You are hereCadillac's CTS Coupe and American car design
Cadillac's CTS Coupe and American car design
Style and the American car makers
Cadillac introduced the CTS Coupe Concept back in January of this year at the North American International Auto Show. In Monterey this past weekend, Cadillac previewed the production version of the CTS Coupe to a select group of automobile journalists.
I've really been following the American car makers lately, intrigued with Cadillac's introduction of the Coupe, the redesigned SRX and the all new CTS Sports Wagon.
In addition to Cadillac, Lincoln is now delivering the new MKS to dealers, with twin-turbo power plants on the horizon for next year.
This is American car design?
Like the styling or not, these cars are breaking new ground in design for the American car makers. Anyone who pays attention to domestic car design knows it's been blatantly bland, with no one willing to take a chance and bring cars to market that people want to buy.
The car makers always show concepts that excite the buying public, yet not deliver the new design cues to the vehicle that ultimately land in show rooms. It's one aspect of car design that has always baffled me. The designers are turned loose, spending time and money innovating, only to have their creations toned down for the general public's consumption. Is it a case of the company accountants being out of touch with buyers? Probably.
Appeal to our passion
But if there's one thing I try to touch on here at Ridestory is the passion enthusiasts have for their cars. The auto makers can certainly tap into that passion quite easily by delivering cars that evoke emotion. A car such as the CTS Coupe does just that, demonstrating that Cadillac is serious about continuing design that attracts buyers.
I think the American car makers may be on to something. It isn't much, but they seem to be more willing to take chances, showing us a side we haven't seen in some time. Do you agree with me? Are the domestic manufacturers demonstrating a new found style? Will you consider any of them in the future when new car shopping?
I work for GM and I will say that Cadillac is by far a better designed car than anything in the GM stable at present. I work at the Malibu plant in Kansas City and it is a nice car but it has that typical bar going across the front end that they put on the GM cars. Cadillac looks to be more aggressive yet elegant. One thing GM need in my opinion is more Coupes and rear wheel drive cars for the true gear head. One downfall that Cadillac has is pricing. The average joe can't walk into a Cadillac dealership and walk out with a car that is a price of a house payment. CTS is affordable if you catch them at the right time.
This is a great idea for Cadillac. The CTS is already a very nice sports sedan, why not go with a coupe as well?
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