I woke up this morning to the news that Cadillac plans to publicly unveil a new concept this week at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. That, in and of itself, is not big news. Pulling the wraps off of upcoming and potentially upcoming new vehicles is what car companies do at the major auto shows. But, news of this particular vehicle from America's premier domestic luxury brand jolted me awake nearly as fast as my morning cup of extra-strong java. Caddy is seriously considering another mini-sized offering. Hmmm....
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1982 Cadillac Cimarron
Photo Credit: GM Media |
My first thought was, "been there, done that, and it was a very bad move." Remember the Cimarron debacle of the early 1980's? For many car consumers, luxury equates with size, spaciousness, suppleness, not to mention power. In 1981, Cadillac introduced the Cimarron as an entry-level compact car in hopes of drawing in younger buyers and holding on to older folks who might want to downsize from their humongous Fleetwood or De'Ville models. It was a major flop. The Cimarron was a Chevrolet Cavalier clone-- literally. The only real differences, a few minor cosmetic modifications and the leather interior.
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2011 Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept
Photo Credit: GM Media |
That considered, I found myself thinking, why go down this road again? While the Fleetwood and De'Ville models are gone, Cadillac is still known for spacious, powerful luxury with its various Escalade and CTS models. And, a new flagship-- the XTS-- is coming soon. So, do Caddy buyers really want something the size of a Toyota Yaris or Nissan Versa?
But, before condemning the concept, I jumped out of bed and got online to search for more information and photos, of course. I needed to see this concept. Wow... I'm impressed.
“While small in size, this concept is an exploration of what Cadillac could be in the future, as the brand continues to focus on redefining industry standards for advanced vehicle design and integrated technology,” said Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac marketing.
