Cadillac Expanding Challenge Of German Dominance With New CLA45 Rival

(Sigh) In my anything-but-humble-opinion, if someone is seriously perusing the wares in a Mercedes showroom, I believe precious few will be thinking of a car that looks like this Caddy as an alternative.

I think the common perception with respect to the MB/Caddy comparison will be along the lines of "Luxury car (MB) vs mid-market car with added bling, oh-so-wanting to be a luxury car (Caddy)." They're just very different markets, with very different buyers, and MB and Caddy are very different offerings.

That's why I think you'll get very few MB-to-Caddy converts, and why a year or two from now, we'll still hear about Caddy trying to challenge the Germans, Caddy's sales woes, etc.

Completely disagree. After 8 Mercedes (3 E’s, an SL, 2 GLK’s, & 2 S Class), an A6, and a few others, 1 BMW "I" got an ATS 3.6 Premium in 2013 when it came out. In comparison to the 3 Series and the C-Class, it was hands down, a better car. The A4 wasn’t even on the list. The ATS has Leather std, CUE std, 321 normally aspirated BHP... the technology, the comfort, the value, the handling, the looks, no question. A comparable 3 Series to the ATS 3.6 Premium price was a 328 with about 250bhp from the twin turbo 6, and the Class was just not state of the art. The new C is a bigger newer, state of the art car but it’s also $60K+ equipped like an ATS 3.6 Premium. The 3 Series is in the same area cost wise for a 335i, both of which have less power. The current E and 5 are also easy competition for the CTS, sorry you can disagree, but it’s the truth. As machines, they are all competitive. Marketing is something different as is the dealer experience. Mercedes is nearly above reproach in customer service but I find BMW dealers arrogant. Cadillac dealers could pass for Chevy dealers from my perspective. The Customer Experience at the Cadillac dealers is pathetic.
Sales numbers are not an indicator of the machines being comparative or competitive. The CTS & ATS are competitive. The ATS back seat and trunk get critiques from the magazines but how many people ride in the back seat of any of its competitors? The trunk is more than adequate and most people that buy in this segment I doubt are families of 4 that use every inch, every day. For me it’s just me and the wife, so the car is perfect for 2.
What advantage does BMW offer that Caddy lacks is long term, consistency of delivering exciting vehicles. Mercedes is certainly not engineered the way the W-124 was, in any current vehicle, however they are still perhaps the finest of cars and the S & C are clearly leaders in their segments in both execution and market prestige. That said who would buy an S600 over a Bentley? The prestige is just not there and the insane depreciation of expensive Mercedes vs other Ultra-Lux cars is enormous. So, that’s a marketing issue folks. Also, on an E Class "EVERYTHING" is optional. You can spend $70K on an E Class and still get MB-Tex interiors. I’m sorry but you can get leather on a Hyundai but it’s between $1700 and $5000 extra on a Mercedes E.
MB and BMW have an established pedigree that even Lexus & Infiniti can't seem to conquer but Cadillac has a window they never had. Whereas Lexus & Infiniti are "25 yr old new comers" Cadillac DOES have pedigree which quite honestly I think is being wasted. With time, Caddy can rise back to where they used to be but it will not happen overnight. Finally the competitive landscape has changed dramatically. Lincoln and Cadillac used to be the Luxury Leaders, there were no other cars in their segment but that was yesterday and will never happen again. So, both may field competitive cars and never climb to the #

The one thing you missed is EXCLUSITIVITY....

Mercedes-Benz and BMW offer buyers something that no other luxury maker, including the ultra-lux makes, can offer, and that's exclusitivity of parts, chassis, and experience.

I'll break it down for you, while Cadillac, Lincoln, Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, and Audi all offer posh and formidable lineups, the core of those brands NOW happen to ride on GM, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Volkswagen platforms, materials, and technology.

While I respect what w124 says in respects additional cost in Benz and Bimmers for features and options, on the other hand you have to realize Benz and Bimmer aren't relying on Mass Market manufacturers to pay their bills and split cost, they have to pay their own bills and that premium is passed on to the customer.

Also, there is a reason why when you drive a Benz, it provides you with a Teutonic feeling unlike any other, simply put, the sum of their parts, tech, and innovation are there's and you feel that much more special driving one

As a Benz and Bimmer driver, the one thing that makes me appreciate those vehicles more than anything else, is sometimes getting behind the wheel of something else, and being reminded why I chose the three pointed star and Bavarian good in the first place.

I completely recognize that MB & BMW's are strictly their own cars, yes, its a "selling point". They market themselves as exclusive and they are, and that's also one reason they cost so much. But that does not make them better. Personal preference does not make them better. Yes, the star is a huge draw,(I've had 8 and vividly remember my first, and seeing the star on my hood for the first time, was quite an experience for me). That said their exclusivity is not long for this world. MB is heavily working with Nissan and BMW re-created Mini. They simply cannot afford to only make $60K ++++ automobiles, the market is just not big enough, thus the 1&2 Series, the Mini's and MB's CLA, A & B Class we don't get here. MB also has their truck lines. Finally, 3 Series & C Class, old 5 Series & used E's are absolutely EVERYWHERE in my town, talk about "LACK" of exclusivity. "I" am actually in an exclusive club because I have something just as good, but different. There is Cadillac's window that I mentioned.

1) No one said their exclusitivity made them better, it's just part of their appeal.

2) Ofcourse they enter ventures with other automakers, Benz/Nissan BMW/Toyota, all the smart ones do and it's a more cost effective way of sharing updates on R&D, without giving up your independence like other luxury makes

3) The CLA/1series is part of the bill paying and New Business strategy that keeps Benz and Bimmer independent and able to create iconic core products like the E, S, SL, G, AMG line, Maybach, and more

4) the reason all of us see so many E and 5's is for reasons listed in my first comment scroll up. No one said MB or BMW wanted exclusitivity of ownership, they would then have the same fate as all other luxury brands, dependent

5) Cadilac has always had a window since they introduced the Escalade and 1st gen CTS, however they choose to close it themselves by only offering 1-2 legit models per decade, and now seem like they are "trying to hard" to be German instead of incorporating their core values and original formula in with the new formula. Cadillacs are great driving cars and competitive, however they lost that "special" feeling they had in The 50's to 80's

The 328 is a turbo 4 cylinder and is just about as quick as the CTS V6 0-60 in 5.6 vs 5.4. Either BMW under rates the heck out of this 2.0 turbo 0r caddy isn't making the power it says. Caddy is getting there but the tacky chrome and gimmicky interior just doesn't do it for me. I love the exterior styling and the car drives just as good as a BMW.

I usually omit such long posts but you 124/320 nailed!

This whole exclusivity angle is a JOKE when it comes to Cadillac. They want to sell more cars but CAN'T. That isn't exclusivity, that is just poor sales. Exclusivity means that people want more of your products but you're not building that mean, always keeping demand higher than supply and creating an aura of desirability. That does NOT APPLY TO CADILLAC IN ANY WAY. They're sales are dropping because their cars are overpriced and outside of handling don't stand out any any other area.

Leather does not make a luxury car a luxury car. OMG seriously that is the dumbes thing I have read on here. You can get leather and heated REAR seats in a Elantra. That doesn't make it a luxury car.

Until GM sweats ALL the detail, not just handling, Cadillac will remain an also ran.

Case in point the new CT6. The steering wheel is right out of a chevy. UGLY and cheap. Then the new CT6 is the same size as most of the full size luxury cars, but it isn't a competitor to them according to Cadillac? LAME.

Mercedes, BMW and Lexus run the U.S. luxury car market and Audi is quickly about to disrupt that order.

Problem is too many people remember the outright JUNK that Cadillac made from the late 70's until just a few years ago. That is 30+ years of NOTHING cars. NO way they can change that will the half-arsed cars they're making now.

The magazines tricked them into thinking the hold grail was better handling and typical, short-sighted GM made that their only focus and now look. ATS is too damn small to even be used as a sedan according to most who look at it, but oh yeah it handles great.

Since when was a Cadillac about handling??????

Mercedes-Benz has gone back upping the luxury content with good/competent handling and look at how the C, E and S sell.

MEMO TO CADILLAC: Quit trying to outhandle BMW, it isn't that hard to do anymore nor does anyone care about it since BMW has gone soft anyway.

Your name clearly indicates what your comments will be, biased and irrelevant. I'm sure most folks just skip to the next one...

Never thot I'd agree with JDSMinscule, but all the "German Lovers" that hate Cadillac are just that, biased jerks. Bigots is probably a better word... If this article as about Jaguar launching a CLA type car you'd not hear nearly as much crap. Though for decades Jag produced expensive boat anchors. Pretty, yet dated feasts for repair shops was the diagnosis, CONSTANTLY, and for decades. All you German lovea's are probably wearing stripes with plaids, goofy hat and silly Euro-trash shoes right now. You think you're better than everyone else, not unlike a certain German from the 30's? Since its American and Cadillac, they're wannabe's, Posers, they're losers, they're this and that... hey, why don't you jerks go screw yourselves and your overpriced, not worth the $ German machines. If this article was about Hyundai launching the new Equus Division and the first car was a CLA/A3/1Series competitor again, I doubt the crap would be this stinky. You German lovers are nothing but snobs, so stuff it...

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1098014_2016-cadillac-ats-v-first-drive-video