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Cadillac to ditch China-only LWB models for global 'right size'

We often think of Buick being General Motors' poster child in China, but would it surprise you to hear that Cadillac is just doing a bang-up job in the People's Republic? It's true, the Standard of the World is on fire, and it's doing so with a surprising group of buyers that are going to push through globe-spanning changes for the brand. Cadillac's average buyer age in the People's Republic of China is just 34. Yes, younger buyers dominate the Chinese market, but according to Reuters, Cadillac's young buyers want to drive and they don't want the typical businessman's German-badged sedan. Cadillac understands this, and is setting about to exploit it with a shift in its Chinese strategy. According to President Johan de Nysschen, the company will begin moving away from the China-only, long-wheelbase models, like the ATS-L. Instead, it will push for a global "right size" design, along with some stylistic changes. "You will see a softening of some of the hard edges, and more three-dimension styling on the side of the car," de Nysschen told Reuters, while noting that the cars will still be "instantly recognizable as Cadillac." Even without these changes, though, Cadillac has bucked the trend in China. At 17 percent, the company's sales exceeded the PRC's overall market growth of 7.3 percent by a significant margin. In fact, Cadillac's 2015 gains outpaced the overall market growth in China over the past three years, as the brand jumped to nearly 80,000 units. And the company is hoping to push that even higher, Reuters reports, with President Johan de Nysschen targeting a 25-percent increase in 2016. Related Video:

Dealers mobilize to protect their margins from automaker subscription services

Six individual auto brands — Lincoln, Cadillac, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and Volvo — have established or are trialing a vehicle subscription service in the U.S. Three third-party companies — Flexdrive, Clutch and Carma — run brand-agnostic subscription services. And three automakers — Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and General Motors — have also launched short-term rental services. Dealers, afraid of how these trends might affect their margins, are building political and lawmaking campaigns to protect their revenue streams. So far, three states are investigating automaker subscriptions, and Indiana has banned any such service until next year. It's certain that those three states are the first fronts in a long political and legal battle. Powerful dealer franchise laws mandate the existence of dealers and restrict how automakers are allowed to interact with customers to sell a vehicle. On top of that, Bob Reisner, CEO of Nassau Business Funding & Services, said, "Dealers and their associations are among the strongest political operators in many states. They as a group are difficult for state politicians to vote against." In California earlier this year, the state Assembly debated a bill with wide-ranging provisions to protect against what the California New Car Dealers Association called "inappropriate treatment of dealers by manufacturers." One of those provisions stipulated that subscription services need to go through dealers, but that item got stripped out when dealers and manufacturers agreed to discuss the matter further. In Indiana, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a moratorium on all subscription programs by dealers or manufacturers until May 1, 2019, to give legislators more time to investigate. Dealers in New Jersey have taken their campaign to the state capitol, asking that the cars in subscription programs get a different classification for registration purposes. Automakers run the current subscription services and own the vehicles. Sign-ups and financial transactions happen online or through apps, leaving dealers to do little more than act as fulfillment centers to various degrees, with little legal recourse as to compensation amounts when they're called on to deliver or service a car. That's a bad base to build on for business owners who've sunk millions of dollars into their operations.

2016 Cadillac CT6 has arrived

We have known for a while that the 2015 New York Auto Show would mark the debut of Cadillac's latest flagship model. But after months of waiting as Caddy slowly revealed details, the 2016 Cadillac CT6 has finally arrived. The sedan is a technological tour de force for the brand and inaugurates a long list of new technologies. The CT6 will begin production at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in late 2015 and will go on sale with three engine options. Caddy won't release final figures yet, but based on preliminary numbers, we know the base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will make 265 horsepower. Stepping up to the newly revised 3.6-liter V6 will net buyers an estimated 335 hp, and finally there will be the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with an output of around 400 hp. All of these engines will be mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions, and six-cylinder models will get standard all-wheel drive that will be able to constantly vary the power sent to the front wheels. Carrying those powertrains is the new, aluminum-intensive Omega architecture. In addition to the lightweight metal making up the platform, the entire exterior also uses it to provide an estimated curb weight of less than 3,700 pounds. The decision to shed mass makes the CT6 a featherweight in its class – for comparison, the lightest, six-cylinder Audi A8 weighs 4,365 pounds. The sedan rides on a 122.4-inch wheelbase and is 204 inches long. That makes the Cadillac about 1.3 inches shorter than the smallest BMW 7 Series, but the Caddy is projected to tip the scales at less than both the big Bimmer and even the 5 Series, too. Cadillac wants the CT6 to be a luxury sedan that drivers can enjoy. In addition to the low weight, there's an available Active Chassis System throughout the range with rear-wheel steering and Magnetic Ride Control. When combined with the all-wheel-drive system, it means every corner of the car is both driving and steering the vehicle. Inside, the CT6 offers a ton of tech and luxury. Drivers are held in massaging, leather seats, and rear passengers also get adjustable chairs that are heated and cooled. Quad-zone climate controls keep everyone comfortable. Plus, in addition to the 34-speaker Bose audio system and streaming rearview mirror, there are features like a 10.2-inch CUE infotainment system with a capacitive touchscreen and console-mounted touchpad. The display also shows a 360-degree view outside and can even record video when the security system is activated.