100_0719, originally uploaded by bwnunnally.
Low Camera skills combined with reflective Cadillacs
Here is a slideshow of the other shots I grabbed on the Kodak:
Unintentional Self-Portrait at the CTS-V Challenge
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Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, the CFS? (Cadillac Family Sedan)
The one-two punch for Cadillac this year is the new 2010 Cadillac SRX, and the new 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. The previous Cadillac SRX design was on the same Sigma chassis/platform as the CTS, but was a cross-over between an SUV and a Station Wagon, sort of a tall station wagon. The new SRX is right in the ‘groove’ of a CUV like the sales leading Lexus RX. So how does the new Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon fit in?
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon; © GM
2010 Cadillac SRX © GM
The CTS Sport Wagon is an expanded room CTS. It is on the same Sigma II chassis as the current generation Cadillac CTS sedan. It has the same engine options, so the new economic performance 3L direct injected 270 hp V6 or the high performance 3.6L direct injected 304 hp V6 are available. The big difference of course is that the CTS Sport Wagon offers the convenience of a station wagon space and access with your Cadillac luxury performance.
The CTS Sport Wagon is available in rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive. So if you need a ski wagon, this is a good selection.
2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon © GM
Cadillac lists the main competitors for the CTS Sport Wagon as the Volvo V70 and the Audi A4 Avant. Both these models look stodgy next to the CTS Sport Wagon to me, but as always beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What is the best way to decide between the new Cadillac Sport Wagon and the new Cadillac SRX?
Go test drive them both, then pick the one that fits your needs the best. You really can’t make a bad choice between these two winners.
October 2009 Cadillac Sales — Strong for SUVs
The 2009 October numbers for Cadillac look challenging for cars, and very good for Cadillac SUVs. The DTS sales were up for the month, so let’s lead with a DTS photo:
TexasJim's 2006 DTS Performance Sedan © Bruce W. Nunnally
Here are the production numbers just for Cadillac:
| October | (Calendar Year-to-Date) | ||||||||
| January – October | |||||||||
| Cars | 2009 | 2008 | % Chg Volume | %Chg per S/D | 2009 | 2008 | %Chg Volume | ||
| Selling Days (S/D) | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | |||||
| CTS | 2921 | 3997 | -26.9 | -29.5 | 31932 | 51476 | -38 | ||
| DTS | 1896 | 1590 | 19.2 | 15 | 14021 | 27380 | -48.8 | ||
| STS | 355 | 632 | -43.8 | -45.8 | 5398 | 13253 | -59.3 | ||
| XLR | 49 | 52 | -5.8 | -9.1 | 689 | 1091 | -36.8 | ||
| Cadillac Total | 5221 | 6271 | -16.7 | -19.7 | 52040 | 93200 | -44.2 | ||
| Trucks | |||||||||
| Escalade | 2127 | 1556 | 36.7 | 31.8 | 13118 | 19275 | -31.9 | ||
| Escalade ESV | 599 | 533 | 12.4 | 8.4 | 5206 | 9076 | -42.6 | ||
| Escalade EXT | 178 | 265 | -32.8 | -35.2 | 2015 | 3779 | -46.7 | ||
| SRX | 3477 | 916 | 279.6 | 266 | 12247 | 13779 | -11.1 | ||
| Cadillac Total | 6381 | 3270 | 95.1 | 88.2 | 32586 | 45909 | -29 | ||
The good news is that the SRX sales are blooming. Cadillac has a good hit on their hands and is playing to the right audience with this new model. The Escalade Full-size SUV is also doing well. This likely reflects the current moderate fuel prices, since SUV sales suffer with high fuel prices. Overall truck sales are up 88% over the same month last year.
© GM Corp
The bad news is the CTS sales are down. This is especially disappointing as it includes CTS Sport Wagon numbers, since the Sport Wagon is in Dealer showrooms now. DTS sales are up 15%, which brings overall Cadillac car sales to only 20% behind last year. The STS and XLR are both on their way out of production.
So Cadillac sold 1,050 fewer cars, and 3,111 additional trucks in Oct, 2009 compared to Oct, 2008, or a total of 2,061 more vehicles this year than last year for the month of October. Overall that seems a good result. If the SRX is siphoning some CTS sales that’s fine, as long as the overall sales numbers for Cadillac grow, which they have, increasing by 22% compared to last October.
Comparative BMW October sales by model: [Reuters]
Sales BMW of North America, LLC, October 2009
Oct. Oct. YTD Oct. YTD Oct.
09 08 % 09 08 %
1 Series 501 1,173 -57.3% 9,453 10,453 -9.6%
3 Series 8,239 9,059 -9.1% 75,459 97,329 -22.5%
Z4 486 455 6.8% 2,792 5,464 -48.9%
5 Series 3,043 3,958 -23.1% 32,733 39,289 -16.7%
6 Series 152 454 -66.5% 3,207 5,627 -43.0%
7 Series 1,209 1,096 10.3% 7,159 11,021 -35.0%
BMW passenger cars 13,630 16,195 -15.8% 130,803 169,183 -22.7%
------------------ ------ ------ ----- ------- ------- -----
X3 182 1,294 -85.9% 5,280 15,914 -66.8%
X5 2,137 2,358 -9.4% 20,787 27,021 -23.1%
X6 494 356 38.8% 3,796 3,718 2.1%
BMW light trucks
(SAVs) 2,813 4,008 -29.8% 29,863 46,653 -36.0%
---------------- ----- ----- ----- ------ ------ -----
BMW brand 16,443 20,203 -18.6% 160,666 215,836 -25.6%
--------- ------ ------ ----- ------- ------- -----
Cooper /S Hardtop 2,309 3,539 -34.8% 24,248 31,226 -22.3%
Cooper /S
Convertible 465 62 650.0% 5,395 4,760 13.3%
Cooper /S Clubman 1,402 1,671 -16.1% 9,529 9,980 -4.5%
MINI brand 4,176 5,272 -20.8% 39,172 45,966 -14.8%
---------- ----- ----- ----- ------ ------ -----
TOTAL BMW of North
America, LLC 20,619 25,475 -19.1% 199,838 261,802 -23.7%
------------------ ------ ------ ----- ------- ------- -----
The SRX outsold the BMW X-CUV's 3,477 to 2,813 vehicles.
The CTS has to get numbers competitive with the 3-Series.
BMW total sales for Oct of 16,443 vehicles surpassed
Cadillac Oct sales of 11,602 vehicles.
In the United States, October was the best month of the year so far for Mercedes-Benz.
Sales bucked the general market trend, rising by 21 percent to 18,200 units
(October 2008: 15,000).