Is Cadillac's Subscription Service Already Dead?

Well, that didn't end well.

Last year, Cadillac launched its new subscription service called Book by Cadillac. The service allowed subscribers to alternate between any model in the Cadillac lineup for $1,500 per month. We really liked the concept of having an Escalade to pick up the kids from school with and a CTS-V on the weekend.

Unfortunately, Book by Cadillac experienced issues very early on, unable to fill requests due to a lack of inventory. The company was actually forced to turn away potential clients because there simply weren't enough cars to go around. Eventually, Cadillac raised the price to $1,800, but the troubles didn't end there.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Cadillac is already canceling its subscription service after just two years. WSJ sources said, "Snags with the back-end technology used to support the service made some customer-service functions tedious and time-consuming, adding costs for the company." Book users will reportedly be sent notifications to return their vehicles within 30 days of the message. Lincoln has also experienced issues with its subscription service, which uses pre-owned vehicles instead of brand-new ones.

Interestingly, a GM spokesperson said Book by Cadillac could return, only after the company had learned its lessons from its pilot program. If the idea of being able to switch out cars from a brand still sounds appealing, other companies including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche all offer their own subscription services.

Automakers like Lexus and Volvo will also let you subscribe to a single model, which includes maintenance and insurance. Even though Cadillac may have failed, we still love the idea of a car subscription service.

Cadillac's Three-Row Crossover Should Arrive At Detroit

But what will this new model be called?

Cadillac is doing a fine job filling in its SUV lineup with new entry-level models like the new XT4. Likewise, the XT5 is a fairly strong competitor, but then there is a fairly large gap between it and the full-size Escalade. Cadillac has been rumored to be working on a three-row crossover to slot between the XT5 and Escalade for quite some time now, but we have yet to see anything materialize. Now, the rumored crossover could be arriving early next year according to Automotive News.

Cadillac recently trademarked the names XT2 through XT8 and plans to release a redesigned vehicle every six months through 2021. The brand is working on replacements for the ATS and CTS called the CT4 and CT5, but they likely won't be ready for the next big reveal.

Cadillac President Steve Carlisle said a new product will debut at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show in January and the most likely model is the three-row crossover, which is rumored to be called the XT6.

The XT6 would likely ride on an extended version of the C1XX platform, which also underpins the Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave. A shorter version of this platform is also used on the GMC Acadia, Cadillac XT5 and upcoming Chevrolet Blazer.

The XT6 will join the fight against three-row crossovers like the Audi Q7, Lexus RX L, and Volvo XC90. Cadillac needs something to bridge the gap between the XT5 and Escalade, as there is currently a roughly $34,000 between those two models. The $75,000 Escalade offers plenty of size, but at a massive cost, while the $41,000 XT5 is far more palatable, but doesn't offer a third row. It may not be as exciting as an ATS-V replacement, but this XT6 could end up being a very important reveal for Cadillac.

Is Cadillac's Subscription Service Already Dead?

Well, that didn't end well.

Last year, Cadillac launched its new subscription service called Book by Cadillac. The service allowed subscribers to alternate between any model in the Cadillac lineup for $1,500 per month. We really liked the concept of having an Escalade to pick up the kids from school with and a CTS-V on the weekend.

Unfortunately, Book by Cadillac experienced issues very early on, unable to fill requests due to a lack of inventory. The company was actually forced to turn away potential clients because there simply weren't enough cars to go around. Eventually, Cadillac raised the price to $1,800, but the troubles didn't end there.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Cadillac is already canceling its subscription service after just two years. WSJ sources said, "Snags with the back-end technology used to support the service made some customer-service functions tedious and time-consuming, adding costs for the company." Book users will reportedly be sent notifications to return their vehicles within 30 days of the message. Lincoln has also experienced issues with its subscription service, which uses pre-owned vehicles instead of brand-new ones.

Interestingly, a GM spokesperson said Book by Cadillac could return, only after the company had learned its lessons from its pilot program. If the idea of being able to switch out cars from a brand still sounds appealing, other companies including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche all offer their own subscription services.

Automakers like Lexus and Volvo will also let you subscribe to a single model, which includes maintenance and insurance. Even though Cadillac may have failed, we still love the idea of a car subscription service.

Is Cadillac's Subscription Service Already Dead?

Well, that didn't end well.

Last year, Cadillac launched its new subscription service called Book by Cadillac. The service allowed subscribers to alternate between any model in the Cadillac lineup for $1,500 per month. We really liked the concept of having an Escalade to pick up the kids from school with and a CTS-V on the weekend.

Unfortunately, Book by Cadillac experienced issues very early on, unable to fill requests due to a lack of inventory. The company was actually forced to turn away potential clients because there simply weren't enough cars to go around. Eventually, Cadillac raised the price to $1,800, but the troubles didn't end there.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Cadillac is already canceling its subscription service after just two years. WSJ sources said, "Snags with the back-end technology used to support the service made some customer-service functions tedious and time-consuming, adding costs for the company." Book users will reportedly be sent notifications to return their vehicles within 30 days of the message. Lincoln has also experienced issues with its subscription service, which uses pre-owned vehicles instead of brand-new ones.

Interestingly, a GM spokesperson said Book by Cadillac could return, only after the company had learned its lessons from its pilot program. If the idea of being able to switch out cars from a brand still sounds appealing, other companies including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche all offer their own subscription services.

Automakers like Lexus and Volvo will also let you subscribe to a single model, which includes maintenance and insurance. Even though Cadillac may have failed, we still love the idea of a car subscription service.

Why Aren't Cadillacs More Popular?

And what can be done to change that?

No one ever said it would be easy to revitalize an automotive luxury brand that once successfully branded itself as the "Standard of the World." Cadillac has been fighting an uphill battle for the past few years to regain its status in the luxury segment against some very formidable competitors, namely Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. While General Motors has rightly allowed Cadillac to have a greater level of autonomy outside of Detroit (a New York City headquarters, for example), it has yet to achieve annual sales figures that would cause its rivals to worry.

Cadillac’s 2016 year-end global sales came to 308,692 units. In that same period, Audi sold 1,871,350 units. BMW came in at 2,035,359 units, while Mercedes-Benz sold 2,083,888 cars. All three German brands increased sales last year, and so did Cadillac, which saw an 11.1 percent increase from 2015. However, Mercedes-Benz sales grew by 11.3 percent from the previous year. See what’s happening here? Even with improved Cadillac sales, its German rivals are also on the upswing in a global market where luxury cars are more popular than ever. So here’s the big question: Why aren’t Cadillacs more popular? Its current lineup is better than ever, led by the new CT6 flagship sedan.

Both the ATS and CTS are also highly regarded, as are their respective high performance "V" versions. Is perception the reason why Cadillac is failing to gain sales ground? Is it build and/or material quality? Something else entirely? In all likelihood, it’s a combination of everything, but perception is most certainly Cadillac’s biggest concern at the moment, mainly due to an identity crisis. It’s an internal battle between the bling-tastic (and hot-selling) Escalade SUV and the state-of-the-art technology and luxury focused (and more conservatively styled) CT6, with the ATS, CTS and dentist favorite XTS stuck in between.

The new XT5 compact crossover does little to advance the segment when compared to, say, the Porsche Macan and Audi Q5. Luxury buyers already know all of this. They’ve already cross-shopped brands and sometimes alternate between them. They often remain loyal to one brand for years, and Cadillac lost that loyalty long ago. Its once loyal buyers are, literally, buried six feet under. But the stigma of an "old man’s brand" remains and nobody – especially luxury car buyers where image matters – want to be seen in their deceased grandfather’s once favorite brand. Change that image, find the right identity that bridges technology and luxury, and offer something the competition doesn’t, and sales will improve. It’s easier said than done.

Why Aren't Cadillacs More Popular?

And what can be done to change that?

No one ever said it would be easy to revitalize an automotive luxury brand that once successfully branded itself as the "Standard of the World." Cadillac has been fighting an uphill battle for the past few years to regain its status in the luxury segment against some very formidable competitors, namely Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. While General Motors has rightly allowed Cadillac to have a greater level of autonomy outside of Detroit (a New York City headquarters, for example), it has yet to achieve annual sales figures that would cause its rivals to worry.

Cadillac’s 2016 year-end global sales came to 308,692 units. In that same period, Audi sold 1,871,350 units. BMW came in at 2,035,359 units, while Mercedes-Benz sold 2,083,888 cars. All three German brands increased sales last year, and so did Cadillac, which saw an 11.1 percent increase from 2015. However, Mercedes-Benz sales grew by 11.3 percent from the previous year. See what’s happening here? Even with improved Cadillac sales, its German rivals are also on the upswing in a global market where luxury cars are more popular than ever. So here’s the big question: Why aren’t Cadillacs more popular? Its current lineup is better than ever, led by the new CT6 flagship sedan.

Both the ATS and CTS are also highly regarded, as are their respective high performance "V" versions. Is perception the reason why Cadillac is failing to gain sales ground? Is it build and/or material quality? Something else entirely? In all likelihood, it’s a combination of everything, but perception is most certainly Cadillac’s biggest concern at the moment, mainly due to an identity crisis. It’s an internal battle between the bling-tastic (and hot-selling) Escalade SUV and the state-of-the-art technology and luxury focused (and more conservatively styled) CT6, with the ATS, CTS and dentist favorite XTS stuck in between.

The new XT5 compact crossover does little to advance the segment when compared to, say, the Porsche Macan and Audi Q5. Luxury buyers already know all of this. They’ve already cross-shopped brands and sometimes alternate between them. They often remain loyal to one brand for years, and Cadillac lost that loyalty long ago. Its once loyal buyers are, literally, buried six feet under. But the stigma of an "old man’s brand" remains and nobody – especially luxury car buyers where image matters – want to be seen in their deceased grandfather’s once favorite brand. Change that image, find the right identity that bridges technology and luxury, and offer something the competition doesn’t, and sales will improve. It’s easier said than done.

Chevrolet Corvette Could Still Get Cadillac's New V8

All thanks to some clever engineering.

Amid the hubbub of global reveals at the 2018 New York International Auto Show Cadillac quietly stole the thunder with the 2019 CT6 V-Sport and its Mercedes-esque 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8. The introduction of GM’s first DOHC V8 engine in a quarter-of-a-century kicked off a litany of speculation surrounding its use in upcoming Corvette projects, along with the engine’s potential for different displacements, natural aspiration, or another form of forced induction.

“The LTA was designed from the ground up with turbos in mind,” Cadillac V8 chief engineer Jordan Lee told GM Authority on the New York show floor. “Think of it as a point solution for Cadillac. It’s a purpose-built and designed engine for the CT6 V-Sport.” Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen has even gone so far as to proclaim that Corvette is never getting this engine, but that could prove to be more sematics than substance, when it comes to differing displacements or components. While the new 4.2-liter LTA V8 engine is unlikely to ditch its hot V turbos any time soon, Lee did note that his team could certainly engineer the engine to work without turbos if it was needed.

He also added that the engine’s torque curve isn’t finished being shaped and that the architecture most definitely has the appetite for more power. “This engine has two fuel pumps, but can have as many as four,” said Lee, who also oversaw the development of GM’s current family of small block V8s, including the 6.2L LT1, LT4, and LT5. With 550 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque offered up as the motor’s opening salvo, it’s fair to assume this new DOHC V8 could have the potential to give the world's best a real run for its money.

Cadillac's Twin-Turbo V8 Engine Now Has An Awesome New Logo

But will it appear in more places than just the CT6?

Cadillac surprised us when it decided to reveal a V-Sport version of its flagship CT6 sedan. The CT6 V-Sport was set to be powered by Cadillac's new 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8, producing a whopping 550 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac then deemed its new car was sporty enough to forgo the V-Sport badge, changing the name to the CT6-V .

The CT6 will now the be the first of Cadillac's newly-named 'CT' models to receive a V badge. It will also be the first to utilize the company's 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8, nicknamed the Blackwing, which will also be offered in a 500-hp state of tune on the CT6 platinum.

Along with a cool name like Blackwing, Cadillac wanted to make sure it had an awesome logo to accompany it. GM Authority has uncovered what this new logo will look like, along with trademark filings in both the United States and Canada. The logo consists of “two stylized wings comprised of six elongated geometric shapes.”

We expect the logo to appear somewhere on the engine cover, not on the exterior of the car. Interestingly, the logo did not show up when Cadillac first revealed the CT6 V-Sport, as the engine was originally referred to as the LTA.

The Blackwing engine will be hand-built by just six workers, with each motor being assembled by hand. With such a heavy emphasis on exclusivity, we aren't sure what other cars the Blackwing engine could appear in. It seems like a lot of work to go through on GM's part to develop a new engine and a cool new logo, just to use it in a single car.

Cadillac's new V8 could eventually appear in the next-generation Escalade or be borrowed for the rumored mid-engine Corvette. Either way, we doubt we have seen the full potential of the Blackwing engine.

Cadillac's Revolutionary Lease Program Might Be A Huge Failure

So much for being able to lease a carmaker's whole lineup.

Cadillac recently introduced a new program that would allow customers to lease every car in its lineup for $1,500. The program is called "Book By Cadillac" and it's basically a program that allows customers to switch out cars from Cadillac. This means that someone could have a CTS-V for a trip to the beach, then take an Escalade the next week on a ski trip. We absolutely loved this idea, and hoped that other automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz would copy it. However, according to 24/7 Wall Street, the program may be a colossal failure.

According to the report, Book customers get no response when they sign up for the service. GM also claims that it does not have enough cars for all of the people who want to sign up for the program. The service is only available in New York City as a test, but Cadillac still cannot fulfill subscriptions. Some customers have received this message when they try to sign up, "Thank you for your interest in becoming a Book by Cadillac member. At this time, there have been more requests than the number of open subscriptions. When a Book by Cadillac subscription becomes available, you will be contacted about the next steps." This is certainly not good for an expensive luxury service.

If Cadillac can't make this service work in New York City alone, we don't think that it bodes well for an expansion into other cities and regions. We were really hoping that Mercedes-Benz would launch a similar service where customers could have a G-Class one week and an AMG GT the next. However, if Cadillac shows that the idea isn't viable, we can kiss goodbye the idea of other automakers starting similar programs.

Lincoln's Co-Pilot 360 Is Like A Discount Version Of Tesla And Cadillac's Systems

But is this safety tech suite advanced enough to compete?

Automakers are all rushing to be the first to market with a self-driving car. Volkswagen has even invested in a self-driving car startup, but we have seen some crashes and other related incidences, so the technology isn't quite ready for prime time. For now, semi-autonomous systems like Tesla's Autopilot and Cadillac's Super Cruise are the best we can hope for.

Cadillac's system is very impressive because it is one of the few that allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel. While it may not be quite as advanced, Lincoln is proud of its new suite of standard safety features called Lincoln Co-Pilot360 (not to be confused with Ford Co-Pilot 360).

Lincoln recently held a launch event for the new 2019 Nautilus, where the company showed off the standard Co-Pilot 360 safety suite. It bundles blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, auto high beams, a lane-keeping system, and a rearview camera. These technologies have all become pretty ubiquitous around the auto industry, but the more interesting feature is Lincoln's lane-centering technology, which is part of a $1,590 driver-assistance package.

The lane-centering technology allows the car to detect lane markings in order to keep the car perfectly in the lane while adaptive cruise control keeps the car at a set distance from the car in front. Theoretically, the car can drive down the highway without the driver touching any of the controls, but the system will chime after about 15 seconds if the driver doesn't have their hands on the steering wheel.

At the launch event, Automotive News was able to test the system to see how well it functions in the real world. The outlet reports that Lincoln's system isn't as advanced as Cadillac Super Cruise, which uses expensive lidar mapping instead of Lincoln's cameras and sensors. Lincoln's system will chime after 15 seconds of not having hands on the wheel, but merely tapping the wheel is enough to reactivate it for another 15 seconds. While this does sound kind of annoying, the Lincoln system is far less expensive.

The driver-assistance package with lane-centering technology is only available on Reserve and Black Label trims, meaning it will cost around $51,000 on the low end. In comparison, Cadillac Super Cruise is only available as a $5,000 option on a CT6 Premium Luxury trim, which will set you back over $71,000. So although it may not be quite as advanced, Lincoln does have Cadillac beat on price when it comes to semi-autonomous technology.

GM Recalls 230,000 Chevrolets, Buicks And Cadillacs Due To Bad Brakes

Remember when 150,000 Dodge and Jeeps were recalled for dodgy brakes last month? The brake calipers were made by the same manufacturer.

General Motors has issued a massive recall affecting 210,628 vehicles in the US and 19,385 in Canada because of faulty brakes. According to a safety report filed by GM, improperly chromed rear brake caliper pistons can cause gas to be released into the braking system’s hydraulic circuit resulting in a “soft or spongy feel” when the brakes are applied.

Obviously, reduced brake response could increase the risk of an accident if you can’t stop in time. These brake calipers are sourced from Germany’s ZF group, which is the same manufacturer of the faulty brake calipers that led to 150,000 Dodge and Jeep vehicles being recalled.

“The manufacturer of the brake pistons failed to properly chrome and temper the brake pistons during the manufacturing process,” the report says. “In this condition, hydrogen gas can remain trapped in the piston body.” Vehicles affected by the recall are 2018 and 2019 models of the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Bolt EV, Cruze, Equinox, Impala, Malibu and Volt.

ZF Group has been investigating similar reports on its brake calipers from other automakers such as Audi, Volkswagen and BMW but failed to notify GM until June 14. Luckily, GM says it is not aware of any accidents caused by the brake issue. To rectify the problem, GM will bleed the rear brakes of affected vehicles to remove any gas.