Cadillac to Get Another Three-Row SUV, Keep Escalade

Cadillac’s SUV line is a huge success story. Whether or not we like it, buyers are snatching up the new SRX, and the Escalade remains one of the country’s most recognizable automotive status symbols. It’s not surprising, then, that the company is looking to expand its SUV family. Jim Vurpillat, Cadillac’s global marketing chief, tells us that there is room in the portfolio for another SUV to slot in between the SRX and the Escalade. The SRX got smaller in its second generation, leaving room for another model in the $50–60K range.

This model, according to our industry sources, likely will be based on the GM Lambda platform, which serves as the basis for the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave. Like those vehicles, it will probably offer three rows of seating, but that doesn’t mean it will replace the Escalade. Frankly, it couldn’t: The Lambda platform is front- or all-wheel drive and powered by V-6 engines—even a turbocharged four is possible. The customer base of the current Escalade, on the other hand, is as loyal as it is affluent, which means Cadillac’s big body-on-frame SUV will get a truck-based successor that could be limited to an annual output of a few thousand high-priced and high-powered units.

In the past, the Chevy and GMC Suburbans were referred to as “Texas Cadillacs.” Now that Cadillac has established its own full-size icon, it is smart to stay committed to its evolution. Meanwhile, those who want better fuel economy will be able to choose the Lambda crossover, which could get a three-letter nameplate like the rest of the Cadillac line or could, like the Escalade EXT and ESV, be branded as a member of the Slade family.

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Volkswagen’s Next Goals for the U.S.: a Three-Row SUV and a Subcompact

April 21, 2011 at 4:54pm by Justin Berkowitz

Several years go, Volkswagen’s execs decided it was no longer acceptable to be a bit player in the U.S. market. The new Jetta and Passat, and the Passat’s factory in Tennessee, show how the company is pursuing massive growth here: cheap, boring-as-ice-cubes cars. The new Jetta is coming off of a tremendous sales month, and the Passat is moments away from launch here.

To further expand in the U.S., the company needs SUVs. And its executives know this. We spoke with Jonathan Browning, the head of VW’s U.S. operations, and he was clear that he’d like to see VeeDub selling a crossover—almost definitely with three rows of seats—in the States as soon as the company can. Unlike the Touareg, which serves as a sort of halo product for VW here, the new three-row ute would be targeted at mainstream models like the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer. It would have to be priced appropriately if it wants to compete with those offerings and others, and VW knows this.

Also a Polo, But Not a Polo

We also asked about VW offering a subcompact car in the U.S. The company’s Polo slots below the Golf around the world, and it’s a well-regarded (though slightly uninspiring), well-built, efficient vehicle. Volkswagen is definitely interested in selling a sub-Golf car on these shores, but made it clear that the current Polo is out of the question, since it wasn’t engineered for the U.S. market. If VW does offer such a car here, our guess is that the model would be more like the company’s American-optimized products like the Jetta and Passat than the Euro ones, like the Golf and CC.

Tags: Volkswagen, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Polo, Volkswagen Touareg |

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