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Cadillac Flagship that you would buy

Started by Scot Minesinger, May 11, 2017, 08:51:44 AM

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Dan LeBlanc

I'd be interested in a Cadillac that's not a German car wannabe. If I want a German luxury sedan I'll buy one. I like my American luxury cars big, RWD, with the hum of a V8 wooing me on my journey. I like them smooth riding and comfortable.

I've driven a new XTS for a weekend and NOTHING about that car is what I would consider a Cadillac. I owned an 04 deville and hated it so much, I gave it away. FWD. Forget it. I'd take a used Town Car with 500k miles on it before I'd buy another modern Cadillac.

Dan LeBlanc
1977 Lincoln Continental Town Car

Ralph Messina CLC 4937

It would be the Escala concept car:  http://www.cadillac.com/concept-cars/escala.html?ppc=GOOGLE_700000001298428_71700000016217435_58700001675342031_p13295829489&gclid=CNCSr4-O7dMCFUlMDQodi3kNyw     (Ctrl =click)

But, it must be offered in a “bespoke” manner. Bespoke Is defined as “dealing in or producing custom-made articles” which is how Cadillac’s were sold until recently. Look at the paint, leather and interior configurations shown in this build your own site: https://www.bentleymotors.com/en/misc/car-configurator.html/models/FlyingSpur/flying-spur-v8/navigate/eb1d1468296da7fecc68d380d5aa0aac/suggestion/Eclipse  (Ctrl + click). The ability to individualize a luxury car is a key factor in image and desirability of the brand. It is sadly missing in today’s market of black, silver or white exteriors with beige or gray interiors.  Granted this vehicle is nearly twice the $100M target Scott set in his original post. But that price is for a performance chassis that powers this four door sedan to a top speed of 202MPH. A Cadillac V8 sedan need not approach that level of performance to become a halo car or major luxury player. The incremental cost to offer the wide selection of interior and exterior colors shown is the inventory carrying cost of smaller hide lots and more frequent color changes in the paint process. Both would be negligible in overall cost but would have a significant effect on product image.

The biggest hurdle to many of the features we want are the federal safety regulation, particularly related to roll over of a four door convertible. As an example, Car and Driver had an article about how the impact of regulations has driven all designs to default to the egg shape. It cited that there are 720 regulations just on the design of the dash board…. 'nuff said

Yes, I’d buy one.

1966 Fleetwood Brougham-with a new caretaker http://bit.ly/1GCn8I4
1966 Eldorado-with a new caretaker  http://bit.ly/1OrxLoY
2018 GMC Yukon

TC

Flagship:  "the finest, largest, or most important one of a series, network" (Webster). These cars bring showroom traffic and sell the lower priced models.

Since Rolls-Royce has been mentioned quite a bit here, here is an example:  Rolls-Royce had a flagship model in the 70s and 80s the Camargue a full sized Super Coupe'. Designed by Pininfarina, its styling met mixed reviews at best in the day and today, it is poorly received. However, it was the most expensive car in the world when introduced in 1976 at $90k and brought prospective buyers into the showrooms to see such a car. Customers left with a Silver Shadow for a relative bargain at $60k.

From a sales perspective, the Camargue was a flop selling only 558 cars from 1976 to 1985, however, it was a success from  a "Halo" car perspective.  Its special and unique features created interest in the Rolls-Royce marque and sold more of their lower priced models.