Future of Car Industry

[homeforsummer]

Seeing that Volt concept up there has reminded me how I actually prefer the look of the production car. There are some nice details on the concept but it's really poorly proportioned.

 

[YSSMAN]

They need to sell a few XTSs before they do anything. I predict only marginal success for that car. It seems like an RL competitor to me. What is it supposed to compete with again? Definitely not the 5-series or E-class, and definitely not anything bigger.

Technically, the CTS is supposed to be 5-series and E-Class competitor. The ATS is going after the 3-series and C-Class. Cadillac has made it pretty clear that the XTS isn't supposed to compete with the German alternatives. They don't want to go after something like that quite yet. The XTS is pretty much meant to get the STS and DTS sales they would have already had, both in the US and their biggest emerging market, China.

With the platform reportedly underpinning the Impala replacement, it'll be profitable. Its only a matter of time before we get a proper halo car at Cadillac. I guess I'd rather wait and have it done right, like the ATS, instead of having it tomorrow.

 

[plate88]

Well, if GM builds this...

I'd say the hopes for a small, rear-drive sports car are still alive. I'm still hoping for Ford to contribute eventually...

Chances are they wouldn't if it had any chance of stealing sales away from the Mustang.

Ford already tried this in the late 80's to early 90's, but it was a sporty front wheel drive. Anyone remember what car it was? The Probe. Ya, the Probe was supposed to replace the Mustang, but the Pony crowd let their disapproval be known to Ford. I think Ford learned their lesson once already.

As far as the new cars, I like them. Many cars are packed with features that are now standard when they used to be extra cost options. The big three are finally making some decent cars that people want. Only thing I don't care for is they are getting to be a real pain in the arse to work on.

 

[homeforsummer]

Only thing I don't care for is they are getting to be a real pain in the arse to work on.

While I agree with the sentiment, it's worth remembering that cars these days are vastly more reliable than they used to be. So working on them really isn't as important. Okay, it's a git if you like tinkering and modifying, but servicing is less of an issue.

I think people occasionally forget the days back in the 1980s or earlier, when some days the car just wouldn't start. So you'd shrug it off, and find another way to work/school/whatever. Can you imagine that today? Getting down to your car and it just churning over and not firing? Just doesn't happen any more.

Unless you have an older car already, of course.

 

[plate88]

While I agree with the sentiment, it's worth remembering that cars these days are vastly more reliable than they used to be. So working on them really isn't as important. Okay, it's a git if you like tinkering and modifying, but servicing is less of an issue.

Very true. Some simple tasks are a bit harder than need be sometimes. But yes, reliability is leaps ahead of what it used to be. Trying to start a carbed engine on really cold morning was always fun.