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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    The current CLA starts at a higher price than a Maxima or Lacrosse, and loaded goes higher than either of them also. The CLA starts $300 less than an Acura TLX (their middle sedan) and $1,250 less than an Infiniti Q50. They are playing low for Mercedes, but above the non-lux brands top offering, and right in line with the mid-range Acura and Infiniti. And there are some that will only see a badge, however if it was just a badge that mattered the CLA wouldn't get outsold by the C-class and E-class and I think even the S-class was close to outselling it last year. And the GLC, GLE, and GLS all outsell the GLA.
  2. smk4565
    There could be money to be made if Smart expanded and used the A-class platform for a compact sedan and a CLA size sedan, but in the $18k and $23k range respectively. I am sure they could get a 1.4 liter turbo off Renault for the motor, and they could do a little crossover, maybe some EV versions of those. I don't know if they really want to expand the range out that far though, or put money into that brand. They are pretty busy with the Mercedes line as it is. They are bringing the AMG GT sedan to the USA with possible 805 hp hybrid V8 powertrain. Their future is really hybrid and electric rather than Smart brand.
  3. smk4565
    I am sure they will bring it to the USA, it would be a hit. They could use a crossover larger than Sorrento also, but this compacts crossover segment is hot.
  4. smk4565
    Companies know where sales are going. They may not know exact numbers, but in Cadillac's case they could look at other brands conquest data or market share changes, etc.
  5. smk4565
    Yes, but that was a new car, new interior and stuff. I don't think they wanted to do anything with the XTS except put a new face on it. This was like the GM w-body treatment of keep the 3800 and 4-speed going just to save cost, and put on new headlights and bumpers. This new XTS looks a lot like a CT6, and is the same size, with standard V6 power to standard 4-cylinder power. They need something for the sales people to use to sell the CT6 (better transmission) and they need to keep cost down for the livery market.
  6. smk4565
    Well most luxury brand buyers are coming from another luxury brand. What about their top outflow? Year to date, Cadillac is up .9% Audi is up 6.5%, BMW is down 3.6%, Lexus is down 13.1%, Infiniti is up 24%, Mercedes is down 1%. Volume wise, Cadillac is 7th in the American market. I'd think Lexus would be the easiest for Cadillac to steal off of, especially with the slew of FWD crossovers that Cadillac is going to position directly against Lexus. Also keep in mind that Mercedes and BMW have sold the most luxury cars the past 10 years, with Lexus in 3rd, so it makes sense that that is their biggest conquest, just on sheer numbers there are more of them out there.
  7. smk4565
    They don't really need the CLS, but at least at that price point they are getting a pretty good up charge over the E-class. The new E-class coupe looks stunning and it is larger than the old one since it isn't on a C-class chassis anymore. Maybe they'll do a V8 in the CLS550 since there is no E550 anymore, I don't know, but there are some ways they can make it different from the E-class. And they do more volume on the E-class than they do on the CLA/GLA. The CLA and A-class sedan would be basically same size, same space, same power, similar body since the A-class sedan concept is sort of swoopy design anyway. I'd rather see the hatchback to a 2nd sedan.
  8. smk4565
    Mechanical changes cost money, this was front and rear fascia redo and let it soldier on for 3 more years. Which makes sense, why spend money on a product that is going to die in 3 years. I bet the Impala gets the same treatment next year.
  9. smk4565
    An A-class sedan makes no sense unless it is to replace the CLA. It would be selling 2 of the same model basically. What they need to do is give us this:
  10. smk4565
    Low selling is better than no selling. Mercedes is on pace to sell 30,000 AMG vehicles in the USA alone this year. So that is pretty good. At least someone is pushing performance, Lexus surely isn't. Handling, braking, chassis tuning, these are areas where Cadillac can beat the Camry platform Lexus line up. Horsepower also, at almost any level, Lexus still has that 3.5 V6 from 2006 in most of their product, they should have killed that thing years ago.
  11. smk4565
    Acura is a low end luxury brand and Lexus is boring. Lexus lacks the guts to really go big, even with the LC500, there could be more power there. They did the LFA, but even that needed more torque and after that 500 unit model run they seem to have no desire to do another sports car. Lexus is a brand that could be doing so much better because they have reliability and reputation, but they have ugly styling and super out dated engines. Lexus should have a 100% turbo charged line up with a hybrid version of every model they sell. They are close on the hybrid front, but the most powerful Lexus is 471 hp, Mercedes has like 20 models over 500 hp. Lexus is a brand that Cadillac should be able to steal a lot of business off of. Cadillac can make quiet and smooth riding vehicles, throw a ton of hybrid crossovers at them. Lexus is weak in performance, Cadillac can easily beat them there.
  12. smk4565
    Well yes, but there is another one coming below that. The FJ Cruiser looking thing. I imagine there will be an 8-series convertible at the top, and 4-series convertible for lower price, plus the Z4. Three convertibles is enough. And the i8 is getting a convertible of some sort, maybe that will be a targa roof thing, not sure, but no one buys that car anyway.
  13. smk4565
    It doesn't but if Chevy said they were cancelling the Corvette convertible or the Corvette entirely due to low sales, there would be outrage. And Chevy's fate doesn't hinge on the Corvette either, but there is a reason they still make it.
  14. smk4565
    I am not saying that Cadillac isn't a luxury car brand, but when a luxury buyer is out there looking to spend big money on a sports car or convertible, Cadillac doesn't have anything. It is hard to build status as an elite brand, without elite product.
  15. smk4565
    Because coupes don't sell. The Gran Coupe outsold the 6-series Coupe and convertible combined last year. I don't think the 6-series GT is going to sell either but they won't lose money on it. They sold over 2 million last generation 5-series. That is huge economies of scale that pays for 90% of what is on a 6-series.
  16. smk4565
    Rolls, Bentley, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Audi all make a convertible. Chevy has 2 convertibles, Buick has 1, yet Cadillac has none?
  17. smk4565
    BMW is not going to lose money on a $75,000 car.
  18. smk4565
    Perhaps zero. But my point was they can make a Camaro convertible, even if they only sell 500 of them a month because the coupe paid for the car. The 6-series GT is already paid for by the 5-series sedan, all they have to do is put a lift back on it, and a body kit on the front bumper and they are pretty much done.
  19. smk4565
    Cadillac needs a coupe and convertible for sure. You can't be a luxury brand without it, even if they sell 5,000 a year, who cares. It looks good in an advertisement and draws people in. Plus they can build it off an existing platform, existing powertrain, it isn't all that hart do stamp some new body panels. Chevy makes the Corvette, brands need that one special car, even though crossovers are what pays all the bills.
  20. smk4565
    Cadillac sales are hurting because they don't have 5 crossovers. Plain and simple. They could make the CT6 have 500 hp, get 100 miles per gallon and sell it for $25,000 and the Toyota RAV4 would outsell it 5 to 1. The enthusiasts want the sports car, the convertible, the sport sedan, etc. But the masses just want a homogenized box on wheels.
  21. smk4565
    The 6-series GT won't sell much, but Chevy makes a Camaro convertible, a ZL1, these are small volumes of a car, but they are profit margin. Given the 6-series GT is a rebodied 535i for $70k, i bet there is margin to be made. And I don't think the volume will be low on these crossovers. Toyota sold 70,000 RAV4's in 2004 and 2005. In 2016 they sold 352,000. And they are still losing out on 100,000s of sales for not having a vehicle or 2 below RAV4. Crossovers are going world wide too, it is likely that a big company like GM, VW or Toyota could be selling over 5 million crossovers a year. Even with 20 crossovers, that is 250,000+ per model. Even if Buick went from 3 crossovers to 5, all 5 would outsell Regal and Lacrosse. There is a lot of volume left in the crossover market, the people keep buying them.
  22. smk4565
    Mid-size sedans are down this year. FCA is out of the segment, and the rest are hemorrhaging sales to crossovers. The only car segment with any growth in the past year and a half is small cars (Civic, Corolla, Cruze segment) and even now those cars aren't so small or sparsely equipped. Small cars are still hanging on because for one it is what people can afford, and 2, compact crossovers haven't taken over yet. Toyota is planning another crossover below Rav4, this market is about to flood. I could see Toyota in about 5 years having Corolla, Prius, Camry (maybe Supra) as their whole car line with at least 8 crossover/SUV. Audi is about to have 8 crossovers by 2019 and probably the only reason they don't make 10 of them is because they want Porsche and Bentley to sell more of them.
  23. smk4565
    One car out selling a whole segment is a telling sign. The Camry outsells the Avalon's whole segment also. If you are an auto company looking at that and planning for the future, it is hard to make any commitment to the full size sedan segment. 2016 was a record sales year and those 8 cars took a dive, it is repeating this year.
  24. smk4565
    Fun Fact, the Civic alone outsold the 8 cars on that list combined last year by over 35,000 units.
  25. smk4565
    Large sedans are tanking. These are the 2016 results and in 2017 most of these are down another 25-30% from last year's numbers. Credit to Car and Driver for the list. The Maximum was up to 62,000 units, it was the lone gainer. Chevrolet Impala down 17% to 97,006 units Dodge Charger down 1% to 95,437 units Chrysler 300 flat at 53,241 units Toyota Avalon down 20% to 48,080 units Ford Taurus down 10% to 44,098 units Buick LaCrosse down 34% to 27,582 units Hyundai Azera down 11% to 4942 units Kia Cadenza down 36% to 4738 units
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