More evidence supporting a flagship Cadillac
We like to listen to GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, because he has more experience than just about anybody else in the industry, and because he likes to spill the beans on new product for the General. Blogger Bob confirmed a V12 flagship for the Cadillac brand, and now GM Global Engineering boss Jim Queen is confirming at least the need for a more upscale Caddy.
Queen hit the nail on the head when he told Just-Auto that Cadillac needs a high-end product that's "not yet in the portfolio." Many believe Cadillac will have trouble convincing customers that it is a premium luxury brand until it has an answer for the Mercedes S-Class and Lexus LS, and from Queen's statements, it sounds like he'd like to rectify that situation.
The Cadillac Sixteen was such a revolutionary concept that we feel GM would be crazy not to derive some form of production car from it.. With an available RWD chassis (Zeta) mated to two 3.6L V6 engines on a common crankshaft, GM already has some of the most expensive parts in place. All the General needs to do next is build some very Sixteen-like skin to cover it. Besides, what are we worrying about anyway? Bob said it shall be, and so it shall be done.
[Source: Just-Auto]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Guenther 8:40AM (4/18/2007)
Bob also said recently that the US bound Zeta's might be put on hold. What can you believe anymore?
Reply
D 8:56AM (4/18/2007)
Bob is My hero! He fly's into work on his own private chopper and he has also been know to fly around in his private Mig fighter Jet. I wish he would adopt me :)
Reply
bmoredlj 9:00AM (4/18/2007)
Lutz is a little crazy, but I respect him making stands he feels he believes in. However, Cadillac can't fully reclaim their title "standard of the world" unless they have a flagship sedan. It's just that such models don't sell in the hundreds of thousands and GM can't afford to develop big cars, nice as they are, that will subsequently fail CAFE standards. It's smart to hold off until they know more.
Reply
dan 10:06AM (4/18/2007)
bob, if you read this: yes, build it. But engine, shape, and build quality are what this car needs. Don't stretch to unavailable tech if it may prevent the car from happening. It's more important that it look JUST like the sixteen than that it have class-leading (or even comparable!) rear seat space, mpg, isolation, etc. leave that to lexus if you can't beat it for the right price. you'll be selling to 300c buyers with a little more cash, and maybe a couple of s-classers, but you won't be stealing LS430 buyers.
Reply
mark 9:26AM (4/18/2007)
Another ho-hum V12 to compete with the Euros will add little to Caddillac's prestige. Let's have the 16, please.
Reply
Dave 10:49AM (4/18/2007)
Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!
There is a market for this vehicle. And GM has the technology in the pipeline to address CAFE.
Not to mention that the profit margin on vehicles like this are sufficient to pay for the CAFE penalties.
Reply
Tal 9:42AM (4/18/2007)
Build it but build it right GM, inside and out. Do not rush it to show rooms just to say, "We have one too."
You have a tremendous amount of proven competition to equal or better.They are building them right...especially Lexus.
Being in the ball park won't cut it.
We need an American leader.
Reply
Mr. Red 10:05AM (4/18/2007)
That caddy looks a bit sexxy, does this mean it won't be considered a ghetto ride anymore..
http://www.burnedbytheman.com
Reply
mr.ed 10:09AM (4/18/2007)
The new money's gone elsewhere. The old money wouldn't look at this brand anymore.
Reply
frondeur 11:15AM (4/18/2007)
Right! Thats why Cadillac can't compete against Lexus, because it doesn't have a big flagship! It has nothing to do with the shoddy materials, poor build quality or the atrocious customer service.
Why does GM always do this? Single out a single defect in their strategy, and try to fix it with a new model? If they would concentrate on becoming a world leader instead of a follower of Lexus maybe that would help more than a big, inefficient RWD sedan.
Reply
Tagg 11:24AM (4/18/2007)
Cadillac doesn't need this car, at least right now. They should use some of that cash to build a relevant DTS/Deville that the under 60 crowd would want. It looks great but in my opinion I think it would fit better as a DTS.
Reply
Tagg 11:25AM (4/18/2007)
Just a side note:
I can't stand Lutz! He is a great product guy but a poor business man. He managed to steer Exide right into the ground and if got control of a car company the same thing would happen. He is innovative and can play a hand in great looking cars like he has done at GM but I wouldn't and don't trust him to manage a company. He is just too abrasive and contridicts himself with about ever other sentence that comes out of his mouth because its as much about him as it is about GM and their products.
Reply
Rastus 11:33AM (4/18/2007)
Two words:
Stinking Trash!!!
Reply
F451 11:47AM (4/19/2007)
I am not a Lutz fan, but the Sixteen is a beautiful automobile. If they are going to build it, I hope they do not make a Twelve as the Sixteen was what it was meant to be.
Reply
Don 2:15PM (4/18/2007)
How can you NOT like Lutz? He's intent on taking it to the foreign competition.
Reply
Jason 5:46PM (4/18/2007)
Bob can't be believed. He is full of crap. We have been promised this Caddy for years and years. It's a waste at this point and I do not appreciate being strung along as a fool. Are we that stupid to forget we were already promised this car? I have a brain and I use it. But see... GM believes the American public doesn't remember what was said four years ago. I will never buy a car from a company who takes me as a fool. Grow up GM.
Reply
Mike 3:02PM (4/18/2007)
What a waste of time, money and resources!!!
Reply
Mr. Oak 3:40PM (4/18/2007)
Cadillac doesn't need this car, at least right now. They should use some of that cash to build a relevant DTS/Deville that the under 60 crowd would want.
----------------------------------------------------
So, exactly who do you think is going to buying the majority of these? They're the only ones with the money. Them and the Rich & Famous. You people seem to be forgetting that the Escalade outsells all Audi, BMW and Mercedes SUVs. GM gets this right, it will sell.
Reply
BOB 7:15PM (4/18/2007)
SOMEBODY should remember that Lutz does not own the company, and his power to get the models cleared for production seems largely based on persuation in the public forum.
Hence the BS like showing new Cads and Buicks for China, where the US bean counters do not have such direct power as they do on domestic models. Likewise, showing the Camaro here, but waiting until it is practically out of style to build it.
I bet a buck that Lutz and the product lines would be far ahead if he had been given the power to make half the executives and half the Board retire.
Reply
HotRodzNKustoms 8:00PM (4/18/2007)
I think in the car bussiness Lutz is the closest thing we have to Jesus I'll point the Pontiac Soltice being the first concept car ever to make it to production virtually unchanged because Bob said "This is how it will be" He has powers beyond that of any other large company executive.
Anyways a Cadillac Sixteen based flagship is a wonderful idea for three reasons. It gets people looking at your product, gives the rest of your lineup more prestige, and it is a high profit margin part of the market.
I believe GM already has two engines that would work, the 7.5 litre Northstar XV12 with 750hp from the Cien concept, and the 13.6 litre V-16 with 1,000hp and dispacement on demand. The LS7 with a "mere" 505hp and the LS2 with a "wimpy" 400hp would make wonderful base motors. Hell, the Top Gear guys were even bowled over by the Sixteen.
Reply