Let me say this...One of my gigs is a spokesperson for a certain car company named after a certain president that was assasinated...ahem...how does that pertain to this thread, well, here goes.
From my experience on the show circuit, it's become pretty much a given that salespeople generally, A: have no clue what they're talking about, or B: say anything to get people into the showroom. While they mean well, they are not the most reliable source. Secondly, they're purposely kept in the dark until the last minute on pertinent details regarding future product. Not to say they don't have advanced notice, but generally, to protect the companies in which they represent from lawsuits etc, they know the moment said companies make an official announcement, and not a moment sooner. We as product reps/spokespeople, get notice a tad sooner, but must sign confidentiality agreements etc.
NOW, with all this said, I did speak to a Caddilac rep (not a salesperson) last week at the Pittsburgh show, (mind you they still wouldn't disclose 100% of the details), and they had this to say...It will be out in the fall of '08, as an '09 model, will have over 500 hp, will have an advanced stability control system, and will be offered with an optional automatic tranny, with a paddle shift setup, similar to Corvettes. Again, I wouldn't count this as 100% set in stone, but it's a stronger source than I've run accross thus far. I hope this helps clarify things...although, these he said/she said games, sometimes make the wait easier to manage. :highfive:
-Erik Valdez
Circo Meta Forma