smk4565

I bet the success of the CT6 will impact the development budget for the CT8. If the CT6 sales lag the first year or two, I wonder how much money they'll put into the CT8.

GM should offer Sergio 20 cents on the dollar per share to buy the company, then dump the junk brands, keep Jeep and any products they see as viable. FCA will probably end up bankrupt anyways, 20 cents on the dollar is better than zero.

Which is what distronic plus does, stop and go traffic where it maps off the other cars, or high way speed where is just has to hold a lane and speed. The difference becomes Cadillac beings hands free, and the Mercedes system making you hold the wheel after 60 seconds. Which I am sure is that the request of the legal department. If Cadillac has a totally hands free system, I am sure there will be some big warnings and disclaimers all over that, possibly an audio message that plays that you have to listen to then click "OK" to put it in Super Cruise. Of course how many people drive while texting, doing hair/makeup, eating Big Macs or even all 3 at once. So Autonomous cars might not be so bad.

It is real wood, and real aluminum trim.

That is dumb, my car stays in sport if I turn it off in sport. On the new Mercedes I noticed that if you turn off Eco start/stop it defaults it back to on the next time you start the car. I think BMW does the same thing. These enviro-friendly things are nice, but you should be able to defeat them if you want, and not have to hit the off button every time you turn on the car. I will say this about the 2015 GLK (as well as the 2014 C-class) is the throttle tip in is rather aggressive, so I'd rather start in 2nd gear driving either of those cars, otherwise it is jerky off the line. On my car the gas pedal has a bit of a dead feel initially, which I am sure they did to keep the car smooth.

The problem with any autonomous drive system is going to be when the vehicle has to make a life or death decision. Suppose a car swerves into on coming traffic headed right for you, and there are 2 pedestrians on the sidewalk. Does the autonomous car take a head on collision or swerve and risk hitting the pedestrians. There will be huge disclaimers on these things and that is why the Mercedes system makes you have hand on the wheel. So if it messes up you can't sue them. What happens if SuperCruise hits a pedestrian trying to avoid something else while the driver didn't have hands on wheel or wasn't paying attention.

My car uses 7th gear on the highway, I had a GLK loaner that I think used 7th gear on the highway. I don't see why the new models wouldn't use all 9. I will say though that if you put the transmission in comfort mode it does 2nd gear starts and doesn't use first gear.

The sad thing about the American car market is that is what sells. And it ranges from Rav4 to Escape tor Equinox to GLC, X3 or RX350. People want an SUV for some perceived notion of safety, or because the cargo area will allow them to haul a bike or canoe to suit the active lifestyle that they don't actually have, and at the end of the day they will commute from A to B, plodding along in traffic thinking they are more successful because they bought an SUV and the other guy bought a CamCord, not realizing they themselves are driving a CamCord station wagon on stilts. This is the crossover market in general. I don't get it myself, give me a superior handling car any day of the week, something that can handle a corner and be driven hard without fear of tipping over. At least with the bi-turbo V6 they'll have 339 hp in the GLC, maybe even 362 hp since Mercedes seems to be phasing the 339 hp version out already, the C-class is dropping it for 2016, in favor of the 362 hp used in the GL. None of the other small crossovers have that kind of power or air suspension. So maybe they'll bring some level of excitement to the otherwise boring crossover segment.

The 2014 S-class could drive itself via the radar guided cruise control and the active steering. I have seen video where it holds lanes on the highway where the steering wheel turns without hands touching it, and it car can do hands free driving in traffic. I didn't know how to imbed a video but here is an S-class doing it. The first part is just radar cruise control which is old news, but around 5 minutes the wheel is doing a lot of it's own turning. Distronic Plus with Steering is available now on the C-class also. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXB82PfNucg They have a fully autonomous S-class prototype, but you have a whole host of legal issues to overcome I'd imagine before that is put on sale.

I'd take the XJ interior over the CT6 I think. The XJ has a lot of that piano black trim that I don't like, but I still like the style and design of the XJ interior. S-class beats them all tough.

What makes you think Cadillac doesn't have a lot of stuff in store? Cadillac has SuperCruise coming very soon, I've spotted the cars testing in Pittsburgh (there has been a semi-camoflaged XTS wandering around downtown). Cadillac just released a fantastic new 8-speed automatic that performs equal or better than some of the best DCTs. There's the 3.0TT due out later this year, the updated 3.6, the updated 3.6TT, the coming V8TT, 4-wheel steering, a vastly upgraded CUE system, and more "added vehicle lightness". But Mercedes has super cruise or self driving already, The E-class is getting it, which means the 5-series do it, so the CTS will have to have it, they can't hold it as an CT6 exclusive and trickle down later. All the Germans have TT V8s already, nothing new there. Mercedes has the 9-speed transmission now, which like the 7-speed has 2 reverse gears, so you can do 50 mph in reverse. We'll see what happens, but the CTS isn't competing well with an old E-class. Once the new one arrives they could be in trouble. Same goes for Lexus wit that tired GS they have. That 3.5 liter V6 is from like 2006, they might want to upgrade that.

I think the rounded off styling will give it more appeal, especially to female buyers. The blocky GLK was sort of love it or hate it I think. Interior is a big upgrade over the old one. I never cared for the previous generation C-class/GLK interior, but I really like the current ones. Hopefully the diesel and V6 are not far behind. But finally the 9-speed automatic is here, I think it was limited to just CLS550s so far. Since it is a GLC, it will be priced and sized like a C-class. Larger and more expensive than a GLA, but smaller and less expensive than a GLE.

This is a mid-cycle enhancement, so nothing much to get excited about. I thought the XJ looked cool when it came out, and the XJR models still do sort of, but it is looking like a bit of a boring design. It is too rounded off, too much jelly bean shape like every other car on the road. I also was a big fan of the 2004-2008 era XJ, especially the XJR since it had the sport body kit and wheels. That car just looked different than everything else, it looked old school and bad ass, like something a mafia hitman would drive. And they were dirt cheap used compared to other luxury cars.

How about Cadillac gets their head out of their ass and starts putting all their SUVs on Alpha and Omega and then you can put 500 hp engines in them and go Porsche Macan/Cayenne or AMG crossover hunting.

A Corvette sedan to compete with the CTS-V? Yeah, that makes sense.

Perhaps they are trying to push too much up market. I drove the first Genesis and not this one, and wasn't a sport sedan in any way, but it had that big car comfy feel, and the V8 was powerful. I wonder if the Azera is really needed. If the Genesis was $34k base they could compete more with the Avalons, Buicks, MKZ, Acuras of the world and probably do better. Put their RWD car against the boring front drivers, it works for Chrysler. Hyundai seems to want the Genesis to target the E-class and GS350 but do it at a discount, and it isn't in that league.

I am sure GM wished they had more volume out of Cadillac. Let's say hypothetically Chevy makes $1,000 per car profit, Buick and GMC $2,000 and Cadillac $4,000. I'm sure they'd want to sell as many Cadillacs as possible, it has the best margin. If Cadillac has terrible volume, that hurts GM's bottom line. Before Cadillac gets their 5 year plan completed the new E-class will be here to lay the hurt on the CTS, A6 and GS. They have a lot of new stuff in store, new inline six, electric turbos, autonomous drive, etc.

Corvette is not on par with a 911. The Corvette doesn't have the level of customization or personalization or high end luxury features. The 911 has on the options list to paint the car in any custom color you supply to Porsche, air vents with leather slats, personalized carbon fiber door sills, leather sun visors, Alcantra storage compartment lining, and who wouldn't pay $1,465 for painted air intake grilles, or $1,720 for painted air conditioning vents. A 430 hp 911 is about $120,000, the Turbo is nearing $200,000. Corvette just isn't in that price strata, nor should it ever be. The Corvette for 50 years worked well at an inflation adjusted $50,000ish sports car. I wouldn't mess with the formula that works, and since V8s are making so much more power than even 10-15 years ago, I think there is room for a V6, either NA or turbo. The Cayman S has 340 hp and it is decently quick.

A 270 hp CT6 is adequate because there is also a 335hp CT6 and a plug-in Hybrid with 335 hp and 432 lb-ft of torque and a 400 hp twin-turbo V6.... and a twin turbo V8 coming that is most likely well over 500 horsepower. This^^^ HE acts as if the CT6 is in a bubble and a base engine is its only choice. I know it isn't the only choice. So why not offer a lower priced Corvette with a 335 hp V6 and 8-speed automatic. 15 years ago the Corvette had 345 hp and a 4-speed automatic, granted that V8 had a lot more torque than the V6. I say make the Corvette more attainable, it is a Chevy, not a $250,000 exotic. Corvette average buyer age is 59 years old, offering a V6 version at $47,000 could bring that down a bit. And you still have the 460 hp V8 and 600 hp supercharged V8 as options. As far as the Camaro goes, I think at some point with every car you have to stop, and then another car takes over. There isn't a 410 hp Impala SS because there is a 410 hp XTS V-sport, and they want you to move up to Cadillac if you want more than the standard car. Camaro should be $25-50k with the 3 engine choices they have outlined, offer a low weight track package option for enthusiasts. If 460 hp isn't enough for you, then you buy a Corvette or a Cadillac. A Camaro costing more than a CTS-V as was the case a couple years ago doesn't make sense.

What may hurt Cadillac is doing the "Dare Greatly" ads that are just Cadillac brand ads, but don't focus on any particular vehicle. Perhaps they don't want to advertise the ATS and CTS names because they are dumping them. But I still see dedicated E-class ads and it is in its 6th model year. They didn't give up on advertising it because it is an old model. And GM often advertises the heck out of new cars then forgets about them after 2 years (with exception of pickups).

An Impala 2LT is $31k, a base Lacrosse is also $31k. An Impala LTZ is $35k. The Regal starts at $27k while a Malibu LTZ is $29k, and a Malibu 2LT is $28k. Traverse 2LT is $37k, a Traverse LTZ is $42k. The Enclave bases at $39k. Right now the base Buicks are priced more like Chevrolet LT trim, rather than the LTZ trim.

To OldsHusrt's point about the Corvette being a 911/Ferrari competitor. It isn't and you don't want it to be. If the Corvette was going to go to that level you are looking at $125,000 base price, $175,000 Z06, and if they did another ZR1, possibly $225,000. Then people that buy Corvettes can't afford a Corvette. Saying Corvette needs to compete with the Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo is like saying Chevy needs a sedan to fight Bentley. It isn't Chevy's job to fight the $100k battle, that is Cadillac's. Cadillac is the flagship brand of GM. The serious technology and high dollar cars belong at Cadillac. The Corvette should forever be front engine, rear drive, reasonably priced sports car. If GM wants a mid-engine supercar, then give it to Cadillac to compete with the Audi R8. If they are going to make a luxury sports car to compete with the 911 and AMG GT, give it to Cadillac. If GM for some crazy reason wants to build a 1,000 hp hybrid to battle the Ferrari LaFerrari or McLaren P1, give that to Cadillac too.

A 270 hp CT6 is adequate because there is also a 335hp CT6 and a plug-in Hybrid with 335 hp and 432 lb-ft of torque and a 400 hp twin-turbo V6.... and a twin turbo V8 coming that is most likely well over 500 horsepower. So would you be in favor of a 335 hp V6 Corvette for $47,000? Personally, I think they should make such a car to expand the Corvette brand, and a V6/8-speed Corvette should still hit 60 in 5 seconds maybe less, it is a 3200 lb car. And there is a V8 and supercharged V8 if you want more. I do think though that the CTS and CT6 should have a standard V6. I am game for the 2.0T in the ATS, and I would be fine with a 2.0T plug in hybrid on CTS/CT6 because then you are back to 350 hp/torque. As far as Corvettes sold in other dealerships, absolutely not. It is a Chevy, it gets sold in a Chevy dealership. They don't sell Escalades at the Buick dealership.

BMW drivers wouldn't buy a Chevy even if the Camaro had 1,000 hp. If you want more performance than a 460 hp Camaro, there is Corvette. That is why you have two sports cars, why there is Cadillac V-series. Porsche doesn't put 500 hp in the Cayman, if you want that you have to get a 911. I'd be in favor of a track model Camaro Z28 with the same 460 hp V8 as the SS, but they could do a rear seat delete and cut weight, beef up the brakes and suspension. A 270 hp Cadillac CT6 adequate but a 460 hp Camaro is not enough? That doesn't make sense.

Keeping those base cloth trim, 2.4 liter engines etc is like old GM. When you could get a Buick or Pontiac for the same price as a Chevy pretty much. The Buick base model should basically be like the Chevy LTZ, then Buick can still offer a trim above that to set themselves apart.