smk4565
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Everything posted by smk4565
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Cadillac definitely has to go global, but the road will be long and expensive. I don't know if GM wants to make that sort of commitment. Mercedes has 28 new or redesigned models coming in the next 7 years, and Audi and BMW aren't holding back either. I'd like to see Cadillac make a run at it, but I just can't see GM putting billions upon billions of Dollars into Cadillac to make it happen. Cadillac doesn't stick with things over time, their longest surviving nameplate is the Escalade which came out in 1999, and they have had 5 marketing agencies since 2007. Here is what Cadillac needs in the next 3 years: - 8 or 9 speed automatic standard on every model - hybrid drivetrain (either I4 or V6) - turbo diesel 4 cylinder, turbo diesel V6 - ATS coupe and convertible - CTS coupe and wagon (but the wagon won't sell here) - 4-door coupe slotted above the CTS - full size luxury sedan - 2 seat sports car/roadster - all new Escalde - all new SRX - V-series of ATS, CTS, big sedan, SRX (if rear drive) and the sports car That all is going to cost a lot, and I don't know if the General's pockets are deep enough, they still need to feed Buick and GMC and redo the Malibu.
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Lexus's top 2 sellers in Europe are the RX (which has a hybrid) and the CT200h (a hybrid hatchback). Those 2 are over 50% of Lexus' European sales, because they like hatchbacks and high fuel economy there. But still they sell in tiny volume compared to the Germans. Cadillac's cars don't fit over there, no diesels, no hybrids, no hatchbacks and the CTS wagon just died. ATS and CTS are a start, but 2 cars doesn't make a lineup. Money is the other factor, when Lexus spent $1 billion to build the first LS400, Mercedes turned around and spent $1 billion to redesign the S-class (already the class leader) for 1991. The Germans aren't going to let anyone just waltz on in, they will double down and drive newcomers right back out. I think at some point Cadillac has to try, they can't just sit on the sidelines forever, but it is a near impossible task to take the Germans on in Europe when they can't beat them in the USA.
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Europe will be tough to crack, even if they put diesels in the ATS and CTS. Their overall product portfolio is still not strong enough, and Cadillac doesn't have the brand image or marketing needed, or the dealer network. Even with the dealer network and better cars, they still lose on image, possibly the #1 reason for buying a luxury car.
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The Lambas are doing really well, that refresh worked. I am surprised Tahoe and Yukon sales are up, I thought people were moving away from huge trucks, but maybe they are used to $4 a gallon and it will take $5 a gallon to shock the market. I also can't believe 3,538 people bought a Spark.
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GM should dump that terrible eAssist 4-cylinder with no torque in favor for a 2 liter diesel with 280, and my guess is the 328d will post huge fuel economy numbers. If the gas engine is 34 mpg, I bet this is more like 44 mpg.
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The outside looks the same, but I love the interior.
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I think it loos cool, and it has some punchy little engines. Most small cars give you a miserable 130-140 hp engine, 170-201 is pretty good. The 201 hp version is going to go like a stabbed rat.
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This isn't a RWD car, it is AWD, on a FWD platform. The NAv screen s weird, I don't know why it has that tacked on look. The only way that would be cool is if it were a detachable tablet that you could take with you. And $48k for a 4-banger yes, but there are other cars over $40k with 4-bangers now and this car does 0-60 faster than a lot of V8 cars. It isn't really my cup of tea, but the people that bought a WRX or Evo 10 years ago and have money now may like this a lot.
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New York Auto Show: 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT: Comments
smk4565 replied to William Maley's topic in Reader Reviews
The regular XK looks so elegant and classic, it is such a pretty car. This looks like a tacky mess. -
Here is a Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324789504578382260127618472.html?mod=WSJ_hp_EditorsPicks It is a bit critical but it does point out how Cadillac faces the same problems they did when the 03 CTS came out, this car seems more up to the task of going against the Germans, where the last 2 generations didn't make a dent in their armor, in fact Audi's market share has more than doubled since the 2004.
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I don't like the black wheels, so hopefully the traditional 5 spoke silver AMG wheels are offered. The front wheel drive proportions let down the styling a bit, but I like the back end a lot on this car. Under $50k for an AMG car is nice also, 0-60 in 4.5 seconds was M5 territory a few years ago, even now that isn't far off from a Corvette or 911.
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The best thing is that Cadillac now has a car sized and prices like a 3-series and a car sized and priced like a 5-series, although the CTS is sized more like a Jag XF. They have needed this for years and the CTS trying to split the gap wasn't working. I don't know if making it bigger was the right move (but maybe it will be) the new CTS is about STS size, and will likely be priced like the STS. The STS-DTS duo didn't work, that is why they are both gone, Cadillac is recreating that in a way here, but this car is executed better than the STS. Lexus is who needs to worry, that GS is terrible, and the Infiniti M looks like a gawdy Maxima. The Germans will be fine.
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The CTS's interior dimensions as far as head, shoulder, leg room are with in an inch of the XTS, XTS wins most of the categories. The big difference is the XTS has 5 inches more rear seat leg room, I am surprised it is that much since the CTS has a longer wheelbase. Overall this new car looks way better than the current, I liked the first CTS, the 2nd gen looked fat and bulky, this one has sleek proportions back. It will be interesting to see how it sells and what happens to XTS sales.
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Boring, looks like a Crysler 200. Still less powerful than a Sonata and not as fuel efficient. If the Regal were priced like a Malibu it would be a good buy, but it costs too much, that is why it doesn't sell.
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The weight is really good, although I'd like to see what a V6 with equipment on it weighs too. Overall I think it is very good, I don't like the headlights or a bland rear end, or the center stack with the Volt-like buttons but all Cadillacs have it now. It is good that they have 8 interior colors. The 8-speed should be on every engine, but maybe next year. They need a diesel too. Interesting that it is 4.2 inches longer and only 1.2 inch longer wheelbase, it should be the reverse. The new CTS is Hyundai Genesis length, that is pretty big, if it has Genesis level interior room it will have more than the XTS.
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I do think the Impala is the best big Epsilon 2. I think it looks the best is the best value, and has a well laid out interior. The Impala is better executed than the LaCrosse or XTS, the Impala just nails the sweet spot of the segment it is in, where as a car like the XTS is a bit of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole and you can tell it is a stop gap product.
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The wheels look sort of like jet turbines, that is cool. That was the one good thing the Saab 9-5 that was on sale for a year had.
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It is better than any of the god awful products Lexus has put out lately. In the USA it will outsell the A6 because that car though good just doesn't seem to sell here. But after seeing it all, I still think the 5-series and E-class remain on top, and some may have sticker shock when they price this car, it might cost more than the XTS.
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From the A pillar to the C pillar it is very Mercedes E-class, just as the ATS is very C-class from the side and greenhouse. I like that part on both because I like Mercedes. The back end looks too much like the XTS, it just comes off bland, it isn't bad, but isn't great. The grille isn't Audi big, but it bigger than I like, and the headlights are my complaint. I don't like the headlight that sweep back so far or the big LED bar, I have the same complaint on the ATS. If this car had the original CTS headlight shape I'd like it a lot more. I am not sure what I think of the interior, I don't like brown seats in any car, so I'd have to see this in another color, like beige.
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Vertical grille makes it look like a Lincoln or Buick, which is bad. Horizontal grills look more like Mercedes, which is better. The teaser pic has horizontal bars and the other pic show vertical, odd. I will say the Genesis and Equus need to develop some Hyundai styling or something of their own, and not just copy other luxo cars.
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I think it is a good update, the front looks better now and I am generally not a Lacrosse fan. The trim upgrades on the interior are needed because I think the new Impala's interior is very we'll done and Buick needs to keep up. The back end does look a bit Hyundai Equus but I like it more than the current car.
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I think it would be cool if their LED lights were in the shape of a V similar to the old logo. They could also do a wreath in a circle which would give it a bit of a BMW look, but I'd like to see this shape, minus the "16" as their LEDs. That vertical bar you can find on a Ford Edge, boring. E350 Bluetec is gone for 2014, the E250 Bluetec will take it's place. 195 hp, 369 lb-ft, that will probably push 40 mpg. There is an E-class hybrid too, but that seems pointless.
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Well, it is going to be better than the XTS, so at least that is a plus. But I don't think it is knocking the E-class of it's throne any time soon. The E-class only as 1 more year of the 4.7 liter V8, in 2015 it will be gone, which is what the market is going towards, but it will be sad to see it go.
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I am not a fan, the rear looks too much like the XTS (which has boring trunk design) and the front looks too much like the ATS, which I think is the weak point of the ATS. The XTS has a strong front end and ATS strong from side profile, yet they didn't use those. I wish they did this car with sharper angles like the original CTS and without the headlights that go halfway to the windshield. I have a feeling this car will come off a bit tacky looking in GM's effort to make things look bold or expensive, they tend to over bling it and then you get a design that gets dated in a hurry. I'm curious to see the whole thing when they release it but I don't think this car is beating the Germans, it is will probably outsell the A6 and Infiniti M (or Q-whatever) and Lexus GS, but those 3 have been getting whipped by the E-class and 5-series since they day they were born.
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They don't have much time, Lexus had an 8-speed transmission in 2007, Hyundai even has their own in house built 8-speed. When Cadillac first got 5-speed autos in the CTS and STS the other guys went to 6, when Cadillac got 6-speeds, Mercedes, Infiniti, Lexus, BMW starting using 7 or 8. If the ATS gets an 8-speed on the 2017 refresh, BMW will probably be on a 10-speed by then.
