mmarshall

Unfortunately, "Doing Well" certainly has not meant high sales for either the RL or RLX, but there were more issues involved with that than just the engine. A shame, too, because both are extremely well-made cars.


Agreed. IMHO, it is getting more panning than it deserves. The only thing I'd eliminate is the CUE system.

SW17LS

Audi handles the transition from FWD to RWD differently than others. True, the A8 can be had FWD in other markets, but the AWD Quattro version has a longitudinally mounted engine and has a rear biased power split. All AWD Audis are that way. An AWD Fusion based Lincoln won't be that way.

Toys4RJill

What is gonna happen is that people will realize that the car is nice, but not 7series or LS series nice. Cadillac will be in the same place it is now. The exterior really does nothing. I would of liked to see some kind design that would of changed the game for the flagship segment.

TangoRed

True true, although I must mention the Audi A3 is an exception to your post. It's set up just like the Continental will be (although the S3 has a performance oriented torque split). I get your point at the Continental's price point though.

SW17LS

Haven't spent much time with the A3.

At the lower price points I don't have an issue with it, for instance like I said in another thread...nobody is saying the CT needs to be RWD. But, premium cars are overwhelmingly RWD, and economy cars are overwhelmingly FWD. FWD is an economy powertrain, RWD is a premium powertrain. When I spend $50k+...I expect a RWD layout car. That was my point about the RX in the other thread. When it lives mostly in the $40s and compares to Buicks, or the MDX, it being FWD is fine. When they start positioning it to compete with say...the X5...and from a style perspective they are and I think you will find the new unmarket RX will easily top $60k...it needs to be on a proper premium RWD platform.

mmarshall

Buick itself, though, has not only recently done the Avenir concept (a full-size sedan with RWD), but, also, at least until GM's Holden production in Australia stops in a couple of years, may (?) have the option of the RWD Commodore platform like Chevy's SS uses. The SS, of course, is quite sport-oriented...a Buick version would likely be more comfort-oriented. The main sticking problem with that, though, seems to be simply if GM would commit to an adequate number of Buick Commodore production.....Chevy only did a few thousand SS models. Buick also did a concept Grand National on the Commodore/SS platform, but plans for that must also have fallen through the cracks.

dseag2

I hear what you're saying, but Audi has done quite well with Quattro. My S5 handles better and feels more planted than my GS F Sport did, plus it puts the power down to all four wheels so it takes off quicker. Audi has found a great workaround to being FWD biased.

The A8 can run $100k+ and I wouldn't have any qualms about putting it in the same league as the LS or 7 Series. (Maybe not the S Class because that has them all beat.)

pman6

this thing is under 3700 lbs !
Lexus is making porkers

mmarshall

It's BIG, too, especially considering its weight. I got a good look at it yesterday at the D.C. Auto Show, though it was roped off and inaccessible for sitting inside.

SW17LS

I didn't think it looked as big as it is. It's really long, but it's low and wide. I liked it a lot more in person than I have in pictures. Interior still doesn't look up to that level though.

Sulu

It's all that innovative aluminum construction.

oldcajun

It is much more than just aluminum construction although that is a significant part. There is a whole listing of high tech design in the chassis such as aluminum casting for high load areas, special bonding techniques for joining aluminum to steel, etc. Cadillac engineered just about every inch of the chassis to meet strength and stiffness requirements with minimum weight. The result, is a car slightly larger than a current LS that weighs only 74 lb more than an IS200t. The chassis is also very stiff in both bending and torsion.

This has got to be a very expensive car to manufacture and I'm not sure that most luxury buyers will appreciate the effort. The base car with the turbo 4 at $55K is probably very competitive with the new E300 or a 528 but will battle the image issue. At $85K for the Platinum version, it will be a tough sell.

If the CT6 is a sales failure, it could set innovative engineering in American cars back for years. I, for one, hope it does well.

My view of the Lincoln Continental is that it is a totally different approach. Make your current design/technology the best it can be. This is the lowest cost and risk, but the lowest potential reward, especially for the buyer.
Steve

BrownPride

I'm more impressed with the CT6 than I was originally but at the end of the day I still believe it will be a tough sell. All the press cars are loaded with Platinum packages and come out at around $83,000. Well-equipped Jaguar XJs and Audi A8s cost about that much. The interior and pedigree of those cars is at a higher level. Even in the Platinum trim level the interior buttons are all cheap-looking plastic and those rear LCD screens look a decade-old especially with their plastic coverings.

The interiors of the run-of-the-mill CT6s won't be nearly as special as the Platinum models and those cars are going to be priced right with the likes of the new E-class which is a much more special car inside an out. The only redeeming quality of the CT6 over the new E-class is say, rear legroom, but otherwise it has no redeeming qualities. It's going to get even tougher for the CT6 when the new 5-series, A6, and GS hit showrooms within the next 2-3 years.

I predicted that the ATS and CTS would both be sales flops and I was correct. They are decent cars but not nearly as good as the American journalists made them out to be. As time went on these reviewers slowly become and more honest and starting pointing out some of the flaws including fit-and-finish issues, CUE being horrible, somewhat boring styling, etc. I predict the CT6 will do well with the senior citizen crowd but it won't threaten the Germans or future crop of Lexuses.

SW17LS

Yeah, I'm afraid they have overpriced this car by about $10,000 too.

UDel

Needs a much better interior then those pics.

It is again priced too high with a useless 4cyl base engine. Why a 4cyl in a car like this?

If it comes with that interior and a 4cyl base engine it is not going to sell well.