CLICK HERE TO REMOVE THESE ADVERTISEMENTS


Cadillac
 

Cadillac Forums | Help Us Help You | Advertise | Cadillac Parts | Cadillac Images | Cadillac Store | Cadillac Classifieds

Cadillac Technical Archive | Cadillac Dealers | Cadillac Reviews | Cadillac Dealer Reviews | Cadillac Vendors | Home

Cadillac Owners Group


cadillac parts
Go Back   Cadillac Owners Group > Current Cadillac Vehicle Discussion > Cadillac BLS Forum (Europe / South Africa)
FAQ Donate Calendar Mark All Cadillac Forums Read


Cadillac BLS Forum (Europe / South Africa) Forum for discussion regarding the European / South African Cadillac BLS.
cadillac-bls

Cadillac Forums: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?
Reply
 
Cadillac Discussion Tools
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 05-16-05, 05:19 AM
Ralph Ralph is offline
Cadillac Owners 10000+ Posts
Cadillac(s): Cadillac
 
Ralph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 16,298
Casino Cash: $250
iTrader: (0)
Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

http://www.forbes.com/columnists/col...0308flint.html

"Mercedes-Benz has a problem with its American business because the cost of importing cars from Germany is so expensive due to the strong euro currency. So it goes to its associate Mitsubishi, which builds the Galant sedan in Illinois. Mercedes and Mitsubishi cobble together a modified Galant, with new sheet metal and a nicer interior and with the Mercedes ornament on the hood. They call this car the Mercedes-Benz D 280. They only sell this " MitsubishiBenz" in the U.S. They never ship one to Europe.

"Would you buy this phony-balcony Mercedes? What do you think Car and Driver magazine would say about it?

What do you think the Europeans will think? I'll tell you this for sure: The European auto press, which doesn't like American products anyway, will dump on it. I understand GM's overall logic for pushing Cadillac in Europe. Despite its size, GM doesn't have a worldwide luxury brand. Cadillac is just an American brand, and Opel in Europe is kept out of the luxury segment by Poppa GM. So GM's new short-term goal is to sell 10,000 Cadillacs a year outside of North America. A few years down the line, GM wants to boost that number by several orders of magnitude."

If a BLS sent to America would end up being priced near the CTS, then the CTS sent to Europe should end up being priced near the BLS. Better yet, even if you lowball the development costs and figure it would cost only $100 million to create the BLS, the cost works out to $5,000 per car over 20,000 cars. That would cover a few years' sales. To me, it would make more sense spending that $100 million by knocking $5,000 off the price of the American-built Cadillac CTS to make it more attractive to Europe."

Another benefit of using that $100 million to push the CTS in Europe: GM would be sending a real, made-in-Michigan rear-wheel-drive Cadillac to Europe. I think the CTS would have a lot more appeal than the BLS, which is a worked-over Saab with front-wheel drive. And I see no reason why GM couldn't adopt a good diesel for the CTS in Europe."
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 06-27-05, 02:12 AM
Eric2203 Eric2203 is offline
Cadillac Owners Fanatic
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Age: 30
Posts: 157
Casino Cash: $250
iTrader: (0)
Re: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

Well I have to say I completely agree with this article. Seems it would have been a lot wiser to export an existing model, even with some work to adapt to different markets. To begin with, it's got to be cheaper than making an entirely new car, even based on an existing platform. That article has a good point when saying that spending the same amount of money on the CTS to make it viable for Europe would give GM a lot more options. Or am I missing something ?
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 06-27-05, 02:21 AM
Ralph Ralph is offline
Cadillac Owners 10000+ Posts
Cadillac(s): Cadillac
 
Ralph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 16,298
Casino Cash: $250
iTrader: (0)
Re: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric2203
Well I have to say I completely agree with this article. Seems it would have been a lot wiser to export an existing model, even with some work to adapt to different markets. To begin with, it's got to be cheaper than making an entirely new car, even based on an existing platform.
We are having a similar discussion in this thread regarding Holden, feel free to offer opinions..............

http://cadillacforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43975

I think this is a good statement by the author......

"I'm troubled by this plan. For starters, the one thing that makes Cadillac special in Europe is that it is Detroit iron. Today's successful Cadillacs are not conservative or known for "understated elegance."

I think "more options" means money saved by offering an existing model, thefore Detroit making the extra sales, and what they could use that money for, etc.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
SPONSORED CADILLAC ADVERTISEMENTS: (Supporting Members don't see these ads):
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 06-27-05, 02:37 AM
Playdrv4me Playdrv4me is offline
Super Moderator
Cadillac(s): '06 'Lade/'05 XFire SRT-6
 
Playdrv4me's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: TPA FL
Posts: 7,208
Casino Cash: $3932
iTrader: (0)
Re: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

That BLS was a strange situation altogether... Im really not sure what all came together for it to happen but I agree that the CTS should have gone over there.

In fact, the two vehicles which I feel SHOULD be the anchors for Cadillac in Europe are the CTS and SRX. The Escalade is far too large for most roads in Europe so the SRX is really well positioned to take the market over there.
__________________
"You ough'ta go and find a brain sale... And find a cheap one, cause you ain't got no trade-in!" - Red Fox

View the World Famous AUTO YEARBOOK!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 06-27-05, 02:38 AM
Eric2203 Eric2203 is offline
Cadillac Owners Fanatic
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Age: 30
Posts: 157
Casino Cash: $250
iTrader: (0)
Re: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

Will check that other thread out.

Yes they'd save money. But in the article, they compared the 2 by using the same amount of money the BLS costs to fictionally promote the CTS. Gives interesting results. 100 millions on an existing car makes for a lot of possible improvements, although they merely suggested to reduce the price.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 06-27-05, 02:47 AM
Ralph Ralph is offline
Cadillac Owners 10000+ Posts
Cadillac(s): Cadillac
 
Ralph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 16,298
Casino Cash: $250
iTrader: (0)
Re: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Playdrv4me
That BLS was a strange situation altogether... Im really not sure what all came together for it to happen but I agree that the CTS should have gone over there.

In fact, the two vehicles which I feel SHOULD be the anchors for Cadillac in Europe are the CTS and SRX. The Escalade is far too large for most roads in Europe so the SRX is really well positioned to take the market over there.
I agree about the Escalade. For Europe the SRX and CTS are just fine, except they have "wrong hand drive" if they buy one in the UK, and Cadillac could accomodate this issue......

I'm thinking for the likes of Japan, ANY Cadillac is too big??

They are too expensive in Europe for many to consider Cadillacs.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 06-27-05, 11:37 AM
Playdrv4me Playdrv4me is offline
Super Moderator
Cadillac(s): '06 'Lade/'05 XFire SRT-6
 
Playdrv4me's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: TPA FL
Posts: 7,208
Casino Cash: $3932
iTrader: (0)
Re: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph
I agree about the Escalade. For Europe the SRX and CTS are just fine, except they have "wrong hand drive" if they buy one in the UK, and Cadillac could accomodate this issue......

I'm thinking for the likes of Japan, ANY Cadillac is too big??

They are too expensive in Europe for many to consider Cadillacs.
The Japanese have a ton of big cars, they really like their cars over there. Id say most Cadillacs would be at home on alot of the streets in Japan.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 06-27-05, 01:04 PM
davesdeville davesdeville is offline
Banned
Cadillac(s): 1995 ETC, 75 Deville, Cad500 powered 73 Apollo, 94 Mark VIII
 
davesdeville's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Age: 20
Posts: 8,026
Casino Cash: $250
iTrader: (0)
Re: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

I don't know if $100 million is a good estimate on how much the BLS has cost to develop...

I'll say this about rebadged Cadillacs... the Cimmaron failed not because it was rebadged but because it was a POS. The Catera didn't go over all that well not because it was rebadged but because it wasn't all that spectacular of a car, its design was far from inspired and it couldn't pull off "high perfomance Euro style sedan" either (the high performanc was the hold back there.) We will wait and see if the BLS takes a dive or sells well - it is a pretty spectacular car.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 06-27-05, 04:26 PM
Ralph Ralph is offline
Cadillac Owners 10000+ Posts
Cadillac(s): Cadillac
 
Ralph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 16,298
Casino Cash: $250
iTrader: (0)
Re: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

Quote:
Originally Posted by davesdeville
the Cimmaron failed not because it was rebadged but because it was a POS.
I completely disagree. I still see dozens of early 1980's Cav's running around and some still w/o rust of any kind!

People were not fooled by an inflated price and a Cadillac badge. Car enthusiasts KNEW it was a Cavalier and NOT a Cadillac!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 08-24-05, 04:02 AM
Cadillacfanatic Cadillacfanatic is offline
Cadillac Owners Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 14
Casino Cash: $250
iTrader: (0)
Re: Will the BLS Hurt Cadillac in Europe?

I dont see why the BLS wouldnt do well in Europe,Its related to the Saab 9-3 sports sedan which seems to be a decent seller there,If it was available here in the states id buy one in a second,it would be a great car to drive around in New York City,Im hoping the car does well in Europe and i have faith that it will.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply
Tags: , , ,



SPONSORED CADILLAC ADVERTISEMENTS: (Supporting Members don't see these ads):

Cadillac Discussion Tools

Cadillac Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off
Censor is ON


» Cadillac Ads

cadillac aftermarket products
Superior Cadillac - Buy a Cadillac
Cadillac Automotive Concepts
Cadillac Tony
Lindsay Cadillac
cadillac air suspension parts
cadillac v-series
bud davis cadillac
cadillac unlock navigation
cadillac hid headlights
earn
cadillac shop service manuals
cadillac amsoil
vacation travel
golf store
silver, gold, diamonds




remove this ad

Registered members do not see this advertisement. Registration is free. Click here to register and remove this advertisement.

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.0.0
cadillacforums.com and cadillacowners.com recognizes that "Cadillac", it's logos and various model names and numbers are registered trademarks of the General Motors Corporation. These terms are used for identification purposes only. cadillacforums.com and cadillacowners.com is not affiliated in any way with the General Motors Corporation, Cadillac or any other company listed herein. All information on this site is the opinion of its members and not the opinion of the site itself. ©2008 Madison Ross Media Group. All rights reserved. Content published on CadillacOwners.com or CadillacForums.com requires permission for reprint. Copyright information

hyundai genesis forum | cadillac performance mufflers | cadillac performance exhaust systems | racing seats | cadillac euro tail lights | cadillac air intakes | cadillac projector headlights | cadillac ground effects | cadillac floor mats | cadillac escalade body kits, hoods and lambo doors | cadillac body kits | cadillac carbon fiber hoods
One of the largest message boards on the web !