SW17LS

Being a good car and actually selling are different things. I think the ATS and CTS are very good cars also, but they aren't successful. Pricing and packaging are very important, and Cadillac is having a hard time in that department. I have no doubt this is going to be a very good car, but will it sell?

Any competitor to this class has its work cut out for it, everything in the segment is excellent, Cadillac has a tough row to hoe with this pricing structure, overlap with the CTS, confusion about where this car fits into the lineup relative to the CTS and other flagship cars like the LS, 7 and S Class...

Correct. What sells the Escalade is this prestige, but Cadillac itself doesn't have that prestige in different segments. "Cadillac" as a brand doesn't have the prestige to get a buyer out of an $80k+ BMW, Lexus, MB, Audi, etc. Not yet.

mmarshall

To some extent, though, you're putting the cart before the horse. What does the Escalade name actually mean? Big, heavy, powerful, chrome-laden, full of American bling, and able to carry many persons and tow large heavy trailers. That's what sells the vehicle, and has for years. Of course, the added glamor that Hollywood and the entertainment industry have given it in the image department hasn't hurt either....notwithstansing the fact that it is also one of the classic image-symbols of high gas consumption and oil-use, which makes it anathema to many environmentalists.

mmarshall

Again, though, what does the Escalade name really signify...and what gives the name that prestige? American bling. If Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, two well-known Cadillac fans, were still alive today, my strong guess is that is probably what they would be driving. At one time (though the recent scandals have admittedly hurt him), Cadillac was also Bill Cosby's favorite ride.

SW17LS

A lot of times what gives a brand that prestige is hard to quantify. When the Escalade came out it was embraced by a lot of celebrities, hip hop stars, and the vehicle kind of got a reputation for being the symbol of excess, and I think thats where it came from. It arrived at a time when the economy was booming and excess was really in.

"Escalade" has more prestige than "Cadillac" really. Thats why the Escalade is the only Cadillac not getting their goofy new naming structure.

mmarshall

Interesting thought. The Escalade does, in fact, deviate from Cadillac's alphabet-soup naming structure....as does Lincoln's Navigator, though the Navigator has not maintained quite the same popularity over the years the Escalade has.

SW17LS

The Navigator does have that name recognition too, but to a much lesser extent I agree.

Toys4RJill

The first drive reviews are now starting to come out. Some of the see driving impressions might surprise you.

Motor Trend says it "Feels like a Town Car".

Automobile says " the CT6 interior is generally handsome with tons of creature comforts --- but it's lacking a bona-fide flagship feel"

mmarshall

Then it should do very well in the limo/executive-car/livery business. They are still complaining about the Town Car's loss.

With that line, though, they should actually explain what they consider a "Flagship Feel". Their idea of luxury (and that of most enthusiast magazines) is usually more sport-oriented than that of the typical more mainstream luxury-car buyer.

SW17LS

Doesn't surprise me at all about the interior, what I've seen I agree 100%. Surprised about the comment about it riding like a Town Car.

What they mean by "feeling like a flagship" is the quality of materials and the "special" feel of the interior. The XT6 inside feels like a nice Cadillac, like an Escalade does, but it's not special like an S Class or a 7 Series, the LS isn't to that level right now but it will be.

And saying it's going to do well in the livery field, I'm sure it will but that's the kiss of death for private sales.

All in all though the first drives look pretty good.

mmarshall

Yes, the XTS is nice inside (I'll agree with that), but IMO it fails in the chassis/ride-comfort/refinement issues on the road. The one I reviewed also had a front-end shimmy that the factory later admitted was a design-defect, not just tire/wheel balance...supposedly corrected by now.

In its favor, though, it does handle better than the DTS (at a loss of ride-comfort), and, for bad weather, offers a secure AWD option that was lacking on the DTS.

I'm eagerly looking forward to at least a test-drive, if not full-review, of both the CT6 and Continental. In the meantime, if you get a chance to sample one, let us know.

Toys4RJill

I have to agree. Any mention or idea that it's good for this Cadillac to be associated with limos, town cars, or livery is a bad idea.

SW17LS

If Cadillac is smart they won't offer any fleet pricing. Let them use the XTS.

The last thing they want is for these to be airport cars, limos...or Hearses...

TangoRed

Good job taking MotorTrend's quote out of context and not providing a link.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/2016-...t-test-review/

mmarshall

Why is it a bad idea? Are you saying that the limo business should convert to Fiat 500s like they did for Pope Francis?

Toys4RJill

Come on? Seriously. It ruins the prestige of the brand and the model in question.