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Cadillac boss: Don't ask why we have so many sedans

Ugh, crossovers. Car-based, high-riding station wagons, for some reason, sell in absurd numbers and make automakers lots and lots of money. That's why automakers with a strong lineup of CUVs are running strong, while sedan-heavy brands are struggling. Cadillac is all too aware of this fact. While the company is preparing to launch the new CT6 luxury sedan, it's also realizing four sedans, a coupe, a crossover, and a $73,000, old-school, body-on-frame SUV does not a healthy lineup make. Worse, though, as Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen rued during the LA Auto Show, is that the new CT6 is joining a segment already oversaturated. While it's a big, expensive vehicle, it's not much bigger or more expensive than the CTS and XTS sedans. "Please don't ask me why we have three cars in the same segment," de Nysschen said, stopping midway through an interview with Automotive News on the CT6's market placement to make the crack. "That's a whole different subject." As for those CUVs, the new XT5 debuted in LA, and it will eventually be joined by another much-needed CUV in 2018, AN reports. Related Video:

GM says safety is a reason it's dropping Apple CarPlay, Android Auto

Update: GM sent us a statement as a follow-up to its original comments seen in this post: "We wanted to reach out to clarify that comments about GM's position on phone projection were misrepresented in previous articles and to reinforce our valued partnerships with Apple and Google and each company’s commitment to driver safety. GM's embedded infotainment strategy is driven by the benefits of having a system that allows for greater integration with the larger GM ecosystem and vehicles." The original story can be read in its entirety below.   General Motors announced its intention to remove Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality from its upcoming EVs earlier this year, and internet comments sections haven't been kind since. As the first of many EVs to follow – the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV – hits the market, GM is expanding on its initial explanations for dropping the tech. Motor Trend spoke with Tim Babbit, GMÂ’s head of product for infotainment, to learn more. Attributed to Babbit, from the story: “They have stability issues that manifest themselves as bad connections, poor rendering, slow responses, and dropped connections. And when CarPlay and Android Auto have issues, drivers pick up their phones again, taking their eyes off the road and totally defeating the purpose of these phone-mirroring programs. Solving those issues can sometimes be beyond the control of the automaker.” Babbit suggests that a world without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto will be a safer one, as folks wonÂ’t be looking to control their infotainment systems via their phones. However, Babbit also tells MT that this theory hasnÂ’t been tested in either the lab or the real world yet. Instead of using a navigation or music-playing app powered through your phone, upcoming GM EVs will use a Google-based infotainment system called “Ultifi” that runs a ton of integrated Google apps. Google Maps will be the native navigation app in the system; youÂ’ll be able to log in to Spotify or other apps to load your music up, and so on. The idea here is that youÂ’ll have all the same apps that were on your phone available but integrated within the infotainment system instead, and you'll be able to use voice controls to control every last bit of it with no need to reach for a phone. That sounds amenable in theory, but how consumers react to the removal of a feature that they know and love now is a risky gamble.

Recharge Wrap-up: Cadillac CT6 Plug-In on sale in China, Oregon utilities spur EV adoption

The Cadillac CT6 Plug-In is now available in China. The luxury plug-in hybrid sedan uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine plus two electric motors, which give the car a 0-62 mph time of 5.4 seconds. Its liquid-cooled 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack gives the car an all-electric range of 50 miles, with a total range of 581 miles. Cadillac offers a 200V charger with the CT6 Plug-In, which provides a full charge in less than five hours. Owners can check charging status remotely using OnStar or the MyCadillac app. The CT6 Plug-In is offered in two variants, priced at about $80,400 and $94,800. Read more from GM. Two Oregon utilities are launching a program to increase EV adoption. Portland General Electric (PGE) will build six charging locations, each with up to four dual-standard fast chargers. PGE will also build and operate charging sites for electric buses, freeing up money for Portland's TriMet transit agency to spend on the actual buses. Pacific Power will also build public EV chargers, and lower some electricity rates for operators. Both companies will also work to inform the public about the benefits of electric mobility. Oregon utilities are required to stop using coal by 2030, and use 50 percent renewable energy by 2040, which will make EVs even cleaner. Read more at Green Car Reports. Continental says a shift to EVs will cost its company jobs. The automotive parts supplier's CEO, Elmar Degenhart, says that while the company will need to cut production jobs, those will be offset at least in part by the creation of new positions related to electric mobility. "There is enough time to design the process such that the blow is softened and major pain can be avoided," says Degenhart. Some 30,000 jobs at Continental are tied to combustion engines. Read more at Automotive News Europe. Featured Gallery 2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-in Hybrid View 15 Photos News Source: GM, Green Car Reports, Automotive News EuropeImage Credit: Cadillac Green Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Cadillac GM Green Culture Electric Luxury recharge wrapup