Drew Dowdell

easier to grow a small platform than to shrink a large one.

let them try the coupe here first, it's an easier sell to Americans than a wagon.

The last time I saw Bob Lutz, he looked rather frail.

I wish these could be more mainstream price.

Great base price

That Mercedes engine was also much newer.

Well the instant may have been right for your downhill test. Modern fuel injected cars shut the fuel off down to a tiny trickle when the car is in such a state.

Eldorado was FWD for most of the nameplate's life, just saying....

'79 Custom Cruiser + '80 Ninety Eight + 80s Seville + 80s Eldorado

Wow! Someone got a raise this year!

I think we need to stop and ask ourselves what Cadillac's mission in this segment will be. Will a Cadillac flagship be competing with a Porsche Whalamera? Maserati anything? Aston Martin? I think the answer there is a quite firm "NO". I envision the Cadillac as being a 7-series or S-Class competitor but with a distinctly American flare and warmer interior visually. It should of course have sufficient power for the price, but having an outrageous engine note would actually be a detractor. The best way I can describe my idea is an "American Rolls Royce at an obtainable price". Leave the baddassery to the V-series. If the purchaser of this Cadillac needs to get there in a hurry, they call for their helicopter. The only thing that held the 3900 back was the 4-speed auto it was always paired with. I would really be interested in driving a G6 with the 3900 and a manual.

Upload the pics to the Garage here.

Oh right, because I just read how Maserati is dropping the Ferrari engine from the Quattroporte in favor of a 6.0 liter V8 from a Chevy Silverado. You know what would be just HE-LAR-E-US!? If Maserati dropped the Ferrari engine from the Quattroporte in favor of the 6.3 Hemi from the 300C-SRT8. It would be an upgrade in both power (+25hp and +100 lb-ft) and fuel economy, but it would also be less expensive for them to repair under warranty when it breaks down. It would also make parent company Fiat happy to be getting more ROI out of the 6.3. But it wouldn't make orgasmic noises any more: A high-revving, multi-valve V8 is the whole point of a Maserati, not a torquey and grumbly muscle car engine--not that there's anything wrong with that. It just doesn't fit the character of an Italian supercar. Exactly right and which is exactly true in opposite for Cadillac. Cadillac, in non-V models, is all about the silent woosh of torque. That said, there doesn't have to be anything grumbly about a pushrod V8, that is just exhaust tuning and nothing more.

VVT is from like 10 years ago, and DI was on 2006 model year cars. Everyone else already has that in the segment, Cadillac arriving in 2015 with it isn't going to give them any advantage whatsoever. And there is a reason to make a unique power plant, so that your $80-100,000 Cadillac doesn't have the same engine as a $30,000 Camaro or Silverado. Cadillac hasn't had success selling a high end car in over 50 years. They have to do something to attract buyers. Pushrod V8s are already more than competitive (as in completely out performing) over DOHC engines. The CTS-V V8 out powers the BMW V10 by a LOT and the BMW 550i isn't even close in power. DI and VVT being added to the 5.5 will put it even further in front of the pack. The very last thing Cadillac needs to do to attract buyers is blend into the crowd. Just "doing what everyone else is doing" won't work because then.... why buy a Cadillac? Cadillac must be both unique and true to itself. There is a lot more to an engine than how the valves are actuated, as long as Cadillac's engine can continue to outperform the imports, that won't be the thing that holds Cadillac back.

Oh right, because I just read how Maserati is dropping the Ferrari engine from the Quattroporte in favor of a 6.0 liter V8 from a Chevy Silverado. You know what would be just HE-LAR-E-US!? If Maserati dropped the Ferrari engine from the Quattroporte in favor of the 6.3 Hemi from the 300C-SRT8. It would be an upgrade in both power (+25hp and +100 lb-ft) and fuel economy, but it would also be less expensive for them to repair under warranty when it breaks down. It would also make parent company Fiat happy to be getting more ROI out of the 6.3.

Turbo a pushrod for a Cadillac? It works for the last dinosaur that Bentley makes, but in the segment Cadillac is going after I don't think it will. Look at what the competition has, and also consider the move toward fuel efficiency in this class. They could do without the V12, since there are very few of those. But, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Maserati, Mercedes, Porsche all do a DOHC V8, even Hyundai if you want to throw in the Equus at the low end. I don't want a European car, I want an American car. The 5.5 V8 is going to be the most advanced pushrod ever. It will have VVT and DI and I have no doubts about its power capability or its smoothness. I am more firm in this than ever after my time behind the wheel of the CTS-V. It can be a tame pussycat when cruising or a while beast when you trash at it. It is very smooth with just a pinch of American muscle car feel. There is no reason to engineer a separate power plant for the Omega Cadillac other than equipping it with a turbo. Edit: and if fuel economy is a concern, that is just ANOTHER reason to go pushrod over DOHC.

Turbo the coming 5.5 as a base engine.

One of the most distinct and attractive entry lux sedans available in Europe. Sad to see it go.

The only SMART that was ever interesting to me was the SMART Roadster.

Chevy keeps up its sales increases bringing back "heartbeat of America" could be quite justifiable.

I don't see why any of that is bad. GM has their mainstream cars competitive now. And by competitive, I mean the Cruze is kicking butt and taking names, Lacrosse and Regal are selling well and getting good press. The next Malibu, once we know pricing, will likely do very well in the market. Even the current Malibu has held up well given it's age. There is no reason why GM can't do both mainstream AND niche diesel hatchbacks.

the latest Chevy commercials about "running deep" are pretty good though.... just like GM to cancel it just when they get it right

that is a vast improvement on the look of the Volare

I think the best you can do is file a police report, call animal control to file a complaint, and go to small claims court for the vet bill.

The man who can't stay retired.