Cadillac Wants To Expand High Performance V-Series Range

Cadillac’s President also has some interesting theories why the company’s sedans aren’t selling.

It’s no secret that Cadillac has been struggling to compete against its European luxury rivals like BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Sedan sales have been rapidly declining, which was one of several subjects Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen tackled in a recent interview with Motor Trend. He blamed low energy prices, which means consumers are less concerned about fuel economy and sedans being lighter, as well as younger consumers “who really are less tuned into dynamics and handling.”

He also cited the decay of America’s infrastructure as “roads no longer support high-performance sport sedans and ultra-low profile rubber.” This decrease in sedan sales could cause Cadillac’s entry-level sedan, the ATS, to be scrapped for the 2019 model year. If you were hoping that Cadillac will introduce a lifted wagon like the Audi A4 Allroad or Volvo V90 Cross Country as a more practical and capable alternative to a sedan, prepare to be disappointed. “I think those are interesting entries,” he said. “The Audi Allroad is a little bit of an inbetweener, if you like, because it is drawing on the Avant model and turning it into more of a robust character."

"For Cadillac, our focus right now is getting into the core segments.” If you hadn’t already guessed, that means Cadillac will continue focusing on crossovers, since consumers currently have an unrelenting appetite for them. Cadillac will be presenting the XT4 compact crossover at the upcoming New York Auto Show at the end of the month, which will slot below the current XT5. The Cadillac President promised that the company’s upcoming crossovers will be “exciting, athletic and very attractively designed but also functional.” While crossovers are vital for the future of Cadillac, the automaker’s high-performance V-Series cars aren’t going anywhere.

In fact, de Nysschen was quick to assure the publication that more are on the way. “V in the future will continue to play a very important part in terms of creating this halo brand cachet around Cadillac,” he said. “We are a luxury brand, but we are also about producing exhilarating driver’s cars, and nowhere is this more clearly brought to bear than in V.” He confirmed that not all Cadillacs will get the V-Series treatment, but “a far broader part of the future portfolio will see this sport and V-Sport execution.” An XT4-V would make sense to take on the upcoming BMW X3 M, and there have been plenty of rumors of a high-performance Escalade-V. A CT5-V is likely to be in the cards too.

GM Wants To Double Cadillac Sales By 2021 With The Aid Of Crossovers And China

But what about the European market?

General Motors recently fired Cadillac president and CEO Johan de Nysschen not because he was a bad CEO, but because he wasn’t a good fit for what Cadillac needs in order to survive in the long-term. The competition coming from Germany, Japan, and Korea is stronger than ever and will only gather strength. Survival, even for Cadillac, is not a guarantee. But the American luxury brand is regrouping and getting things in order. If this report from GM Authority via Cadillac Society is correct, then Cadillac’s future has huge potential.

The report claims that at a recent presentation the automaker gave to investment bankers and analysts at the Deutsche Bank Automotive Conference, the automaker revealed plans to increase sales volume and profits two-fold over the next four years.

Double sales and profits by 2021? It’s possible, and here’s how: crossovers and China. Cadillac is already expanding its crossover lineup with the recent introduction of the XT4, set to arrive in American and Chinese showrooms very soon. It will join the XT5 and within the next couple of years, an all-new three-row crossover likely to be dubbed XT6.

A three-model crossover lineup is, in a word, vital. North America and China are the main markets. Not to be done away with entirely, Cadillac’s sedan lineup will also soon be re-worked. As we previously reported, the ATS sedan is dead and we figure the coupe will be phased out around this time next year.

Both it and the CTS will be replaced by a single model, the CT5, in 2020. Cadillac previously went on record stating it launch a new vehicle every six months through 2021. By that time it will have introduced five vehicle lines. Although most of the above is not entirely new information, what we found surprising to see was what we didn’t see: any mention of Europe. Cadillac desperately tried to make a dent in the European market, but it was proven, once again, to be dominated by the German brands, hence Cadillac’s strategy to turn eastward and focus on its home market.

Cadillac Wants To Expand High Performance V-Series Range

Cadillac’s President also has some interesting theories why the company’s sedans aren’t selling.

It’s no secret that Cadillac has been struggling to compete against its European luxury rivals like BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Sedan sales have been rapidly declining, which was one of several subjects Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen tackled in a recent interview with Motor Trend. He blamed low energy prices, which means consumers are less concerned about fuel economy and sedans being lighter, as well as younger consumers “who really are less tuned into dynamics and handling.”

He also cited the decay of America’s infrastructure as “roads no longer support high-performance sport sedans and ultra-low profile rubber.” This decrease in sedan sales could cause Cadillac’s entry-level sedan, the ATS, to be scrapped for the 2019 model year. If you were hoping that Cadillac will introduce a lifted wagon like the Audi A4 Allroad or Volvo V90 Cross Country as a more practical and capable alternative to a sedan, prepare to be disappointed. “I think those are interesting entries,” he said. “The Audi Allroad is a little bit of an inbetweener, if you like, because it is drawing on the Avant model and turning it into more of a robust character."

"For Cadillac, our focus right now is getting into the core segments.” If you hadn’t already guessed, that means Cadillac will continue focusing on crossovers, since consumers currently have an unrelenting appetite for them. Cadillac will be presenting the XT4 compact crossover at the upcoming New York Auto Show at the end of the month, which will slot below the current XT5. The Cadillac President promised that the company’s upcoming crossovers will be “exciting, athletic and very attractively designed but also functional.” While crossovers are vital for the future of Cadillac, the automaker’s high-performance V-Series cars aren’t going anywhere.

In fact, de Nysschen was quick to assure the publication that more are on the way. “V in the future will continue to play a very important part in terms of creating this halo brand cachet around Cadillac,” he said. “We are a luxury brand, but we are also about producing exhilarating driver’s cars, and nowhere is this more clearly brought to bear than in V.” He confirmed that not all Cadillacs will get the V-Series treatment, but “a far broader part of the future portfolio will see this sport and V-Sport execution.” An XT4-V would make sense to take on the upcoming BMW X3 M, and there have been plenty of rumors of a high-performance Escalade-V. A CT5-V is likely to be in the cards too.

GM Wants To Double Cadillac Sales By 2021 With The Aid Of Crossovers And China

But what about the European market?

General Motors recently fired Cadillac president and CEO Johan de Nysschen not because he was a bad CEO, but because he wasn’t a good fit for what Cadillac needs in order to survive in the long-term. The competition coming from Germany, Japan, and Korea is stronger than ever and will only gather strength. Survival, even for Cadillac, is not a guarantee. But the American luxury brand is regrouping and getting things in order. If this report from GM Authority via Cadillac Society is correct, then Cadillac’s future has huge potential.

The report claims that at a recent presentation the automaker gave to investment bankers and analysts at the Deutsche Bank Automotive Conference, the automaker revealed plans to increase sales volume and profits two-fold over the next four years.

Double sales and profits by 2021? It’s possible, and here’s how: crossovers and China. Cadillac is already expanding its crossover lineup with the recent introduction of the XT4, set to arrive in American and Chinese showrooms very soon. It will join the XT5 and within the next couple of years, an all-new three-row crossover likely to be dubbed XT6.

A three-model crossover lineup is, in a word, vital. North America and China are the main markets. Not to be done away with entirely, Cadillac’s sedan lineup will also soon be re-worked. As we previously reported, the ATS sedan is dead and we figure the coupe will be phased out around this time next year.

Both it and the CTS will be replaced by a single model, the CT5, in 2020. Cadillac previously went on record stating it launch a new vehicle every six months through 2021. By that time it will have introduced five vehicle lines. Although most of the above is not entirely new information, what we found surprising to see was what we didn’t see: any mention of Europe. Cadillac desperately tried to make a dent in the European market, but it was proven, once again, to be dominated by the German brands, hence Cadillac’s strategy to turn eastward and focus on its home market.

GM Wants To Double Cadillac Sales By 2021 With The Aid Of Crossovers And China

But what about the European market?

General Motors recently fired Cadillac president and CEO Johan de Nysschen not because he was a bad CEO, but because he wasn’t a good fit for what Cadillac needs in order to survive in the long-term. The competition coming from Germany, Japan, and Korea is stronger than ever and will only gather strength. Survival, even for Cadillac, is not a guarantee. But the American luxury brand is regrouping and getting things in order. If this report from GM Authority via Cadillac Society is correct, then Cadillac’s future has huge potential.

The report claims that at a recent presentation the automaker gave to investment bankers and analysts at the Deutsche Bank Automotive Conference, the automaker revealed plans to increase sales volume and profits two-fold over the next four years.

Double sales and profits by 2021? It’s possible, and here’s how: crossovers and China. Cadillac is already expanding its crossover lineup with the recent introduction of the XT4, set to arrive in American and Chinese showrooms very soon. It will join the XT5 and within the next couple of years, an all-new three-row crossover likely to be dubbed XT6.

A three-model crossover lineup is, in a word, vital. North America and China are the main markets. Not to be done away with entirely, Cadillac’s sedan lineup will also soon be re-worked. As we previously reported, the ATS sedan is dead and we figure the coupe will be phased out around this time next year.

Both it and the CTS will be replaced by a single model, the CT5, in 2020. Cadillac previously went on record stating it launch a new vehicle every six months through 2021. By that time it will have introduced five vehicle lines. Although most of the above is not entirely new information, what we found surprising to see was what we didn’t see: any mention of Europe. Cadillac desperately tried to make a dent in the European market, but it was proven, once again, to be dominated by the German brands, hence Cadillac’s strategy to turn eastward and focus on its home market.

GM Wants To Double Cadillac Sales By 2021 With The Aid Of Crossovers And China

But what about the European market?

General Motors recently fired Cadillac president and CEO Johan de Nysschen not because he was a bad CEO, but because he wasn’t a good fit for what Cadillac needs in order to survive in the long-term. The competition coming from Germany, Japan, and Korea is stronger than ever and will only gather strength. Survival, even for Cadillac, is not a guarantee. But the American luxury brand is regrouping and getting things in order. If this report from GM Authority via Cadillac Society is correct, then Cadillac’s future has huge potential.

The report claims that at a recent presentation the automaker gave to investment bankers and analysts at the Deutsche Bank Automotive Conference, the automaker revealed plans to increase sales volume and profits two-fold over the next four years.

Double sales and profits by 2021? It’s possible, and here’s how: crossovers and China. Cadillac is already expanding its crossover lineup with the recent introduction of the XT4, set to arrive in American and Chinese showrooms very soon. It will join the XT5 and within the next couple of years, an all-new three-row crossover likely to be dubbed XT6.

A three-model crossover lineup is, in a word, vital. North America and China are the main markets. Not to be done away with entirely, Cadillac’s sedan lineup will also soon be re-worked. As we previously reported, the ATS sedan is dead and we figure the coupe will be phased out around this time next year.

Both it and the CTS will be replaced by a single model, the CT5, in 2020. Cadillac previously went on record stating it launch a new vehicle every six months through 2021. By that time it will have introduced five vehicle lines. Although most of the above is not entirely new information, what we found surprising to see was what we didn’t see: any mention of Europe. Cadillac desperately tried to make a dent in the European market, but it was proven, once again, to be dominated by the German brands, hence Cadillac’s strategy to turn eastward and focus on its home market.

Trump Wants GM To Reimburse America For The Bailout?

The fallout continues.

President Donald Trump is not happy with General Motors these days, to say the least. And regardless of what your political views are, the president is right to criticize GM for the upcoming US plant closures and layoffs. However, could GM have found a way to avoid this? Or is this just another example of free market forces?

Whatever the answer may be, Trump just retweeted on Twitter that “If GM doesn't want to keep their jobs in the United States, they should pay back the $11.2 billion bailout that was funded by the American taxpayer.” As Reuters further points out, the US government lost $11.2 billion on its GM bailout.

It invested about $50 billion to save GM because of its 2009 bankruptcy. For a time, it also held a 61 percent equity stake in the automaker. Beginning in late 2010, the US Treasury began selling GM stock and the final shares weren’t sold until December 2013. By that point, the government took an $11.2 billion loss. The government stated at that time it never intended to earn a profit, but rather to save the US auto industry by any means necessary. It was successful, obviously, but it came at a huge expense and political price. Earlier this week, Trump threatened to cut off all federal subsidies to GM, but that could prove difficult.

In fact, GM was already going to begin losing the $7,500 EV tax credit because it’ll soon reach its subsidy limit. The point being is that there may not be much Trump can do to change GM CEO Mary Barra’s mind (or its shareholders). GM vehicles including the Chevrolet Cruze, Bolt, and Impala, and Cadillac CT6 have received death notices due to sluggish sales. But this how a free market economy works. If something doesn’t sell, no matter how good the product maybe, it’s discontinued. Problem for those who build these vehicles is that GM, at least for now, has no use for those factories – and that is what Trump wants to see changed.