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Cadillac Says It Now Has To Have A Mini Competitor

Agent009 submitted on 1/11/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 1:52:25 PM

44 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.businessweek.com

Want a clear sign that the '80s are coming back? Even luxury cars may be getting downsized.

Take General Motors (GM). Right now, the company's designers and product planners are toying with a project called the micro-premium car. If GM builds such a pint-sized, top-shelf car, it would face off against the likes of the Mini Cooper, the BMW 1-series, and the Audi A3.

Throw in the fact that GM, Ford Motor (F), and others are using smaller engines in their luxury cars, and it's clear that the newly approved fuel economy rules and $100-a-barrel oil are making a deep impact on how Americans will drive, even rich Americans.

"They're doing the right thing," says John Wolkonowicz, analyst with Waltham (Mass.)-based Global Insight. "It's in keeping with the new reality."

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Cadillac Says It Now Has To Have A Mini Competitor

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I think your crack pipe just went out.
— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 2:16:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 10

3rd rate? So that would make BMW/Mercedes/audi 3rd rate as well?
— Obliv (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 2:28:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

the agents need to get rid of you already...your annoying and have no logical sense of what this board is about and fail to represent it.

go outside and play in some traffic...hopefully you'll see how well crafted a cadillac is then.
— r15mohd (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 2:34:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 11

Bad Idea. The CTS is brilliant but they don't need another Cimmaron.
— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 2:07:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Caddilac is doing the best now. why change??
— pacotacolol (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 3:40:22 PM | | Votes: 1

The problem with Cimmaron was that it was rebadged Cavalier (plus leather ooo...). I think GM understands that screw up all to well. It had nothing to do with the size of the vehicle.
— exgmer (View Profile)

Posted on 1/12/2008 12:26:36 AM | | Votes: 3

as long as its rwd, they can do no wrong. i know we struggle to imagine a good small caddy, but this is 2008, and if they make it more in line with the 1-series and a3 rather than the mini, it has a chance.
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 2:33:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

The CTS (in all of its proposed variants: coupe/wagon/cabio) are as 'entry level as Cadillac should contemplate venturing.

End Of Story!
— DaHarder (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 2:34:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

to stay true to their game, yes.
— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 3:50:43 PM | | Votes: 1

Furthermore, Cadillac is no where in the same global position as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Even Lexus does better than Cadillac in Europe. And you know that ain't saying much.
— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 5:00:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

i thought that there were only annoying lexus fanboys but i guess i was wrong
— chris760 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 8:29:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Bad idea for Caddy. Remember the Catera...
— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 3:20:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

the catera became the cts
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 3:21:28 PM | | Votes: 4

As a matter of FACT, CTS actually stands for:

CATERA TOURING SEDAN

Note:

STS = Seville Touring Sedan

DTS = DeVille Touring Sedan
— DaHarder (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 3:56:58 PM | | Votes: 6

yea, but it doesnt mean it was a good seller...
— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 5:29:11 PM | | Votes: -4

And the Catera was basically an Omega.
— lewishamiltonpimp (View Profile)

Posted on 1/12/2008 7:28:15 AM | | Votes: 2

they can pull a saab, and re-work a wrx. that would be sick.
— DROOPYSAKK (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 3:32:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Not if it retains one single line, curve, window, scoop, wheel, door handle, radio button, head lamp, and on and on...

From the Aesthetic Abomination that is the Subaru WRX!
— DaHarder (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 4:04:32 PM | | Votes: 3

they don't own scoobie anymore though.
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 4:12:03 PM | | Votes: 2

I think it would be a good idea for Infiniti to get into this game too. They could undercut the 1-series on price. A turbo 4 (SR20DET) would be a reliable, powerful engine. Basically a TSX (or slightly smaller, maybe just a coupe) but RWD and with the now-recognizable and attractive Infiniti styling.
— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 3:43:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

an infiniti 240sx?
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 4:12:53 PM | | Votes: 2

I think its a bad idea for Cadillac. The European luxury brands can get away with those micro cars because they aren't considered strictly luxury brands in Europe. They are full-line automakers with a lot of entry level models that don't make it to the states. Cadillac is a luxury brand.

There is absolutely nothing luxurious about a small car. Luxury requires size for a comfortable interior and a suitably imposing exterior.
— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 4:00:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

BMW knew this all too well, which is why, with the exception of owning/developing the Mini line, the vehicle shares nothing with any of its BMW brethren...

Most Notably - The BMW Brand Name

Additionally: Cadillac is not in the same position as BMW was, in having an highly regarded nameplate (Mini Cooper) to place on its mini car.
— DaHarder (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 4:09:44 PM | | Votes: 3

"There is absolutely nothing luxurious about a small car. Luxury requires size for a comfortable interior and a suitably imposing exterior."

Your handle says it all. You have a very American mindset... tunnel vision. You can't see past the size of the car, and look at the features it will most likely have.

For instance, my A3 is certainly a luxury car. It's very fast, has a top-notch interior, a good sound system, a double sunroof, xenons, heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, 17" rims, an advanced dual-clutch transmission... I could go on. The same is true of the BMW 1 Series. Just because they're small, it doesn't mean they're not premium.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/12/2008 11:25:26 PM | | Votes: 1

If anything it doesn't even sound right, I'm going down to a Cadillac dealer to look at a mini? I wish these people would just improve on the cars they have and stop trying to be everything to everybody???
— chuck717 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 4:41:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I really wouldn't take this thread's headline as much more than internet/blog sensationalism...
— DaHarder (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 5:01:01 PM | | Votes: 3

If GM thinks a small mini-type car is what they need to compete, why can't it be badged as a Chevy or a Saturn? If it's a really good world-class car, you don't need the Cadillac name to sell it. No matter how good it turns out, a car this small can't do anything positive for Cadillac as a brand.
— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2008 6:27:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

I think they're thinking of developing a PREMIUM smaller luxury car (e.g. not a Chevy)...
Why should the Cadillac brand only compete in the 2 ton and above categories?
— AgentOrange (View Profile)

Posted on 1/12/2008 11:28:04 AM | | Votes: 3

In general, I think smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient cars is a good idea..
Finding alternative power sources to OIL would be even a better idea.
— AgentOrange (View Profile)

Posted on 1/12/2008 11:25:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

whats the name
— c36amg (View Profile)

Posted on 1/12/2008 12:09:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Snoop Doggie Doooo-oooog..... ?
— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 1/12/2008 5:43:48 PM | | Votes: 1

What about the BLS ?
— alsarea3 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2008 7:28:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

My mother had a Cimmaron and with the fairly powerful V6 it was kind of fun to drive.
— BMW995 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2008 11:53:04 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

For those that don't think Cadillac should produce a luxury mini-sized car...What if we have an oil supply crises with $4.50, $5.00+/gal gasoline? It will make a lot of sense then.
— BMW995 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2008 11:56:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

it's on the way (the crisis)
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2008 4:43:17 PM | | Votes: 1

Why? We don't need more speedbumps on our roads.

I suppose if they do want to go downmarket with the Germans, then rebadge the Solstice. It's not like the Mini and 1 series are true 4 seaters anyway.

I'd rather see a smaller engine in the CTS.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2008 2:08:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Better yet, make a CTS-hybrid using the 2.4L Ecotec. Less gas, less emissions, about 4x the space.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2008 2:10:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Cadillac Says It Now Has To Have A Mini Competitor

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