riviera74

Sterling grip? The IIHS and insurance companies have buyer thinking on 24/7 lockdown! Safety = more weight at a certain cost. There is a reason Jaguars can be very safe and weigh less: no one pays less than $45K on a new one.

Agreed.. I like SMK's line, I'd especially like to see the Fleetwood, Eldorado and de Ville names return, though most likely they will go with boring *TS names. A smaller-than-ATS entry-lux model may be needed to compete w/ the 1-series, A1/A3, A-class, CT, etc. Something around the size of the Spark or Aveo, like the radical city car concept last year..that would be an acceptable use of FWD in the line. The reason Cadillac went with alphanumeric designations rather than names was to emphasize Cadillac, as opposed to DeVille and Eldorado. Also, most luxury marques use alphanumeric in order to emphasize the brand itself.

Uh, no. Here is why the Escalade should NOT be on Lambda: Buick Enclave. And a better reason: Escalades are more profitable because they are on GMT900, not Lambda.

One Word SAmadei: Zeta, if GM dares to build them for GMNA. The Camaro is not what is called for. A large RWD Cadillac (and Buick, I might add) sedan is what is called for. GM: Build it NOW.

Unless the demand is there, this new Sonic is overpriced by at least $2500-3000. I guess it is supposed to be a better car, but at least somebody has to demonstrate that these little cars are as worth as much as a two-year-old Civic (or this year's Fit). Call me old school, but I still remember when a car of that size went for well below $10,000 brand new. Now Starting at $14,500?! WTF?!

Who would buy an El Camino now? Virtually all car-based trucklets (which an El Camino was) fail. That new Colorado (assuming GM builds them right the first time) will fill in that niche well. What we need is a RWD sedan that will sell, and then you can tack the El Camino onto that platform.

I like those ideas, SMK4565, but I doubt there will ever be a Fleetwood or an Eldorado again. Types of car, yes. As for the Escalade, I suspect that the GMT900 successor will probably dump a few hundred pounds in order to upgrade MPG across the board. Prices might be a bit high, but if GM makes a Cadillac-exclusive interior that shames the Germans (and Japanese) luxury marques, that would be worth the premium prices. Interiors really matter now. GM cannot afford to cheapen them or F*** them up.

And the next step would be to develop a real flagship for Cadillac, something that is meant to crush the 750i and S430 and the XJ.

The Cadillac that used to exist (pre 1985) is over. Time for all of us to deal with that. Cadillac-exclusive engines have either disappeared or have essentially tricked down the line to other GM vehicles. Most of the innovations in cars now lie elsewhere, so Caddy needs to adapt. Ideally Caddy can be a RWD car marque and leave the FWD stuff for Buick. The notion that Cadillac died because the Northstar is no more and the Ultra V8 got canceled is hilarious on its face. As for BMW or Mercedes, they have no downmarket equivalents so that idea is fallacious. VW/Audi, Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, and especially Ford/Lincoln all share engines to lower costs and maximize efficiencies. If the OP thinks that Caddy is bad off, try Lincoln. Lincoln has had nothing truly unique for itself in almost 30 years.

For some reason, Ford thinks that Lincoln can survive on Ford platforms and My Lincoln Touch as unique selling points. While I am impressed by that new tech, there is no reason under the sun as to why anyone would buy a Lincoln over a Cadillac or something else. If Chrysler can have a luxury-oriented RWD car in the USA, why can't Ford import that Australian Falcon as a Lincoln (or build it here)? If Ford is not careful, Lincoln will become a Ford clone of Acura's role in Honda, if that has not already happened. Basically, Lincoln needs an identity. Will Ford allow it to build one?

Good to know that too. Thanks.

That is a comforting thought. Thank you.

I was looking at a few sites (particularly chevrolet.com, buick.com and cadillac.com and there was no information as to this question: if I plug in an iPod into the USB port provided in today's GM cars, do they only play MP3 music files? Can they play lossless files such as AAC files? Please advise since I will likely look for this feature in my next GM car.

No one is telling GM to kill the small block at all. If they put in a better interior AND an upgraded small block, GM can raise prices on the Vette. And what is wrong with a DOHC V8 as an option not named ZR1 or ZL1?

A Cruze wagon would be nice here . . . . if anyone would buy it here. Too bad we in NA don't get the Commodore here like they build down under.

Hyperv6, McLarens are not known for being (semi) affordable. Now a 3000 Vette, that anyone can support. I am not as anti-DOHC as some people are, but that is because some people think pushrod = GM truck = unrefined. Those people have their perceptions stuck in the 1970s or the 80s. Since they are buyers, a DOHC Vette should do more good. Besides, what is wrong with one that slots in between the standard small block 350 and the DOHC of the ZR1 (or is it the ZL1)?

So when does the Vette update its interior to 2011 standards?

Coupe? Hatchback? There are so few of either one because nobody buys them in the USA anymore, especially hatchbacks. Maybe in Asia or Europe, not here.

More important question: when will there be a sweet civilian version?

All true. The only problem I see with the XTS is really that it needs to be at least a Hyundai Genesis fighter, not a Taurus/Avalon fighter. A Genesis/Equus fighter would signal to all that Cadillac is actually serious about fighting in the large car luxury wars and winning them. The XTS is a nice idea. . . . . for a Buick. Who's with me on that idea?

Cadillac could USE a hybrid to counter the Lexus RX400h, especially in the SRX. Some people actually buy those for luxury AND green cred. I do hope that GM has something better in store since Caddy could use the boost in sales and profits.

I am surprised to see LaCrosse down too. Higher retail sales are always a good thing because of higher transaction prices and, by extension, higher profits. No One is as truck-dependent as Chrysler. The old saying goes, if Jeep does well, Chrysler does well. Too bad that updated Impala and new Colorado have not been released as of yet.

I must admit that I actually like how the XTS looks . It is certainly NOT a flagship, since that flagship should be an XJ/7/S-class/LS460 fighter. One question: why is this not a second-generation Buick Lucerne again ?

Ponchoman49, it baffles a lot of us. I would love having the G8 become a GMNA Buick with the necessary upgrades, but it is far more likely to be a Chevy Caprice or Cadillac flagship. (I hope!) According to my local dealer (it might be a corporate decision), the Enclave is considered the flagship. I am not sure that a large crossover should be one, but that is another debate.

Other than lack of RWD, I agree. The XTS needs to be lighter and better than the outgoing DTS. Ideally, the XTS should be the next-generation Lucerne, since production of that car ends next week. Those FWD G-bodies were only meant to have 4 speed automatics since they first debuted in 1985. Six-speed transmissions are larger, so GM would have to alter the platform somewhat for a six-speed to fit. As for the next-generation Northstar V8, GM had the Ultra V8 but shelved it for reasons unknown or unclear. Cadillac deserves a real RWD flagship NOW!