Drew Dowdell

isn't this old news?

4 van strategy - Ram CV

It's interesting, GM could end up being in an almost "Crown Victoria" type situation if they are the last ones to keep the old style vans in production. It could mean a very different level of economics for them if people are reluctant to switch.

On the first statement I would agree. It goes beyond the price to image also, a German car has the image of more sophistication (the wine, cheese, and opera crowd), a Cadillac is for old people in Florida or gangsters. Point 2 I am not sure of yet. If GM was so serious, why the front drive vehicles with Chevy underpinnings. GM said they were serious on Cadillac in 2003 when the first CTS came out, and it would be followed by a more rear drivers to fight the Germans, and 8 years later the STS, SRX (rwd) and XLR are in the graveyard. So I remain skeptical that Cadillac is for real serious this time. On the 3rd point, I hope you are correct and Cadillac gets back to the Standard of the World. But as I said, I am not convinced yet. The ATS is step one and it is going after a legend so it better be good. RWD is not the panacea it once was. Quite soon every single major luxury player will have a FWD vehicle for sale. So unless you are implying that BMW, Infiniti, and Mercedes "aren't serious" then you cannot apply that term to Cadillac. You may not like the current SRX, but you have to admit that it is still outselling the German imports at the same price point. There aren't any major incentives going on the SRX for it to move that volume... even with the questionable 3.0 and 2.8T, Cadillac was moving each and every one. Cadillac simplifying the lineup by consolidating onto the 300hp 3.6 instead will only improve the vehicle AND improve the profits for Cadillac. By every single objective measure, Cadillac is outperforming BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Infiniti, and Acura in this segment. People are clearly happy with their purchases or there would be a well stocked inventory of used SRXes out there. There isn't one. At some point SMK, you will have to admit that Cadillac was right and that you were wrong. In the case of the SRX, it is quickly becoming the car for Suburban well-to-dos. The CTS is the same. Nearly every new CTS I see is being driven by a 35-55yo white guy in a tie. And as if sent from heaven, and example of the superior German technology broke down in front of my house this morning. The guys are on the phone waiting for BMW roadside assistance to come pick up the car. I don't know what's wrong with it, but it sounds awful when they try to start it and it won't stay running for more than a minute.