2008 Cadillac CTS Pricing Released

Yesterday afternoon, a member at Cadillacforums.com posted official 2008 CTS pricing. The base price for a 2008 CTS with the non-DI engine and manual transmission is $32,245, and the model with the 304-horsepower direct injection V6 comes with a standard automatic transmission and costs $34,545, or $2,300 more. The base car's price represents a $1,575 (5.1%) increase over the 2007 2.8 liter's $30,670 price. However, comparing the 255-horsepower 3.6 liter prices, it's actually a $1,285 price reduction.

Don't get your hopes up, however. If you're a buyer, the news only gets worse from here. Options seem to be extremely expensive. I haven't analyzed the details of what is included in each package, but it's readily apparent that if you want to get ALL the good stuff, you should be prepared to spend a lot of money. A DI model with the premium luxury collection, 18" wheels, UltraView sunroof, etc. will top out at almost $50,000.

According to Cheers and Gears, the package contents are:

Luxury Collection (PDP) - $2600
Luxury Level One Package (Y40)
Seating Package (Y44)

Premium Luxury Collection (PDQ) - $8165
Luxury Level One Package (Y40)
Luxury Level Two Package (Y41)
Seating Package (Y44)
Audio system with navigation (UAV)
UltraView sunroof (C3U)
Wood Trim Package (B19)
Wood Trim Package (B20)
Universal Home Remote (UG1)

Performance Collection (PDR) - $3300
18" All-Season Tire Performance Package (Y42)
Seating Package (Y44)

Luxury Level One (Y40) - $1000
Theft-deterrent alarm system
AM/FM stereo with 6-disc in-dash CD changer and MP3 playback with Radio Data System (RDS) and Bose 8-speaker system
Rainsense wipers
Accent lighting
17" x 8" machined-faced wheels

Luxury Level Two (Y41) - $2025
Heated/ventilated front seats
Split-folding rear seat
Power rake wheel and telescopic steering column
Universal Home Remote
EZ Key passive entry system
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist

While the base prices are similar, or even better, the availability of additional options will push the price of a CTS with all the option boxes checked to more than $10,000 over the price of a loaded 2007 model. Apparently GM really does take the idea of moving the CTS into BMW 5-series territory seriously, because top of the line CTSs will be within spitting distance of 535i sedans (which start at $49,400 without leather interiors).

I'm curious to see how the market reacts to this pricing. On one hand, the base price is attractive and the car is a clear improvement over the outgoing model. On the other hand, pricing a new model too high at launch can kill its chance for later success; just ask the Chrysler Pacifica.

Click the image below for a graphic with the full pricing details.

The Hype Around The 2008 Cadillac CTS Is Premature

The automotive equivalent of Jesus Christ is coming to Cadillac next year. Or that's what assorted fanboys of the GM persuasion would have you believe. A better interior, a sleeker exterior package, and upgraded engines are all cited as being reasons for this optimism. But dig deeper and what do we find?

1. Excessive Mass
The CTS will weigh 3861 pounds in manual transmission form, 3872 pounds in automatic transmission form, and a whopping 4101 pounds in all wheel drive configurations, according to THIS GM press release. That's hefty. For the sake of comparison, a BMW 335xi tops out at 3825 pounds, an Infiniti G35x tops out at 3703 pounds, an Audi A4 3.2 Quattro tops out at 3780 pounds, and a Lexus IS350 tops out at 3527 pounds. All of the competition noted, except for the Lexus have AWD in those weights listed. Note that ALL of the AWD competition actually weighs LESS than a regular old 2WD 2008 CTS. Ladies and gentlemen, the next gen CTS is a porker. How this will translate into a 'sports sedan' is yet to be seen, but for the sake of argument, the A4 is often derided as being too heavy. So what are we to expect of a 4100 pound CTS?

2.Barely Enough Power
If the 2008 CTS was released as a 2006 model, I would have no complaints. It features two engines- the much loved regular 3.6 HF V6 from the GM family, and a brand new 3.6 HF DI V6 making a confirmed 304 horsepower. Yes, the torque curve is very flat. Yes, it's competitive. But note my point- if it came out in 2006, it would be more than enough. As it stands, a yet to be released 2008 CTS already trails the Lexus IS350, the Infiniti G35, and the BMW 335i (300/300) in power stats. Incredible. If you want a perfect example of GM failing to take into account the competition and benchmarking moving targets, this is it. Yes, the base engine is more powerful than most others in the class. No, that doesn't mean shit, since most advertising centers around the top end engine outputs. Not to mention that in a few months, Infiniti will be dropping a 3.7 VQ into their G coupe (which will no doubt make its way to the sedan). Combine barely competitive power with excessive weight, and the prognosis doesn't look good.

3. Dull Styling
Yeah yeah, styling is subjective. But honestly, apart from the front fascia, how much major change has been made to this vehicle? A similar argument can be made for the redesign of the G35- it looks a lot like its predecessor, but then again, the G35 isn't the next stage of a 'design revolution' for Infiniti, like the CTS is for Cadillac. Yes, it's a bold grille. Yes, the side vents are cute, if a bit played out. But beyond that, I could be looking at a current generation STS. Just a big let down in a field where Cadillac could have really made a splash.

4. Missing Features
I'm not like some others that will bemoan the lack of push button start and the lack of Bluetooth as reasons why someone wouldn't buy a CTS- but the question remains- why the hell is GM so against upgrading their products to at least the minimum of the market standards? If even one sale is lost because someone wants Bluetooth and/or push button start in their vehicle, that's one sale too many, and a sale that GM could have easily kept. Instead, their reliance on OnStar has become a boon and a burden to the company- they're afraid to poach OnStar customers with Bluetooth capability, but will never move forward technologically unless they do so.

At the end of the day, the biggest issue that the new CTS will encounter is how to overcome its weight and power issues. The new interior will no doubt boost lagging sales, but if the goal of Cadillac is to once again become the standard of the world, they'll have to do much better than this- because 'this' is competitive with vehicles of today, never mind vehicles that will be released and available in 2008.

New Cadillac Innovation- Push Button Start Without A Button That You Turn That Is Located On The Steering Column

From the venerable GM Inside News-

The new CTS has an optional smart-key system called EasyKey. EasyKey enables all of the doors, the trunk and the ignition to be operated without a mechanical key. The car senses when the key fob (while in your pocket, purse, etc) is close to the car and performs the needed operation.

However, unlike the keyless-start systems that the imports use, the 2008 CTS has a circular dial on the steering column (taking the same hole as the regular ignition). In order to start the car, you just turn the small dial as you would with a traditional ignition/key. "This makes sense on numerous levels. . . it even replicates the familiar turning motion all of us are used to for starting a car," said Cadillac spokesperson David Caldwell. Cadillac claims they have placed the starter on the steering column because it makes more sense, as that is where traditional ignitions are located and to avoid disrupting the flow of the dash design.

So let's get this straight. The first pictures that came out definitely showed a regular key sticking out of the steering column. Now, after hearing all of the bitching and moaning, they decide to rectify the issue, and their solution is a half assed one, as per the MO of the General. Installing technology found on Suzuki Grand Vitaras into a vehicle that is supposed to represent the once again new Cadillac direction. It's not even a matter of whether or not push button starting is worthwhile or not- it's the whole ostrich head in the ground thing they got going on. It's 'the familiar turning motion'?? It 'avoids disrupting the flow'??? It all reads like an Onion parody.

What's most amusing is that Caddy has this stuff in their parts bin already, and refuse to use it- the STS has had push button starting for years now.

Next week, Cadillac will be announcing that the new CTS has an all new digital automatic climate control system that requires user input every 15 minutes or so via analog switchgear that replicates the familiar sliding motion of regular climate controls.

4.0 HF Engine Coming To Cadillac?

An internal source is indicating that Cadillac and GM are couching a bit on the upcoming 2008 CTS. Everyone knows that the base engine will be the current 3.6 motor making 255 horsepower. Likewise, Cadillac and GM have announced that the uplevel motor will be the same engine with direct injection making about 300 HP. What hasn't been unveiled yet is that Cadillac will be receiving an exclusive High Feature variant with a 4.0 litre displacement for model year 2009, slotting above the 3.6 DI engine. It will make about 350 horsepower and will be a placeholder until the Ultra V8 can be slotted into the CTS as it moves upmarket to battle the BMW 5 Series.

What does this mean?

It means that someone has their head on straight at GM. The 2008 CTS is a porker and a half. This should help immensely.

**UPDATE**

The current 3.6 HF V6 is a sleeved 3.8 liter engine, and that would have been the obvious easy upgrade path for Cadillac in terms of getting this new motor out the door. However, an internal decision was made to move beyond the 3.8 liter size because of past associations that would come up with the soon to be extinct 3800 V6 which dates back to a time when many were still a twinkle in the eyes of their father. The same reasoning was used to preclude a 3.9 upgrade, which could possibly be confused with the 3.9 OHV found in the G6, Impala and Malibu.

The 2008 Cadillac STS, aka The 2008 Cadillac 'We Don't Care About This Market Segment'

Wow. Cadillac has really outdone themselves this time. After actually deciding that the luxury buyer deserves a luxury interior, and appointing the 2008 CTS and 2007 Escalade/SRX with interiors that at least look like they belong in the segments they are competing in (and in the case of the SRX, exceeding them), Cadillac has now gone and lifted their hind leg on the their flagship luxury sedan.

They've managed to make it look more boring and generic, while also making it look more geriatric via the DTS clone front end. Save me the platitudes about the familial resemblance to the CTS in the front end. It's a tenuous connection at best. Following the lead of younger brother CTS, Cadillac designers have done almost nothing rear of the A-pillar as well. But wait you say- the interior was what always needed work done in the past STS.Well there you have it. The piece de resistance. An MCE so thorough and so exciting that the entire earth is trembling beneath our feet. Surely, a new steering wheel, and a bit more brightwork was all that was needed, no? Oh wait, how could I forget the new dash shapes, that somehow make it look like Cadillac is trying to emulate the horrific new Lincoln interiors?

What's most sad about all of this is that Caddy has a perfectly good and modern new STS interior... but they're using it overseas in China right now.



Figures.

After all the brouhaha about a 'new' GM, the 'old' GM rears its head again. Add in the 'new' Buick lineup, which is essentially a bunch of V8s thrown into subpar vehicles along with huge and garish grilles, and NYIAS is not exactly turning out to be a game changing show for General Motors.