Author Archives: bwnunnally

About bwnunnally

Bruce Nunnally is an independent Blogger who writes Cadillac Conversations on all things Cadillac. Connect with Bruce on Google+

Escalade Hybrid: Environmental Highlight

Posted on by
Reply

The Environmental Age has a favorable blog about the new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid.

Its a Caddy, and while there are loads of hybrids out there now the majority of them look like they would be more suited as clown cars rather than status symbols.

I mentioned in this blog entry that some people just aren’t getting why a Cadillac Hybrid Escalade is a good idea.  I previously argued that there are great reasons to make a Hybrid Escalade.  And finally, this entry discusses the technology in the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid itself.

Green at Heart

Green at Heart

But I am glad to see some other blogs get it.  I know that some of the haters are in transmit only mode, but I think the facts need to be clear to everyone, and then you can decide for yourself if you would enjoy a hybrid Escalade.

I think people don’t get that this is a true 2-mode hybrid vehicle, and that is a shame.  The EPA rating is not everything.  For my Wife’s daily commute for example, in an Escalade Hybrid she could creep along through neighborhood traffic and manage not to need the gas engine to come on at all.  That is a different kind of SUV.

Cadillac Takes Charge and Accelerates Alpha Development

Posted on by
Reply

GMInsideNews.com is reporting that Cadillac is accelerating development of the alpha architecture

In another rumored move, Global Product Board has taken development of Alpha from GM Holden and has given it to the GM North America and GM Europe operations. This was done to placate Cadillac, who does not want to compromise on Alpha’s development for their planned BLS-replacement. What Cadillac hopes to achieve is to get a flexible enough platform to support 4, 6, or 8 cylinder engines, as was deemed necessary by the Wreath & Crest brand.

This may also hint that a premium version of the Alpha platform will eventually supplant the Sigma platform that current underpins the Cadillac CTS when the vehicle is replaced in the 2012-2014 time frame. Originally, GM had intended to further develop a “premium version” of the Zeta architecture that would unify both Zeta and the much more expensive Sigma platform. These plans, apparently, have been shelved in favor of a wider utilization of the lighter Alpha platform.

I am a huge proponent of lighter cars.  It was expected that the new smaller-than-a-CTS model would be lighter by virtue of being smaller.

The idea that a ‘stretched’ alpha might replace the current Sigma II architecture of the Cadillac CTS is very interesting, and would be a way for the entire line to get on a diet, so to speak.  Very good news.

Of course, a nice V8 engine in a lighter Cadillac Alpha platform would be fun, if less economical.  But certainly a V-Series edition of the upcoming Alpha model would be welcome.

Who is Kate Walsh appealing to in her Cadillac CTS?

Posted on by
1

Ms. AdverThinker has an interesting opinion piece on the targeting and impact of the Kate Walsh Cadillac CTS commercial.  The blog is a speculation on Cadillac’s targeting of the female demographic, and the writer’s feelings or response to the commercial.

The commercials are playing again, and again, I asked a friend: is it weird that I really like these commercials?  This sparked an interesting conversation about who Cadillac is really targeting.  I assume that it is single, successful females-without young children-who connect with the the Addison Montgomery character of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice.

I was surprised to consider that Cadillac was targeting a female demographic at all in this piece.  I consider a very attractive woman driving a Cadillac in a competitive manner appealing to a male demographic.  Perhaps because I consider the commercial from my point of view of course, and not as a targeted advertisement.

“In today’s luxury game, the question isn’t whether or not your car has available features like a 40-gig hard drive. It isn’t about sun roofs or Sapelli wood accents, popup nav screens or any of that. No, the real question is: When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?”

Advertising Age in their write up in 2007 echoed the idea that most people who DON’T drive a current Cadillac may be under the mistaken impression that Cadillac makes floaty land yachts and not high performance luxury sedans.  Their take on the response women might have from Kate Walsh’s performance in the commercial:

And so will women, who are sure to see this brazen foxiness as empowering — and maybe more than that.

I am glad to see Cadillac is still running this commercial a year later, which is a very long life for a commercial. Hopefully the success of this example will lead to other similar commercials that communicate features of modern Cadillacs well.