Suaviloquent

I would refrain from the kind of thinking that since Mercedes builds very expensive vehicles that their logo should absolutely be not on anything else - taxis, work trucks, vans... If Cadillac or Lincoln started doing that right now though, I would immediately say WTF is GM thinking with their brands? Ultimately we cannot compare the two (Mercedes and Cadillac) against each other like that. Also, those same panel vans and buses (for transit), heavy trucks, and such aren't considered passenger vehicles (cars). I don't know nor do I really care that Mercedes happens to do those things. Perhaps it's their history, but the Mercedes name comprises a larger conglomerate transportation/mobility sector company. It should not be such a passionate hot, derisive topic for some that the Mercedes work truck is based off of a Nissan, because well, I think they are well differentiated; I consider the GMC business model just as suspect for juicing profits off a common architecture, and we have prior knowledge that Mercedes is a name not just reserved for a a badge or hood ornament adorned on a car. And what is wrong with partnership on a vehicle? Why does it matter if it's based on a Nissan? No one can say that Mercedes shouldn't be doing that cause it devalues their brand/lack of focus (those arguments have not ended Mercedes) What if it turns out that Nissan can provide a credible donor architecture? What I see, is that Mercedes has been able to pursue many worthwhile opportunities, they have made many good decisions regarding the separation of different business units... and honestly, if the same autonomous tech that is developed for an S-Class has business applications for the commercial haulage industry, that would be serious innovation that the firm is pursuing...

Mercedes is larger than just the luxury products it sells. Therefore I think it is still unfair to both Cadillac and Mercedes to compare them to each other head to head for different things. In terms of small, really small luxury vehicles, a Alpha sub-Ats model would be much better than a CLA. And that has been denounced, even by SMK as Mercedes-Pretendz. But the C-Class is not just a bit more cash. It starts about $9000 more on the CLA. In a lease deal that will be reflected in the down payment at first, and then the payment. It is interesting though how it's kind of a simple case of a strong brand can allow you to sell the "optimized" product for the buyer. I don't see a problem with Mercedes using a Nissan pickup truck as a base. Largely because, well, I don't particularly consider them to be much of anything of a disruptor to anyone. I don't think Mercedes even wants to make a luxo-pickup version of it. It's going to be commercial vehicle only, I think. Also, like a GMC Canyon Denali is coming out, and most people have railed on Denalis for being pure-profiteering on the part of GM, because guess what?! GMC is a strong brand. I think it is only fair to compare both companies on products that match up well for intended mission. And in that case the XT5 matches right up on the GLE 350 without any sacrifices when configured with AWD. Cadillac has to increase the purchase funnel diameter. And it has to increase brand awareness. Product, they need product, which they are getting. I don't think RWD is as important anymore, as long as the intended mission is not aligned to superior driving dynamics or handling or lap times.

I find Mercedes and Cadillac to be somewhat competitors in select markets and everywhere else completely different from another. I don't particularly see a problem with the Nissan Frontier based pickup, because I don't think it'll be positioned as a luxury midsize in as much as it will just have a higher price tag because of the badge on the nose. Nissan trucks have a decent reputation around the world for off-road prowess. Also, again....basing vehicles on common platforms these days works just fine for many car makers, as long as you have a decent base to word off of. If the CLA had more sound-deadening, and better ride tuning it would be a much more substantial car, but perhaps less efficient. Maybe giving it active noise cancellation standard. But I think Mercedes is purely profit driven, which I think is serving them alright.

2002 Thunderbird, but I would bring the 1955.

No DFelt....NO "that will be based off the new Ingenium four-cylinder engine family." Ingenium is an in-house designed J&L engine.

Then why is GM partnering with Honda for hydrogen? The hydrogen vehicles will be a Golden State special.

It's an early prototype mule... Then again, fitment has been troublesome for early build Lincolns recently. The Continental will be able to offer what the vast majority of the large sedan buyers want in the large premium sedan segment. I really have to squint to see if any large sedan makes my blood boil. The CT6 can because of what is underneath... but it just doesn't show up on the exterior. Every other car looks tame. The S-Class looks stately, reliability is an issue, the XJ is a sex machine, but suffers from reliability and build quality issues. The Conti cannot hope to at all get those buyers though. It might get some, nibble away a bit from everyone. And they've been forthcoming for it, so I cannot really go at them for lacking clarity and purpose. There's no mixed messaging. Lincoln is doubling down on what it thinks others are kind of distancing away from even if they still provide it. The Continental also looks stately, I think every trim except BL is priced correctly. The Revel Audio is proven to be true audiophile excellence. The Lincoln seats are truly world-class comfortable, and I think the AWD system is more advanced than the haldex setup used by Volvo because it can react faster, and at least you get a cylinder and displacement advantage on the Drive-E Volvo engines (which are almost like EcoBoost X2 in mentality really - and haven't really upset the competition over MPG or refinement at idle). And I expect the Continental with the 2.7T to be faster than the T6 S90. Overall I'm safely going to continue to say that the Continental was drafted up for China first, and again, sales in America will just be a bonus.

Presumably, I think SMK is harkening to the old logic of GM having the brands being a touch point of the customers for their lifestage in terms of socioeconomic status. Mercedes has a parent company that makes a lot of different things, many of them unrelated to each other. They are not wholly an automotive company. To put it shortly, every brand is built up differently. I'm not sure if it's fair to hold onto that old logic, especially when your competitors are not who they seem at times - you have so much pressure from brands below you, and it's everywhere. So you have to end up doing a lot of things that are not always so clear-cut. Mercedes wants to believe that their CLA customers will graduate into a C/E/S eventually. Except for the diehard fans, customer satisfaction is pretty low on the CLA/GLA. But again, that's just the price of the car because of the brand on the grille. I think if the CLA was priced more akin to a Buick Verano, Focus ST, then it's palatable, and you could say it's a fair trade where the Verano is about refinement while the CLA is closer to the Focus ST and has the CLS styling. I would say that Cadillac needs to increase the breath of products if they want to grow. But I would say look again, and re-prioritize. Combine Cadillac and Buick and you have lots of sales across two brands with high prices and great profitability.

Well Olds, loyalties last until the bitter end. The German 3 are totally ingrained into the German culture, politics and economy. I don't ever really foresee a plausible future where Cadillac, even Cadillac (throw Lincoln out the door, no German is ever going to buy a car famous for a powerful, dead American President and a notoriously popular - most interesting man in the world type president who was assassinated in it). What I think could happen though that the American car companies have a presence through Opel, and the Ford brand has in Europe...could allow them to snatch up some disgruntled insurrectionists. But the loyalists will fight them. FCA is not American...but anyhoo Fiat commands less and less of the market and the main brand Fiat is declining in market share in Italy too. Brands like Jeep, distinctly American, but rather more preferred I guess can, and is doing well. I think France is the critical point. Remember, Cadillac is named after a French guy who founded Detroit. Detroit is a French name itself. I think it means 3 of something, 3 rivers, 3 lakes...anyways. And French people love American V8s. They love America in general....I think

I think it's stupid to put RWD and performance into this car. totally against the mission. Aftermarket...sure, as long as it doesn't void warranty.

Yeah, and when CAFE requirements ramp up all those products will go away. So will all of those sales. Which means they'll have depleted showrooms with nothing desirable for anyone. I'm predicting a huge implosion soon.

The Revel Audio systems beat the crap out of Burmester and are much higher in brand cachet. Metal Speaker covers are nothing new. Lincoln's perfect position seats are more comfortable than anything on the market. It's going to be plenty more reliable than the S-Class. And that's all the Lincoln really needs to do well. And the Lincoln is unapologetically skewed to comfort and lounging. To the buyers in China, it's another choice in the field of full-size luxury. Does the car have anything on the S-Class overall. No. But the the most important features - seat comfort, audio and reliability and cachet of an American icon are very powerful still in that market.

I'm okay with a sub-ATS, as long as it's a luxury car through and through. Against the Mercedes Pretendz and the FWD Ultimate Fail Machine....it could be a whole lot worse...

Eh, a performance Bolt while nice...actually I might warm over to that. But lack of AWD means tire slippage.

This is getting ridiculous. I mean, yeah, we all preach HellCat all the things...but really it's just going to take away vital resources for the core segments they should be going after. Hellcats may be cash money. But how does that bode well for anything else?

I love Cadillac. I think they never should have ever been allowed to degrade themselves - I blame GM for that. Cadillac, I feel is supposed to be ultra-luxury. Buick and Olds were meant to be what Cadillac is now,,,save for the V-Series.... But they're making excellent vehicles, but I don't agree with having exclusive engines. Unless it's for compliance with stupid displacement laws.... Their heritage is V8, and while the LF4 and LGW are great, V8 is their heritage. To me Cadillac is finally achieving self-realization in this new millennium.

I found what I was looking for. It seems like an excellent interior with this Black Label theme:

The Enclave is the top-shelf Buick. Maybe that will get a an upgrade engine option. Honestly a 7 passenger a well-done next-gen Buick Enclave can go against anything that is 7 passengers and is premium.

Premium priced!! Good...make the monies...

That would be very tasty indeed with a Mocha Mettalic Exterior color! I don't know why that paint job isn't available on the lower trims, but the Chroma Flame paint is also very nice in person. That's like the perfect crossover for pleasing the ladies. No, really, I saw one MKX on person, and my jaw dropped. The split wing grille is fully realized there..

You know how it is, taxi cabs don't have real leather because it's just another maintenance hassle.

It's a damn good car. I think it's actually the Impala of its class. As in you drive it, and you feel like you're driving a classy car. GM said they were going after amazing NVH, and in a compact that is to be lauded. I wonder if they're using active noise cancellation. Of imagine if it's a Buick and Cadillac exclusive, the Verano should be downright SHEA BUTTER SMOOTH. Mnnnn....Donuts...

It's from a Lincoln MKX BL Thoroughbred interior. Now imaginify that wood basically plastered all over the Conti with the matching Saddle brown leather. Teeeasttty....

One thing to never do. Don't make FAP mad. Or in Soviet Government Trump Amurica.... mad will FAP you....