Next-Gen CTS: See it in Jan, Buy it in July

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
  • 126 comments
  • 5,176 views
I've seen Caddie's in showrom's, I can't recall ever seeing one on the streets.
 
live4speed
I've seen Caddie's in showrom's, I can't recall ever seeing one on the streets.
Click to expand...

Unless we're just mistaking them for bogo Vectras (they do look like a Vectra with a funny grill & badge)
 
I'd recognise a CTS if I saw one, I just don't think theres many in the UK.
 
I thought the CTS was not going to be sold in the UK (Hammond's Review in Top Gear said so, things may have changed)...
 
Well, whatever models do go one sale here, Caddillac's have a corporate look, I've never noticed one outside a showroom , I have seen a CTS in a showroom but it may have been imported by the dealer, not Cadillac themselves.
 
well it does look like the 16 and the audi. europe is not what GM should be worrying about. how can they think about expanding when theyre dying here in the US?
 
The funny thing is just as pontiac is getting our vectra slightly redressed were getting the new model in a couple months.
 
Cadillac wants to build an image in the European market so that they can sell cars like the BLS, CTS, STS, etc. I don't think they are going to be incredibly successful, but they could push off a few BLS' while the people come in to look at the Corvette and Z06.

...I'm really not for or against the BLS, its just another good car in another market that won't come to the US. Of course, if the BLS did go on sale here in the US, it would cost nearly as much as a CTS... Not a good pricing situation... I would however like to see the new diesel powerplant that will be under the hood of the BLS come here, if it be under the hood of a Saab or a Cadillac. Diesel sales have increased signifigantly (I want to say 80%) for 2005 and 2006, and a new diesel model in GM's portfolio could make some extra cash that the company needs...
 
More new 2008 CTS spy-shots:

1-apr29-2008-cadillac-cts.jpg


2-apr29-2008-cadillac-cts.jpg


3-apr29-2008-cadillac-cts.jpg


4-apr29-2008-cadillac-cts.jpg


...Photos from Leftlanenews.com
 
It looks decent. I like the current edgy styling, its unique! But they better get rid of those low-grade plastics and hard-as-rock controls if they want CTS to be accepted in Europe.
 
...General Motors North America has allready said that they will not import the BLS to the United States because it will be equally expensive as the CTS, not really and bigger or smaller, and offer the same ammount of equipment.

If you really want a BLS in the US, go buy a Saab 9-3 Aero, it is the same damn car underneath...
 
Who agrees that the angled rear window is stupid? They should've just contoured the window to the roof line.
 
Encyclopedia claims that Cadillac's post-Cien designs look awful. I've been wanting to say something in this thread, just never really came up with anything until now.

I guess what Cadillac has in Europe is the Cadillac BLS. It is a FWD sedan with turbocharged sub-3L engines (actually a choice of a 2.0 4-banger or a 2.8 6-banger). Of course, it has the strong, angular theme of US Cadillacs. And it actually doesn't look as bad. See for yourself: { http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0502/14/A02-89127.htm }.

I take a look at the latest spy shots all to come up with these thoughts: vertically-tall, horizontally thin... typical new-age Cadillacs. I did like the first few pictures in this thread. I actually liked the grill design and even the light design. Cadillac is going to have to think of a design that will highly suit their European subjects. I'm sure their interests are MUCH different from ours here in America. Whereas many of us would dislike a Renault Clio Renault Sport V6 Phase 2 and rather the Dodge Caliber, can Cadillac come up with something to grow a market and even gain a little respect from Euro types? That will be my key storyline on whatever Cadillac comes up with for the European market. Suffice to say, I liked the previous pictures more than these spy shots.

But if they can still generate a likable and respectful Caddy in Europe, I'll take back my usual rants.

And yes... the angled rear window does look stupid, but what do you expect from this company? Sorry if sucking up to Cadillac is against the law.
 
What do you all mean by the rear window? Are you guys talking about the thick C-pillar?

As for the BLS, it looks better than the CTS! You guys in Europe get better things than us :grumpy:
 
And that's sad, GT4_Rule. But then again, this IS America after all. We'd probably be happier with our Escalades and CTS lineups regardless.

Since Cadillac wants to target a "younger audience," the BLS would have been perfect in America.
 
Cadilliac doesn't want to bring over the BLS because it would be another Catera.
 
Why have the BLS? It is EXACTLY the SAME as the Saab 9-3, costs the same as a CTS, and actually performs worse...

There isnt any benefit to having the BLS here, esp. with the new CTS on the way for 2008...
 
But do you think the BLS would make the most attractive Cadillac model people (even of my age range) would like? Not that we're taking away from the BTS or whatever it's called.
 
I doubt the BLS would fair any better in the US market, simply because it is front-wheel drive, based on the same platform that is found underneath the Saab 9-3, Saturn Aura, Pontiac G6, and Chevrolet Malibu. I don't know if you are old enough to remember or even know about the Cadillac Cimarron, which was baisicly a Chevrolet Cavalier rebadged as a Cadillac.

...It was a nightmare for Cadillac, and continues to plague the company to this day. In the US, Cadillac feels the need to seperate itself from the rest of GM as the stand out company which will sell the best cars, use the best technologies, and just be the best through and through. Up untill a few years ago, the only things a Cadillac shared with any other GM product was the Northstar 4.6L V8, 4L60E automatic (any GM vehicle is equipped with a variant), and Magnaride with the Corvette.

The BLS just wouldnt have that special Cadillac feeling to it in which the company desires, and thus the model would never come to the US. If you want a step-up model to the Cadillac plate, the CTS is where most people would start, with prices starting a few ticks below $30K. But even then, if they arent youthful enough, I would go with a Saab, as Cadillac did with the BLS.
 
YSSMAN
Why have the BLS? It is EXACTLY the SAME as the Saab 9-3, costs the same as a CTS, and actually performs worse...

There isnt any benefit to having the BLS here, esp. with the new CTS on the way for 2008...
Click to expand...

Looks better then a 9-3 though.
 
They both look good, but I would probably go with the 9-3 Aero by days end.
 
Why don't they design the new CTS like the BLS right now? I certainly like the looks of the BLS better than anything else. Pity they won't bring it to US.

I do know about Cimarron, it looks horrible.
 
YSSMAN
They both look good, but I would probably go with the 9-3 Aero by days end.
Click to expand...

+1 The 93 and 95 Aero's look fantastic...and are the only GM interiors I really like. Gotta love Swedish people...first Saab, then Volvo, then Koenigsegg. woot 👍
 
It is sad how horrible of a reputation Saab has recieved over the years after the GM takeover. I still generally like their cars quite a bit, as they have maintained some of their quirky Saab traits that people love about their cars. My only complaint is that they have ditched the hatchbacks, and they are pretty expensive even without any options.

I still love 'em, esp. the 9-3.
 
I like their designs. But yeah, their price horrifies some people. And they seem to be obsessed with 4-bangers and 6-bangers with turbo. Better if they can make a V8, matches the image in some cars, like 9-5. Doesn't sound right to have a turbocharged Inline-6 in a $40,000 car.
 
Cadillac’s CLK Killer?
CTS-based coupe may be headed for dealerships by 2008

By JENS MEINERS

AutoWeek | Published 05/09/06, 11:59 am et


Cadillac plans to re-enter the coupe segment with a powerfully styled CTS-based two-door, possibly by 2008 as a 2009 model.

Cadillac had hoped to keep a lid on the project, which was pushed back because of General Motors’ financial situation. The program has not been officially approved, but work is well under way—and “Bob Lutz really wants it,” sources familiar with the project tell AutoWeek. “The biggest problem for this car is GM has other, more urgent business to take care of right now.”

Insiders describe the coupe as a “bold and elegant” design statement. “This car is a new and powerful interpretation of the two-door coupe theme,” one source says.

The coupe wears now-familiar Cadillac design cues—a big, V-shaped grille, a high, wedge-shaped beltline and vertical taillights on a short trunk.

Cadillac’s coupe will be based on the upcoming, second-generation CTS sedan, which was partially unveiled April 2 by GM vice chairman Lutz on the CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes. On the

program Lutz pulled back a car cover revealing a dramatic Cadillac grille and headlight cluster, along with a taillight, but stopped short of showing the rest of the car. Now that our spies have snapped these photographs of the actual next-generation CTS in testing, it is obvious the car Lutz showed on 60 Minutes was the 2008 CTS.

The Cadillac coupe will share its platform, front end and fender styling with the CTS, along with some other sheetmetal, to help Cadillac keep down the cost of the coupe. The coupe could come to market following the 2007 launch of the next-generation CTS sedan.

The same V6 engines offered in the CTS will power the coupe, but a V-Series coupe with a 400-hp-plus Northstar V8 under the hood is likely as well. Cadillac also is mulling over a convertible version. “It would add cost, but convertibles are where the volume is generated in this segment,” says a source.

The shrinking coupe market could be a worry for Cadillac. Main contenders include the Mercedes-Benz CLK, BMW 3 Series coupe, Infiniti G35 coupe and the upcoming Audi A5, a 2008 model year coupe based on the next-gen A4. Cadillac’s problem: Its new coupe will be significantly larger than the CLK, 3 Series and G35, raising questions of pricing and market positioning against larger and more luxurious coupes like the A5 and BMW 6 Series.

An insider estimates volumes of 25,000 to 30,000 cars annually. “They don’t know whether that is enough,” the source says. “It is a difficult market, with high initial volumes that tend to drop sharply after 18 months or so.”

While the CTS-based coupe could be developed quickly, there is speculation of a larger coupe with a V12 engine that carries design cues of the Cadillac Sixteen concept car and could be sold in the $75,000 range.

“The new vehicle is definitely a Cadillac,” an insider says. “There is a lot of enthusiasm for it within the company.” GM can probably expect that enthusiasm to extend to fans of the marque who appreciate its history.

Cadillac has a rich heritage of high-class coupes, including the 400-hp, 500-cid Eldorado of the early 1970s, and the Pininfarina-styled and built Allante convertible of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Cadillac’s last coupe was the Seville-based Eldorado Touring Coupe that ceased production in 2003.
Click to expand...

Nice
 

Latest Posts

Back