YOUR Move, Spies: If YOU Were The All-new CEO Of Cadillac, What Are YOUR First Moves?

1. Get a true 3-row crossover out ASAP to rival the Aviator, at least a prototype to plant the seed of a Cadillac option to the public
2. Get rid of the redundant cars in the lineup, either the XTS or CT6 or both and keep with the ATS and CTS, then see #4. Or get rid of the CTS and keep the CT6, then see #4.
3. Reduce pricing of existing vehicles to present value-option vs. the segment leaders. In the case of the Escalade, I believe Cadillac already reduced its price by $10K to compete with the new Navigator
4. Get the Escala to production to present a true flagship alternative to the S/7/A8. Put the highest quality materials inside, with a modern instrument cluster and without CUE, but at a price below the Germans and the LS500.
5. Get back to a better model names
6. Anything de Nysschen touched, either spray it with Lysol, or, if removable, burn it.

Nice stance on the XT6.

Thanks, jonashamilton. I actually do check that site regularly but didn't last night when it was posted. It looks very Q7-like in its lower ground clearance and big-wagon-like body. I wish Cadillac has provided a concept or prototype to garner and attention and interest in it. This is where the Aviator may have a leg-up on the XT6. The Lincoln looked pretty close to production form and to me, looked really good.

Hire an all-new design team to make it look gorgeous, inside and out.

Steve, I don't think they look bad outside. Inside materials and small cabins are the problem for me.
@Cidflekken: you sir are right from 1 to 6

agreed, why does even the "nice" GM stuff look cheap in comparison to even a honda accord let alone an A8 or 5 series or Lexus.

Before anything else - they really really really need to listen to the customers and fix CUE - which is the foundation for most complaints about Cadillacs. Just because DeNysschen could use it does not mean the average American likes it.

Then

1 - NAME all the cars - Cadillac has a history of some really good ones
2 - Reposition the ATS against the CLA and entry level from others - the ATS in that price range would be a bargain. However - when replaced it still needs packaging.
3 - Reposition the CTS against the 3/C series where it will be just a little bigger - and can compete at least with a base 3 series well. I note that this is likely where the price is at Cadillac dealers anyway
4 - Reposition the CT6 against the 5/E - again making it a little bigger inside - a plus for American buyers and I note THAT is likely to be the price comparison today at the dealers too.

Separate the V-Series group like Mercedes has done with AMG - and give the non-V Luxury Group better interiors and smoother rides.

While GM is bringing out a line of Crossovers based on those same platforms that Chevy and Buick use - what they really need to do it make an Alpha and a Omega crossover to compete with real premium product. Still - getting the INTERIORS right is a major priority.

I do not agree with bringing out the Escala - the new CT6 is essentially that size and takes that place. I do not think a HALO car should be a Hatchback either. What I would do it go all the way - and bring out a car that has the appearance(At least size wize) of a Rolls Royce - with near equivalent refinement - for less than the price of a Mercedes Maybach. A full size - no excuses - Huge car that looks it - as the top of the line limo-look Fleetwood.

Lastly - I would not discontinue the XTS - which is a natural competitor to the Lexus ES - More Escala like styling especially from the side where the current XTS looks wrong - and pricing it against the ES would work with a lot of people. Forget the "age" nonsense - at these prices the younger people simply cannot afford to buy a premium car anyway. Invite all the people DeNysscen specifically said were not welcome - and use the XTS as the introduction to Cadillac.

maybe re-educate consumers about what V-series & V-sport vehicles are supposed to accomplish. these are the top performance trim levels. do you see M & AMG owners complaining about their "harsher" rides? no. performance suspensions that work well don't have soft comfortable ride experiences. and maybe V-series/V-sports need serious adjustable suspension systems.

with that, Cadillac needs to offer top trim options that max-out luxury levels of content & features - but are not V-series models.

1) Get agreement from G-M board on a five year plan to invest in Cadillac in all key areas (design, marketing, engineering, R&D, etc) to make it the "Standard of the Industry" again. If the board doesn't buy on to the plan and cost, don't take the job.
2) Present the plan to all levels of Cadillac management and get their individual buy on or get rid of them. You want everyone on the same page, everyone willing to do whatever needs to be done to restore the brand or you
don't want them around.
3) My plan would include the following...
...Kill the numbers and bring back names to each model (Dodge and Mustang
are great examples of how to leverage your heritage.)
...Kill the current crease/edgy styling and bring back elegance to all
designs.
...Kill the lap time mentality and marketing approach. Focus on huge power
and torque for everyday driving.
...Kill the Arts & Science tag line. Embrace Cadillac's heritage. Its what
will differentiate the line from its competition. "American Luxury"
or something like it should be the focus.
...Build the best interiors in the industry. Use the finest materials with
Bentley/Rolls in mind not the sterile German brands as a guide.
...Leverage your current electronics strength and take it to even higher
levels of interface with drivers and passengers.
...Include seven year free maintenance in purchase price.
...Of course SUV's and more SUV's but add a big convertible as your halo
vehicle.
You have to change the culture at Cadillac while transitioning the product line. Not an easy task particularly within the G-M culture.

^^^^THAT...do that

Hire the Spies as your strategy and culture advisers. There is some really good stuff you guys have laid out. Only thing missing is locking the GM bean counters in a room and not letting them out for 5 years.

Make it so beautiful and powerful that you miss driving it when you aren't in it. People love a beautiful car. GM used to make gorgeous things. Look what lincoln did, continental is a 3/4 step but the new aviator looks like and american Range Rover, quality and styling need to be impeccable, not tacky and different. We gave the world Ralph Lauren, why can't GM make a beautiful classy interior, without any qualifying "for the price" or "compared to older GM stuff"

1) SUV - three of them with the smallest as your entry model and aspirational buy in.
2) one sedan - mid size. The days of making a small or large car is pointless, focus on the SUV.
3) one sports car/convertible
4) simplicity and actually hide the tech. Focus on luxury and comfort. Doesn't mean you ignore the basic connectivity. But you don't have to feature chase. Phone, screen, navi, real buttons and knobs. Ergonomically perfect.
5) Give the V division free reign to be a performance division. It's okay to modify all models but don't dilute with V-sport or V-lite badging
6) Styling is subjective but I have no issue with the CT6
7) one chassis to save money (like the VW MBQ) but make it state of the art. BUT prepare to hybridize and electrify them.
8) Marketing, keep focused on your message. Just really good cars that coddle and perform. Don't need to feature chase.
9) don't chase volume. You don't have to with one chassis.
10) reign in dealers. You don't need more. Stock the dealership with vehicles for instant buying but also start bespoke division for customization. Move it online with home service (a la Genesis).

Job number one, make 100% sure that Escalade is competitive with the Navigator. If it is not do whatever it takes to fix it, the last thing Cadillac can afford is to give Lincoln traction in this segment.
Next come up with a compelling lineup of crossover vehicles that are based on the RWD/Longitudinal platforms and NOT based on the GM FWD models. As an above poster said, Cadillac should develop a new RWD/AWD platform with longitudinal engine exclusive for Cadillac. This platform could underpin ATS, CTS, CT6 and the corresponding crossovers. This will take time, unfortunately it looks like the GM bean counters are looking for quick results.

One trick in getting the C/3, E/5 customer, make a competitor, just slightly larger. Its what americans want. Comfortable road car with quality interior materials. 90% of Mercedes sold in the US are with MB Tech vinyl. If they cross shop and feel the interior of a qulity leather for less, sold.
Make a new flagship large sedan and a flagship convertible.

Kill ever model that losses money. If there is one or two cars left, work on new styling and interior improvements, but do not spend too much here, it will not pay back. Work on 3 SUVs, midsize, large, stretch to make margin. Cadillac cannot afford to develop a standalone platform, build off shared platforms. Forget for now about winning over German or Japanese customers.

With the prices Chevrolet and Buick models go for, it leaves little unique market for Cadillac. Maybe Buick and Cadillac should be combined and not offer overlapping products.

With the prices Chevrolet and Buick models go for, it leaves little unique market for Cadillac. Maybe Buick and Cadillac should be combined and not offer overlapping products.
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Yes!

I think the strategy was to let Buick compete with Lexus/Acura which makes sense since they are all lightly reskinned versions of mainstream vehicles (except the high end of Lexus and the NSX) and to have Cadillac compete with the Germans. This doesn't pan out when Cadillac reskins the same vehicles as Buick with slightly nicer interiors.
Also, can't cut out Buick because it is very successful in China.

Cadillac should NOT compete with the Germans. Cadillac should be what the Germans are incapable of being.