Podcast: Escalade Preview

Total value promise,I knew it would not last GM is a joke,You guys have 0 credibility in the marketplace and that is why
you you are where you are at

Most of the exterior looks nice enough, just a bit bland... The new headlights are a step in the wrong direction. First, they look too rounded and have lost those appealing sharp edges. Second, the single projector at the bottom looks out of place; such a rectangular design would be more visually appealing if the projector was at a 3/4 point. Third, the "ribs" on the headlight front of the turn signal also look out of place and are outright ugly.

The real dissapointment here is the interior. After hearing that it would be designed by the same people who did the Maybach interior I was expecting something different. It looks well put together but it's painfully bland and has no character. The frustrating part is that probably somewhere along the line this was a great design and after being looked at by enough people that said "it can't be done" it was diluted to its current state. The cost of doing it right the first time was probably calculated 50 times and was deemed too high. Let's figure out the real cost of the Blandifier that GM vehicles are being run through these days.

Are their bigger plans to extending the E85 offerings to the rest of the product line? The Flexible Fuel Vehicle seems to be a great offering and I see that the Truck lines have it, but haven't seen it to be expansive in the auto side. What are the caveats to transforming the current offerings to be Flexible Fuel or Methanol/E85 capable. Are costs to retool that prohitive?

Wow, the pics look great. The details in all areas of the vehicle really show off the effort you guys are putting into the product now. People that talk negative towards GM and Cadillac are living in the past. Good job!

Why the same sheet metal on all the GMT 900 SUV's. You guys changed it betwwen the 360's I liked that better.

Wow! I`m so like the car but i wonder why you are selling it in the Malaysia market?

Mr. Lutz,

The new Cadillacs are great, so don't stop there. The DTS and the Escalade are a strong statement that GM is on the move. Keep the up the momentum. Cadillac is leading GM's resurgence.

The first CTS promos were what really grabbed the public's attention and focused it on Cadillac. That product example is a key to capturing the market. The new SRX ads with the feminine appeal are long overdue.

Cadillac should add more models. Cadillac needs to go up and down. Get the attention of the jet set and the younger set, and you'll see those unimagined rewards. A V-12 Cien, a V-12 Sedan, and an even smaller sporty entry level model like the BLS and a coupe for the youger set. Cadillac should offer an even smaller V-8 that gets better mileage like over 30 mpg, I keep saying that. Why not a 4.0? Specifically, those who are upgrading from a foreign car often tour the Cadillac lots and they look at the fuel efficiency stickers as an indication of advancement especially when upgrading to a luxury vehicle.

GM needs to be more assertive. Your foreign competition gets away with half truths, and unbelievable claims, while GM's message often goes unheard. Yet GM has all the tools.

Mr. Lutz, instead of giving press conferences about cutting costs, why not start asking for a two tier exchange rate for American Exports, as economists like Ravi Batra have advocated? Remember to keep your American focus.

Also, why not have a press conferences to highlight new GM dealerships, which GM desperately needs more of in major metro areas.

I just went to an outdoor car show this weekend with all sorts of dealers. Not all regions GM dealers were there, and some new GM models were not on display or there was only one. I only saw one G6 sedan, and no coupe. GM's foreign competition was again stealing the show, inviting people to sit in their vehicles.

GM desperately needs to invigorate more of its dealerships with a new look, and often a fresh location. Every time I drive by Mercedes of South Orlando, I just roll my eyes and wonder why Cadillac did not get that location. While there are nice GM dealers, there are not enough.

GM needs a Goodwrench club for service with a national registry, and most dealers need more technicians and not as many service writers.

blecch- i dont like it - you lost the aggressive ganster-style lamps and grille - too small grille and lights - we dont need audi clean lines in cadillacs - bigger grille9rollsroyce), same headlamps - square and twovertically stacked. rest of the car is fine, interior great- although i miss more aggressive fender flares- they now look like the explorer -

I expected to see more Cadillac sixteen influence, especially in the headlights not just the grill.
What you gave us instead was something toned down by a commitee. And the interior while having far superior materials looks bland and doesn't stand out in it's class. A real snoozer.!!

I'm not sure what a "bling" is, but I think Cadillac lost theirs with the new Escalade.

The last generation looked like it made its way up from the streets via the school of hard knocks. The 2007 looks like Mother and Father paid its way through Princeton. It just doesn't have that elusive "it". Too polished, smooth and fancy.

The last generation looked at home at a country club or a strip club. That was its charm (could that be what "bling" is?). This was a good thing as most owners of the last generation Escalade that I know frequent both.

a wonderful car!

I keep thinking of Ford and their Taurus and Sable. When they were ready to redesign their most popular cars in modern history they chose a refined approach, improving everything but keeping the charachter pretty much in tact.

When the press saw the cars they called them conservative and the cars was just getting bombarded with criticism. Well the cars had their best sales in history the following years.

Ford, however, eventually gave into the critisism and butchered the cars styling to deliver the disgraceful Taurus and Sable we see today. Sales tanked and in typical Ford fashion, instead of correcting the problem they get rid of the car all together.

No, I think the Cadillac Escalade is perfect and with Lutz around I know that a close up in a magazine will prove that this vehicle is a world better than the vehicle it replaces without butchering the styling.

You want to butcher something there are 50 other GM models you can play with.

Very informative - thanks.

95% of the escalades appeal was the now iconic frontend. They nearly have this one save for the headlamps. They are tall AND NARROW. that changes(ruins)the whole look. that "empty space" between the edge of the lamp and the grille needs to be filled w more headlamp/signal something. That would bring the "proper" look. Now looks like the Mountaineer that was trying to look like the escalade.

As a GM Employee, I see everyday for the need to cut costs wherever possible . In the small car segment , I think its the materials that really turn people off . But when it comes to Cadillac ( which is supposed to be the finest product GM puts out ), product design and the interior materials is what is suppose to set it apart from its rivals . I owned an '02 Escalade ( Certified Vehicle ) , and drove it for a year and a half and decided I liked it enough to buy a new 05 . In those 3 years GM started to eliminate certain features , that cheapened the truck . Don't get me wrong I love my new truck , but when I got a look at the new one , again the bean counters at GM again eliminated (cheapened ?) , the vehicle. Sure there are new features and more chrome than before , but now from the side view it is hard to distinguish it from the Chevy or Denali . Did they not learn anything from the 1980's ? And if you look at one of the pictures from the rear n side angle of the truck , it looks alot like the SRX . Even the wheels look similar ! If the Corporation thinks the way back to prosparity is to start ( again ) making cheap decisions and making their vehicles look similar I worry that Toyota actually will become the biggest car company in the world !

I hope GM gets there act togther and soon. Ive owned only gm cars and suvs my entire life. I would think im a prime buyer of there products My suv is paid off and i really want to buy but...So I hit the car show in Tampa and went looking at there line up and those of others. I woder if the new line up thats comming is really something exciteing to purchase. I now fall asleep as soon as I look at the interior and all there trucks look the same for the past 6 years. I hope GM greenlites products that caddy has done and seems to do well,follow the lead dont be scared give us something to want to buy. Good job on the H3. until something really grabs me my money is in the bank. I hope that 25 years of Gm products in my garage dont switch to the BMW brand but heading that way.

I have to say 1 thing, if it were not for the front and rear styling, this car will be an excellent hit. its no wonder gm is going bankrupt, they seem to be ruining every good thing. First its a fron wheel drive monte carlo, now this? im sorry but you guys are all going to go bankrupt and as long as ford or chryler takes over your lost sales, i couldnt care less.

Its a nice looking SUV for sure, but with current gas prices I don't see a good future for these big cars.