This question has been at debate for the longest time. Can GM and Ford really compete with BMW, Mercedes, Infiniti or Acura? Mainly, Cadillac and Lincoln started to lead the market in late 1990’s, but Lincoln has been slacking in the past couple of years. Cadillac on the other hand has kept its respect by releasing very sleek exteriors for their models. Nonetheless, its the interior where most American luxury cars fall apart with their cheap plastic parts. They feel so cheap that if you just sit inside and knock around the interior, you would feel like you’re playing with a Fisher Price toy.
But now, with the new 2008 Cadillac CTS, things are about to change. Being Cadillac’s best seller, much is riding on the success of the 2008 Cadillac CTS while competition heats up from BMW’s 3-Series, Lexus’ IS and Mercedes-Benz’s newly designed C-Class coming this summer. Finally, GM has taken “control of the interior away from the accountants and returned it to the design department.”
Paying much more attention to the interior as they should have previously, Cadillac went as far as making buttons and knobs more custom made with ambient lighting along the doors. The 2008 Cadillac CTS also features hand stitched coverings on the instrument panel, center console and doors.
While all this attention and details add more cost on development, Dave Rand, GM’s executive director for interior design, told BusinessWeek that he believes the improvements in quality are worth it. “All the manufacturers know the new game in town is interiors,” says Rand. “The exterior is still the hook, but how you live with the product, well, that’s all on the inside.”
Well its about time you guys got your act together on giving the American citizens what they paid for. And please, stop with the excessive use of plastic.
Read Article