Podcast: 2007 Cadillac Escalade

Where are the press release photos? I want to see it... and when is the next CTS being shown? NAIAS? I look forward to seeing both ASAP.

Great, gas is still almost $3 a gallon in my neighborhood and you all are touting another SUV.

Seriously, when do we get to see the sporty RWD/AWD stick-shift hybrid sedan?

Or at least a return of the Camaro?

Come on GM. There are only so many bling-blingers out there that are willing to pay $10k for shiny dubs and badge engineering.

The rest of us care about actual engineering. How about telling us about how you're going to make a car in the $12-$25k range that a reasonably intelligent American won't feel stupid for buying?

I think that someone from GM management (preferably Bob Lutz) should appear on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, in order to promote the new vehicle lineup.

This is a great blog.

this isn't a 'great' blog. it's a good blog. GREAT car blogs would be leftlanenews.com or mph-online.com!

In my opinion, the Cadillac brand has the potential power to save GM from ruin, if used properly...and soon. Otherwise, I see GM share price drifting down to about $19, at which time its best option will be to be acquired by another company. Three beginning steps are essential. First, slightly redesign the SRX so that it looks less like a station wagon/coroner's vehicle, and more like a crossover SUV, and make it a hybrid - SRXh. This small step will attract the under 60 crowd in droves. Second, completely revamp your advertising campaign. Your advertisements should have the goal of selling vehicles, not stroking the egos of your own employees. Use humor and completely different approaches in your advertising, making it entertaining to experience, and convincing in results.If you want some examples of creative, results oriented, TV, radio, and print ads for Cadillac, please contact me. Third, replace the old Cadillac logo. Please do not let a GM employee design or choose the new one. Hire the firm that designed the Google look, and let a panel of current Lexus owners pick the new one.
I truly believe that of all the GM brands, Cadillac has the best potential for saving the company. With the right image, these vehicles could be sold very profitably, and double the amount of Cadillacs could be on the road within two years. Please do not fiddle while Rome burns. Don't surround yourselves with people who are telling you that the emperor has clothes - he doesn't.

Come on now pull up on that negativity!

This is a classic slam dunk if there ever was one. But I didn't know Rick was capable of smashing the backboard to pieces. Its all been checked out and decked out in what looks like an evolutionary redesign on an already popular model.

It doesn't get better than this, every automaker stumbling over themselves to introduce the next cube, x-box and chery while gas prices nosedive. They all went out to trade in their vehicle and left GM alone on the court with the clock still running.

Just keep your eye on the ball, the scoreboard will change in your favor.

It sure would be nice to hear you were unveiling a new CAMARO.

"These kind of people"? Used by Jim to describe his clientele in this Podcast. Are you kidding me? Jim, you need to get out more. If your prospective audience heard this, they might be offended. I'm not questioning your talent but you need a refined pitch man or woman to bring a level of sophistication and class the Cadillac brand portrays. I wish you well in your tour. Cadillac is one of the few things GM has done right in North America. Not completely right but mostly right. Getting anywhere near right is a major coup. Let me also tell you that the audience you are trying to appeal to on the west coast is very liberal. GM needs to start spinning the PR machine because you aren't looking too good with the union crowd. Hollywood personifies this mindset.

Ron Gettelfinger would be advised to scrap the adversarial UAW approach and adopt a win-win approach of trying to save jobs in the US in concert with GM management while being flexible with management decisions.

Frankly, Gettlefinger should be trading some goodwill for a UAW seat on GM's board. Someone with some business savvy who can represent the union to the board. Not this confrontational, outdated method of dealing with globalization.

I've just seen the press release photos, and I am really disappointed in the lack of differentiation between the Escalade and Chevy/GMC siblings. I had higher expectations for different character lines, or at least different taillights. Badge engineering lives on.

It's great to see all these pocasts here when there are NO GM cars now that you can hook an ipod to... Just tried to in my 2006 Corvette... no go...

I think the srx is one the few vehicles that says "modern" and dare I say "breakthru" without looking like some silly blobmobile of the future. Forsaking all articulation the thing is just the coolest thing on the road. What GM needs to do is revamp there marketing to get this thing more attention! don't change it just yet. Give me one and I will run over "sage" above when I see him driving his toyoto MORONO toadmobile.

You have the most talent in the auto industry. RWD drive platforms, Holden, has been our only hope. The GTO was a great move, no new platform, it's been there,(Omega, Caterra) and should have been here long ago. If the new Zeta platform for Holden is not good enough to compete with DM, it would still be comptent for a chevy, it works for a Pontiac as I understand on the next GTO. A Impala and a GP would be ideal.

When will GM start letting Saturn use the GM credit card and have some real rebates on the Saturn car

Left turn Clide!
What GM needs for the future is a left turn. Promote nationalized helthcare,to take the burdon off of corperate legacy, promote pro-union, pro-labor canadates in elections. GM is stuck with UAW for good or ill, a success for Organized Labor is a success for GM. Libertarian values are pro-currant winner, and only profit Toyota and other companys without union contracts. Global or what I call LOWBALL; sourceing and other reductions in US/CANADIAN labor forces can only hurt GM's immage in the harts and minds of the hinterland.
Why not sell exess capacity to Toyota Honda Nissan et-all
Toyota recently broke new ground on Canadian soil: while GM planns to sutter one of Ottawa's wold class production sites. Ottawa's Effictiency and quality are America's best if not the Worlds, CAW is part of that, I'm sure you could rent the package out to toyota for a lower cost per unit than they could achive on their own. Two winners, no loser.
Also we need even better fuel ecconomy, We need a Hybred DTS, Left Wing luxury Cadilac Style for the harts and minds of America's greens. also a Diesel H2 and H3. "The H3 would in fact bennifit from a smallblock V8 or ohv 3.8 vvt transplant for both performance and power.
Also GM could save a tonne by Having just one engine fammaly like Nissan. GM's could be all ohv smallblock based, as these seem to produce the best in terms of cost efficiency, fuel efficency and performance.
Other than the old Saturn S model engine I do'nt realy see OHC's realy doing annything for GM exept being more expencive to produce, and giving US/Cannadian jobs to Australians. I think Cadilac buyers would be happier with 500 hp and superior weight destribution than keeping the Northstar.
One more thing, and it's actually on a libertarian tone.
ONSTAR
Manny people do'nt want BIG BROTHER on bord, especialy if they have to pay a monthly fee for it. Idealy Onstar should be optional, at least make onstar delete an option.
To summerize, I beleve that a great deal of GM's customer base are Pro-Labor, Pro-civil leberties, manny others are just plain old libertarin patriots, apeal to US and you will not ever go bankrupt.

Jay

There has to be someone at GM
that can pull GM out of there tail spend.
Bring back the camaro
Do something about the tail in of the GTO,The front tires looks bigger that the rear.The engine is great!
Monte Carlo Rear wheel drive.
More option on your cars.
Like engines and h.p.
Have 20 to 30 years old people drawing them up.
30 to 50 years old adjusting
there drawing.
United state drawing only.
I love yesterday GM.

I'm not seeing anything I would pay $10,000 for, let alone $50,000. Too much reliance on technology to make a reliable vehicle. Someday, somebody will get this point and mop the floors with those that don't.

Great Job on the Evolutionary change to the '07 Escalade ! I had an 02,( GM Certified Vehicle ), traded it in for a new '05, 8 months ago and I love it . I got on the GM site to order info on the new truck and got it today . WOW ! I must say that it is nice to own a GM vehicle that does not squeek and rattle after the first 10,000 miles . That was the old GM . Not anymore , and it should be told-it would help sell cars . And because of that I think the best way to turn GM around and gain its market share back is to expand the warranty on its entire product line . If the public thought that the company was really behind what they build , the showrooms and factories would be working overtime. Mr. Lutz , focus a little of the advertizing budget on telling the world about a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty ; what a return on the cost you would see . Your portfolio of vehicles can handle it. But please do it soon before you loose your ranking as being #1 . I believe this would be a very cost effective way out of the tail spin your in .

General Motors seemes to be out of touch with what consumers are looking for in vehicles. It was said that consumers want 4cly front wheel drive vehicles that are gas efficient. That's reasonable given the current gas prices. Unfortunately that theory doesn't quite play out when you look at the sales of the Chrysler 300C, Dodge Charger and Magnums. GM has killed off almost every passnger vehicle they have ever had that would be competitive in those classes. The Impala from 94-96 was a very popular vehicle GM turned into a larger Malibu, reduced the engine size and made it a front wheel drive. The Monte Carlo with its great body design has been mulled down to 2 optional v6 engines instead of offering an optional v8 to make it competitive with the Chargers and Magnums. The Pontiac Aztec and alot of the other designes(05-06 Chevy Venture Vans) definently miss the mark on styling.

I agree.

OnStar should never be standard. Especially, when Cadillac has become the ONLY luxury car maker who doesn't offer Bluetooth, that allows drivers to link the EXISTING cell phone into the car's audio system.

GM should decide if they want to sell cars, or OnStar. They can't have both.