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Cadillac CT6 First Drive


rmc523

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http://www.autoblog.com/2016/01/26/2016-cadillac-ct6-first-drive-review-video/

 

 

 

This is Cadillac's range-topping sedan. It's almost as long as the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series, yet in some configurations, it's lighter than their smaller siblings, the E-Class and 5 Series. The CT6 is a rolling showcase of General Motors' latest and best technologies, with potential breakthrough features like Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving waiting in the wings.

It comes in a wide variety of flavors. The CT6 starts as low as $54,490 with a four-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive, which is the car that Cadillac hopes will be cross-shopped with the mid-tier Germans. The top-end CT6 Platinum with all-wheel drive and the 404-horsepower V6 begins at $84,460, and it could make S-Class and 7 Series buyers rethink American luxury.

Put simply, the CT6 means everything to Cadillac, but it will mean different things to its customers. It can be the executive chauffeur with all the backseat accouterments. Or it can be the massive yet somehow kinda sporty and nimble rear-wheel-drive sedan that weighs only 3,657 pounds. We tried both versions and came away impressed with both the strategy and the execution.

 

....

 

The CT6 is unavoidable, not just for its looks and technology, but because GM is spending billions to re-launch Cadillac as a luxury player. For that to gain traction, this sedan must be the business. All of Cadillac's cars posted sales declines in 2015, though they were offset by gains from the ancient SRX crossover and Escalade SUV. The CT6 has to break this slump, industry trends be damned. It's the most important car the brand has made in years and its biggest step forward since Caddy began producing powerful, athletic sedans that could go toe-to-toe with the Germans on the Nürburgring. Cadillac needs a car that will define the brand as it moves forward. It has to win. This is the start of Cadillac's next chapter, and it's a winner.

 

 

Much more, including pictures, at the link above.

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I hope this "tweener" strategy works for Cadillac this time around. Granted the previous STS was not exactly as sorted as this new CT6 but luxury car buyers in the US have been conditioned to accept the German size classification for so long, it's going to be difficult for perspective buyers to understand what Cadillac is trying to do here.

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Once again it seems to be a nicely engineered vehicle. Not crazy about some of the styling personally but that's just personal preference.

 

The question is whether this will appeal to traditional Cadillac buyers (probably not) and whether they can pull in a lot of conquests (jury is still out but I have my doubts).

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Once again it seems to be a nicely engineered vehicle. Not crazy about some of the styling personally but that's just personal preference.

 

The question is whether this will appeal to traditional Cadillac buyers (probably not) and whether they can pull in a lot of conquests (jury is still out but I have my doubts).

 

I mean, I think it looks nice, but it's the same styling we've seen for the last decade.

 

I dont like that perforated leather part near the nav screen at all. It's black on models with tan interior. Between that and the black center part of the steering wheel, it looks odd. Also, I didn't realize the Panaray system has 36 speakers.

 

lead6-2016-cadillac-ct6-fd.jpg

lead4-2016-cadillac-ct6-fd.jpg

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"Nurburgring"

 

........and I'm out. Nothing that comes after that sentence could be worth the time required to read it. Or skim it.

You realize Autoblog said it, not Cadillac. Speaking of Autoblog some import luxury commenters said they'll check one out or already will buy one.

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http://jalopnik.com/the-2016-cadillac-ct6-makes-american-luxury-relevant-ag-1754754770

 

"But Cadillac’s product is solid, this one especially. It’s marketing challenges Cadillac has to conquer. The CT6 is a fantastic machine, easily supplanting the CTS as GM’s best sedan yet. More than that, it’s something that takes old ideals of American luxury and updates them for a new century, not another German pretender.

More like this, please."

Edited by Hugh
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Not another German pretender?

 

Please. That's exactly what this is.

 

It's going to sell to people who buy Cadillacs because people who buy Cadillacs are, by definition, people who buy Cadillacs. It will not sell to people who buy BMWs or Mercedes or whatever else because it's a Cadillac. GM has essentially put themselves to extraordinary pains to deliver things that the people who buy these cars don't want.

 

Maybe it'll sell in DTS volumes to similar people, but I'd bet it's nowhere near as profitable as the DTS was.

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Not another German pretender?

 

Please. That's exactly what this is.

 

It's going to sell to people who buy Cadillacs because people who buy Cadillacs are, by definition, people who buy Cadillacs. It will not sell to people who buy BMWs or Mercedes or whatever else because it's a Cadillac. GM has essentially put themselves to extraordinary pains to deliver things that the people who buy these cars don't want.

 

Maybe it'll sell in DTS volumes to similar people, but I'd bet it's nowhere near as profitable as the DTS was.

 

I don't recall the Germans selling something this big for 5-series money. And let's be honest... DTS buyers are not coming back en mass anyway unless they rise from the grave. This car is aimed at the Chinese buyer first and foremost and they want a lot thing that CT6 offers (but XTS cannot deliver).

 

I think this is a pretty legitimate effort to pull new buyers into Cadillac showroom - but that's not the same as saying this is the most logical investment to pull new buyers into Cadillac showroom. We've talked about elsewhere how some of the investments in Cadillac seemed ill-advised but I think CT6 delivers on a lot of the promise - in another word, I think this is a good car inside and out. Whether or not that makes good business sense is debatable.

 

Just like Continental is a good car inside and out but people also question Ford's approach. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water with CT6 is all I'm saying...

Edited by bzcat
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I guess we'll wait until the CT6/Continental comparisions come out. I think we'll see two different approaches to American Luxury.

 

Oh they'll be fawning over the "German" approach of Cadillac, while criticizing and nitpicking the Lincoln.

Edited by rmc523
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Don't think so..

 

This replace the XTS and unofficially the CTS. With the XTS outselling MKS 2 to 1 what makes you think the Lincoln outsell the Caddy?.

 

Starting MSRP of $53,500 on the CT6 is the biggest one. Conti should be closer to $40K.

 

XTS is $8K cheaper and probably has big rebates.

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