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‘Maybe It’s Time For Cadillac Just To Be Cadillac Again’ Says Brand Boss

Steve Carlisle, the newly appointed president of Cadillac, has taken command of the American luxury automaker as it plans to transition from a BMW rival to a self-described technology leader in the electric vehicle space.

Carlisle, formerly the president and manager director of GM Canada, recently addressed Cadillac’s forthcoming transition in a recent interview with Automotive News Canada. He acknowledged that Cadillac’s previous approach was perhaps misguided and is hoping for a fresh start once it launches its first battery electric vehicle in 2021.

“We’ve tried to out-German the Germans,” he said. “We can’t outdo what others have already done.”

“Right now, we’re the underdog, and that gives us the opportunity to be the comeback kid,” he added.

Cadillac EV 003 - 2019 North American Internation Auto Show
Almost every American has heard someone refer to a high-quality product as being the Cadillac of its kind. Carlisle told AN that Cadillac’s shift to EVs will allow the automaker to sort of follow this mantra and recapture some of the luster that may have been lost as it chased brands like BMW and Audi.

“Maybe it’s time for Cadillac just to be Cadillac again and let it speak for itself, not be put into someone else’s box,” Carlisle said.

Cadillac’s first EV is still quite a long way out, though. The battery electric crossover will go on sale in 2021, but is slated to arrive as a 2022 model year vehicle, so it’s still three years away at the least.

Cadillac CT4

Cadillac CT4

Cadillac will introduce both the next-generation Escalade and the CT4 compact sedan before the EV, Carlisle said. He also told AN Canada a new Cadillac sports sedan is on the way soon – which may b the rumored CT5-V, or a sporty variant of the CT4.

Source: Automotive News Canada

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. That abdication of leadership begs the questions:

    1) When did Cadillac stop being Cadillac?

    2) What was the last Cadillac Cadillac?

    3) What constitutes a Cadillac a Cadillac?

    4) How does an electric Cadillac become a Cadillac?

    Why didn’t AN ask Carlisle that? Because I guarantee that his comms people didn’t give him any talking points on those.

    Reply
    1. @tomko:
      Allow me. All my opinion of course.

      1. Cadillac stopped being Cadillac when it made the decision to place M.B., BMW and Audi directly in it’s sights. My best estimate would be 2008.
      2. The last Cadillac is still being sold. It’s called the Escalade. Other than that, it would be the 2011 DTS. Although the CT6 is (was??) a good runner up.
      3. An electric Cadillac only becomes a “Cadillac” if it centers the focus on a quiet, tranquil, isolated (not floaty or overly soft) ride with real luxury both inside and out. Classic luxury, not the German (hard seats, firm ride, over-engineered) style luxury. Warm tones/colors. Softer materials, especially the seats. Real wood trim and chrome accents. And for god’s sake, offer high quality cloth-type seats! Not everyone wants leather or “leatherette” vinyl to stick to on hot summer days.

      Reply
      1. @Dan Berning

        re. your 1. – Don’t forget about the 1976 Seville – that was purpose built to compete with Mercedes-Benz. (Audi and BMW were not luxury players at that time.)

        re. your 2. – I agree for the most part. While I personally prefer the 2006-11 DTS, the prior 2000-05 deville (especially in DHS trim) was more Cadillac Cadillac. CT6 is legit as it’s bespoke. All it needs is a real name and maybe more colour. As for Escalade, when did a rebadged Chevy truck qualify as a Cadillac Cadillac?

        re. your 3. – All electrics are quiet and tranquil. It is one of the type’s defining characteristics.

        Reply
        1. @Tomko:

          Funny thing. I’ve owned several of those first gen Seville’s. I loved those cars. They actually handled well and I could cruise down the road at 80 mph in such comfort!

          As for the Escalade: Not really a vehicle for me, but I was speaking more about a BOF, rear wheel drive based bigger vehicle that kind of goes back to the Cadillac’s of yore.

          Electric’s being quiet and tranquil: Yes, very true. But I was talking about inside with the quiet, softer seats that won’t kill you on any trip over 100 miles with a ride that won’t rattle your teeth out. But all very good points!

          Reply
      2. Ah so Cadillac car means an uncompetitive, cheap FWD car based off of a Chevy (with cloth seats!) that no self-respecting person under the age of 70 would be seen driving (BTW you forgot the vinyl roof and white-walls) and a Cadillac SUV is a BOF Chevy with lipstick. Thanks for the clarification! I’ll stick with the Cadillac represented by my 15 ATS thanks!

        Reply
        1. What do you drive Pat? A ’15 ATS? Great. Just one of the super decisions Cadillac made that has failed to do anything to stay in the game. Great handling cars? Check. Give the BMW’s a run for the money? Check. Ever really sell in any numbers? Nope. That’s why it getting axed. Let’s just hope the CT4 is better! But like the article stated, trying to outdo what the Germans do best is not smart.

          And just how do you know that everyone wants the sports car Cadillac like you must? If they did, then the ATS wouldn’t be going away.

          Reply
        2. ATS a great car – and the best Pontiac ever made.

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          1. Awesome comment considering Alpha was designed for Pontiac…remember the Gen-2 G6 was delayed so the suspension could be re-engineered to handle the “premium” Cadillac requirements late into development?

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        3. Exactly. The last thing they need are dusty old Cadillac names that bring to mind front wheel drive, prunes, and 4pm dinners at the retirement center. They need to go back to what Art and Science started with and they need their OWN interior designers and parts. Enough garbage parts bin BS.

          Reply
      3. XTS was the last Cadillac

        Reply
        1. XTS was the last bad Cadillac

          Reply
          1. The XTS was the best Chevrolet that Caddy ever made.

            Reply
            1. I thought it was the best Cadillac the Chevy ever made.

              Reply
        2. I thought the XTS was a beautiful car. Too bad it did not sell.

          Reply
          1. It sold… it just doesn’t sync up with where the market is going, nor with where Cadillac seems itself going.

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      4. DTS – an oversized FWD inelegant vehicle that still catered to an irrelevant demographic that the brand could no longer rely on to sustain it – defined what was a real Cadillac!!?? Ok, so the bar isn’t too high to return to that criteria.

        Forget floaty oversized rides that became passé as time moved on; Cadillac was more so a brand of firsts in engineering and design and then as time progressed, it was mishandled.

        The intent to make it a first with Electrification under the GM umbrella I suppose is a start but as of now, the majority of people are not interested in EVs. So GM throws a bunch of investment at the brand on a version of propulsion that it will not see a Return On Investment in the short term. Then what next? C’mon, we know how GM works. I hope I’m wrong.

        The Germans took over the luxury market and defined it. Cadillac was onto something with all generations of the CTS even with its need for additional refinement. The current generation CTS was the most solid effort and I was hoping that its replacement would build upon, expand and correct its shortcomings.

        But I don’t know, initial reaction to the CT5 has been underwhelming at best. It just doesn’t say luxury at least in the visuals.

        Keep hope alive and may the marketplace prove me wrong.

        Reply
        1. Thank you for saying this. People are so blinded by nostalgia that they forget how utterly uncompetitive Cadillac had been in some (or all) segments until they started benchmarking the Euro luxury brands.

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      5. Just picked up my 2019 CT6 lease and it is definitely “a Cadillac”. The interior is improved over my 2016, Super Cruise is the real deal and works wonderfully, the car is quiet and tight and handles well but is still luxurious and comfortable too. The new CUE system is great and Android Auto is seamless. Panaray sounds really, really good. Open pore wood and some better plastics inside would have made me happier but it seems they are addressed in the upcoming CT5.

        I don’t want a DTS or an old DeVille, with the sofa on wheels ride. I want this technology – Super Cruise, 4 Wheel Steering, Magnetic Ride Control, etc. in a beautiful package that IS Cadillac. That being said, the new XT6 is a huge letdown and when my wife’s lease is up on her Denali next year, we will be heading to a Lincoln dealer to look at the new Aviator.

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    2. Fire Miss Mary Barra…Clear the complete Cadillac staff out (unemployment line) that are all fluff and no substance obviously…And then you MIGHT have a chance to restore Cadillac…might is the key word.

      Reply
  2. HOLY COW!! I don’t even smoke, and I almost feel the need for a cigarette!! After reading the following from above:

    “allow the automaker to sort of follow this mantra and recapture some of the luster that may have been lost as it chased brands like BMW and Audi.

    “Maybe it’s time for Cadillac just to be Cadillac again and let it speak for itself, not be put into someone else’s box,” Carlisle said.”

    Amen, alleluia. Please, please let this comment take a hold with GM/Cadillac and let Caddy be Cadillac again (and with names).

    Reply
    1. Amazing how completely lost and clueless GM is. Sad, really. A massive shame. And under Miss Mary Barra things have gone from bad to worse.

      Reply
  3. Oh-oh that means fwd with super-soft suspension/bad handling , wire-wheel covers and white-wall tires, continental-kit trunk with luggage rack, vinyl top, overboosted steering, 200 HP V8, available in Mary-Kay pink for $29,995……

    Can’t believe he shouting right-wing internet talking points about Cadillac, he should get the JDN exit plan for that…..

    Reply
    1. Why does it have to be either all one way or the other? No middle ground? Not all of us like riding in a “luxury” vehicle that rides like a 1990 Ford Mustang sitting on large rims with rubber bands for tires.

      For many years there was the imports (German type) luxury and the American brand luxury. There is zero reason the American brands can’t gravitate towards that lost luxury they used to have without “bad handling”, “wire wheel covers” and “vinyl tops”.

      Reply
      1. Because luxury buyers proved nobody wants that, if they did you’ll see people buying such vehicles like that (see Lincoln Continental for example). MT raved when the CT6 debut for a “Town Car like” ride but excellent handling, having good handling don’t mean crappy ride. I’m sorry if you think the XTS or DTS is what you think Cadillac should be still making.

        Reply
        1. @Guestt:

          Luxury buyers “proved” nobody wants that? And you get that from where? I was selling Cadillac’s at the time they made the decision to chase down the German brands. I was in the meetings watching the videos of the “new direction” Cadillac was taking. There were very few customers anywhere telling Cadillac that they didn’t want “that”. If you know how auto manufacturers research this, they take info from focus groups. Funny thing, as a Cadillac sales person I was never asked about this stuff. Nor were any of my co-workers. We were never taken into any focus groups to help them determine the direction of the brand. But guess the types of people who were? M.B, owners. BMW owners. Audi owners. I know. I’ve watched the training videos and gone to the in-person training where Cadillac constantly quoted those “luxury owners” from the German brands. You don’t see the sales of the Lincoln Continental or CT6 because the SUV market is dominating them, so using those as a case to prove your point is flawed at best.

          Alex gave a really great explanation (talking about why they are going to sell the old style Encore along side the new one) about the average car buyer out there, and that’s not us posting on GMA or other similar sites. The average person putting money down on the table to buy/lease cars has no real clue about cars overall. If they did, Toyota would never sell the amount of cars they do. People overall are like sheep. So if GM/Cadillac decides (which they did when I was there) that they are now going to offer “sportier handling” and “crisper driving” vehicles and walk away from people like me who favor a softer feel with the tranquil ride, then the sheep either need to follow them or move on to a different brand. I may be wrong in this, but I feel the decline in sales for Cadillac came at the decision to chase the German brands.

          This all doesn’t mean that Cadillac should have just continued selling the DTS (or the DeVille as it should have been called). No, any company (cars or other) must stay with the times. But answer me this. Why did Cadillac do a total 180 and alienate so many loyal clients? You can make a car that handles well but also still offer one that focuses on ride isolation for those (me and many others) who don’t care to race down a mountain road like we were running from aliens.

          Reply
          1. So that means the dying sheep were also buying the Retirillacs that have no future in today’s market for sedans atleast, those customers are well served by the XT5, XT4 and soon XT6 (you know vehicles that actually makes money for Cadillac) you don’t have evidence that prove different.

            Reply
            1. You continue to attack what I’m saying but with zero backing to what you are saying. Sounds to me like you are just defending your stance. But why and with what information? I’ve given you my background in actually working with Cadillac (up through end of 2014). I’ve been there and seen first hand.

              So please give an idea where you are coming up with your thoughts? I’ve asked above why it needs to be totally one way or the other? Why can’t Cadillac make vehicles that appeal to people like me (of whom there are many), while still appealing to people like you? Don’t just revert to names/negative comments or baseless opinions put forth as facts. I’m asking you to go deeper and share where you are getting this information. Based on what I’m reading from you, if that was the best path for Cadillac, the sales wouldn’t be so far behind the German brands and Cadillac wouldn’t be looking for yet another path.

              Reply
              1. “my background in actually working with Cadillac”, Many GM CEOs, CFOs, executives and sells managers didn’t prevent GMs BK because of arrogant missteps. I’ll make fun of failed Cadillac products of the past and some on here want Cadillac to return to that bad strategy, again looking at current Cadillac products and sells where in the world a DTS vehicle fit in the line-up?.

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                1. @Guestt..

                  I won’t continue such a strange back and forth with you any more on this. What you say and write is actually difficult to read and understand. You offer nothing that supports your statements and instead offer whatever you call that above. The fact that you don’t seem to understand that the plan to go after the German’s has failed and won’t continue to work no matter what they try because it’s not what the majority of the car buyers want. By your posts, shall I assumer you are a BMW driver?

                  Reply
                  1. I type fast and on the go certain times during the day (plus the “spellcheck” on this device I use sucks) but you understand fully what I’m conveying.

                    Having a world-class product in a market that demands the best don’t equal “BMW”. The “M’eurica” plan of having a fat, sloppy, uncompetitive, AARP, POS sedan failed well before any Euro plan of execution took place, nobody wants that, you and your leftover buyers better get used to CarMax, CL for Cadillac’s “greatest” sedans or get a CUV.

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          2. @Dan Berning

            You said:

            ‘But answer me this. Why did Cadillac do a total 180 and alienate so many loyal clients? You can make a car that handles well but also still offer one that focuses on ride isolation for those (me and many others) who don’t care to race down a mountain road like we were running from aliens.’

            Because catering to those loyal clients – a shrinking demographic that was also aborting ship to other brands – was sinking Cadillac. The DTS surely wasn’t compelling enough to keep interest and there were no engineering first being introduced by Cadillac to win over new buyers.

            Reply
            1. @Gary:

              That’s fine and I have not disagreed with that. The main point I’ve made over and again is that Cadillac can still make both a “luxury” and a “sport”. For example. I love the current CTS and I even like the ATS to a point. what I don’t like is standard vinyl seats. My first car was a 1979 Toyota Corolla with vinyl seats and I just can’t believe that’s what we have moved back to. What I don’t like is overly large rims with thin (low profile) tires that transfer everything into the car. What I don’t like is overly bolstered seats that are hard.

              Cadillac could easily make a luxury model (ATS, CTS, etc) with the rims/tires that still look great without being low profile. They can do less bolstering on the seats and give them a slightly softer bottom. They could even offer a high quality cloth type seat as standard instead of vinyl! But they don’t. Everything is geared towards those of you who want “sport” with hard seats and low profile tires. That leaves a huge number of people out because they wish to go after the German brands and buyers of those brands.

              Reply
      2. What Cadillac are you referring to that rides like a 1990 Ford Mustang sitting on large rims with rubber bands for tires? Even the most aggressive models like the CTS-V have a pretty mild ride. MRC allows for the car to have a softer ride under normal driving and for the suspension to firm up during aggressive driving. I’ve owned one and the ride was pretty comfortable.

        Reply
        1. @Randy Miller:

          ATS, CTS, XTS, XT5 and any Escalade with the overly large rims/lower profile tires. And my “1990 Ford Mustang” was something I said to make a point. They don’t ride that badly.

          Everyone talks about MRC. That’s not on all models and isn’t available on some. Not only that, but I’m not one who wants to be paying to replace MRC down the road. Costs! Do I like MRC? Yes. Do I want to be the one to pay for it? No.

          In 2014 I had an ATS demo. Standard luxury package with no extra options. Overall, I liked the car but it was a demo. I didn’t take it on trips or drive it long distances. The farthest I drove that demo on one trip was about 40 miles one way. Between the low profile tires and hard seats, there’s no way I could have driven that car on a trip for more than 100 miles max. Just not a good freeway cruiser. Soften the seats, reduce the bolstering on the seats and give the car non-low profile tires and it would have been much better.

          Reply
          1. Buy a Buick Regal then. Buick seems to be aiming for the space Cadillac abandoned. Not going to comment on whether that was a wise decision or not. But GM still produces quasi-luxury with an emphasis on comfort. The badge just doesnt carry the same weight.

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      3. It’s already been done. It’s called a Lexus.

        Reply
        1. No thank you. Lexus is Toyota. Toyota will never have a place in my driveway. My first car was a Toyota and it was a hand-me-down. The second I was allowed to trade that car in, I did so for a Chevy.

          But to top that off, Lexus is also chasing the Germans now. Everything you see says “F Sport” like that actually means anything. They slap that on nearly every car and the sheep think it is a sign from the gods and they buy it. But look at the rims/tires on the average Lexus any more. Big rims, low profile tires, overly bolstered seats with (now) firmer padding (or lack of).

          Reply
    2. Oh, look, it is “Guest” another spazzy sore losers left-wing extremist spouting his hatred and tired propaganda.

      Keep on losing loser…

      Reply
      1. Go drive your outdated POS into a new wall… (BTW both parties suck)

        Reply
    3. My apologies with all the downvotes I received, I forgot the optional stand-up hood ornament, opera windows and detachable rear fender skirts….?

      Reply
    4. For all the downvotes please forgive me, I forgot power mass antenna, opera windows, stand-up hood ortement and rear fender skirts…?

      Reply
      1. At least you didn’t forget to post it twice.

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  4. So GM named Carlisle the head of Cadillac, and he’s just figuring this out now?

    ‘Sort of follow this mantra and let Cadillac be Cadillac?’

    Smh.

    Reply
  5. Cadillac and GM will never get it right. UNTIL they get someone who knows what style is – what an interior is – and what CADILLAC used to mean in the early days when it competed against the best – and was the best – the titanic is sinking.

    Reply
    1. I agree. But Harley Earl died 50 years ago this month.

      Reply
  6. Wow, what a profound statement. This should have happened about a decade ago.

    Reply
  7. C’mon GM quit making Cadillac your experimental brand, that is the BIGGEST reason for the brand being stuck in the mud spinning its tires. No doubt there have been some great products as of late, but this “different leadership different outlook on the brand” is nothing but nails on a coffin.
    Pick a route and stick with it! Quit dabbing with ideas and run when you don’t see instant success! I love Cadillac, but the heads at the table are single handedly the most inept business people I have ever seen. [Frustration building]

    Reply
  8. Cadillac stopped being Cadillac a very very long time ago (1970s). It started when they raided the GM parts bins (engines, etc.) and they became big boxy floating boats with tacky style and little focus on refinement and technology.
    Lately (last five years), Cadillac has been improving its styling and can now design a modern and sophisticated shape as well as anyone (Escala) and they are getting better at the details as well (CT5 C pillar trim kink notwithstanding).
    Also, they have, for the most part, resisted the Germans nonsense of hyping every small tech iteration as “the ultimate” and have focused on really useful tech like magnetic ride control and SuperCruise.
    Say what you want about chasing the Germans, but it made Cadillac engineering better and consequently they now make some of the best driving cars in the world – they are not too stiff (BMW and Audi), not too vague (MB), and not too boring (Lexus).
    The CT6 and new CT5 are a vast improvement in interior design and that was their last major hurdle – I would say Audi and MB are the benchmarks here and Caddilac is 95% there.
    Now, if Mr. Carlise does not screw it up and can figure out how to get cars styled as well as the Escala to market while maintaining the handling and performance levels they have worked so hard to achieve and while pushing the development and implementation of useful tech, they have a shot being the Cadillac of cars again.

    Reply
  9. Any Luxury car should offer

    — a smooth solid ride (note I didn’t say the best)
    — a breathtaking exterior and irresistible interior (offer the concept car… not some urinated down version of it)
    — world class reliability and warranty

    Cadillac has lacked in the later two. Which is why no one should want one. Do all three and the name doesn’t matter.

    Reply
    1. Cadillac Exterior was never the problem along with reliability or warranty. They sell underpowered mainstream cars with transmissions geared for eco (There are exceptions). Cadillac reliability is better than a lot of the competition and warranty is around the same. Interior on the other hand they need to work on. That is a let down but BMW interior is just as garbage but people still buy those pieces of shit and their reliability is even worse than cadillac. If you actually owned a cadillac and not passed 75 who can work touch screens it isnt as bad as you clueless people say they are. Watching people control CUE i swear i wanted to start slapping individuals it wasnt even hard to control but morons will be morons. They would rather fix an antenna for the radio for these out of place people to know whats going on. Slide across the volume button dont tap it 30 times and ask why it doesnt work.

      Reply
      1. WhatInTheWorld what in the world,

        You are hilarious.
        Cadillac reliability better than the competition. BZZZZZZZZ WRONG !!!

        Cadillac warranty around the same. BZZZZZZZZZZZ WRONG !!!!!

        And the CUE, I LOVE THE CUE, IT IS EASY TO USE, again I LOVE THE CUE !!!!!

        It is a PIECE OF SH*T, get it a PIECE OF SH*T !!!!!!!!!
        There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING a CUSTOMER can do to prevent it from delaminating in the heat. TOP THAT OFF and to you point of great warranty and reliability, GM DOES NOTHING FOR YOU.

        Our ATS is a GREAT driving auto and looks GREAT, but it is a piece of JUNK in relation to the last 4 Cadillacs I have owned.

        I would also say I bet there was not one owner of ANY brand of luxury vehicle that wanted this 2.0T and a crappy shifting transmission !!!!

        You go ahead and speak all you want, the reason Cadillac is looked at as being JUNK is CUSTOMERS like me !!!!
        Other than a 2002 Buick Rendezvous this Cadillac ATS is the WORST GM VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED.
        Let that sink in !!! 39 years of GM ownership and six Cadillacs !!!!

        As we drive it around NOW it speaks to us or just starts changing the radio at will, gee its great !!!

        Now ours is a 2014 and the first two years of the ATS are CRAP and that is why nobody bought another !!!!
        And GM left US CUSTOMERS high and dry, with JUNK !!!!!

        Reply
    2. Did John Hart complete the 8th Grade yet?

      Just wondering…

      Reply
    3. @John Hart

      You said: ‘a breathtaking exterior and irresistible interior (offer the concept car… not some urinated down version of it)’ OUCH!!!

      But it’s painfully true.

      Cadillac did a Subaru on us with the CT5. Subaru? Ever notice how their concept vehicles offer striking aggressive exterior design but the version that comes to market has a hint of the design cues but it’s a bit awkward and off-center? Difference is Subaru has solid engineering history and a loyal following in its corner to be able to pull off such successfully. Cadillac doesn’t have that luxury. Pun intended.

      Why get hopes up with the Escala concept and then we get a watered down version with an ill designed plastic window insert!!??

      @Dan S.

      I don’t know but the CT5’s interior – specifically the front center console alone – is a mixed bag.

      For all of its functionality criticism, at the very least, the outgoing CUE control center integrated and flowed well into the front dash. I was hoping that Cadillac would’ve at best tweaked it with more tactile control but the upcoming setup has waaaay too many buttons. Every time I look at it, I think of a smiling kid with a mouthful of braces.

      In its defense, the materials seems improved but the overall design and presentation fail to impress.

      Reply
  10. What have I said all along…Be Caddy….don’t do things because the Germans do them or for that matter the Japanese….

    Reply
    1. There is NO MORE MARKET for Cadillac to be the Cadillac from decades ago. That market is too small and insubstantial to matter any more and there is no viable business model to be had doing that. The fact that Carlisle, a GM lifer who has a career to defend and doesn’t want to be fired, is even asking this question, shows he has no clue, and needs to be shown the door.

      For Cadillac to be Cadillac again, it would make products that are all but irrelevant in’s today’s market place. Doing so would cause the brand to offer papayas, when the market clearly wants apples.

      They have/had a winning direction with ATS, CTS, CT# and XT#. Where they have failed is on the execution, missing key details that the Germans did well, causing them to lose sales because the product didn’t overcome that of the competition.

      Carlisle’s comments are that of a GM career man who has no clue who the modern luxury car buyer is, what they value, and where the market is going. He is willing to accept the status quo. Someone take him to HR for retirement, and get a competent leader to replace him… one that can take risks and has the balls to do it.

      Reply
      1. +1

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      2. Rob – What we don’t know is what decade Carlise is talking about. If he’s talking about the 50’s when the term “Cadillac of _ _ _ _” was coined, then he’s right. That’s the decade that Cadillac led the world in style, performance, innovation, and quality and Buick was right there with them! You need to keep in mind the context of the 50’s – all of those attributes had a much different expectation for excellence than they have today. But in that part of the 20th century, Cadillac was about as good as the non-hand built car could get.
        I doubt very seriously that he’s talking about after 1970. If he is, you’re right – show him the door. Otherwise, he’s the next person up and gets his chance. He has the pieces and the funding, can he drive the company in the right direction?

        Reply
    2. Say what you want, but chasing the Germans made Cadillac cars better – a LOT better.

      Reply
  11. I’m an older guy in my sixties—bought new 2003 and then 2008 Cadillac CTS with everything on them—was very happy with both–just duplicate my 2008 CTS which was Motor Trend car of the year and I’m happy–all-wheel drive–V-6 with 304 hp that burns regular gasoline–engine stays running at stop lights–no start/stop—only change–call it a Seville.

    Reply
    1. You are the exception, not the norm… and your plan would fail.

      The current CTS does everything much better than your old CTS did… with more style, substance, and character. So realize that the gen 2 CTS was no more a success than the ATS and gen 3 CTS were… it actually made less money for Cadillac and GM.

      Stop-start is something you can turn off and is found on every car in this segment today. There is no way of getting around it thanks to EPA.

      The only sixes you will see today will be boosted, again because of the EPA and because modern 2.0L turbos make as much power and torque, lower in the band.

      Seville? Now there’s a perfect way to make sure Cadillac never sells a car to anyone under the age of 50.

      Good winning plan you have there, mate!

      Reply
      1. @Rob:

        I’ve read your posts here and above. I certainly don’t agree with you at all. That’s ok. It’s a forum and we are allowed to have opinions. But here’s what I don’t get. You along with a couple others here keep saying things like “You are the exception, not the norm…” and “that market is too small”. And just like with the other person saying similar things, I’m going to challenge you on this. Where are you getting this information? Is there some secret book written that the rest of us don’t know about? Is there some proof showing that Cadillac chasing the German brands and giving us more cars in the space of the V-series rather than a softer, more quiet and isolated luxury vehicle is the winning formula? This is an honest question because I would personally like to read this information. I’d like to see where the few who keep saying these things are getting their information or on what they are basing their opinions. Above you completely dismiss Racer as if he doesn’t matter. Why? Because he’s not 30 years old with some need for unnecessary speed? I haven’t seen anyone on here, myself included, who has suggested that Cadillac go back to making a 1974 Fleetwood Brougham with full vinyl top and whitewalls! Yet you and others jump directly to that instead of explaining your stance on why Cadillac should be the American BMW. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Cadillac can produce a sedan that would appeal to me, Racer and many others while offering that same car in the V-series package. Would that not be a winning formula?

        Reply
        1. Dan – there is no magic book or guide. I have spent the last four decades of my life working in this industry, from the most basic of jobs to product development to executive dealer management. You learn a thing or two after that and after that long.

          The bottom line is that you must understand the customer. To do that, you must spend time around the customer and around the buying process and around the product. See what customers value in a MODERN luxury car and draw conclusions from that. In my case, I get to do that AND I have a knack for data analysis from my leadership days at an automaker. Look at cross-sell reports, look at customer demos, look at consumer behavior trends. I live this stuff due to work, and have developed a keep understanding of it. If you don’t live it and don’t work it, you just can’t develop this kind of understanding. It’s almost like anything else in life… you gotta live it.

          Do all that, and you’ll quickly realize that the modern luxury car buyer does not want a boat on wheels that attempts to recapture the glory days of the 70s or 80s, which is what Carlisle seems to be referring to. What they want something different. Something ENTIRELY different. This something is being served by the German brands almost perfectly… and by some Japanese brands, as well (though less perfectly…since the Japanese sell less on product and more on price and brand reputation vs product values… but that’s a different story for a different day).

          While these players have figured out the formula long ago, it has taken Cadillac until the present to more or less catch up. Cadillac now has the formula, more or less, though they have to make due with constraints like bad timing in GM platform development and also a very short sighted executive management panel that have figured out how to sell their sub-par ideas to the board.

          The reason for all these varied opinions about Cadillac is that the brand is different things to so different people (like Camaro and Corvette). The older camp just doesn’t get it. They want the Cadillac of yore, but that Cadillac is no longer relevant today. Time, expectations and product have all moved on… So has Cadillac. Until people fully grasp that, they will continue fighting and demanding Cadillac make product that is either irrelevant or is much less relevant than it should be from an ROI standpoint.

          Reply
          1. Rob – I like your thoughts, and it includes a look at history. The premium market started to change with the introduction of Acura, Lexus and Infiniti. Quality cars from established manufacturers that gave another option, something different. Today it’s Genesis. Volvo and Jaguar also had re-births, and are now more common. There are many more choices than “back in the day.” Sporadic issues with quality has always been the doom of Cadillac. GM needs to let Cadillac step up to the next level and have everything in those cars be top notch. And simple is better than broken.
            What Cadillac is doing correct at the moment is the new “Y” strategy. Let those who want calm and quiet have what they want, and those who want sporty and aggressive have what they want, all on the same platform.

            Reply
          2. @Rob.

            I responded last night but don’t see it. Not sure what happened. Anyhow (in a nut-shell), my response was mainly to your second paragraph. So of these customers and finding out what they want in modern luxury: How’s that working for Cadillac? It just doesn’t seem to be working from what I read and see. Most of these people you are referring to are owners/buyers of import brands like M.B., BMW, Audi and the likes. They come in and tell Cadillac what they want in a car, yet do most of these people actually buy Cadillac? In fact, the majority of these people wouldn’t be caught in an American brand car! From my personal experience selling Cadillac and seeing first hand how these people react towards the brand is not good. And yet Cadillac values what they have to say and doesn’t seem to care about the rest of us. Just my opinion based upon years of working with Cadillac and being there through this “change”.

            In response to your 3rd paragraph: There may be a small number of people on here who comment that it would be great for Cadillac to go back to the cars of the 50’s, 60’s, etc. That is not what I’ve ever said nor would it work. What I’ve said over and again is that Cadillac can (and should) make two levels of cars. Luxury should be just that. Softer riding, more quiet, more wood trims and isolation from the road as the priority. Sport should be the lower profile tires, bigger rims, firmer bolstered seats and “piped-in” sounds if that’s what people really want. But don’t force me or others with no options for the luxury side.

            Reply
      2. WE also did NOT replace our 2004 CTS with the 2014 CTS, we did NOT like it either !!!

        We then chose the ATS, JUNK.

        Any way I could care less what anybody said out 2004 CTS with the 3.6 will drive all over this 2014 ATS junk.

        It will beat it off the line – in the 1/4 mile and mileage. WE still have the 2004 as it is the BEST GM vehicle I have ever owned in 39 years !!!

        You say what you want, ill say what I want.

        What I want is the Escala in the 2004 size ( so like the CT5 ) with 350 HP and 350 – 400 lb torque ( so the 3.0TT.

        I am also one who thinks GM should simply FIRE all involved in interior design.
        The REAL leather seats are good, tech is good, controls are good, design on almost every GM product is WHAT THE HE*L. IMO

        So Cadillac was 95% there with the CT5 and we will own one unless it doesn’t drive as good as the Audi A4.

        But that is what GM does best now days 90% juuuuuuuust barly gooooood enough !!

        You do how many 2004 – 2013 CTS were sold per year in relation to the ATS and the CTS combined ?
        Asking for a friend!!!!

        Reply
    2. Sounds like an Avalon or any near luxury ride that will run reliably and unobtrusively can suffice if that is all you need.

      Reply
    3. “CTS” makes people think; world’s fastest sedan. Motor Trend Car of the year. CTS-V. It makes people think good things.

      “Seville” makes me sad for GM malaise. Why would anyone want a car that reminds them of some of the worst eras in American automobile history?

      Reply
  12. Cadillac became irrelevant Beginning in the 60’s as they became less Cadillac and more cooperate GM models.

    The next blow was when large luxury coupes and sedans fell from favor. Partly due to the gas crisis and that led to people looking to the German makes as the new image bench marks.

    As time moved on GM mismanaged Cadillac moving the to be just more expensive Buick’s with FWD.

    Then as GM was going broke they never invested in Cadillac as they should have. They did the Northstar but so many quality issues. They tried to pass a Cavalier off as a Cadillac then a Opel. All poor calls as GM went broke.

    Then came the revolving doo of management most puppets for management never funded or permitted to make Cadillac a car of image.

    By accident Cadillac hit upon the Escalade purely by accident. It did gain image in class of being the vehicle to be seen in.

    The real mistake is to think Cadillac is trying to be German. All Cadillac is doing is trying benchmark the leaders in class that happen to be German. Just because they were never funded or permitted to compete does not make that move to benchmark the leaders wrong.

    I do give credit that of late they have benchmarked the leaders but they are doing it in a American way. They have not done as the Japanese and tried to mock a Benz styling as Lexus did for years. Hyundai is doing it today as a discounted Benz.

    JDN really was onto something but again GM meddled again.

    Cadillac needs to build cars with the class leading chassis they already have. They need to add engines of their own being the Blackwing being the first of their own 6 and 4 cylinder.
    They need to provide world class quality in the interior. Finally they need to sweat the details right down to the sound and feel of how doors shut to how power seat sound as they move.

    You want to lead in this class you need to give people a reason they want to be seen in a car like this. Filling Walmart parking lots do nothing to build image.

    As for the EV models that is just going to be a division in a division and that is fine. Tesla has shown the formula on how to do an EV luxury sedan. To be honest it would not be hard to do better than Tesla with the resources and income from ICE models to make a better car.

    You also need a page from the Musk book of hyping it to be the greatest and best thing ever. You want to make it to we’re people buy it because it makes them that guy in the neighborhood that bought that new EV Cadillac.

    Going back to the old formula of building floating boats will not work today, Even Bentley has moved on.

    GM needs a strong leader at Cadillac. They need to fund it correctly and leave them the hell along to create what is needed. That is what will fix Cadillac. They need to stop selling cars to people like lifelongGMowner you know a company needs standards.

    Moving to the past will finish Cadillac for good.

    Reply
    1. The real mistake is to think Cadillac is trying to be German

      This is exactly absolutely spot on.

      Cadillac is not trying to be German. They are offering apples when the market wants apples and is buying apples. These guys who want “Cadillac to be Cadillac again” would be marketing papayas to a market that wants apples. It’s an answer to a question NOBODY ever asked. The fact that Carslisle is even talking this way goes to show he has absolutely no clue.

      Reply
      1. The type of car on point just happens to be what the Germans make.

        There was a time the Germans made a large estate like sedans like Cadillac did back in the 30’s but no one said they were trying to be America.

        It is like the drive to CUV models today as that is the growing market and makers are matching demand. Now you half A$$ a CUV you would see the same kind of failure.

        Reply
    2. Look at that scott3,
      I AGREE 100% with you, 100%

      Every word !!!!

      Great !!!

      Reply
      1. Ah sure….

        Reply
  13. This question sounds as vague as Clinton’s answer of what is is because of a few years ago.. performance was supposed to be what Cadillac was supposed to represent; but just recently.. Cadillac announced that the V-type cars would be discontinued and General Motors CEO Mary Barra had said Cadillac would be on the leading edge to technology although there has yet to be any announcement of when a hybrid or all electric vehicle is to be developed which means Cadillac doesn’t really know what Cadillac is supposed to be.

    Reply
    1. V-Sport models, not the top-of the-range V models, you tinfoil hat wearing moron.

      Reply
  14. A 1998 STS is my daily driver, I got it for $460 with blown head gaskets and 97K miles. I pulled the heads, Norm serted the block, put the mess back together. I changed out the head unit for something with Bluetooth and I just love this car. It is 4000 lbs of cruising joy. It is still fun to push in to an off ramp without dragging the door handles. This is not to say the car is not a complete POS, I face a never ending stream of electrical alerts that come and go, some I have to actually fix. It drinks oil like I have an oil derrick in the back yard to feed it. I have modified the front motor mount to use a 350 Chevy mount, now it does not break every 2 months. Luckily I don’t have any leaks like most people do and the trans still works good.

    All in all I think Cadillac needs to build what they never have, a reliable car.

    Reply
    1. Judging an Automaker by a 20 year old example with near 100K on the clock.

      God, I love the internet.

      BTW: If you really want a “project” car, buy a 1998 Audi with the same mileage (if they haven’t all been scrapped) and get back to us.

      Reply
  15. A repost I made many moons ago.

    The Cadillac Commandments:

    1 – CT# and XT# are names that are ordered and logical. It has no negative baggage or hang-ups that come with names like Eldorado and Fleetwood have, which in the public consciousness will immediately think of mid-90’s ‘pimp wagons’ or the hopelessly displaced geriatrics. It also more faithful to Cadillac Series# names which predate the ‘named’ Cadillacs.

    2 – ‘Bang for the buck’ is not important for any luxury products. Status is and demand like that of a Veblen good is.

    3 – There are right and wrong driveways for Cadillacs.

    4 – Blaming foreigners in Cadillacs staff will not change anything. Only the best people drawn from the biggest pool of the best prospective talent should be there; nationalities be damned.

    5 – Idolizing the past and upholding it as standard to emulate, and not exceed, will not make Cadillac important in anyone’s eyes.

    6 – No mainstream luxury car is hard riding. Not a single one.

    7 – There is no such thing as German/Japanese/American luxury. There is only luxury, period. Capital L Luxury is a description of the means of obtaining and having something exclusive that others do not have. If you want something bad enough, price and nation of origin is no barrier.

    8 – The message behind Cadillac that should resonate with every luxury consumer is “Our cars are simply better than anything else you’ve ever driven”. It should not be “AMERICA! AMERICA! AMERICA! WOOOOOO!”

    9 – People want to see what is on the cutting edge of tomorrow. The only thing they want more than that is to be on the cutting edge of tomorrow. Cadillac will never do that by only offering trips down memory lane.

    10 – Quality over quantity. Qualitative over quantitative. Doing it right over doing it fast. Demand over supply. ATP over unit sales.

    I won’t care if you disagree. What matters is that I get GM’s intention for Cadillac clearly, and see how important it is to divorce itself from its murky and stagnating past. I get it, many in America get it, and many in China get it. GM simply needs to follow through on its promise and go further than they ever have gone with Cadillac.

    Reply
  16. The last real Cadillac died when the large Eldorado was given the shrink treatment that Cadillac did to the DeVille’s for the 1977 model year. Cadillac’s best, most luxurious cars were built between 1974-1976 after they had redesigned the car’s interiors so that they no longer resembled the cheap corporate interior in other GM products. Cadillac’s currently crop of cars are a big mistake. They need to look backwards toward the 70’s and start building cars for American drivers on American highways. Such cars need to be large, preferably rear wheel drive, They need to have vast amounts of rear seat leg room without having to cheat by adding space under the front seats as part of that leg room. And they need to have trunks that can hold enough luggage for a week’s vacation by a family of 5. But unlike those cars of the 70’s, these new versions need to be much lighter in weight, with powerful, yet highly fuel efficient V6 and V8 engines hooked to transmissions with enough gears to keep those engines running at low rpm’s while cruising the Interstate highways. These new Caddy’s need soft, comfortable seats instead of the hard, uncomfortable seats normally found in European models. And these Cadillac’s need to be the most luxurious ever built, with beautiful, well appointed interiors made with the finest materials available. There was a time when Cadillac’s had nicer interiors than even that offered by Rolls Royce. They should again. Cadillac needs to offer both midsized to LARGE COUPES, CONVERTIBLES, and sedans, as well as Crossovers and SUVs. And each model, regardless of size, should be the most luxurious car available in it’s class, regardless of origin. Lastly, Cadillac needs to seize on a design theme that clearly says CADILLAC, and then design modern interpretations of that theme and STICK WITH THAT THEME year after year instead of changing the design in a 100 different directions. Personally, I’d look back to the ‘74 model year’s tail fins and use that as a starting point for a modern, 21st Century rendition. And DROP European type naming convention and follow Lincoln by bring back actual nameplates that people can identify with. Bring back the names, Coupe DeVille, Sedan DeVille, Fleetwood, Eldorado, and Seville.

    Reply
  17. All of you have it wrong, one of the hottest sport cars out there is the CTS-v and Cadillac isnt competing with anyone but itself, the cars are selling I sell more cadillacs than bmws in Texas, the issue alot of you scubs are hating is because you just can’t afford one. I have 3 and love them

    Reply
  18. Big, plush, and comfy would be a Caddy being a Caddy, no?

    Reply
  19. It’s all about the interiors for me. That’s were caddy could have been (and should be) a leader w/ super modern luxury, and is sorely lagging. That and the fact it’s taken them 400 years to come out with a compact luxury SUV. (did I mention the interior issue?). So they don’t want to copy gm, but now they want to copy tesla? I’m all for electrification, but that seems a big risk. Isn’t there something like $100 billion of development going to electrification around the world right now?

    Reply
  20. Ok I’m conflicted with this report. As a millennial who owns an ATS I would hate for old floaty Cadillacs to return; however, I’m younger than the target audience for Cadillac so my opinion is honestly pretty irrelevant. In saying that, go ahead and return Cadillac to those old floaty models everyone else loves, and give the millennials in their 20’s Pontiac back to fill the void that will be created, or we will probably jump ship to Audi or BMW for the sporty cars most millennials love.

    Reply
  21. With everyone offering opinions, I think it’s time for me to throw one in, and I think I get what Carlisle is saying. I feel like there are two sides to his particular comments going from extreme to extreme. Honestly looking at it, obviously Cadillac won’t go back to building 80’s Fleetwood Broughman’s anytime soon, nor do I think Cadillac is moving away from the sophisticated cars that they are building today. Honestly look at how far Cadillac has come since the 1975 Seville (which is when I personally think Cadillac started to become serious about import rivals).

    At the same time, it’s hard to argue between now and then that Cadillac has always been GM’s spearhead in technology nor can anyone argue that Cadillac has been the spearhead ALL the time in every segment that they have entered. Like Carlisle said in previous interviews when GM introduced new tech, it didn’t always go to Cadillac (i.e. EV).

    And that’s what I think he REALLY means, driving dynamics aren’t the one and only thing Cadillac needs to be chasing after. Being the best of the best, the Cadillac of Cars is all encompassing.

    Reply
  22. Start by…
    1. Putting Cadillac’s classical names back.
    2. Advertise by educating the public on how the Germans are faux luxury and show their vinyl, or cloth lined, plastic interior, puny engine, wheel covers wearing, show them used as taxi, police, fleet, grocery getting (in other words, equivalent to a Chevy, Ford, Dodge) all over the world and in different markets.

    Maybe, just maybe consumers and media included will lower their ignorance level and sway to the company that wrote the book on luxury. BAM! Instant 10% sales increase.

    Reply
  23. It’s time for Cadillac to be Cadillac again
    First thing that came to my mind is having a luxury coupe like the coupe deville from 56 until 68 I would love to own that is similar to those cars when the car was so beautifully designed and the interior was out of this world for me Cadillac classic interior was 2nd to none in both lether/vinyl and cloth

    Reply
  24. If you’re going to play the role of the underdog, why is Cadillac pricing their vehicles like the are ahead of the pack. It’s extremely frustrating because many Americans want to buy American, but no way they want to pay German to do so.

    Case in point the CT5 watch Cadillac charge a gargantuan price for a fully loaded model and totally screw themselves out of the market share. That car loaded for a max of $55K would sell in this market place. Not the $60K – $65K Cadillac will have pay for it. I honestly sat in a KIA Stinger and I have to tell you it felt like a $50K car and you’re getting a lot for that price. Cadillac please for the love of America make the CT5 affordable.

    Lastly, the interior I sat in it as press guest at the NY International Auto Show. The sport model is drop dead gorgeous. So why would Cadillac give the two tone color as black and light tan. They absolutely nailed it with the black trim on the exterior, wouldn’t a light gray or Brown color combination say sporty more than two-tone black/tan? Somehow they won’t offer it and stick to tan. News flash old men like tan interiors, not the 30-45 range of driver you want to attract. Give us two-tone black and gray, two tone Black/brown or even Black and Red, not tan on the sports model.

    All this being said the CT5 can be a big hit if they price it right and offer sporty color combinations. Also there is no reason why this car shouldn’t have magnetic ride control, especially on the sport model. Please GM don’t drop the ball and get out of your own way.

    I want to purchase the CT5 and I’m extending my Infiniti Q50 lease just to line up for when it’s released. I want to buy American, give me the car the right way priced to sell.

    Kind Regards,
    Sid.

    Reply
    1. “That car loaded for a max of $55K would sell in this market place.”

      And that’s the problem. You, and millions of others, are automatically conditioned to expect Cadillac to take the low-road relative to what the market can already command.

      The A6 starts at $57K
      The 5-series starts at $55K.
      The E-class starts at $53K.
      The Q70 starts at $50K.
      The XF starts at $50K.
      The S90 starts at $47K.
      The GS starts at $46K.

      The CT5 will start at $45K.

      The mid-size segment can already command $55K and up, so the argument that the CT5 is overpriced is not only incorrect, but out of line with the realities of the market. If anything, the CT5 is underpriced, and needs to push upwards.

      Why shouldn’t Cadillac get its price?
      Why should Cadillac deliberately restrict itself and cap out at a price lower than where others start?
      Why are you thinking of Cadillac as an underdog?
      Why are you thinking that the CT5 needs to be affordable when the rest of the segment isn’t?

      Reply
      1. Grawdaddy, this has NOTHING to do with underpriced.

        Again Cadillac is no longer looked at as being the best of anything !!!!

        For some reason you seem to not be able to figure out a Cadillac, today, is looked upon as unreliable junk more than the best of anything.

        If Cadillac or better yet GM doesn’t start to figure out how to build a competitive product and price it competitive, you wont have to worry about Cadillac at any price. Unless you live in China!!!

        When Cadillac used to command a higher price, people wanted a Cadillac.
        Owning a Cadillac meant something, Class, Prestige, Upper Class.

        Even the phrase ” the Cadillac of ——-” if you ask the average US citizen under 35, they will not know what Cadillac means.
        Ask Google ” the phrase the Cadillac of X” see what you get. 20th Century excellent quality, after that nothing.

        GM needs to start getting their sh*t together and pay attention to detail on their top profit vehicles !!!

        Reply
  25. Until Cadillac can become a luxury brand that todays younger luxury buyers put on their shopping list, none of this banter means anything. Even with their new products Cadillac has been unable to overcome the poor quality, outdated products it became synonymous for. In my opinion no GM lifer can lead Cadillac out of the woods. Detroit is too far from where you can see the market sea change that is taking place. A new leader and EVs are NOT going to save Cadillac.

    Reply
  26. GM has a very elegant formula already. It’s called “Corvette”. Although nominally a Chevrolet, every Corvette produced since 1955 was purposeful, proudly took its place in the marketplace and despite some stutters in the horrible 70s has been a stone that a small group of people kept polishing, year after year. Although the interior has at times suffered from parts-bin sharing (an affliction of most GM cars), it has never required “branding” as it retains a single mission. Cadillac sadly lost its way decades ago as the GM accountants licked their lips at finding the cheapest means possible to rebrand the always-built-to-a-cost Chevrolet. Cadillac has worldwide brand recognition and there was a long time in the past when people described a superior product as “the Cadillac of…” If GM management wishes to let Cadillac be Cadillac, then stash the accountants in the back room where they belong and start producing “the Cadillac” of automobiles.

    Reply
  27. Cadillac stopped being Cadillac when GM went to the parts bin to make Cadillacs.

    Reply
    1. So Cadillacs stopped being Cadillacs in…….1909? That’s when GM bought it.

      And do you not think that Acuras, Audis, infinitis, Genesis, and Lexus aren’t carrying good amounts of bits from their corporations lower price brands?

      Reply
  28. I love my 2014 CTS but probably won’t be buying another Caddy for a while. The CUE touch screen is a pile of junk and GM won’t stand behind it. Cadillac needs to work on quality issues first and foremost.

    Reply
    1. I agree. So many things have had to be repaired as well as the dead spot in the cue. First American car I have owned. Will go back to driving another german car. By the way, I have a 2000 MB E 430 (44,000 miles) that I never have a problem with and rides better the the Cadillac CTS.

      Reply
  29. Wow…….

    Over 50 comments.

    And with just a cursory reading it seems that Cadillac “is” something different to just about everyone.

    Reply
    1. EXCEPT the QUALITY !!
      Do a quick read again you will see LACK of QUALITY is an issue with many !!

      The ONLY reason I started buying Cadillac is when my grandpa was alive he said buy Cadillac it is the best and it will last !!

      My first was a 1996 with a NorthStar six later and we have a 2014 ATS.

      First was a great car, last is JUNK !

      I love the looks of the ATS, and it drives great, but the vehicle is JUNK !!

      Reply
      1. What Cadillac had a “Northstar Six” in 1996? I’m curious…..your BS falls apart the more you run your mouth……

        Reply
        1. SIX Cadillacs later.

          I have owned SIX Cadillacs !!!

          My first was a 1996 with a NorthStar AND six CADILLACS later and we have a 2014 ATS.

          Reply
        2. MrR,

          Sorry my comments offend you so much !!

          Reply
        3. Thought I would list them for you MrR,

          1996 Deville, NorthStar —– Great car, never a word form me to anyone, al most 200,000 miles !

          1999 Deville, NorthStar ——Did the head bolt repair at 102,000 miles, only trouble ( GM should have recalled ) but otherwise a great car and my mom still has it to this day, never one word to anyone !!

          2004 CTS 3.6 —– Best GM car I have ever owned, still in our garage, never one word to anyone, needs a timing chain, 140,000 !!!

          2005 STS, NorthStar, AWD ——- Great car, did zip, nothing, never a word with anyone, 150,000 !!!

          2005 SRX NorthStar, AWD ——– Great car, Transfer Case Chain at 78,000, All Magnetic Shocks at 100,000, and two compressors, nothing from GM, never a word with anyone, 140,000 !!!

          2014 ATS, 2.0T, AWD ——–JUNK, JUNK, to many things to reiterate, Many, Many words with GM, 52,000 miles, JUNK, And I love the Car, I love the looks, I love driving it, Love it !!! JUNK 52,000 miles

          What Cadillacs have you driven ? Just curious!!

          Reply
  30. I would like peoples take on why Cadillac needs a person at the top ?

    Especially a GM life employee.

    Is he just there to do what Mark tells him to do ?

    I’m guessing he has zero say in anything product related.

    Does he just handle people and press ?

    I’m just curious how he is involved here.

    Reply
  31. Oh, no. This article is concerning. As a luxury performance buyer (and CTS-V wagon owner), I hope letting “Caddy be Caddy” means I don’t lose the only domestic option for buying such a vehicle. That would be deeply sad…

    Reply
  32. Cadillac is #1 in GM’s lineup, my 1st car was a 84 eldo, loved the car at 16 but it was a solid car with junk drivetrain. Currently I own a 2011 sts4 and wife has a 2014 cts. Like both cars and am looking at a used ct6 now. But it’s the detail. In fact having to tear the car apart to change a headlight wtf… Not everyone who buys a caddy can afford the b.s. up keep. Electric door handles that fail, no way to check your trans fluid yourself? They need to think about it and get back to easy to work on cars. All of GM vehicles in fact… Electric cars won’t bring caddy back, about as much as another 20+ footer that get 10- miles to the gallon. Bring back a retro Eldorado boat tail and all just like the Camaro and mustangs have done. Offer a conv. And a hard top decent power and sell with spoke rims and Vogue tires. And a hood ornament….watch the caddy’s sell like crazy. And stop with the crossover crap…. Cadillac is not a Subaru… It’s a luxury car. Key word car… It’s about time to go back and start with cars again….

    Reply
    1. “Bring back a retro Eldorado boat tail and all just like the Camaro and mustangs have done. Offer a conv. And a hard top decent power and sell with spoke rims and Vogue tires. And a hood ornament….watch the caddy’s sell like crazy.”

      Reply
  33. What is a Cadillac today? What does it stand for? I don’t understand why this is so difficult for GM to understand. When my mom bought a 92 DeVille back in the day in the owners manual was an article titled “The Penalty of Leadership”. It would be a great idea for GM management to read it. When my parents bought Cadillacs it was because of their American heritage; let the Germans do their things. When my grandparents and great grandparents bought Cadillacs it was for the quality, luxury and attention to detail in design that made the car feel truly special. I urge GM management to take a ride in a 66 Fleetwood Brougham. Recapture that magic in a modern form. Build it well. Make it a “Standard of the World”.

    Reply
  34. Let Cadillac be Cadillac.
    Start with quality (and exclusive) design and engineering.
    (I don’t care how fast or economical a supercharged, turbocharged, atomic powered four cylinder engine may be, it just doesn’t say CADILLAC to me. Nor does a Chevy V-8.)
    Add quality materials.
    Assemble with care. The finest materials in the world won’t be very impressive if the stitching is off or the body panels don’t line up.
    Offer an exclusive color palette … deeper, richer shades than available on a Chevy or a Buick.
    Have a flagship sedan. SEDAN. S.E.D.A.N. You know. Four big, wide doors, so people can enter and exit with ease. A roomy cabin with comfortable seating for at least five, if not six. Ample leg room for back seat passengers so they don’t have to have their knees under their chins and their feet jammed under the front seats.
    Perhaps also a coupe and a convertible.
    Lose the alphabet soup names. What the hell does CTS or XT5 or ATS do to identify a vehicle?
    Hint: Nothing.
    Bring back the kind of nomenclature that means something. How about calling the two door Cadillac the Cadillac Coupe? The four door could be the Cadillac Sedan. Maybe something wild and crazy for the convertible. Cadillac Convertible Coupe?
    Make them all aspirational cars. Expensive, but worth it. Expect to lose money on them, at least for a while. But never cheapen them in any way. Don’t charge extra for a paint color, or a comfort, convenience, or safety feature. Remember, this is the Cadillac of Cadillacs, the Standard of the World.

    Reply
  35. I am a plebian kind of guy who repairs cars for my daily bread. Cadillac has always been more about an ostentatious display of wealth. Cads are really not any better a car than say a Chevy Impala or a Buick. Drive a late Suburban and then drive an Escalade and you see what I mean.

    Reply
  36. Drive a modern Buick, it’s more solid and better assembled than any new Cadillac. Cadillac needs to build vehicles that ooze quality and sophistication. So far they don’t understand what these two words mean. Maybe sit in a new Mazda 3 for some design and construction bullet points. Simplicity, not over done complexity, is key. Put it all in a sleek and unique, modern head turning design, and let the magic happen.

    Reply
  37. “We’ve tried to out-German the Germans,” he said. “We can’t outdo what others have already done.”

    But you DID outdo the Germans, Cadillac. In driving dynamics. It’s funny what can happen when you invest a ton of time and money into something and STICK WITH IT instead of getting cold feet. The E46 3-Series was the benchmark for the ATS, which the ATS’ chief engineer called “the most dynamic and driver-focused iteration of the 3 Series”. They had a goal, a passion, to make a Cadillac match or best the legendary dynamics of the E46, and they succeeded. To this day, despite its age, the ATS is STILL praised for having some of the best driving dynamics in its class, right up there with the new Alfa Romeo Giulia. So yes, Cadillac, you CAN beat the Germans, even at their own game, if you put some effort into it.

    Reply
  38. Recently purchased a CT6, put about 5000 miles on it.
    Great riding car no issues, infotainment system is fine.
    Super cruise is awesome!
    We have the regular six cylinder engine and are totally satisfied wither the performance.

    Reply
  39. Cadillac needs real names. Cadillac needs real Escala, Elmiraj, Ciel. Outstanding design, quality and zero GM cheap brand influence. Independent Cadillac with great costumer service and his new charismatic leader (no this actual Elvis caricature) are the main source for prosperity and satisfied costumers.

    Reply
  40. DTS was the last true Cadillac.

    Reply
  41. My wife and I are Cadillac people, but we hate our new xt5. Seats are aweful, ride isn’t a caddy and quality overall is poor. I’ve been saying that Cadillac used to mean the best of I hope you can bring that back.

    Reply
    1. So you bought a car you didn’t like?………..seems like the company did its job then….

      Here’s another hint, most Cadillac owners would know how to spell “awful” too.

      Reply
    2. Same too as a Cadillac Person and hopefully in the future since this might be a wake up call Hope Cadillac brings the floaty Cadillac Ride back with the Escalade than the Flagship Sedan at least to compete with Lincoln.

      Reply
  42. I love Cadillacs, been in my family as far as I could remember. I’m a 74 baby, and I didn’t really care for the gigantic boats, but what made me love Cadillacs was the attention to detail, that has been lost unfortunately. I loved the way they would hide Cadillac everywhere, or make lights shine thru wood grain.

    I’ve read every comment and all in all the problem with Cadillac is not Cadillac, but GM. BMW, is just that a BMW. Same goes for Mercedes. Audi is a little different story, but close enuf. Cadillac is basically a mock up Chevy, with the latest tech innovations by GM. The last Cadillac that was mostly just Cadillac and not a mocked up Chevy was the 1st Gen SRX. The body was not shared.

    Bottom line is if Cadillac doesn’t separate from GM, it will always be a Chevy. There isn’t anything Cadillac offers that you can’t get as a Chevy. Hell, they are all Chevy’s to start with. BMW and Mercedes Benz do not have that problem.

    Same goes for Buick. The cars should be totally different. Chevy = Volume, Buick = better quality and less Volume than Chevy, and Cadillac = Second to none quality, pinnacle of luxury, low volume for upper middle class…

    The only way Cadillac will regain it’s exclusivity is detailed quality, and price. I don’t wanna to see everyone in one. That’s for Chevy. I want people who can afford a Chevy to dream of having one. But Cadillac can’t charge more for these Caddy’s because they’re just Chevy’s with new tech….???

    Reply
  43. Cadillac has being trying to fingure this out since the 1980s. How can I take this brand seriously? Audi, BMW, Lexus, MB, Jaguar, hell Infiniti.

    All the reanmes.
    until the 2000s Deville, Seville, now every 5-7 there is a new car name. You cannot make one generation of car name and expect people to believe because have now figured out what you did wrong. How many times is Cadillac going to keep playing that song?

    Reply
  44. So far 46 ” titles” have commented.
    Out of 86 total.

    With all the different points of view pick the baby steps to agree on !!

    Let Cadillac be Cadillac ?

    Leave out your personal taste.

    What should a Cadillac mean — be.

    If Cadillac was first acquired by GM to be the best of GM, —– can everyone agree Cadillac should at LEAST be the BEST of GM ? IT IS NOT !!!

    Just that ONE simple rule would help about 75% of all Cadillac troubles.

    Best HP-
    Best torque-
    Best ride –
    Best materials-
    Best engines-
    Best coatings-
    Best tech-
    I could go on and on but THE BEST, at least at GM first !!!

    Start there.

    Reply
  45. If you want a GM vehicle without all the options, buy a Chevrolet.

    Cadillac should offer ABSOUTLY ALL options available by GM on ANY Cadillac.

    An example out of the box.

    Trailer tire stuff like the new trucks on an Escalade.

    If I’m buying a Cadillac, TOP of GM, and want to pull my boat trailer, bike trailer, classic car trailer, Why wouldn’t GM offer the BEST of GM like the trailer monitor stuff ?

    On an Escalade !!!

    Do they ? I could not find the option.

    I see a lot of the new Navigators pulling trailers.

    Sure this % would be very small, BUT ITS A CADILLAC, THE STANDARD OF THE WORLD, THE BEST OF GM !!!

    This was just an example –

    Reply
  46. If you want a GM vehicle without all the options, buy a Chevrolet.

    Cadillac should offer ABSOUTLY ALL options available by GM on ANY Cadillac.

    An example out of the box.

    Trailer tire stuff like the new trucks on an Escalade.

    If I’m buying a Cadillac, TOP of GM, and want to pull my boat trailer, bike trailer, classic car trailer, Why wouldn’t GM offer the BEST of GM like the trailer monitor stuff ?

    On an Escalade !!!

    Do they ? I could not find the option.

    I see a lot of the new Navigators pulling trailers.

    Sure this % would be very small, BUT ITS A CADILLAC, THE STANDARD OF THE WORLD, THE BEST OF GM !!!

    This was just an example –

    And standard options, standard !!!

    You know at least the standard stuff you can get on a ( fill in the blank of several offering this stuff standard )

    Reply
    1. You don’t see the features you’re describing yet because the Escalade offered currently is in its last few months of production.

      New model comes out later this year and will certainly have that. Meanwhile, you can still tow with the current Escalade.

      Or do you not care about reality and just want features to magically appear?

      Reply
      1. Don’t argue with him, he’s a moron, this site would be better off purging him and a few others……

        Reply
      2. OK Alex, Sound good to me, Thanks!!!

        You know most of us don’t get those details !!!

        I have asked to no prevail !!!

        Could you help me on this one !!

        When will the 2021 Denali dash refresh in the trucks be available ?

        O and will I be able to get the 2020 Denali HD without roof lights and without a sunroof ?

        Thanks in advance for your answer.

        Reply
      3. So even if you don’t purchase this option on the NEW Escalade, and want to add it later, I would then assume with the OTA updates it will be possible with ease ?

        Reply
    2. Hey, Lifelong!
      I never thought about the trailer stuff.
      Not sure I’d want a trailer hitch sticking off the back of my Cadillac … I ride my Harley, cruise in my Vette, and tow with my Jeep. I have mixed emotions about the Escalade. On the one hand, it’s a gussied up Suburban. On the other hand, it’s the closest thing to a “real” Cadillac out today. So I see your point.
      I made the same suggestion in my earlier post about building a Cadillac flagship sedan : It should be fully equipped.
      I kinda remember something from the old days, however, that might solve the problem. No cost options. Some people want leather, some want cloth. I hate a sunroof, my wife can’t live without one. GM can surely figure out how to cover the extra costs across the board, at least in the flagship lines, be they Sedans, Coupes, Convertibles … or Escalades. Those mass market CUVs, SUVS and smaller sedans could be well equipped in standard form, but still have extra cost options.

      Reply
  47. Listen to me people at GM I adore my 2016 ATS-V Coupe. It is one of the best cars I have ever owned and trust me I have owned them all over my 54 years of driving. I love cars and this one fills the bill for me to a T. Fast handles like a surgeon’s scalpel. My question WHY do you people always start something new? Why can’t you work on a model and just keep refining it? BMW 3 and 2 series). No you have to start all over again change model names. It’s like you admit failure with a past model and start over. Your marketing stinks, no one knows the pluses of such Models like the ATS. Read the Auto publications the ATS-V beat out a BMW M3, why don’t you people jump on that? Well I’m keeping my ATS-V for a while because for the money it would be hard to replace.

    Reply
  48. Cadillac even had 3, maybe 4 cars that could have laid the groundwork for this.

    Ready?

    -Cien
    -Ciel
    -Elmiraj
    -Escala

    And they blew it. All of them. Especially Escala as that car, having seen it in person, was stunning.

    Reply
  49. “There is something majestic about luxury vehicles. From the glass panel roofs and the LED headlights to the leather-trimmed seats and powerful engines, these automobiles are built with the finest of materials, giving each driver the feeling of uniqueness. Regarding the overall luxury car market, the leading premium car brands include Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Toyota’s Lexus brand, and Tesla. In 2017, the global market for luxury cars was sized at almost 490 billion euros.”

    I found this paragraph while looking up the market share for luxury marques. By definition, “luxury” means the state of great comfort and extravagant living.”

    Let’s consider the paragraph and the definition of “luxury” and see where Cadillac excels, or falls short:

    1. From the glass panel roofs and the LED headlights to the leather-trimmed seats and powerful engines, these automobiles are built with the finest of materials, giving each driver the feeling of uniqueness.

    As of now, I don’t see this to a large degree due to the strangle hold GM has on the brand. Engines are middle of the road (some even overshadowed by lesser brands). Finest materials: CT5’s end pillar treatment gets flack because its shiny PLASTIC meant to give the impression of glass. That’s NOT the finest materials. Many reviewers speak of hard PLASTIC below the belt-line. And when your are the underdog, you don’t have the reputation to offer “leatherette.” You have to be better.

    2. Uniqueness: I’ve read an article about BMW customers having the ability to customize the interior to their liking. I’ve heard it has created some HIDEOUS combinations, but that’s not the point. Luxury is about CHOICE. It’s not about what to SHOULD be done, but about what CAN be done. As far as Cadillac, the CT5 contrast stitching is a good start. But I have seen WAY to many “Jet Black” interiors with very little way of tailoring much of it to my UNIQUE tastes…

    2. Uniqueness (Cont’): Too much parts sharing! OK, to be fair, this is the business side of luxury. Many brands share certain things to keep costs down. However, when a Cadillac and a Chevy/GMC share the SAME engine with identical outputs, how are you to convince a connoisseur (true luxury buyer) that the additional cost is worth the premium. So, for the sake of costs, you share the parts YOU DON’T SEE. Differentiate. And the interior? Not a single button, grade of plastic, or molds (“plastic grains”) should even make their way into a Cadillac. I saw a picture of a Cadillac XTS and an Impala coming down the SAME assembly line. What does that do for the image, the psyche of the person willing to pay a premium for your product.

    3. There is something majestic about luxury vehicles: Where does this exist for Cadillac. Because it DOES exist. The problem is, those products were never put into production. GM made more of a “business” decisions and less of an EMOTIONAL one. And for me, this is the true problem with Cadillac today. Little to no emotional appeal to the customer. Luxury is just as much an ideal as it is a product. It’s an aspiration to have my senses coddled. And to be quite honest, to be admired by onlookers. That’s the part of fixing the “brand” that JDN understood. Luxury products are MORE than just leather and brushed metals. And without fixing the PERCEPTION of Cadillac, the brand will only be seen as either an expensive Chevy/GM product, or just a really good car with a high asking price.

    Luxury transcends logic. Luxury is real. Luxury is authentic. Luxury is found in the rare details. Luxury creates UNNECESSARY details, JUST BECAUSE! Some are gimmicks, sure, but they exist simply for the pleasure of its owner.

    P&L sheets can’t measure true luxury! And shareholders, while bathing themselves in it, become the enemy of luxury when they, and not the product, become the focus. True luxury brands are created by those who build to a standard of excellence. Some years profits are amazing. Some years not so much. But it’s the ethos and pursuit of perfection that drive them, not P&L. Until Cadillac and GM embrace the reality of future (short-term) loss, they will never celebrate the gain of being considered a true luxury brand.

    Reply
  50. Cadillac along with the rest of GM lost their way over 40 years ago after the 1973 oil shock. GM and the other domestic automakers over reacted to the oil crises of the 70’s with less than stellar automobiles compared to those of the late 60’s up to 1974. Things stabilized in the 80’s with Cadillac with the exception of the ill conceived Cimarron based on the Chevy Cavalier, how could you let Cadillac make a car like that? I really liked the STS though, I think there should be a new STS.

    Cadillac needs a two tired marketing and engineering system. There is a market for well designed and globally competitive performance sedans and CUVs using the current alpha numeric naming system. There is also a market for traditional powerful luxury vehicles from Cadillac brought up to today’s standards using classic Cadillac nomenclature. A 225 inch long Cadillac Fleetwood with its own unique powertrain and accouterments is just as needed as a next gen CT6 with forced induction performance oriented goodness.

    Reply
  51. This sounds like complete abdication to me. A flawed strategy from the start in this 20+ year old saga of a turnaround….

    Quiet luxury… So now Cadillac will chase Lincoln.

    Let’s face it, the Americans can’t compete with the Germans who completely dominate the luxury end of the market. What can you do when Cadillac has a measly 1% world market share and not sold in most markets?

    Americans should just stick to pick-up trucks. Put Lazy Boy seats and velour in one and call it a Cadillac. It will sell. (In the US)

    Reply
  52. Cadillac is still relevant. If it were not, the volume of discussion would be almost nothing. I am so glad that there is still spirited discussion. I thought for sure we had lost her to the abyss.

    The problem with Cadillac has been the same for many years and through all of its iterations of what it wants to be. When it was the “Standard of the World” it meant something important. Everything that went into a Cadillac was decided on the basis of comfort, style, presence, prestige. It is how Rolls Royce still thinks. Even the lowliest part of the Double R is precision fit and polished. And yes, I know, there are mechanical issues with most RRs. Cadillac has a very long way to drive before it gets within sniffing distance of the breed of car that they want to chase. The first step would be to use fabrics and materials that are refined.

    Still, I am extremely pleased that it looks like Cadillac is returning to its names.

    Reply
  53. Over 116 Comments.

    Wow.

    Again, I don’t see how Cadillac ever can ever please EVERYONE.

    Reply
    1. Cadillac doesn’t have to PLEASE EVERYONE.

      Cadillac needs to SATISFY the AVERAGE.

      Cadillac needs to not PISS OFF the LOYAL.

      Luxury Owner.

      Reply
      1. No.

        Cadillac needs to satisfy the top 1%, not as many as possible. To satisfy the average is to only ever get average.

        Cadillac is supposed to be far above average.

        By your own words, you’re already expecting Cadillac to take the low road. You’re not loyal, you’re asking for GM to not raise their standards, but to keep them low enough so anyone can get into a Cadillac.

        That’s not loyalty. That’s puerile laziness. GM has every reason to reject a base that wants to externally weaken Cadillac and damage its global image, as any other luxury automaker would do to protect their brand from public damage.

        Cadillac’s ‘loyal base’ dragged Cadillac down and saddled it with cheapened and lowered expectations. They told Cadillac not to worry or try as hard as the Germans and the Japaneses, and only makes cars that did ‘just enough’, and gave them hollow names like Eldorado and Fleetwood and only ever bothered to build a legacy of averageness by never trying to be even the best of themselves.

        By listening to the average buyer who had no reason to even look at Cadillac in the first place, Cadillac crippled its respectability for decades and completely destroyed its global image.

        And you want to know why even the Americans look to Germany and Japan when they want luxury? Its because those brands promise a future for the buyer to become inspired by.

        A luxury buyer can’t be inspired of what the future may hold if your brand perpetually celebrates the past and refuses to promise anything captivating.

        And worst of all, you want Cadillac to remain average. You want Cadillac to reuse average names and perpetually celebrate a past that nobody under 50 can remember, understand, or even relate anymore.

        And you have the gall to pretend to know that Cadillac’s best interest is in only being average.

        Reply
        1. Grawdaddy,

          You know nothing about me !!

          I added Luxury Buyer at the end to give the impression of Average luxury buyer.

          You think that for some reason I want a Cadillac to be less expensive.

          That is NOT the case !!

          Do you think you are the only top 1 % in the world ?

          Also I have NEVER said I want the old Cadillac, NEVER !!!!!

          I would like todays Cadillac to have the Quality in relationship to GM as the old Cadillacs did !!

          How did you get I wanted the old Cadillac out of anything I said.

          I have said several times I want the Escala, the size of the 2004 CTS with 400 ftlbs of torque and a LOT better interior. But that’s what I want.

          I could care less what it costs.

          Do you think I am cheap for some reason ?

          I WANT A BETTER CADILLAC AT ANY PRICE !!!

          Do you get it , a better Cadillac !!!!

          Cadillac today is looked upon as lesser today because GM made Cadillac lesser !!!!!

          I am 100%, 100%, 100% with you as far as making Cadillac out of reach of the Average.

          However todays Cadillac is looked upon as cheap, average.

          Todays Cadillac is NOT worth more.

          If GM gives more, than Cadillac will be worth more.

          I have the gall, the gall to pretend what ?

          You do know Cadillac has been going down hill for 20 years right ?

          Gall, I did NOT create this decline.

          GM had the GALL to make Cadillac a Chevrolet.

          If I wanted to drive a Chevrolet, I would buy a Chevrolet !!!

          Reply
  54. There’s nothing like a Cadillac article to bring the inmates out of the asylum. They will shortly have a good lineup of vehicles covering most of the segments they need to be in (assuming they find a way to keep the CT6 alive). Those complaining about base models with leatherette obviously never heard of MB-Tex, and anyone comparing their interiors with those of BMW will be surprised to find that Cadillac’s are better. Those wanting a floaty Eldorado can shop at Lincoln or Buick. They have finally figured out that a base model cannot be too base, and if they can fix the c-pillar design on the new CT5 they will have a full range of very attractive vehicles. They need to undercut Audi, M-B and Lexus by 10% or so on price across the range, they need to have an exclusive engine offering for their larger models (Blackwing perhaps, but even a a turbo 3.0 or bigger version of the 3.6 would work), and just stay the course. It takes time for attitudes to change, both with potential buyers and in the automotive press, but they have nothing to be ashamed of. They make good cars that compete well with or objectively exceed the competition. I have had 2, a 2014 and a2017, and they are tremendous. The one wild card is the dealer experience which can very tremendously. It is difficult to have a buyer of a $50K vehicle deal with the attitudes of a Chevy dealership as is often the case in some markets.

    Reply
    1. My thoughts exactly, but GM has no patience at all. They are their own worst enemy when it comes to refining a model

      Reply
  55. This is not a reply but an opinion. Cadillac needs to build quality, reliable, 5 star safety, contemporary vehicles for at least 5 years to get on the shopping list of younger buyers and M-B, Audi and BMW owners. They must price lower than their competitors and keep rebates to a minimum since they affect resale, a Cadillac weakness.

    Reply
  56. Cadillac has been struggling since at least 1982 the year of the first Cimaron. Since that time they have had a few hit but a lot more misses.
    Even with the hits they seem to have a problem with delivering a complete package whether it be reliability or whatever.
    A lot of you say that Cadillacs problems is Mary Bara’s fault. Cadillacs problems were there long before Mary was in charge. Cant say whether she helped or hindered but I don’t think she should bare the whole blame

    Reply
  57. the last time Cadillac made an attractive car was a very long time ago some accountant must have taken over the design process

    Reply
  58. When is GM going to learn that the all about profit technique doesn’t work….. Like I’ve said before they are followers not leaders they built an ATS because there was a BMW 3 series they are now making electric vehicles because that’s the new trend…. Always do things after the fact always too late and always behind everyone else don’t get me wrong I’m no fan of BMW by any stretch of the imagination… General motors could do so much better.

    Reply
    1. Looks like we sing the same song. Just read an article where the former Cadillac boss said the XT6 was fast-tracked. And the word that keeps coming up in many reviews is “adequate.” They want to play in a tech world, all the while hoping people won’t RESEARCH before spending $50k+ for a vehicle. It’s sad really, because we KNOW they can. But for now, it’s profit over PRODUCT. The irony is, to save a penny, they sale their prestige. And when they finally have a good product, it may be too late.

      Reply
  59. Still think that an older design, retro sedan would be great for Cadillac. Now the new Bronco I’d coming out? But it’s funny to laugh at me a true GM owner for life. For saying a retro sedan wouldn’t sell…. I could be wrong? So could anyone who disagrees with me? The Eldorado was one of most sought after Cadillacs ever. They don’t even offer one now? If I’m so wrong why does the coach builder in Florida, convert our current cars into convertibles and add retro styling? Not only does every one sell, the resale is way up compared. It’s my opinion. But I have a certain amount of class. Not being rude to anybody. If you want to leave a rude statement… Go ahead! I enjoy it… I just spent 40k on my ct6, w/ 5500 mi. Customizing it. Already had the title. Added 22″ Texan wire wheels, vogue tires, custom interior, 4 -15″ subwoofers with over 10k watts of power, new Ruby red paint with 7 coats of clear coat, and had an older model bumper mounted 5th wheel installed, along with chrome luggage straps… Car is beautiful, get complements every time I take her out! Several people have stopped me in traffic just to get a picture.. wish I could post a picture.

    Reply

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