What Does Cadillac Have To Do To Continue On Its Road To Success?

copy Hyundai's marketing strategy to compete with Hyundai and then work its way up

@shabaru, You do understand that back in the day that Cadillac was the premiere luxury brand? Mercedes at one point of time could not even dare to touch Cadillac, which is back in the 40's and 50's. That being said although the path in which Hyundai has taken is a good path, but nevertheless it is not a path or role Cadillac should play in the industry.

shabaru I think you should go drive a Caddy then you will realize why the Germans are scared.

Although a ultra high end caddy would be cool, I think a volt rebadge would serve their image better.

Joe, I think I might have top you in being de-boost. Laugh out Loud...,but recommended path is to be themselves and deal with highly executing the tone of luxury, and copying the Germans or etc..

You know it pays to proof read. I met to say "and not copy the Germans"

CTS, the bread and butter, has to get better on performance. The least responsive 300+ hp, direct injection sedan I've ever experienced. Get closer to the effortlessness of a 3er, then we'll talk about the upper echelons.

That said, Lincoln could disappear and nobody would notice (we're a long way from "Nothing But The Best"). People care about Cadillac. Period.

What does 'OOR have to do to post actual news?

All Caddy's success is hinged on the CTS. They need a smaller car to compete with the C class, 3 series, IS, G35 et al. They also need a revamped STS.

Also I would like to share one more comment.

Driving a luxury car is like presenting oneself in front of the people. It is similar to the ladies who carry the Prada or Fendi bags.

In addition to develop a high quality car, the company needs to develop a prestige and unique image to isolate their products with the others. I personally realize that it is the hardest thing for a luxury brand to build.

For point 1, I think that Caddy should get rid of the "old American feel" because American cars do not have positive image in the world. People think that they look dated, poor fuel consumption and unreliable. Even this is not true now, it is difficult to ask people to forget this idea. If Caddy still keeps this image in their luxury flagship, how could they convince the outside people to buy their cars??

cohwang says "...Driving a luxury car is like presenting oneself in front of the people..."

Surely, there are a lot of people that fit this description. It's important to them what others think of them. You admire me? You approve of the car I drive? That puts a smile on my face. These people make decisions on what they believe will win them others' admiration and approval.

For the other folks -- those who do what they like and don't really care what others think of them -- they'll get the car that *they* like. And that car may be a BMW M3, or a Cadillac CTS, or Hyundai Equus, or perhaps even a Ford Focus. They get what *they* want. As Mark Twain once said, "What others think of me is none of my business."

1. The 3 big threes have been improving a lot in the last 2 years. One thing that they did not change is their "bad taste". Caddy should make the cars more elegant, more detailed and less "american old style" feel.

2. Do not share platforms with the low-end Chevy products.

3. Renew all the powertrains with newer technologies. Honda's A-VTEC or Toyota's Valvmatic is the 4th gen of variable valve timing technology. Where is Caddy?

4. Stop advertising the anicent technologies as the new stuffs. Some brochures can see "independent suspensions" as the selling point.

5. Forget the "bigger is better" idea. Caddy should make smaller cars with smaller engines.

6. Hire better designers. Let's take CTS-V as an example, the interior is very dated. The dashboard is similar to the low-ended Japanese cars designs. Why spends 3 times more to get something similar?

7. Like the European rivals, each new model will have few astonishing technologies. You never feel out-dated in every single new model. Caddy should learn this.

To say that Caddy isn't as advanced as Honda or Toyota is silly. The CTS uses Variable Valve Timing on the intake and exhaust like Benz does. Honda has V-Tec only on the intake and the V6 has a SOHC design instead of DOHC like the CTS. Honda still uses an outdated 5 speed auto unlike the shiftable 6 speed in the CTS. I don't think Honda or Toyota uses Direct injection like the CTS, even Hyundai beat them to market with this technology in mainstream cars. As far as interior design and materials, the 3 series and C-class are priced like the CTS and have less impressive materials and design.

What's wrong with using Chevy platforms. Toyota uses the Camry platform in their best selling ES350 and the Highlander platform in the best selling RX350. Honda uses the Civic/CR-V platform for the RDX and the Accord platform for the TSX and TL.

Caddy needs to keep on doing what they are doing. The CTS is one of the best mid-sized luxury sedans in the world. The SRX is selling better than everything in it's class except the best in class RX350. The CTS-V is one of the fastest and best handling sedans in the world!! The XTS does not need to out run or out handle the S class. It just needs to be well made, quit, comfortable and efficient and it will out sell the S, 7, LS and A8.

Cadillac= world class American luxury.

Sigh! No wonder American cars can never take the lead in the world. Any positive suggestions are banned. You will be happy ONLY if we praise.

Good luck!

In response ^^^
1.Cadillac's aim is elegant with 'old fashioned' american style. They have every right to retain the American feel being they are an American brand...
2. Chevy's new platforms have been much improved. Maybe you don't read any up to date reviews on new GM vehicles stating how improved and impressive their new chassis are.
3.They are a luxury car brand. So you contridicted yourself there... They are not Toyota or Honda. Just to inform you I know for a fact the new CTS with the 3.6 direct injected V6 averages in the mid 20's in MPG which is very good.
4.You must be looking at brochures of older cadillacs that have not been truely changed yet or redesigned. The new CTS has loads of advance technology.
5.Now why would Cadillac make their cars smaller with smaller engines? Back to they are not Toyota or Honda. The escalade is EXTREMELY successful whether you like it or not. That car can be seen around almost any town or city near as much as a camry or corolla... Also maybe you should realize there are families out there that completely need and utilize the space of a large escalade.
6.This comment is obviously had to do with a bad schewed mind set towards cadillac. How is the dashboard at all dated. It has huge sweeping lines that change the complete atmosphere of the interior and make it feel almost bigger than it actually is.
7.Success of these vehicles and this company can be spoken simply by how many are seen on the road. The new Escalade and CTS are seen on a daily basis multiple times and day and increasing more and more. Cadillac is an American luxury brand who is actually making it. No other American luxury brand comes to mind when trying to make a comparison...

Thanks for sharing your info.

1.Cadillac's aim is elegant with 'old fashioned' american style. They have every right to retain the American feel being they are an American brand...

The title is to how Caddy competes with BMW, MB, which are the global competitors. No one in the world like "American feel" luxury cars. The market is to the world, not just US.

2. Chevy's new platforms have been much improved. Maybe you don't read any up to date reviews on new GM vehicles stating how improved and impressive their new chassis are.

I drove ones, and I owned German luxury brands too. Honestly, Caddy needs more more more work.

3.They are a luxury car brand. So you contridicted yourself there... They are not Toyota or Honda. Just to inform you I know for a fact the new CTS with the 3.6 direct injected V6 averages in the mid 20's in MPG which is very good.

Good fuel consuption is one of the greatest improvements. For the engine of the luxury car, that's not enough. I took Honda and Toyota as the examples because both Japanese can develop something far more advanced than the Caddy.

4.You must be looking at brochures of older cadillacs that have not been truely changed yet or redesigned. The new CTS has loads of advance technology.

You may be right.

5.Now why would Cadillac make their cars smaller with smaller engines? Back to they are not Toyota or Honda. The escalade is EXTREMELY successful whether you like it or not. That car can be seen around almost any town or city near as much as a camry or corolla... Also maybe you should realize there are families out there that completely need and utilize the space of a large escalade.

Your assumption may be right only in US. Down-sizing is the world trend. If Caddy don't follow the trend, how could they compete with the others?? They can stick in the American market only.

6.This comment is obviously had to do with a bad schewed mind set towards cadillac. How is the dashboard at all dated. It has huge sweeping lines that change the complete atmosphere of the interior and make it feel almost bigger than it actually is.

Please compare this with 5-series, A8 and E and S class. Honestly comestic thing is always subjective but I can find the similar design in Honda Fit, Stream, Mazda 3,.........

7.Success of these vehicles and this company can be spoken simply by how many are seen on the road. The new Escalade and CTS are seen on a daily basis multiple times and day and increasing more and more. Cadillac is an American luxury brand who is actually making it. No other American luxury brand comes to mind when trying to make a comparison...

True, cuz Caddy is the only American luxury brand. However I don't see many Caddy in Canada. I see more BMW, MB and Lexus here.

I drove the CTS with a 3.0 engine even though I asked the guy to let me drive the 3.6 and would never ever buy the 3.0 and he said this was the only demo unit they had. It was a pig in terms of acceleration. Had an amazing ride, and virtually no steering feel imho. However it did handle better than my Jeep Wrangler! They should kill that 3.0 engine and just use the Di3.6 that strategy works better.

need to do....more of same.

keep the striking design coming. and continue the balance between luxury and performance.

with the last few models, cadillac has dramatically reduced the average buyer age. so clearly the strategy is working.

Escalade V.................

Before you laugh remember people once thought a X5M would have been lunacy........

mlamike: You said "Caddy isn't as advanced as Honda or Toyota is silly." Do you what A-Vtec and Valvematic are? I bet you don't. Do you know who invented Direct Injection? Audi? No, it was Mitsubishi in 1995.

Well, being a die-hard GM fan, you will be hard to aceept different opinions from the others. Okay if I say Caddy is the best, and you will be happier, why not??

Caddy is the best. Cheers!