Should Cadillac Move Into The Small Car Market?

Getting the ATS and CTS to sell in the volume of their Mercedes/BMW counterparts is priority one. While a Cadillac "A3" could be good, I have to think that a Cadillac Cimarron this time off the Cruze would be a mistake.

The ATS and CTS need a "Honda Civic" crash rethink. Adding two inches to the wheelbase of each car and returning to names would be a good move.

The Ciel/Elmiraj cannot come fast enough.

The Escalade desperately needs to be rethought in aluminum as a Range Rover/ Mercedes GL / BMW X7 (rumored) competitor.

Cadillac isn't broken. It's on the dart board near the bulls eye but not hitting it. I like the styling of the CTS, but would love to see Cadillac become bolder in its look.

Great comments Matt... agree completely. Names would bring distinction everyone uses the letters, why be like everyone else? The CTS is really quite good looking especially compared to its competition but more "gorgeousness" would be good. Yes, Ciel/ElMiraj are stunning... Cadillac needs to go there. However, Mercedes/BMW/Audi didn't become luxury leaders overnight and Cadillac won't get back to where they once were overnight either. They've spend decades building their brands and folks recognize them for their accolades. Cadillac needs to continue to consistently build stunningly gorgeous, world class products and as Matt's stated, provide some "value". So a better car for less money will get the attention of buyers.

There is talk of a Diesel Escalade, quit talking and build it, why not use the Hybrid Technology you've just put on the shelf to good use and make a Diesel/Hybrid and charge the same as gas...see what happens.

Sure. Caddy can build an offensively bloated little car with its 10 year old boring design. Hope Caddy's designer didn't misplace is straight edge or he can still draw the little car.

Caddy, as in the past, will just take a little cheap Chevy and thrown its tired looking egg crate grille with a bunch of garrish Cadillac name place, double the price, and they are good to go. The fools in America will surely buy it. Especially, for the lame brain in chief pull some "photo ops" with the little car. (Oh yes, the idiot stated he doesn't do photo ops what we know what he filthy liar he is so count on the photos).

That would be like so totally hot, but let's dare to dream about the Spark.

Let's remember that Johan de Nysschen "left" Infiniti midstream which means they told him he had a choice: resign or be fired. Under him Infiniti became more confused and more incoherent.

So a Cadillac Aveo would not surprise me.

Cadillac IS in the small car market - they really do not have any competitive BIG cars - do they?

Cadillac's problem, similar to Acura and Infiniti, is that they are not seen as a true premium brand, IMO. They do not have a certifiable flagship (S/A8/7) nor do they have a halo car (SLS, R8, i8). Just like Acura's renewed attempt to go downmarket (with ILX), it will fail and many will see the car as a dressed up Cruze just like the ILX is almost strictly viewed as an overpriced Civic. Cadillac needs to focus at the top, beat its intended competition in more than just driving dynamics, and be competitive in sales. And vintage Cadillac styling needs to go.

Wow some harsh comments about Johan. Interesting takes as well. It would probably surprise some of you to know that the CTS for example isn't a chevy clone neither is the ATS in fact they have their own platform, the ELR for example share roughly 25% with the Volt and if you remove the drive train from that equation it's even lower. I for one have personally met Johan and have quite a different opinion of him. One formed from actually meeting the person. I can't state for fact but I'm pretty sure Infiniti did not want to lose him. Anyone who thinks that is confused because if you look at his time with Audi that brand grew leaps and bounds. That clearly started with him and that no one can take away. Why are we always on here spewing negative bs rather than constructive sharing of information? I barely comment or come here because of that one fact. Now back to the article at hand, the small car market is a hot one for Luxury brands. It's an absolute necessity to garnering future business. The Cadillac issue is more what people think they know of the brand. Most people relate it to their parents or grand parents and it's just not that car anymore. It's great that that's the fact but they need to let the public know that as well. Brand image is the delaying factor here. And they need more offerings to compete with the likes of those on top. Now, back to your regularly scheduled program...