Did General Motors JUST Make The BIGGEST Mistake For Cadillac's Future LARGE Luxury Sedan?

If there's one automaker we're critical of, it's General Motors. Part of it is because taxpayers do have some interest in the company post-bailout but also because we want the American auto builder to succeed. People fail to realize, when someone stops critiquing that's because they've given up and when that happens the entity is in a very bad place.

It doesn't help that GM is notorious for it's legendary cock ups. AND we're pretty sure they just made another one.

There have been on/off rumors of the luxury arm of GM, Cadillac, building a large luxury sedan that would fit above the current range-topping XTS.

We thought that was great news as the Cadillac Ciel concept was unveiled at the 2011 Monterey Weekend to much fanfare. It was a gorgeous vehicle that anyone with a pulse would want to have in their driveway. It was bold, brash and badass. It had an allure that we know would get every A-list celebrity to put one in their driveway and would become the next-gen savior, much like the Escalade when it first came on the scene.

Problem is GM has confirmed it will not be pursuing any of its concepts for the next-gen flagship.

Instead it will be concocting a super sedan that will use a rear-drive chassis "very loosely" based on the CTS. Can you tell me something any LESS appealing than that?

That said, what say YOU? Did GM just shoot itself in the foot with this move or is it doing the RIGHT thing?

...Cadillac confirms that it's working on the super-sedan for launch about two years hence. Details remain closely held, but several things are known:

•The car will use a rear-drive chassis very loosely based on the CTS. There will be an all-wheel drive version, too...

...

•The super-size Caddy sedan won't resemble the brand's recent concept cars, but will use some styling highlights from them, such as the knife-edge row of lights on the front fenders, similar to the new CTS...


Concours d'Elegance 2011 Photo Gallery

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ParadoX - 7/27/2013 2:17:23 PM

+3 Boost

It sounds to me like they are using the German method. A4, A6, A8, 3-series, 5 Series, 7 series, and Cadillac will do ATS, CTS, (whatever replaces the XTS).

The reason Cadillac isn't going to pursue the Ciel is because there is no money in it. It would cost a fortune to develop. They would have trouble getting their money back from a car that would not sell in large volumes. So they are going to use a method that has proven results. BMW, Audi and MB are all doing well with the way their sedan ranges are setup.

scenicbyway12 - 7/27/2013 2:42:48 PM

+1 Boost

Cadillac is brave but GM is not.

wileyz - 7/27/2013 6:35:03 PM

+1 Boost

Go Caddy! Front-end is a little bulky, but the rest is great. Cadillac is taking chances and making decent cars. My son (27) bought an ATS over an A4 and C class, and absolutely loves it.

Dexter1 - 7/27/2013 7:44:20 PM

+1 Boost

The Ciel is an atrocity. Plus Mercedes already stole the grille for their new S-Class.

CarCrazedinCali - 7/28/2013 4:03:06 PM

+1 Boost

ciel is gorgeous

Autopinion - 7/28/2013 7:09:34 PM

+1 Boost

I don't understand the question at all!

Its exciting Cadillac will step up to the plate with a large flagship to take on the best. What's wrong with using a modified version of the new CTS??? Further, of course they'll use relevant brand strengthening elements of the 3 year old ciel as appropriate.

What they need to do in parallel is reinvent the Escalade so that it doesn't look like a Tahoe wearing a Cadillac halloween costume.

Agent00R - 7/28/2013 8:03:39 PM

0 Boost

Let's see.

Does Audi use a modified A4 chassis for the A8?

Does BMW use a modified 3-Series chassis for the 7-Series?

Does Mercedes-Benz use a modified C-Class chassis for its S-Class?

Does Lexus use a modified Toyota Avalon chassis for its LS?


Here's the problem: Cadillac could have been a true leader in this category with the Ciel instead it got cold feet and it will pay in the end. This is the same poor decision-making that helped BURY Lincoln. If it had introduced a production car based on the Continental concept with those awesome suicide doors people wouldn't have even looked at the 300C, which EXPLODED onto the scene when it was launched.

SuperTurtlePlus - 7/29/2013 12:08:59 AM

+1 Boost

I am a bit confused (and let’s ignore for a moment that, according to Autospies, GM can do no right) because despite GM not building a car based upon the Cien, you have no idea what the vehicle they ARE going to build will look like, only that it will be based upon the CTS, which has world-class credentials.

And let’s be honest. If Cadillac were to manufacture the Cien, AutoSpies would be among the first to criticize if for not being an Audi, or a Mercedes, or whatever. It would then be criticized for looking like the concept car – which I don’t think fits well with Caddy’s Art and Science design language, truth be told.

And I am not sure that a design that looks – frankly – so dated would do well in today’s marketplace anyway.

The Cien is an interesting design study (some details of which could possibly make an appearance in a future Caddy) but as a production car that is expected to sell and compete with vehicles the world over, I don’t see it.

SuperTurtlePlus - 7/29/2013 12:39:46 AM

+1 Boost

I meant the ‘Ciel,’ not the ‘Cien. The Cein is a Cadillac concept car, but not the one in question.

TheSteve - 7/29/2013 3:18:36 AM

+1 Boost

"...It was a gorgeous vehicle that anyone with a pulse would want to have in their driveway..." is 00R's way of saying "I like it, and anyone who doesn't think like me is wrong."

To my eyes, the car is ugly on an epic scale. I recall lots of people stating they thought it looked like it belonged in Gotham City when pics first came out. I don't see much of a market for this sort of thing.

skytop - 7/29/2013 10:01:49 AM

+1 Boost

Why all the photos of the Ciel when Caddy has decided it will produce the usual boring rehash of past failures wrapped up in new sheet metal and given a new name. Failure begets failure at Government Motors.

valhallakey - 7/29/2013 5:15:19 PM

+1 Boost

They definitely should build it. The money may not be totally right on this car but the effect on the overall brand is enormous. They must build some real high end world class vehicles to be taken seriously. They also think short term with each vehicle they produce, when for Cadillac it is a long fight. To win a long fight you need some halo vehicles that gets others (Celebrities, Car Magazines, Car Enthusiasts etc...) to help you in your fight.

ddkk10 - 7/29/2013 5:33:56 PM

+1 Boost

Agent 00R,

The upcoming CTS was developed to compete in the same segment as the Merecedes E Class and BMW 5 Series and I'm fairly certain the BMW 5 series and 7 series do in fact share the same basic underpinnings so the argument you're making through your comparisons to its competition is pretty inaccurate. On top of that, you lose the little credibility you had left by making that cheap analogy between the Avalon and LS. If the car offers or exceeds the amount of luxury, exclusivity, high technology, comfort, and sportiness that is expected in the class, who cares what platform it shares its underpinnings with?

dodgedart - 7/29/2013 9:24:41 PM

+1 Boost

It's no Cavalier.
All that's missing are the suicide doors.

Autopinion - 7/29/2013 10:40:03 PM

+1 Boost

Agent OOR - - ??

"Let's see.

Does Audi use a modified A4 chassis for the A8?" ...

Ah yes..."The MLB which is based on Audi cars with a longitudinal engine placement which can be used for bigger cars with a similar layout from Audi, Porsche and VW....the idea is catching on very fast and most of the top car manufacturers are trying to develop a similar system for their cars.

No, Cadillac has avoided a mistake by building something as exotic as the Ciel. By continuing on its current trajectory the new large sedan loosely based on the new CTS (its NOT based on the Cruze after all) is the right move. Look at the uselessness of the Allante chassis.