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These are the top luxury cars bought by people entering the segment for the first time

Let's say you just got a big promotion at work or the kids are moving out of the house, and you finally have some extra money. You decide to blow it all at once and treat yourself by upgrading your ride. Naturally, you look to a luxury automaker. What do you choose?
Models like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class may be tailor-made to introduce buyers to the premium segment, but a new study finds that they don't garner the highest rates of non-luxury customer conquests. It turns out that a Volvo leads among folks moving up to a premium brand, and it isn't even one that's made anymore, at that.
A recent study by Polk and IHS Automotive looked at what models had the highest rates of buyers upgrading from a non-luxury segment. The information comes from its new vehicle registration data through April 2014. All ten top models boasted conquest rates of over 50 percent, but the Volvo C70 led the field with 68.01 percent of its customers coming from non-premium brands.

GM to build $1.3 billion Cadillac plant in China

General Motors has gotten approval to build a $1.3 billion manufacturing facility for its Cadillac brand in China. China's National Development and Reform Commission signed off on plans for GM to build the plant in the country's Shanghai's Jinqiao zone; construction is expected to begin in June of this year. According to a Bloomberg report, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 150,000 units.
No surprise here, but Cadillac would like to sell a lot more cars in the plush Chinese luxury market. The brand moved only 30,010 cars in China last year, compared with 400k for Audi, and about 330k for BMW. With Cadillac already telling us that it would be moving production of its XTS sedan to China - a production decision that saves having to pay 25-percent import tariffs - approval of the factory is a critical win for the company.
In fact, according to earlier comments by GM China president Bob Socia, it's at least conceivable that Chinese-built Cadillacs could be shipped back to the US for sale. The brave new world of globalization, getting stranger by the minute.

Ghostbusters director tweets first photos of new Ecto-1

Ghostbusters is heading back to theaters next year with a new look. Rather than bringing back the original's aging comedic actors, four actresses are taking over the starring roles, including Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. Although, one of the movie's major highlights is missing from that list – the Ecto-1. Originally based on a 1959 Cadillac ambulance, we're now getting the first glimpses of the decked-out, ghost-hunting wagon from the new version thanks to director Paul Feig on Twitter. Purists might like that the Ghostbusters are sticking with a Caddy, but the producers are going for a slightly newer, more macabre approach, as well. Rather than an ambulance conversion, the latest one starts as a hearse. Feig also has his Twitter profile picture of a ghost taking over as the hood ornament, and he even tweeted a shot of the rear. @szewcik_james Okay. pic.twitter.com/sHkx1Soj6p — Paul Feig (@paulfeig) July 8, 2015 Being the Internet, Feig is being deluged both with hyperbolic vitriol for changing things, and praise for the switch. He has politely tweeted about the situation. Not blocking or deleting. I hear you all and appreciate all your input, good or bad. Thanks. https://t.co/pxZsWGeNyL — Paul Feig (@paulfeig) July 8, 2015 Keep in mind this Caddy hearse is about as old today as the original Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters' release in 1984. Having the ladies driving a '50s Caddy might stretch the imagination too far even in a movie about fighting the undead. This approach seems like a perfect compromise between old and new.