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Automotive News & Views Can GM make Cadillac the standard of the world Again?
6098 messages, Last post on Aug 14, 2009 at 4:43 PM
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Replying to: lykourinou (Jan 11, 2008 11:35 am) To which I would say that is emblematic of what has been a problem with GM - and in particular - Cadillac. By emphasizing "in your face" bling and "crome couture" image they have not appealed to - and have even alienated - a large segment of the market that values "substance". Big wheels and high performance tires are indeed used or available on some European SUV's. But not ususally ones that have the driving dynamics of a Chevy Suburban or Tahoo. And not usually in glow in the dark chrome. They tend to be part of a more substantial handling package that actually serves a purpose more than an image statement. And you sure as heck wouldn't find "Chrome Couture" on the front page of a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or Porsche brochure. I had to learn not to judge people by what they drive or how they dress. An admirable trait - and frankly, one I try to subscribe to. I didn't mean to suggest that every person who buys an Escalades with 22" chrome wheels is an actual or latent pimp or drug dealer. Again, I was being critical of GM/Cadillac's chrome over substance approach to product design, engineering and marketing which has caused them problems in the past among more sophisticated buyers. As much as I would all like to try to claim open mindedness, I have to confess as a father, if I opened the door to find my daughter's first date wearing his pants around his knees, his body covered with tatoos and piercings, and the most used word in his vocablulary was "whatever", I would probably punt that openmindedness (and something else), no matter what he was driving. Fortunately, I don't think my daughter would ever present me with that dilemma. But are you suggesting you wouldn't care who came to your front door and what elevation relative to their waist their belt buckle was? P.S. Good thing your neighbor doesn't wear scrubs from his house to the hospital. They wouldn't meet McDonald's standard for cleanliness, let alone the operating room's requirement for sterility. I think we've all been treated to a few too many liberties taken by Grey's Anatomy and ER 
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Replying to: habitat1 (Jan 13, 2008 5:45 am) All I have said is that GM stressed the wheels more than anything by having that as the 1st picture in the brochure. And if you watch press release videos on GM corporate site, as the rep narrates the Esclade vid he will tell you GM made this vehicle to appeal to the hollywood crowd, they consulted various actors and actresses to see what they wanted in a redesign of the vehicle. The GM rep doesn't say that he consulted pimps and drug dealers. P.S. Good thing your neighbor doesn't wear scrubs from his house to the hospital. They wouldn't meet McDonald's standard for cleanliness, let alone the operating room's requirement for sterility. Lol....just so you know (having common sense, being pre med, and the fact that I work for a surgical team) I can tell you, you don't operate everyday. Some days you actually visit the patients that you've operated on just to see how they are doing. Which means you wake up, shower,put on some scrubs go to the hospital and see them.
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Replying to: lykourinou (Jan 13, 2008 9:17 am) I see, they consulted the customers, not the venders. Some would say, that's not much of a difference. I guess I'm just not into Hollywood style and my subconscious biases are coming through. But that enlightening bit of info you provided says it all when it comes to my criticism of GM/Cadillac in the past: image without substance. Could you ever imagine BMW or Porsche boasting that they consulted with actors and actresses on the design or their cars? What's next, Hallmark Cards consulting Jamie Lynn Spears on what appeals to 16 year old Hollywood moms? Nevertheless, good luck in pre-med. I'm trying to encourage my 9 year old daughter to consider a career in vascular surgery. 
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Replying to: habitat1 (Jan 13, 2008 9:43 am) You better stop. Your lack of knowledge on how the industry works is coming out. All the OEM's consult their customers in research. In fact one of the european companies was at a clinic in Atlanta the same time we were. We show our vehicles at various steps in the development process and confirm that the direction they are taking will satisfy the intended customers. BUT if you are saying that BMW would never boast about their research I stand corrected. |
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http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/general-motors/cadillacs-550nm-v6-diesel-powe- rhouse/ General Motors will add a new high-output diesel engine to its Cadillac lineup, which will appear in the 2009 model-year CTS sedan. The state-of-the-art engine was unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show and features new injection and combustion technology for low emissions and high performance. Displacing just 2.9L, the clean V6 engine develops 250hp (184kW) and a massive 550Nm (406 lb.-ft.) from as low as 2000rpm thanks to an electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger. The engine is being aimed at European markets where economical diesels are popular in the competitive luxury segment.
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Replying to: 62vetteefp (Jan 13, 2008 1:20 pm)
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Replying to: 62vetteefp (Jan 13, 2008 12:38 pm)  Well he might be on to something as you didn't see anyone recently try to copy the Bangle butt !!!  Yuck !!! -Rocky |
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Replying to: bumpy (Jan 13, 2008 5:25 pm) Only is we could see 300+ hp and 500+ lbs of tq from that diesel !!!  -Rocky |
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Replying to: bumpy (Jan 13, 2008 5:25 pm) 
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Replying to: 62vetteefp (Jan 13, 2008 12:38 pm) I was commenting specifically upon the proclaimed choice of "hollywood" as the target market by Cadillac for the Escalade. I'm sure I'm not the first person, nor will I be the last, to comment that the 22" chrome wheels, bling in your face look also just happens to appeal to drug dealers and pimps. Apparantly it's less of a coincidence that a marketing strategy by Cadillac. I've offered up that I will attempt to be more open minded in at least test driving Cadillac when it comes to my next car purchase. But I'd be willing to bet that for every Kevin Federline driving an Escalade there are a few dozen successful professionsals that don't want to have anything to do with a brand that emphasizes "chrome couture" as it's biggest selling point and considers hollywood to be the target customer. I suspect that BMW's and Porsche's market research targets a slightly more sophisticated buyer that values driving dynamics and engineering substance over "bling". That's not to say that a enterprising pimp can't load up a Cayenne GTS or X5 with 22" chrome wheels and neon lighted running boards. It's just that Cadillac markets directly at them and makes it much easier. There is a saying in business - you get the customer (or not) that you deserve.
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