Its day two at the Detroit show, and we’re seeing some more action from GM than we did yesterday with the Granite concept and the Acadia Denali trim package. Here’s what happened today.
Cadillac CTS Coupe:
The CTS, and particularly the CTS-V are proof that someone at GM gets it. Its handsomely styled, fun to drive, has a rich interior, and competes with the best of Europe. The few opportunities I’ve had to drive the V-series had me crunching numbers trying to figure out what organs I’d need to sell to get one in my driveway. The one place the GM couldn’t compete with the Europeans was in the coupe category, as Cadillac hadn’t made a coupe since the Eldorado’s demise. Now, the CTS coupe is here, with a wedgy back end that makes the vehicle appear almost as a hatchback. This may prove the wrong design direction, although the fastback Mustang was always popular. At any rate, it will be a great driving car and the V will offer a domestic alternative to the BMW M3, at a much lower price.
Chevrolet Aveo RS:
In a product category that for years has been described with terms like “penalty box,” the Chevy Aveo was arguably the worst of the worst, or at least close to it. Produced by Daewoo and rebadged as a Chevrolet, it was everything the Koreans wanted you to forget about their past. Considering that, why would GM, when coming out with a replacement for the worst-in-class, keep a model name that evokes images of plasticky interior, poor driving dynamics, and lackluster quality? The Aveo RS itself looks much better than the model it replaces, but I question whether or not the package is improved beyond the looks. The RS package is very Fast and the Furious looking, with the gaping air vents, big wheels, and shiny paint, but will it deliver those promises? Will the slow and the frugal be turned off by it? Will anyone notice? Or will they all spend their money on the new Ford Fiesta, or the class leader Honda Fit?
Cadillac XTS:
The XTS should have been big news for GM. This “concept” is more or less what will be replacing the STS and DTS in the near future. Instead, there has been a collective yawn from the blogosphere, and probably, at the Detroit show. This is the BIG Caddy. This is supposed to be GM’s flagship vehicle. This is supposed to do battle with the extremely good Lexus LS, the BMW 7-series, the S-Class Mercedes, and the Audi A8. Some say buyers in this class want an elegant looking car that doesn’t stand out. If they don’t want to stand out, the XTS will be a good choice; their neighbors may even mistake the headlights for a Ford Fusion.
This car breaks no ground. It follows the CTS’s design language, which doesn’t seem to translate as well to a bigger package. This is supposed to be the aspirational vehicle, not an also-ran for when you outgrow (or get too old for) your CTS. It should set the design theme for future Caddy’s, and be something that everyone will want to shop against the best from Japan and Germany. I think it missed the mark.
The interior looks good, and the rear/side are handsome, if bland. But that front end has to go if this car is going to go anywhere without a significant rebate.
So thats day 2 in Detroit. Has GM shown all its cards for the week? Or is there a surprise waiting in the wings of Cobo hall, waiting for the right moment to wow us all? Tune in tomorrow to find out.
I’d also like to thank all my friends, and their friends who have become my fan on Facebook, or started following me on Twitter. Please get the word out! The more popular I am, the more likely someone from GM sees this and calls me for an interview. If you’ve found me, welcome to the blog, I hope you enjoy it!
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