Cadillac unveils new SRX before Detroit show (DOA)

MSNBC ^ | 1/4/2009 | AP

[tobyhill]

General Motors Corp. is counting on the 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover vehicle to lure luxury car buyers with new design and performance features.

The redesigned vehicle was unveiled Sunday and is set to go on display at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit later this month. It replaces the SRX model first launched in 2004.

To help compete with better-selling rivals like the Lexus RX, Acura MDX, and the BMW X3 and X5, the SRX's designers took elements from other Cadillac models and melded them into this one. The new SRX looks faster than its boxy predecessor, with a curving roofline and a more rounded nose that still retains an aggressive look.

[Question_Assumptions]

Whoever is designing cars in detroit these days gets too much of their design influence from the Hot Wheels and Tonka trucks they played with as children. They look like toys scaled up so you can drive in them.

[sionnsar]

"Cadillac put more energy into improving the interior quality ..."

Takeaway message: previous Caddys had inferior interior quality. This is better than those, but by how much?

[MediaMole]

Lemme guess.... It’s a Chevy Traverse with a Northstar V8 and leather seats.

[tobyhill]

It lacks any original thought. They took a Lexus and put the Cadillac name on it.
This crap from GM will not get the taxpayers their money back.

[csmusaret]

I’m still trying to figure out what a crossover is.

[MediaMole]

Crossover = station wagon

[Jet Jaguar]

[Mr. Mojo]

That's no Cadillac.

THIS is a Cadillac:

[csmusaret]

I thought it was a name they made up to call SUVs once SUVs got a bad reputation.

[Secret Agent Man]

Well, I have to say that it isn’t a half bad look for what it can compete against. I think it will get people who like Cadillacs or have been hoping Cadillac would offer something like this to consider it.

[tobyhill]

It comes with a standard 3 liter V-6 or optional 2.8 liter turbo V-6 which either engine will only better the gas mileage by a couple mpg’s compared with a V-8.

[TruthWillWin]

Crossover?

[atomic_dog]

[Wally_Kalbacken]

This is the difference between the GM (and Chrysler/Ford) situation today and the failure of previous automakers like Studebaker and American Motors in the past - GM (and Ford) have some models, lines, and concepts worth saving. I can’t imagine a situation in which GM would fail and none of the pieces would be picked up/re-configured/re-established. Cadillac certainly is one of those pieces worth saving.

In the Center for Automotive Research scenarios for an auto industry collapse - they painted a very bleak picture by looking at a total shutdown of the big three, and a 50% reduction in demand scenario. The numbers were frightening, and they were meant to be – this is an “independent” research center funded by the big three and oh-by-the-way, they released the report the morning in after the November election.

This is not to say that the big three should be bailed out by a taxpayer supported rescue. It is just to say that there are a few elements worth keeping, albeit now ensconced in a horrendously bad business model and a sclerotic organization (at GM) that cannot seem to learn rapidly.

[MediaMole]

A crossover is simple. It looks like an SUV, but it's really a front wheel drive midsize car with a lift kit.

Here's a picture of the first crossover SUV.

[tobyhill]

The problem for Cadillac is they have already ruined their brand and for any one looking at “crossovers” they have Nissan, Toyota and even Hyundai's to go through before picking a Cadillac.

[gpepper]

I will consider this car for a $10,000 tax credit to off set my cost for union extravagances.

[Secret Agent Man]

I think the people who’d consider a Cadillac crossover would be looking at Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Acura and other higher end companies that offer something like this.

Obviously just because Cadillac puts out a vehicle, that doesn’t eliminate all other competitors. No single vehicle does.

[GSP.FAN]

[Uri’el-2012]

What a joke it is not even 4 wheel drive !

[Flavius]

fugly

for to much money

[WOSG]

“They took a Lexus and put the Cadillac name on it.”

Well I drive a Lexus.

If I can get a car that good made in America, I’m a buyer.

[RonDog]

[traumer]

Looks like .... to me

[tobyhill]

but you'll pay $3,000 more for that Cadillac in your Union Dues.

[tobyhill]

damn that's one ugly car from the rear.

[omega4179]

The AMC Eagle was the first Crossover AFAIK.

[Operation_Shock_N_Awe]

no it isn't.

It doesn't have 29" spinners, hydraulics, a "system" to play beats, limo tint, and golt' trim

but it coooouuuuuld with low, yes LOW weekly payments of $45.95 at 37.5% interest. Bad Credit? Low Credit? No Credit? We GIVE yes, GIVE YOU the CREDIT you DESERVE

We'll get those spinners spinnin, those bumpin beats thumpin for less than half a Benjammin a week!!!!!

[commish]

Crossover - Fancy word for a STATIONWAGON.

[ETL]

'51 Cadillac Convertible 'Magazine Feature Car'

http://www.hotrodhotline.com/classifieds/classifieds.php?a=2&b=18648

[tobyhill]

Now that's a nice ride and with a Small Block 5.7 Liter V8.

[ETL]

And with gas about to go to 99 cents a gallon, who cares if it only gets 5 miles per gallon! :)

[Disambiguator]

My SIL used to have a ‘69 Oldsmobile Toronado that looked very similar to your Eldorado. Nice cars.

[reagan_fanatic]

Now THAT is gorgeous!

[Azzurri]

What a joke it is not even 4 wheel drive !

The SRX is available in rear-wheel and all-wheel drive.

[count-your-change]

You betcha! Acres of sheet metal and a Lazy Boy recliner for each passenger. Not everyone could own one and that's way it should be.

[Republic]

ROFLMAO!!! Too much and way to true!

[Erasmus]

Those tailbuds had about six more years of growth in them.

[Obamageddon]

Looks kind of like an Aztek, which looked like a mini garbage truck.

[shiva]

Here in Texas Black folks love cadillacs. They always drive around with handicap permits in the window. Do you get the permits free when you buy the cadillac?

[Seven plus One]

Yes it is. They're profaning the name with those newfangled station wagons, I say.

[2CAVTrooper]

Looks just like a Nissan Murano.

[DesScorp]

"Looks kind of like an Aztek, which looked like a mini garbage truck."

People rip the Aztec, justifiably, but the original Aztec concept vehicle was quite attractive and sporty. Pontiac's production Aztec was a bastardization using existing small-car platforms, which made it look all wrong. It's not that Detroit (and especially GM) can't design desirable cars. It's just that by the time the bean-counters get finished with the production process, what rolls out of the assembly plant is an awful, ugly mess, usually because the accountants insist on re-using existing platforms and parts that customers already hate.

Here's a shot of the original concept vehicle, which was very well received by the press and public at the time:

[Myrddin]

My dad owned a couple Toronado models. One with a gas engine, one with diesel. My Honda CB175 was parked in front of that massive hood. Both of dad's cars were white.

[Cobra64]

True. If GM still made ‘em they’d still be selling. I’d buy one in a heartbeat.

[Cobra64]

Most cars' rear ends look like a bitch in heat waiting to get bonked by the nearest stud. High rear ends so you can't back up. Rear quarter panels have no glass, so you have a huge blind spot and rear passengers are in a black hole.

Don't these people ever drive this crap?

[TheMole]

No, they probably don't drive them. The lack of visibility irritates me too. I've driven a few rental cars with the same kind of very small windows (Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Caliber, and Chevrolet HHR) and the blind spot is scarily huge. There should be some kind of insurance surcharge on these designs.