So it appears De Nysschen gets it.

by "404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
Published 01/11/2017 at 08:18

Tags: cadillac ; crossovers ; hatchback
STARS: 8

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De Nysschen, at Cadillac, said consumer tastes will always ebb and flow. “It was sedans and then it was wagons and then it became vans and then crossovers,” he explained. “Now you’re getting crossovers that are getting lower.” He added: “If we carry on long enough, we’re back to hatchbacks.”

So hurry the fuck up with the Escala on a compact chassis. Seriously.

In case of Kinja: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-11/detroit-bets-you-ll-get-sick-of-suvs

Replies (11)

"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
01/11/2017 at 08:24, STARS: 0

if you google, Escala, you may need to specify Cadillac... but you also may be.

If we carry on long enough, we’re back to hatchbacks

i like how he makes it sound like we might not make it long enough to see that day

"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
01/11/2017 at 09:04, STARS: 1

I don’t think “the average customer’ preferred car” needs to be what Cadillac builds a version of, though. Not necessarily. As a luxury brand, trying to offer “straight down the middle of what the most people want, but fancier” is a dangerous risk of loss of vision and identity. There doesn’t actually *have* to be a Cadillac-branded compact hatch, and if the purpose of Cadillac is to offer what “everyone wants on average”, it’s not going to work either with customers who expect... reserve in their luxury car or those who expect Cadillac to be an innovator, as it historically has been.

As long as de Nysschen understands that and is just making the general observation , no problem.

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
01/11/2017 at 09:41, STARS: 0

Only exception is Mercedes did exactly that, built fancy versions, and they just took the sales crown. After all they are a business to, I don’t know, try to make money.

I mean look at Ferrari and Lamborghini, they were stuck with their “vision” forever. Ended up under Fiat and Audi.

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
01/11/2017 at 09:41, STARS: 1

Well I’m sure the final name isn’t Escala. Observing what’s going on it’ll likely be called a Shitty-4 to slot under the Shitty-6.

"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
01/11/2017 at 09:50, STARS: 0

It’s not a 1:1 comparison, though. Mercedes has been a luxury brand in the US for ages, but their marketing of smaller models/etc. in Europe has been on the basis of being a lightly premium brand. Cloth seats, basic interiors... and in the long term, their focus on maintaining the luxury recognition in the US did them more help than harm because when they *did* offer extra models, they didn’t go all the way to the bottom and they were able to trade on past branding success.

Plus which, GM has a history of fucking up sales vision on their premium brands. There are risks in going too downmarket. Buick used to be their premium brand, and it’s only still broadly successful in China, because things like this came to say “Buick” on them.

I don’t think Cadillac needs to be Buick.

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
01/11/2017 at 10:24, STARS: 0

But they are going for the same client base.

"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
01/11/2017 at 10:38, STARS: 0

...and Mercedes has, if anything, only gotten more luxurious with its lowest offerings, rather than trying to offer the Most General Case, only Slightly Nicer. It remains a premium plus brand in the US. Undercutting that and making Cadillac “just another badge” would be a mistake, is my point.

GM has, get this, other brands than Chevy and Cadillac; it remains an apples and oranges comparison between Benz global and Cadillac, because Benz global has to be a full stable manufacturer and Cadillac doesn’t.

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
01/11/2017 at 10:53, STARS: 0

My point of argument was Mercedes has increasingly made available their less luxurious offerings, like the CLA, GLA, A and B Classes. Those are hardly luxury in their respective markets, but the strategy is working for them globally. If you actually been in one, you won’t say “more luxurious” at all.

.You’re missing my point. I didn’t ever say Cadillac should start rebadging Cruzes.

"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
01/11/2017 at 11:05, STARS: 0

I get you - mostly I’m just saying that I don’t think having the focus of Cadillac swinging to the tune of whatever market category is most popular is a guarantee for success, and given that Cadillac doesn’t *have to* be in every segment, thinking it does might be a mistake.

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
01/11/2017 at 12:43, STARS: 0

But they also shouldn’t turn a blind eye to trends on what sells, in fact they should get ahead.

"ranwhenparked" (ranwhenparked)
01/11/2017 at 18:25, STARS: 0

Its very simple. Customers want crossovers. But they want them to ride like a car, not a truck. And also drive like a car. And get car fuel economy. But not be hatchbacks or station wagons, because crossovers are different.