The higher the price the better the weekend status.
#2 the cheaper the car the harder to make a buisness case. This is why so many of Theses cars only last 4-8 years at best.
There is much more to this. I was lucky to sit down with a GM brand manage who also was an engineer and sports car fan. He showed me the difficulty of doing a car in this segment.
Even if the Fiero and Solstice were done right getting them past a Second gen would still be difficult.
Quite a few other cars have had the oversized kidneys since Franz von Holzhausen’s Solstice design, but honestly they don’t look very similar to the Z4 here.
Check out the Kia Stinger if you want to see a grill that looks like the Z4’s. All it’s missing is the center divider.
No doubt, but I don’t think it’s an irony that BMW is the first to re-uptake it into a roadster. The Solstice GXP was a car that I preferred over the last-gen Z4, in everything but safety.
I do appreciate that BMW did look at Kappa, and see what GM did right, and then since GM wasn’t using it… walked away with it.
The painful thing for me is that you have to choose between a C7 and a Z4, when Bowling Green has overflow production, and Buick-Pontiac-GMC would be an excellent gap filler. I think a Turbo-4 would do fine with the Y-Body, but GM’s venerable V6 with a Twin Turbo would do great as well.
It’s a bad time to be in the market for a roadster. Fiat has the 124 Abarth but won’t (or at least, hasn’t) put their ultra-fast 2.0T into it. Honda keeps mentioning they can make one, but won’t commit.
The problem with the Solstice was that it handled poorly compared to competitors like the Miata and Z4. It’s engine had very competitive power but it wasn’t as refined and rev happy as the competitors, which also set it back.
I’ll bet if today’s Cadillac created an updated Solstice it would objectively be equal to or better than the Z4. Cadillac’s engineering is just so far beyond that of the Solstice team. The key would be for GM to take it seriously and devote sufficient resources and time to its development. That was the main gripe about the Solstice, that it just didn’t feel like a completed car.
Good catch on the resemblance. There are so many cars buried in GM’s graveyard, you tend to forget about these things. The man who brought those models to life (Lutz) left and none of the bean counters thought it was important to find a home for that model after killing off its respective divisions, much less create a 2nd generation, which is unfortunate.
Think of the bean-countership that went into keeping Buick alive in spite of overlap with Cadillac — just because Buick revenues in China were promising. A more rational decision would have been to kill Buick and give Cadillac the proper funding it needed to bring a full luxury car portfolio to market including China markets.
Is there much innovation from GM outside of a mid-engine Corvette and an electric Bolt that lacks the mass appeal of the Tesla Model3? To wit, GM even had a mid-engine car from the 80s in the graveyard and an old electric program that was buried before it started. Not to mention a great looking Buick concept that was axed a few years ago.
Yeh, I know I’m comparing GM of 20-30 years ago to today, but I can’t help feeling GM has improved business-wise but regressed product-wise.
So a rebagged Cadillac fighting BMW, is set to fight a Chevy as a Toyota?
Sounds like WWII.
Back to my Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado
I have been screaming for a Cadillac Roadster for 15 year now. GM can actually spread the money around as well. Make a Chevy Roadster to take on the MX-5. They can make a mutch better one actually with all the parts bin they have.
Like how hard is this?
GM just doesn’t understand and I think they never will that certain cars are about emotion and that emotion trickles down to the entire lineup. No doubt in my mind Johan wanted a true Tier One Luxury brand and the GM Brass said no thank you. They are scared to go all in for some reason with Cadillac.
Note to anyone who doesn’t agree with Alex Luft, the publisher of these websites: expect to be treated like an idiot, and have the gist of the article repeated to you, confirming you are a moron and Alex is the VehicleMaster, albeit a very defensive one. I do hope he gains enough self confidence in the future to let conversations take their course, whatever that might be. I’m surprised he hasn’t dropped the readers whose views he doesn’t believe are worthy, but then that would cut into his revenue from the number of pages read.
Awww did I hurt your feelings in one of my comments Ron? I’m soweee… here’s a Kleenex.
What I really ought to do is ban you and your sorry comment for detracting from the topic and conversation at hand… but not only will I not do that, I’ll also go a step further and engage, though it’s probably a decision made against my better judgement.
Now then: it’s only the idiot comments that get the idiot reply treatment. Your teachers were wrong: there such a thing as a stupid question and a stupid comment.
The reason for replying to these comments is quite simple but important no less: most would simply ignore these comments and let them go unanswered and unattended. But the problem with letting such comments sit there is this: someone new visiting who doesn’t have an understanding of the topic at hand might read the comment and get the totally wrong idea. So I answer them, sometimes with a sarcastic tone, to prevent this kind of scenario from taking place.
There’s also the issue of trolls… they also get the same treatment.
So I wonder if that’s what really happenned with you… did I reply to you in a way you didn’t like? And did you feel so terribly bad afterwards so as to be compelled to make this public announcement of sorts, trying to paint me in a negative light?
I should also note that in the years that GM Authority and properties owned by its parent firm have been around, only a handful of the millions of comments have ever been deleted, mostly due to profanity and profane personal attacks on one’s beliefs. I also happen to reply to a very small number of comments, mostly those that I actually notice. Is that not the literal definition of letting conversations flow and develop?
And not that I really need to defend myself, but I invite you to have a gander at my exchange with Eric above. Differing points of view, but no one was ridiculed or otherwise degraded, proving that your entire comment is pure bull fueled by some inexplicable personal vendetta against me. For what reason, I do not know… but it’s probably some form of personal insecurity on your end.
And yes, I do know what I’m talking about in relation to this industry and won’t make any excuses to the contrary…
… and I don’t care about the page views or whatever fictitious revenue you think your views generate. Thankfully, our business model is better than that and doesn’t depend on you.
PS: what’s a “VehicleMaster” and where do I buy one?
“PS: what’s a “VehicleMaster” and where do I buy one?”
It’s not something you buy, but it appears that getting the title of ‘Vehicle Master’ grants you some pretty good perks.
So, Mr. Luft. It would appear that all this time you were in league with the Imperial Empire, and that your title of Vehicle Master lets you drive around in all the best Imperial hardware.
~ Signed – G.Daddy (rebel scum)
No increase in heartbeat from the exterior. (IOW: meh). Looks like one of the designs that was runner-up to the runner-up in the small-convertible design challenge. Hope it redeems itself, cause it might be awesome in a coupé.
Agreed. BMW design isn’t what it once was… there’s something missing… an element of artistic expression or perhaps even passion.
But hey, no matter… it’s an opportunity for Cadillac to capitalize on BMW’s sudden blandness.
On the ‘once was’:
Yeah, they kept showing the concept car and said that it was the real deal, -and now we see that it isn’t.
One could say they flinched in the face of criticism & reversed course once Chris Bangle left.
Imo, The only car in the Kareem Habib era that came close to pushing the envelope forward was the 3rd gen 6-series. Everything else was tame & conservative compared to the Chris Bangle generation of cars.
Indeed, the styling is kind of confused and seems to lack the cohesiveness of the Z3. It could be from a Japanese automaker, which isn’t bad but it’s not the instantly recognizable look of a BMW.
I was at the local Cadillac dealership yesterday and 95% of their inventory was black or gray Escalades and XT-5’s. Gotta say, it was a very dour sight. Yes, Cadillac needs sexy convertible and coupe offerings. Personally, I’d like something that can accomodate 4 passengers. BMW, Lexus, Audi and Mercedes own that market now, and do it well. Why not Cadillac?
Escalade and XT5 are what sell. We’ll see the XT4 add to that list soon as well… but luckily, the CT4 and CT5, along with their respective V variants, are coming to infuse some passion and excitement.
I guess we’ll see if CT4 and CT5 really do compete in the same market. Obviously the market has trended to SUV’s. My point is that Cadillac doesn’t come close to offering a diverse portfolio as compared to the competion. The result is that the brand is no longer considered an equal player, and that’s in spite of the V series.
The lack of a complete portfolio will soon change, starting with the XT4… but in the segments that Cadillac currently competes in, it definitely does compete directly with the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Audi.
Lincoln is about to have no sedans while Cadillac will have four non-crossover cars by 2021-2022, two of which will arrive in the next 18 months. Lincoln also has no dedicated platforms. Cadillac has two… so the comparison to Lincoln is way off.
Meanwhile, one could say that BMW doesn’t compete with Cadillac since it has no full-size SUV along the lines of the Escalade. Obviously, the X7 is coming… but no units have sold yet.
My point is that it’s important to understand that Cadillac is just now starting the biggest product offensive in its history… and once everything is said and done, will probably oursell BMW in the U.S. market.
To be fair, Cadillac & BMW are in completely different situations.
BMW have a healthy line up covering a wide range of segments, modular platforms that allows them to spread the development costs over the entire range (only 3 of the 17 model line up remain on older platforms … Until next year that is) & most importantly they have a board that supports the CEO all the way.
The combination of all that allows them to build low volume* models (Z4, 8er, i8) & explore new segments with unconventional designs.
Cadillac on the other hand got none of that. They have to cover the basics, get a modular platform asap & rebuild their image before doing a dedicated sports car. Otherwise it’ll flop like the NSX & 4C.
____
* In comparison to their other cars.
Channeling a lot of Mercedes, not bad.
I think Cadillac flatters themselves by considering themselves competitors to BMW.
Cadillac is a competitor to BMW. Whether or not it’s a good one (which seems to be what you’re getting at), is a different topic.