Motor Trend Car of the Year 2007

[Kitdy]

From Autoblog:

The editors of Motor Trend have tallied up the votes and crowned the Cadillac CTS their 2008 Car of the Year, GM's first since the Corvette won a full decade ago. The CTS beat an 18-car field including the Honda Accord, Audi TT, Subaru WRX, Chevrolet Malibu, Mitsubishi Lancer, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and others. MT was smitten with the Caddy's balanced handling, smooth-revving V6, exterior and interior design, and attention to detail. Our man Damon would certainly agree, who gave the CTS a thumbs up after piloting it around the Milford Proving Grounds.

So says Motor Trend. What say you?

[Rockefella]

That's surprising. From reading that short list you quoted, I'd figure the C-Class would win but I suppose that it's a good car if MT crowned it king.

*Cue the Anti-American car bashers and their complaints in the validity of Motor Trend

[Coventrysucks]

THE CRITERIA

SUPERIORITY - Engineering excellence

In a $30,000 car (being sold for the equivalent of $60,000!)? Excellence?

advancement in design

Cadillac is pushing design back decades, not advancing it. Try getting the designers of the front and rear to meet up and discuss their plans before you build the car.

utilization of resources and safety.

How do you utilise safety?

Vehicle concept and execution are important

The concept is dull, the execution is good - it is a dull car.

as are use of materials,

Not using steel for windows, that sort of thing?

packaging

A three box saloon is hardly redefining the market

dynamics

?

styling

The word implies "style" not "spak-wagon"

and fuel consumption

?

SIGNIFICANCE - How well does the vehicle do the job its maker intended it to do?

Outside of the USA, the CTS will, like its forebears, be utterly insignificant.
As for what it is intended to do - fill disused runways and be sold only with huge discounts - it will probably do that well.

And how does it impact or change its particular market segment,

It will stand out as a shining example of how not to style, build and market a mid-size executive saloon.

influence consumer perceptions

People will still think Cadillacs are a heap of dross to steer clear of.

and transform product development trends.

Unless product development trends are to not develop the product, the Cadillac is in trouble.

VALUE - How does each vehicle compare against its direct rivals?

There are no rivals to the Cadillac in Europe. Everyone else builds cars people actually want.

A vehicle with a low sticker price might not be as good a value as a more expensive vehicle that delivers outstanding performance, quality, and functionality.

It doesn't have a low "sticker price" over here. They think they can get away with pricing themselves against BMW, Mercedes and Audi. When you consider how good cars like the new Mondeo are, the fact that it is the wrong way round and there are no diesels, it conspires to make the CTS look a laughable proposition.

Unless they have actually put some effort into this iteration, unlike the previous version - the automotive equivalent of a sigh - it is going to be received with the same passion and enthusiasm that went into its design and manufacture - none.

It might be good enough for the American market, but the failure of the CTS (along with the rest of Cadillac's range) in Europe is proof that it doesn't really do anything new, exciting or worthwhile enough to generate any sort of interest.

That might be a harsh criticism, but if the CTS were a genuine contender they would be able to sell them, and they can't give them away.

[Rockefella]

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

SUPERIORITY - Engineering excellence

In a $30,000 car (being sold for the equivalent of $60,000!)? Excellence?

I don't understand the $60,000 bit? The car's MSRP is $32,000. MotorTrend is an American based magazine, so if the $60,000 price tag you're referring to is in the UK, it's irrelevant.

advancement in design

Cadillac is pushing design back decades, not advancing it. Try getting the designers of the front and rear to meet up and discuss their plans before you build the car.

I quite like the design of the new CTS. Sure, it may not be the quirky hot-hatch or curvaceous coupe you Europeans look, but for an 'upscale' sedan, it fits the bill quite well IMHO.

utilization of resources and safety.


How do you utilise safety?

That's just nitpicking at an author's choice of words.

Vehicle concept and execution are important

The concept is dull, the execution is good - it is a dull car.

The concept is to build a Cadillac sedan made to rival the likes of BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. They're not set out to build a 0-60 in 2.5 seconds supercar. While it may sound 'dull', the concept is achieved well THROUGH execution.

as are use of materials,

Not using steel for windows, that sort of thing?

That's just silly. Everyone complains about fit and finish in American cars and now that MT commends Cadillac on their use of materials, you disregard it by making a joke..

packaging

A three box saloon is hardly redefining the market

Packaging ... Redefining? I don't see the correlation.

styling

The word implies "style" not "spak-wagon"

As discussed, I believe the styling is on par with other European marques, as other have felt with the last generation CTS, at least from what I've heard.

SIGNIFICANCE - How well does the vehicle do the job its maker intended it to do?

Outside of the USA, the CTS will, like its forebears, be utterly insignificant.
As for what it is intended to do - fill disused runways and be sold only with huge discounts - it will probably do that well.

Cadillac is an American company and probably figures that the CTS won't sell well in Europe. I doubt European appeal is on the top of the list defining what the maker, 'intended it to do'.

And how does it impact or change its particular market segment,

It will stand out as a shining example of how not to style, build and market a mid-size executive saloon.

By winning car of the Year? If Evo proclaimed the CTS the Car of the Year everyone would be fine with the decision.

influence consumer perceptions

People will still think Cadillacs are a heap of dross to steer clear of.

Likely to change with the faster V-models and 2008+ lineups.

VALUE - How does each vehicle compare against its direct rivals?

There are no rivals to the Cadillac in Europe. Everyone else builds cars people actually want.

Why Europe again? Besides that: BMW 3-series. Mercedes C-Class. Audi A4. Volvo S40. etc.

A vehicle with a low sticker price might not be as good a value as a more expensive vehicle that delivers outstanding performance, quality, and functionality.

It doesn't have a low "sticker price" over here. They think they can get away with pricing themselves against BMW, Mercedes and Audi. When you consider how good cars like the new Mondeo are, the fact that it is the wrong way round and there are no diesels, it conspires to make the CTS look a laughable proposition.

It might be good enough for the American market, but the failure of the CTS (along with the rest of Cadillac's range) in Europe is proof that it doesn't really do anything new, exciting or worthwhile enough to generate any sort of interest.

Europe again.

That might be a harsh criticism, but if the CTS were a genuine contender they would be able to sell them, and they can't give them away.

Hard to discuss sales right now when the car has barely even seen the market.

[henk4]

I would prefer the European Mondeo...

[Rockefella]

Originally Posted by henk4

I would prefer the European Mondeo...

We don't get it in the states.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by Rockefella

We don't get it in the states.

not even as a Contour?

[silverhawk]

The CTS isnt the best car in the market but it isnt as bad as people say it is. It is quite an improvement from their previous model which had all its interior controls stuffed inside a black plastic box.

[henk4]

isn't it based on the Saab 9-5?

[ruim20]

Thats just ridiculous, GM must have droped big bills in there for this to happen, they need it to happen desperatly, thats the only conclusion i take from this... a very weird result. Specially being put against the accord and the C-class.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Originally Posted by henk4

isn't it based on the Saab 9-5?

No, it was a new premium RWD platform designed specifically for the CTS.

[NSXType-R]

Originally Posted by henk4

not even as a Contour?

The Contours we used to get was a way older verson of the Mondeo. We don't get those anymore.

[fpv_gtho]

smooth-revving V6

If its basically the same engine that was in the previous model, the US obviously got the package to work better than we did. When they put the HFV6 in the Commodore it was supposed to be light years ahead of the iron block Buick based OHV V6 it replaced, but its harshness was one area where it failed to improve on. Its mainly been a problem in the lower spec versions that've been putting out 175-180kw. The higher specced versions making 190-195kw havent been criticised so bad. Looks like thats the engine the CTS gets as standard.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

The Contours we used to get was a way older verson of the Mondeo. We don't get those anymore.

Mondeo was meant to be a "world" car, hence the name..obviously the Ford World does not include North America...

[Rockefella]

Originally Posted by henk4

Mondeo was meant to be a "world" car, hence the name..obviously the Ford World does not include North America...

If this is the car you're talking about, then I'm 99% sure we don't get it.