Not really a classic yet, but a fantastic marketing idea

[Hans1965]

I am currently in Shanghai and this Cadillac draws a lot of attention in the Xiantandi district of the city where you find fancy cuisine and interesting shops and young people. This is an eye catcher on its own.
Best,

Hans

[59-in-pieces]

Hans,
That is an optical illusion, right.
There is a smaller box around the car, with a larger box around that.
Water fills the void between the 2 boxes, in which the coy swim.
OK, option 2 might be a real time hologram or a digital-photo projection.
But just don't tell me that the car is actually submerged.
Have fun,
Steve B.

[Steve Passmore]

n.
But just don't tell me that the car is actually submerged.
Have fun,
Steve B.
[/quote]

I think it is. I don't see any signs of the inner tank and there are fish swimming over the car.   Nothing would surprise my about China.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

People are constantly thinking up different ways of selling anything.

Probably saved a lot of money doing it this way than paying a production crew for an expensive production.

Would like to hear the story behind the initial use of the car, before it was submerged.

Bruce.

[Walter Youshock]

Why not?  GM was under water, why not one of their products?

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

I was too intrigued to resist going further with this.

Looking at the picture right side up, the distance between the top of the tire and fender is much higher than normal -  the weightlessness of being under water resulting in the suspension raising the body higher than it would normally sit.

My verdict: Yes, the car is definitely submerged. My only question is how exactly is this supposed to make one want to buy a new Cadillac? 

[Steve Passmore]

I suspect its in there without any mechanicals hence the high sitting position, after all you wouldn't want fluids coming out in the fish water.

[57eldoking]

I'm certainly no physicist but being submerged does not make an object weightless. Gravity on earth remains the same in water as on land, the force counteracting gravity in a body of water is buoyancy. Unless the cabin is sealed and filled with air the CT6 will be heavier than water and would sit at the exact same height sitting submerged on the bottom as it would on land. If it was filled with air and was lighter than its displaced volume of water it would float to the surface. You would consequently have to anchor its wheels to the bottom to achieve the raised suspension effect. I believe it is sitting without a drivetrain but its kind of strange they didn't compensate that with ballast...

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

I'm no physicist either but I do know things are significantly lighter under water.

"Weightless" was ill-used. "Weighs less" (underwater) is what I meant to say.

Looks like one of the fish is trying get a better look at the suspension. 

Found the explanation:

When you immerse an object in water, water pushes it upwards. This is called Archimede's principal. It states, the maginitude of the upward force an object immersed in a fluid experiences equals to the weight of the fluid displaced due to that object.

Keep in mind, when you immerse an object in water, it displaces water according to its shape. So, more water it displaces the more upward force it experiences.

Weight is actually the downward force applied on an object due to gravity. When you immerse an object in water, the downward force is compromised by the upward force the water applies on the object. That is why objects weigh less in water.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A0LEVvFZNc5WKSYA1kknnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEycG9qMDEwBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDQjE3NDdfMQRzZWMDc3I-?qid=20070710014205AAEvNcQ&p=do%20things%20weigh%20less%20under%20water

[Hans1965]

I can tell you it is a real size car. Everybody passing by was taking pictures. Not a single person walked by without having made a picture. Imagine how many have forwarded this like I did.  Here are more photos.

[57eldoking]

I'm surprised the automotive press hasn't picked up on it yet. Did a search and can't find anything on it, at least not in English. I wonder if David King has heard about it, I believe he worked on the CT6.

[76eldo]

I think once the car fills up with water the buoyancy will not be a factor. No drivetrain makes sense.

It will no doubt end up on a used car lot somewhere in Brooklyn or Queens.

Brian 

[Scot Minesinger]

I think the car probably does not have an interior either (besides not having a drivetrain), they should have weighted it down though to attain proper stance and look.  Although maybe it was done that way because the car would look too close to the ground (tires sink into sand a little).

In any event as posted, the cost of a CT6 with no drivetrain and interior for Cadillac to provide vs cost of filming a commercial probably makes this worthwhile.  After all it appears that this fish tank is one of the most highly photographed Cadillac advertisements in quite a while.

[cadillac ken]

Looking at this I think of three words:  Monkey-puppy-baby.  Everyone remembers that disturbing image but I find almost no one remembers what the product was that was being promoted.  Huge advertising fail.

I'm betting everyone will remember the "car" submerged in a tank full of koi.  How many will remember it was a Cadillac?(other than we in the club). And to what end does this achieve for GM?  As a former Adman, this kind of thing is fun but not very good at promoting the product. Serious buyers want facts, price, and comparisons to competition.  Not sure what the goal of this was other than brand introduction-- maybe?  Is it Art?

But yes, truly an attention getter. Thanks for the photos.  The glass tank alone would be pretty expensive to build in order to withstand that kind of water pressure! 

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

^^^ I could not agree more with Cadillac Ken.

[Big Apple Caddy]

Cadillac CT6 in a Fish Tank in China
http://www.carnewschina.com/2016/02/25/cadillac-ct6-in-a-fish-tank-in-china/

Elsewhere, Reuters/China Daily is stating that this display is meant to promote the CT6's environmental-friendly features.

[tozerco]

cadillacken doesn't know Shanghai then. This is not America and the locals are not driven by the same things you learned at ad school!

[57eldoking]

I agree with John, this display carries much more meaning than simply sticking a CT6 in a tank with some fish. The Koi symbolizes many lessons and trials an individual encounters in life in China. Some of the characteristics the Koi symbolize include:

Good fortune
Success
Prosperity
Longevity
Courage
Ambition
Perseverance

These are all attributes that would be positive to have people associate with your product or brand. In fact looking at them, they seem very aligned with the spirit of what the Cadillac brand symbolizes. I am sure this isn't something we'll see in Europe or the U.S but in China I'm sure it's a well thought out and effective marketing ploy. I even like it myself and find it quite intriguing, far from a marketing fail IMHO

[55 cadi]

Also if the Cadillac is air tight, it shows it.

If air tight then there would be air in the cabin section and trunk which would make it rise up some also.