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Deep Throat predicts, Reuters reports. Following our main man’s heads-up that GM’s lackluster products are in the firing line, the news agency reports that GM’s delaying “the unveiling of a new Buick LaCrosse model that it had planned to show at the Los Angeles auto show in November in part to reduce costs.” Also not showing-up: the Cadillac CTS coupe. While GM spinmeister Scott Fosgard says the two cars will make the scene at the Detroit auto show, I take that to mean “when Hell freezes over.” I mean, assuming GM will have a [last] stand at the LA Auto Show, how does NOT showing two cars save them money? In other words, bye-bye Buick (though product starvation) and who the Hell would buy a CTS coupe anyway?
19 Comments on “GM Puts Cadillac CTS Coupe, New Buick LaCrosse On Ice...”
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CTS coupe = flippin beautiful
I’ll take one please.
Seemingly millions of people bought Infiniti G35 coupes, all of them certainly weren’t Nissan fanboys (and fangirls) so I don’t think it was brand loyalty.
There’s a market for the CTS coupe, and the CTS-V coupe would be preferable to a vette, viper, et al. To your point, none would be my first choice, but I do think there’s a market at the market penetration numbers GM is quoting.
The SUV killed the sports car in the mid-90’s (Z, Supra, RX-7, Camaro, etc.), but the SUV is dead, long live the car.
Agree with gamper. The CTS-V and the coupe are the only two Cadillacs I’ve actually lusted for. Ever.
The CTS Coupe was at the Detroit auto show in January and it was awesome. Perhaps it was only a concept, but it looked pretty close to production.
The LaCrosse is important because it is also the next Malibu, Aura and G6, with different grills and tail lights, of course.
Move the ignition to the floor, and well, you know what you get.
Together, those 5 models must sell at least 350-400 copies a month, no?
I don’t know who the hell would buy the CTS coupe, but I sure as hell wouldn’t mind having them around to gaze at.
I don’t get the amazement with the CTS Coupe. I think it simply looks wrong. The proportions are way off…I really like the looks of the regular CTS, I think it’s way ahead of both, the CTS-V as well as the Coupe. However, I don’t get how axing this car saves costs. It’s basically the same car as the CTS, they just stick a slightly different chassis on top…those extra costs should be amortized rather quickly without having to sell a whole lot. Unless of course GM doesn’t even have the money to begin with…which is a creepy thought…
That aside, a new LaCrosse would probably be a lot more important than the CTS Coupe. Axing this car probably means that Buick is going to be a China-only-brand rather soon.
There’s nothing wrong with killing the Buick, and it’s a good start toward what will probably be the necessary killing of the brand, but icing the CTS coupe is a big mistake.
I know that overall coupes’ sales aren’t that hot, but in the CTS’s entry level luxury segment they are. I see just as many G and 3-series coupes as I do sedans. Also, Cadillac is going to need some new cars if it is one of the two brands that are supposed to live.
I like wagons, but if GM kills the CTS coupe and keeps the CTS wagon we will know that they don’t even want to stay in business.
I saw a collection of CTS coupes, lightly disguised, in Albion, MI next to I-94 last week. They looked pretty close to production, and beautiful.
GM, you’re going to lose more money by holding back the new LaCrosse than producing it, considering the quality of the current LaCrosse.
jybt,
Exactly right. Somehow it became gospel in Detroit that selling old garbage is a better than bringing to market the best vehicle you can build. This is why the Malibu was introduced off GM’s old midsized platform, why we get the wrong Focus, and the PT Cruiser never got updated with the Caliber’s chassis.
Did Detroit save money? Sure, probably $2,000 per vehicle. But consumers would have paid an extra $5,000 to get a best in class vehicle. Penny foolish and pound foolish.
The Cruze will probably delayed until the 2011 model year as well. Cobalts and G5s anyone?
re CTS coupe’s gorgeousness: I wonder if people fawned all over the AMC AMX this way, or if there really is that much pent up demand for American coupes after a decade-ish without them.
Sajeev Mehta :
October 24th, 2008 at 5:46 pm: re CTS coupe’s gorgeousness: I wonder if people fawned all over the AMC AMX this way(?)
It does resemble an AMX, doesn’t it?
And yes.
The LaCrosse is questionable. The current car is definitely a dud and needs to be updated. However, it would take a truly phenomenal sedan to get people who are happy in their Accords and Camrys to give it a look. Additionally, Buick is supposed to be GM’s Lexus… good luck getting anyone out of an ES350 and into the new LaCrosse. So that money is probably better saved. I don’t think many people were anxious to see the new LaCrosse anyway.
The CTS coupe, on the other hand, had a good following and anticipation for its debut. It’s a 99% beautiful car, the back is a little ungainly, but overall quite nice. The coupe is the emotional version of a car model. Sure, the CTS sedan sells well, but it’s the beautiful coupe that brings in the younger crowd and gets Cadillac noticed on the street. The CTS is a good performing automobile, so the coupe would be competitive as well. Too bad.
CTS coupe v. Camaro
Correct me if I am wrong but are not the CTS and Camaro based off of the same platform?
The CTS coupe represents the future while the Camaro is the past, needless to say we all know which car GM is going to bet its last remaining dollars on!
Irony, over the last 5 to 6 years we have watched Nissan so the world just how much interest there is in a “classy” reasonable priced coupe. G35/37 is a personal car that appeals to just about ALL DEMOGRAPHICS. That is why Nissan is able to sell so many of these things. Whether it be a doctor or drug dealer the G coupe appear to be very popular. It is a beautiful car yet it does scream ” I WANT ATTENTION” like the new Camaro will.
I just do not get it! I will never even consider a Camaro, BUT in today’s economic and social climate IF I were still willing to spend money and floss I would give a great deal of thought to an American made CTS coupe, considering how good the CTS sedan is I am such the coupe would have been just the competition that the G37 needs today.
Once again: GM “the largest car company inthe world” NEEDS volume to survive yet they are concentrating their resources on niche products like the Camaro that are actually quite polarizing, a truly love it or hate affair.
I know 3 current owners of G35s, these folks also like Escalades and other Caddys but will NEVER drive a Camaro based on image alone. IT IN NO WAY MATTERS IF THE CAMARO COST LESS!
Is it any wonder why GM cant sell “Suger Honey Ice Tea” on the east or west coasts of this country? The car that appeal to “us” urban folks is the CTS NOT the Camaro.
Chysler proved with 300c and Charger that with the right product folks will buy USA. The CTS should have been a Regal of Riveria, should have hit the market a year ago, and I am sure you would have seen some traffic in those Buick showrooms consisting of people under the age of 65.
@whatdoIknow1 – You will NEVER see traffic in a Buick showroom consisting of people under the age of 65! Unless they’re looking at a Pontiac; that brand builds excitement! Right? j/k, of course :)
Sadly, of the Buick/Pontiac/GMC triumvirate, GMC is the most clearly defined brand, right now. Which is truly sad.
The Camaro is based off the G8.
Following up on the post about the G8…..to me, another nail in the coffin that Pontiac/Buick/GMC are as good as dead. Either through GM actually doing something with them or they know bankruptcy is a high probability and they’re gonna get axed anyway.
I really hope the CTS coupe shows up though. I’d LOVE to have one of those if I had the scratch.