Crossovers, flagship could be on docket for GM brand.
2007 Cadillac XLR Platinum Series |
General Motors' flagship luxury brand, Cadillac, could come up with a broad new array of products, General Manager Jim Taylor told TheCarConnection.com. The GM design department has developed a number of prototypes, including crossovers, coupes, wagons, and sports cars, said Taylor, quickly cautioning that, "the question is where you get the money" to bring the various products to market. With the exception of a second crossover/SUV, slotted below the current SRX, Taylor explained, "none of them have checks written by the (GM) board yet." There are so many different alternatives, "people agonize over them," trying to put a priority on which products would make the most sense for Cadillac. Looking out five years, "the most obvious" and necessary addition for Cadillac would be a flagship sedan to go up against the likes of the BMW 7-Series of Mercedes-Benz S-Class, said Taylor. It would not generate high sales numbers, at least not directly, though a well-executed product would "establish the image" that could help sell more affordable Cadillac models, the executive explains. The luxury market is fragmenting, according to industry analysts, something that segment leaders like Mercedes have recognized with the addition of models such as its R-Class sport-tourer, and CLS coupe-like sedan. Cadillac needs to follow that trend, Taylor acknowledged, or it risks "being left behind."
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