ZL-1

It's not about quality. Cadillacs are simply not adjusted to European market preferences and never were adjusted to those market preferences (size, engine size, and fuel economy being the three major aspects where they don't fit). Of course that it is great that the CTS-V exists and that it (in coupe form IIRC) was considered by readers of a German magazine to be the best import car in Germany, but even with that 5-series sized car in the form of the CTS, Cadillac does not try to challenge the 520d or the E220CDI or the A6 2.0TDI, and those 3 examples are where the sales are over here in the CTS category: 2.0L to 3.0L diesel engines.

GM has a "mechanicals bank", so they go there and and fish for an offer of something each of the major markets depending on what they see as more appropriate for that market. In Europe it means the Cruze and Astra dpon't share engines, in the US it means the Verano gets the 2.4L engine while the Cruze gests the 1.4T. It does not take away anything from the Cruze's "world car" status (more even when the Cruze gets a diesel in the US in a couple of years).

Uh... except the 1.4T is not available in Europe. The Europeans get a 1.6 and a 1.8 NA four, plus a 2.0 Turbodiesel. The 2.0 Turbodiesel is actually the highest performance motor for the Cruze at 150hp / 240 lb-ft Couple of quick comments/clarifications: 1. The 1.4T is sold in over here on the Astra, in manual and automatic versions. Exact same powertrain as the NA Cruze IIRC. 2. The highest power 2.0L diesel is now rated at 163PS (don't remember torque figures). Is there a chance that beside final drive ratio, GM messed up the software somehow losing a few mpg in the process?

The only things I don't like about it are the side vents (people need to stop this everything has a side vent or porthole), the wheels on the pics above (self explanatory IMHO) and the fact that there are too many buttons on the steering wheel (looks like a f###ing Playstation). Hyundai and Kia are putting out some very good work lately.

Weren't Mr. Daimler and Mr. Benz both German and therefore European?

scratch

I saw a shiny black Cadillac DTS in traffic in Seville this week. US-spec car with Spanish plates, as the DTS was never officially imported to Europe.

Don't discount the new A6 just because it comes standard with FWD. It has an aluminum intensive body, longitudinally mounted engine, and 55/45% weight distribution -- a very different animal from Epsilon II. And if the XTS were theoretically to come with a small diesel, it'd share the unit from the 9-5, which just isn't as good as the "world-class" (sorry) A6's. It's less powerful, slower, emits more, and consumes more. Let me add to that, pow, that from what I've read so far the new A6 with FWD handles very well, and with AWD it handles almost (if not as well as) as well as the BMW benchmark. I would not expect the XTS, even with XWD, to be like that; I'd expect its character to be way more soft.

1. About the weight gain being noticeable: is it more noticeable in straight line performance or in turns? 2. Much has been written and said about the interior: How does build/material quality help or detract from the car's appeal?

K9 has to be one of the funniest names ever

Red Dodge Nitro. A rare sight here in Spain

Perish the thought indeed... If it sells well above where GM insteds to push Buick into in terms of average transaction prices, then no problem. If it starts blocking the way for Buick to go upwards a bit, then it's a 'here we go again' scenario. Rememeber that Buick survived in the US because of how well it does in China, and Cadillac's ovreseas sales aren't, to my knowledge, exactly stellar.

Pantera

Bringing the C6 into this discussion shows that you, sir, have an immensely funny sense of humour

Monarch

that was funny. The news re Cadillac means that GM has given up on any significant volume in Europe with Cadillac. What they seem to want is a presence with an embedded option to expand.

Concert My next show is on March 30th 2011 @ Pavilhao Atlantico in Lisbon: Slayer & Megadeth

I wish I could growl so I could barf out Night Eternal by Moonspell

+100000000000000000000000000000

Anything Bon Jovi is overrated. Enter Sandman is not really overrated (perfect stadium concert anthem together with an oldie called 'Seek and Destroy'); Enter Sandman is just overplayed.

Slayer (Sphynx -> Egypt -> Slayer's Seasons In The Abyss video)

Faith No More

Me neither. My reasoning was how well Buick does in China (which is a growth market) versus Cadillac (which essentially remains a NA affair), and how Cadillac has to make up for less volume and a dedicated platform, and making up for those two things means higher transaction prices with higher margins. That said, I think both brands will survive. A 3-brand strategy is not dumb, as long as in the future Cadillac remains distinctive enough.