Cadillac Produces First Wagon For Europe

Cadillac has always been known for their production of high quality luxury cars. The General Motors marque has been the choice for celebrity and rich folks over the years. And this can be attributed to the fact that the exterior and interior looks of a Cadillac vehicle is legendary.

Recently, the brand aims to make their presence felt even more outside of North America. The company announced that they have expanded their lineup of vehicles for the European market with the addition of their first ever wagon - the BLS Wagon.

Cadillac General Manager, Jim Taylor, has this to say about the BLS Wagon: “The Cadillac BLS Wagon is an appealing addition to the Cadillac portfolio for customers preferring dramatically designed luxury vehicles that offer versatility and performance along with outstanding ride and handling characteristics. This is the first Cadillac wagon in our 104-year history, and we think it will do well in many European markets where consumers desire a high degree of versatility and functionality in their performance luxury vehicles.”

The design of the Cadillac BLS is the brainchild of a collection of international auto designers led by Ed Welburn, the General Motors Vice President for Global Design. The result of the effort put into the deigning of the vehicle gives the BLS the trademark good looks of Cadillac vehicles.

The design concept used on Cadillac models are used in the new wagon. “The whole team was very excited to apply Cadillac’s design language to a wagon for the first time. The V-shaped chrome-plated grille, a Cadillac hallmark, is picked up again by the shape of the rear window, and the body side character lines make it unmistakably a Cadillac,” Welburn said in a statement in the announcement of the production of the Cadillac BLS.

The interior of the BLS is also one of the most luxurious in its class. The cockpit’s main feature is the three-spoke steering wheel ergonomically designed to give drivers a good grip. The instrument panel is characterized by round instruments which are easily visible to the driver with its black background for the white numerals and red needles.

The luxurious aspect of the vehicle is highlighted by the presence of a cutting edge entertainment system. Among the amenities offered by Cadillac on the BLS are a DVD player with touch-screen operation for those looking for technologically advanced features, a Bluetooth enabled cell phone system which lets users connect their Bluetooth enabled mobile phones to the car’s audio system, and remote control functions found and mounted on the steering wheel.

The design of the Cadillac BLS, both outside and inside will surely make this vehicle stand out in the consciousness of European car buyers. The first ever wagon from the luxury vehicle maker will no doubt manage to get a grip on the European market as strong as a Nissan clutch connecting the transmission and the engine.

By Ryan Thomas.

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Cadillac v. Lincoln: Does It Matter?

Back during the 1950s and all the way through the 1980s, two American luxury car brands battled for supremacy. For General Motors, builder of Cadillacs and for the Ford Motor Company, builder of Lincolns, corporate prestige rested upon which automaker sold the most models each year. For many years, a pitched battle was raised until the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve. During those years, no one knew for sure who the sales winner was until well into January; that is when the final sales tallies were released. Today, the luxury car market has changed dramatically, so much so, that the storied battle between the two automakers no longer matters. So, what brought about this change? Several things, please read on for the details.

More Competition -- Before the 1980s, Mercedes and BMW were minor players in the luxury car market. Infiniti, Lexus, and Acura were previously nonexistent brands created during the 1980s by parent Japanese auto giants, Nissan, Toyota, and Honda respectively. Add in Audi, Jaguar, Volvo, and Saab and the competition really heats up.

Higher Incomes -- The average American family’s income level has surged over the past two decades, meaning more buyers are choosing luxury brands. Why settle for a Chevy when you can afford a Cadillac? Why buy a Cadillac when there are so many other choices for consumers?

American Quality Problems -- Both Cadillac and Lincoln have had their share of quality issues over the years. Brand confusion has reigned too as Cadillac once sold rebadged Chevy Cavaliers as Cimarrons and as so many of Lincoln’s models have failed to capture the imagination of potential buyers. European brands gained in prominence as many of their models were considered to be better engineered, better built, more fuel efficient, and just as luxurious as the American brands.

Cadillac Transforms, Lincoln Wallows -- Although Mercedes and Lexus both outsell Cadillac today, Cadillac has made dramatic improvements over the past ten years while Lincoln has not. Most Lincoln vehicles sold today are simply reskinned Fords while Cadillac has been developing and successfully marketing new models that are unique to the brand. Most Cadillac products today compare favorably with BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, and Mercedes vehicles. Most Lincolns do not compare favorably with any other luxury models. All of this has been proven out in the marketplace as Cadillac regularly outsells Lincoln by more than 2 to 1.

Yes, the luxury brand battle has changed well beyond Cadillac versus Lincoln giving consumers better vehicles and more choice. While Cadillac has successfully redone its dowdy image, Lincoln has not. That, with the increased competition from foreign makes, spells all the difference in what was once a heated battle for American luxury car supremacy.

By Matthew Keegan.