ON THE TABLE

August 15, 2012

 Tony Posawatz. The former prime mover behind the Chevrolet Volt who left GM last month is now going to become CEO of Fisker Automotive, replacing former Chrysler executive Tom LaSorda. Let's see, on the one hand it's better than sitting around, on the other hand, Fisker? Our suggestion? Bring along your Nomex underwear just in case.

 NHTSA. Foreign automakers are going ballistic over the proposed 2025 fuel economy standard that the Obama administration is trying to shove down the automakers' throats because they say it clearly favors the domestic automakers. That's not why they should be pissed-off, however. They should be pissed-off because the new standard is capricious and nonsensical, and it hurts all automakers - and consumers too - with its estimated $2,000 in additional costs added to the $1,000 already on the docket to meet the 2016 standard. The final rules based around the 54.5 average mpg standard for 2025 were supposed to be locked-in this week, but NHTSA says it will miss that deadline. We predict that 2025 standard will never see the light of day by the time all the hand-wringing and jousting are finished.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our "quick take" this week concerns the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe. I consider the CTS Coupe to be one of the most enduring design shapes to have come along in this business in a long, long time, and it will remain so for years to come. And in CTS-V configuration, the Coupe looks that much better. Bad-ass isn't an accurate descriptor, because that will have to be reserved for the ZL1 Camaro that just arrived this week. But with its shimmering "Black Diamond Tricoat" paint and its black alloy wheels, our CTS-V Coupe had a sinister, purposeful elegance about it that I found to be tremendously appealing. Add in its supercharged, 556HP V8 with its mountain moving 551 Lb-ft of torque running through a six-speed manual gearbox, and the CTS-V Coupe is one of the most satisfying all-around performance-luxury cars I have ever experienced. Quick? Oh hell yes, but it's a controlled fury that remains at your beck and call, which is, after all, as it should be. And when you're ready to exploit the potential of this beast, it explodes in a cacophony of glorious, guttural V8 noise that is simply so intoxicating that you can't help but dip your right foot into it just because you can. Big brakes, nicely weighted steering and a suitably taut suspension make this package all the better. Are there flaws? Probably, but they're so insignificant at this point that it's not even worth mentioning. From just admiring its looks in the parking lot to driving it like it was meant to be driven, we loved the CTS-V Coupe on every level imaginable. -PMD

2012 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe: $71,485 ($63,215.00 Base Price; Black Diamond Tricoat, $995; Ebony interior; Midnight Sapele wood trim package, $600; Suede steering wheel & shifter, $300; 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 556HP and 551 LB-FT of torque; 6-speed manual gearbox; Sport suspension with magnetic ride control; Limited slip differential; Dual stainless steel exhaust with chrome tips; Performance Brembo brakes; Stabilitrak stability control with traction control; 19" painted aluminum wheels (all included); Recaro high-performance seats, $3400 (includes metal pedals, heated and vented seats for the driver and passenger); 19" Satin graphite wheels (replaces standard wheels), $800; Gas guzzler tax, $1,300; Destination charge, $875)

We've introduced a new dimension to our "Quick Take" auto reviews by discussing brand image, in which we will ask a simple question: Does the vehicle we're driving adhere to the stated image of the brand? Or is it just a placeholder until they figure it out? We will be very clear as to what we think here, unlike some of the manufacturers in question who aren't quite sure as to who they are and what they stand for. - PMD

Adherence to Brand Image: Outstanding, at least for one-half of Cadillac at any rate. The CTS-V Coupe fairly bristles with the accoutrements necessary in order to go toe-to-toe with the German performance-luxury machines from Audi (the "S" and "RS" cars), BMW ("M" performance) and Mercedes-Benz (AMG). Don't think so? You need to drive one to understand, because Cadillac's "V" cars are serious machines executed to the nth degree. As serious as anything that the Germans can muster. And for Cadillac, which now has the terrifically impressive ATS in its stable, half of the company's offerings have a clearly defined perspective revolving around performance-luxury in the German idiom. But that's not all there is to Cadillac. They have the SRX crossover and Escalade trucks, and they also have the new larger XTS luxury sedan. And therein lies the quandary for Cadillac. To some, the XTS represents the other half of Cadillac, the sleek, urban contemporary luxury car that doesn't pretend to go after the Germans, but rather one that is content to revel in its vision of more traditional American luxury. And there's nothing wrong with that, either. I have stated repeatedly that the XTS will do very well for Cadillac, because there are an awful lot of people out there who are looking for a big, traditional, American luxury car with a contemporary spin on it. And the gorgeous Ciel concept that was revealed a year ago by Cadillac in Pebble Beach pointed to the direction that Cadillac's ultimate luxury sedan will take, which is much more historically Cadillac rather than Germanic pavement ripper. And I believe that is as it should be for the brand as well. So there's a dichotomy going on within Cadillac's brand image that is not likely to resolve itself anytime soon. On the one hand you have the magnificent "V" machines and the surprisingly competent ATS for the enthusiasts. On the other you have the nicely-rendered XTS, the surprising SRX, and the luxury gunboat-like trucks. I'm sure Cadillac operatives would say privately that they don't really care about the whole brand image adherence business as much as they do about just moving the metal at this point. And for the time being, they just may be right. - PMD

 

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