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de Nysschen pushes to separate Cadillac, GM

Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen continues his push to separate his brand from General Motors. After controversially picking up shop and moving to New York's trendy SoHo neighborhood, de Nysschen has now gone on record as saying that within two years, the brand will enjoy "a far higher degree of autonomy and self sufficiency." That autonomy will include the brand reporting its own financial results, independent of GM. But what would such a move do for Cadillac? Well, as de Nysschen explained it to Automotive News, "Cadillac at this state makes a very sizeable contribution to the overall profit at General Motors." If that's truly the case, separating financial announcements serves to emphasize the prosperous character de Nysschen seems so keen on attaching to his brand. But that's only one phase of Cadillac's push to distance itself from GM. De Nysschen is eager to revamp the company's dealership model so that it stands out from other GM brands, calling it a "very profound focus." Those moves, according to AN, including a change to the current dealer incentive model with a particular emphasis on building the brand rather than nailing sales figures. "If you aren't strengthening the brand perception, you should have less reward," de Nysschen told AN. While his goals seem clear, de Nysschen's statements have left us wondering whether they're also somewhat counterintuitive. Emphasizing Caddy's prosperity to potential consumers while incentivizing dealers to move less metal seems more like a tactical move rather than a strategic one. And there's no telling how the new dealership model will impact de Nysschen's goal to hit 500,000 global sales by 2020. Related Video:

2016 Cadillac CT6 has arrived

We have known for a while that the 2015 New York Auto Show would mark the debut of Cadillac's latest flagship model. But after months of waiting as Caddy slowly revealed details, the 2016 Cadillac CT6 has finally arrived. The sedan is a technological tour de force for the brand and inaugurates a long list of new technologies. The CT6 will begin production at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in late 2015 and will go on sale with three engine options. Caddy won't release final figures yet, but based on preliminary numbers, we know the base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will make 265 horsepower. Stepping up to the newly revised 3.6-liter V6 will net buyers an estimated 335 hp, and finally there will be the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with an output of around 400 hp. All of these engines will be mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions, and six-cylinder models will get standard all-wheel drive that will be able to constantly vary the power sent to the front wheels. Carrying those powertrains is the new, aluminum-intensive Omega architecture. In addition to the lightweight metal making up the platform, the entire exterior also uses it to provide an estimated curb weight of less than 3,700 pounds. The decision to shed mass makes the CT6 a featherweight in its class – for comparison, the lightest, six-cylinder Audi A8 weighs 4,365 pounds. The sedan rides on a 122.4-inch wheelbase and is 204 inches long. That makes the Cadillac about 1.3 inches shorter than the smallest BMW 7 Series, but the Caddy is projected to tip the scales at less than both the big Bimmer and even the 5 Series, too. Cadillac wants the CT6 to be a luxury sedan that drivers can enjoy. In addition to the low weight, there's an available Active Chassis System throughout the range with rear-wheel steering and Magnetic Ride Control. When combined with the all-wheel-drive system, it means every corner of the car is both driving and steering the vehicle. Inside, the CT6 offers a ton of tech and luxury. Drivers are held in massaging, leather seats, and rear passengers also get adjustable chairs that are heated and cooled. Quad-zone climate controls keep everyone comfortable. Plus, in addition to the 34-speaker Bose audio system and streaming rearview mirror, there are features like a 10.2-inch CUE infotainment system with a capacitive touchscreen and console-mounted touchpad. The display also shows a 360-degree view outside and can even record video when the security system is activated.

2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

Cadillac has become a very, very different company since the dawn of the new millenium. Its turn-of-the-century lineup, consisting of staid offerings like the Seville, DeVille and Eldorado, represented the Old Cadillac. These cars were plagued with Old GM quality issues and catered to a more elderly audience. Since the company's Art and Science design language arrived, though, we've seen Cadillac flesh out its lineup in a big way, introducing notable and (so far) enduring products, like the the CTS, SRX and most recently, the ATS.
With the CTS tackling the 5 Series segment and the SRX duking it out with the Lexus RX and its classmates, the ATS has been left with the tough task of battling the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, among others. Critically, at least, it has excelled in this role, but it's still working on finding its feet sales-wise. On paper, broadening the model range by adding a two-door personal luxury coupe could help.
After a week with the ATS Coupe, though, we've found a car that, while retaining the standard model's excellent driving character, doesn't quite offer enough visual excitement to stand up to other cars in its segment.