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Originally Posted by ferizzo
While I don't disagree with all your points I do think some need to be added to or challenged. You can nitpick and cherry-pick quotes all day long (isn't BMW chief in danger of being ousted as well?) that does not necessarily reflect on the product itself. 3-series is a known brand that has been around for a while and the ATS is a first gen vehicle. Many would argue that the ATS was as good, if not better, all around car than the 3 (many in this thread have said as such) but the ATS was not well-marketed and never got traction. People love bimmers and some blindly! Shoot, even I bought one after knowing about the issues with their V8s. Cadillac lost its way several years back and is trying to rebuild itself. unfortunately, and this is entirely my opinion, not very well.
At least with SC it will not cause you to crash...it will actually make the driver take control. While the system is not perfect it has safety features built in trying to prevent crashes from happening if the system cannot function at 100%. not saying it is fool-proof but we have seen what happens when semi-autonomous features fail (see Tesla).
In terms of CT4/5-Vs not following in the ATS/CTS-V footsteps (departure in your words), they are simply using a new naming convention, similar to other OEMs. As already announced, there will be higher performance variants coming out that will be more of that "V" tradition. The CT4/5-Vs are within spitting distance of the M340 so I am not sure the point there. It will compete in the M340 wheelhouse, no doubt.
Finally, I don't think you need to be successful in Europe to build to make a convincing product as you say. You need to be successful in Europe as a business to allow you to reinvest in your product for the future. Plenty of vehicles of all types are successful without having much in terms of sales in Europe. I think it is a shame Cadillac cannot be more successful there, but does not mean they cannot make a quality car for their home market that competes with the German automakers.
Sorry for the long post. these are just my opinions but felt the need to interject.
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Thanks, you wrote EXACTLY what I wanted to but didn't have time. I think one thing that did in Cadillac's prez, a former VW executive, was his moving Cadillac HQ to New York City. That move made no sense whatsoever. No mainstream luxury brand is independent from it's parent, and NONE do not platform/component share, so moving Cadillac HQ from Detroit made no sense. BMW is now so far from it's roots that it is just plain silly. 98% of BMW buyers are buying the Roundel on the hood. A current Cadillac is more than adequate for those buyers other than the Caddy Crest is not a faux propeller badge in the colors of Deutchland, so it does not impress the neighbors.
Being a BMW owner for 30 years and 4 vehicles with 900,000 combined BMW miles under my belt, I doubt there's many people who like and appreciate BMWs like I do. But if BMW is going to offer only a 4-cylinder turbo and 8-sp automatic in their entry level sportsedan like every other manufacturer does, then I have no issue with looking elsewhere.