Say What? After Discontinuing Most Of Their Sedans GM Design Boss NOW Sees A Comeback

Maybe so but nothing kills brand loyalty like exiting the market then reentering down the road. Brand loyalty is built over time with consistent product development and marketing support. Out of the market kills consumer awareness and they move on to other brands. Hard and expensive to recapture.

Very true.

Similar to Toyota & Honda, the luxury brands Audi, BMW, M-B haven't discontinued any of their flagship sedans. The continue to update with the expectation of lower annual volume. The point is, there are consumers that still want sedans. This is the best time to cut the weaker trim & then offer the best versions of the these vehicles that's possible. At least to keep customers aware that the really good options exist.

The Fusion was selling just fine UNTIL Ford said they were pulling the plug on it in three years and everyone thought it was cancelled immediately. Despite the idiocy of Ford, the Fusion still sells acceptably well despite its sales slide.

The Fusion is a very good car and Ford is selling it in other markets. I think it was a mistake to cancel it, especially with the early announcement.

The Fusion and Mondeo will die about the same time. There is no plan to keep it going much longer in Europe. China has the Taurus aka SuperFusion.

There is some speculation that the next Mustang will spawn a "Falcon" for Ford and a Continental coupesedan for Lincoln. Fords need the "Falcon" for a police interceptor. Not all jurisdictions want Exploders and the Charger is doing cop car really well.

Well Said PUGPROUD

Ford dealers are livid and vocal about the no sedan policy.

With the proliferation of various models that has happened- there had to come a time when reducing the number of models would happen. Roof crash standards generally eliminated the "coupe'" - without the middle pillar that provides strength initially, the CUV replaced the station wagon. But think about it. We added low -sloped roof crossovers, along with "fastback" roofs on cars - and worse - upcoming we have all the EVs. When you consider that even in the USA - the average wage earner cannot afford a new car - the current economic bull market simply will eventually lead to a downturn somewhere - it is already happening in Asia.

AS manufacturing moves to low cost countries - the middle class is being extinguished. THe sedan buyers are being slowly eliminated from the buying market. THe need for better aerodynamics in EVs will mean that regular "cars" will be back - and I still believe CUV's are simply raised 4x4 station wagons - that look more like trucks - the market is cyclical - and in emerging markets - it is still a CAR market.

WE are at the beginning of a crossroad - it will take 20 years or so for this to settle out - but sedans will always exist.

So, automakers can market complicated and pricey niche vehicles that sell in minuscule quantities but just because a sedan (where the tooling costs were amortized years ago which negates any discounts offered) doesn't sell in the six figures, it is cancelled.

Crazy!

My dad just got a Cadillac CT6 (traded his XTS) and its a great car and he got a great deal. He can't climb into an SUV so not sure what the next car is going to be. The XTS was great too - not all consumers are Autospies who micro analyze the cars they buy.

Granted the CT6 may not be a money-maker for GM but the XTS (which was one of the most popular Cadillacs) had a loyal customer base and was good for what is was.

In a world of niches, surely there was room for the XTS and the Impala to become evergreen products like the old Lincoln Town Car?

Extremely forgettable.
Overpriced.
Not special at all.

CT6 is a great care for my dad but I would not put it in the "great car overall" category. The XTS was a steady seller and I imagine it was cheap to produce, so it should have stuck around.

Now that Cadillac is out of the sedan business - traditionally luxury sedan customers (i.e. > 55 year old men) will goto Lexus or Toyota. GM just handed Toyota market share and won't be in the market when tastes change again back to sedans.

The big three just needed cover to clean house and reevaluate if they can produce a compelling and competitive offering.

If they could get away with it, they would just import models from China.