Drew Dowdell

SPIED: '12 GMC Terrain Denali - NO Camo! It looks like GM was hoping to hide this 2012 Terrain Denali in plain view today, roaming around Detroit with NO camouflage at all! Once the engineer behind the wheels saw our camera, however, he made a quick get-away! Up front, it's very easy to see the Denali-style grille. Though we're pretty sure that grille will be chrome once this vehicle starts production. In back, we can see a new square, chrome exhaust tip. Along the rocker panels, we can see exposed fastener holes where we assume some Denali-specific trim will eventually be installed. Bright finish, Denali wheels should also on the list. Photo Credit: Chris Doane/Brenda Priddy & Company

If the instructions from Ford say 258 ft-lb, then that's what you should do. I found that when Ford calls for specific torque, they mean that specific torque... no more, no less.

Last day with this monster. Any final requests?

I can't imagine anything that might have swayed your mind recently....

Are you watching TopGear?!? There is NO love for Opel or Vauxhaul with the exception of "Oliver" and Holden rebadges. Only the OPC seems to be getting true Opel respect... and thats a very recent development. Agreed. Clarkson's writers already have a book and a half XTS jokes written. I'm not saying that top gear respects Opel. I'm saying that there is an under lying respect for the Omega, not Opels in general, in the EU.

Cadillac needs to make their lineup in the US so good (including diesels) that Jeremy Clarkson is blasting them on Top Gear for not selling them in the EU.

Worldwide, you mean. We haven't seen one here since 2000, I think. I was referring to the EU. I don't know about the case in the rest of the world

I think you missed my point. Why send the ATS or CTS? The Euros won't by those either. No, I got your point (even the unspoken part about diesels). My point is that the CTS and the ATS (I'm confident), are legitimate competitors. The XTS is not. Even with diesels, they won't sell. As I've said before, the cars could be powered by Jesus on a pogo stick and the Cadillacs will. not. sell. Everyone here needs to remember, the current CTS actually did go on sale in the EU prior to GM's bankruptcy. It went over like burnt schnitzel. The Euros are substantially more brand conscious and unthinkably more brand-country-of-origin conscious than we are in the US. It's why the Opel Antara would sell but the Chevy Captiva doesn't. Just a quick glance on some German used car websites and I'm finding undamaged 2008 CTS 3.6 liters with 20,000 miles for 10,000€ while 335is with more miles start around 17,500€ GM would actually probably be better off badging them as some sort of luxury Opel rather than Cadillac. There is an unusual amount of respect for the Omega over there. The ATS could be the new Omega.

I think you missed my point. Why send the ATS or CTS? The Euros won't by those either.

You've driven it already then? No need. Simply knowing what it is tells me that it is very wrong for Europe. I hope you'll have your review of the car finished in time to publish it before it's released. C'mon Drew, it's a big, FWD, American sedan - do you honestly think it has a market over there? I don't think ANY American car has a market over there... ATS, CTS, DTS, XTS, MKS......wait, got a little carried away there. Cadillac could fuel it with bratwurst and the Germans still won't buy it. Cadillac could fuel it with cheese and the French still won't buy it. Cadillac could fuel it with junk bonds and the Greeks still won't buy it. They DON'T buy the Camaro. They hardly bought the Chrysler 300 even with a diesel. If there is any American car you see over there more than others it's wretched Chrysler Minivans, Oldsmobile Silhouettes badged as Pontiacs/Opels, and the oddball B-body wagon probably imported by an American military person.

I see the new Chevies are in early this year.

You've driven it already then? No need. Simply knowing what it is tells me that it is very wrong for Europe. I hope you'll have your review of the car finished in time to publish it before it's released.

have fun

Unless you elaborate on your reasoning, I think your theory on needing a full generation of the two entry sedans is arbitrary and capricious. Also, I don't care what AUDI is doing. They aren't the goal. You gotta determine your competition and do one better. Cadillac has clearly set the crosshairs on MB and BMW, so that's what they need to focus on and then do one better: RWD high-end vehicles with plenty of performance. FWD doesn't do performance. It can perform well (relatively), but it still ain't performance. This too. Here is my elaborate reasoning: It's a waste of time and money to try and change the minds of the Europeans in the S-class range until the bread and butter C-Class and E-class range is doing better. The Germans and French are a stubborn lot.

You've driven it already then?

I think Cadillac will need at least a full generation of both the CTS and ATS selling well in the EU before they should bother with a top end sedan. The XTS can be a filler in the meantime and it will hold the place till the ZTS-whatever comes out. Remember, the Whitacre Caddy is supposed to bow in 2014. Edit: Remember, all of the Audis sell with FWD as standard.... this is the first year the A8 is not available in just front drive, even the A7 comes with front track standard.

I think they need to start at the bottom and work their way up. Offer a BMW busting diesel ATS and CTS first. Let them wet their whistle on those. Um, no. With all due respect, launching Cadillac from the low-end up will make it just that much harder for Europe to take it seriously on the same level of BMW and Mercedes. Cadillacs are jokes to Europeans, and quite frankly they need to put their best foot forward. No SAAB-based BTS. Joke. Stick to the premium. Hell, sell them the Chinese SLS. In fact, sell that $h! HERE. But Cadillac needs to re-launch in Europe with both fists swinging, not with their hands tied behind their figurative back. Cadillac needs to be seen by the most eyes possible in Europe. That means they need to get the butts of as many mid-level execs who get company cars (a very common occurrence in EU) into seats. Mid-level execs don't get S-classes. They get A3s, A4s, 320di, and C-classes... almost always in diesels. Cadillac selling 12 S-Class level cars in the EU isn't the way to gain visibility there..... though I suppose they could whore them out to the Taxi-cab fleet like Mercedes has.

Putting out a diesel is not difficult. Putting out a class leading diesel is. But... just dropping in the Opel 2.0 CDTI Bi-turbo engine is a start. 190hp @ 4000 rpm, 300 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm is "good enough", especially for the ATS. They do need a Diesel V6 though... something that has been missing since the Opel Signum got axed a few years back. They really needed that 2.9 liter they developed for the '08 CTS but never deployed.

So lets give the aging baby boomers a car that can blow away the Avalon and Lexus. Fixed.... and I don't mean in acceleration specifically.

I think they need to start at the bottom and work their way up. Offer a BMW busting diesel ATS and CTS first. Let them wet their whistle on those.

Don't bother until there is a diesel available.

Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition. It's a gasoline engine that works like a diesel (not using spark) under certain conditions. Direct injection is required for it to operate correctly. Provides very high fuel economy numbers, but so far has issues with NHV when "shifting" modes.

soo... about that LT-1?

To be fair. Ricky Martin has a fairly busy touring schedule.