No comprende Cadillac CTS-V Interior
Tom Martin
Look, I'm an American. Really, I don't hate American car companies. In fact, I'm pulling for them to pull a rabbit out of a hat during this crisis. And frankly, I think the Detroit 3 often get a bum rap from folks who already know the anwer and don't actually look at or drive the product. GM, Ford and even Chrysler have some very good products.
So, I was taken aback when I spent some time today with the Cadillac CTS-V. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, certainly, and I know markets are segmented. But, dude, seriously the interior design has "committee" written all over it. And, as far as I can tell, it just doesn't fit the market.
The CTS-V interior has more brightwork in it than Buckingham palace. Tons of chrome and acres of piano black plastic might appeal to my mom's generation, but I can't see most people I know who drop $70k on a car thinking it looks like a competitor to an M5. Bling is so yesterday (actually, I'd say bling is so never). But, maybe I'm wrong. Still, how does maximum bling work together with Recaros, Alcantara (on the wheel like a GT3) or carbon fiber?
Thankfully, GM has the Pontiac G8. A car with a tasteful interior, impressive space and a tremendous value. Looks better, too.
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Mena
It is bright but I like it nonetheless. It's an order of magnitude better than past GM interiors. BTW, everyone has plastic in their interiors and, to my eye, most look the same. As far as I'm concerned, as long as it's laid out well and the controls aren't in goofy places, it's all good to me.
The reasoning, IMO, is that you still will have heavy domestic car ownership with the CTS-V. I don't think GM meant to bring in BMW shoppers and if you hang out in the Bimmer forums, you'll see why. I think GM was only interested in a competitive product not a product that brings in conquest sales. All my opinion, of course.
Tom Martin
Agreed on the conquest thing, but you still have to attract buyer's who can drop $70k. So far their references are Lexus, BMW, Porsche, MB and Audi. Maybe those brands have missed the market for bling, in which case Cadillac is brilliant and I wish them the best.
Re: plastic. I'm not raging about plastic per se, for as you say, plastic is everywhere in almost all cars. Cadillac has chosen piano black plastic -- glossy, fingerprinty, shiny plastic. That is not what everyone is doing and it doesn't look the same as most other cars. This car's interior is much brighter and more reflective than the competition.
Nor do all cars use such a pastiche of materials competing for your attention: chrome, piano black, carbon fiber, leather, matte plactic, alcantara. And most cars don't have the odd juxtaposition of themes: Escalade luxo-bling meets hard core racer. I drove the CLS63 AMG yesterday and it just didn't have the same level of visual splash and noise.
Probably just me. I feel better now.
Mena
"Escalade luxo-bling meets hard core racer. I drove the CLS63 AMG
yesterday and it just didn't have the same level of visual splash and
noise."
True and maybe that's the point. I actually find the mix refreshing. Considering that the Germans like their understated luxury, I don't think you'll see "shiny" interiors in Mercedes. Good points.