The Crank: Is Cadillac rethinking its definition of “flagship”?

By John LeBlanc Despite the fawning from most media over Cadillac’s XTS luxury sedan concept, left, that popped up at last year’s Detroit auto show, I’ve never been a big fan of the Government Motors world-class luxury brands’ idea of a “flagship.” I mean please, when Hyundai (with titsis Equs) can make a legitimate flagship to take on the Germans and Japanese, what’s there to get excited about in the XTS? The car is essentially a stretched Buick Lacrosse. And now it looks like GM’s own head cheese, CEO Ed Whitacre, is having the same doubts about the XTS as Cadillac’s official lineup topper. As Car & Driver’s Jens Meiners reports, “Cadillac fans will be thrilled to hear that Ed Whitacre himself has instructed the brand to build a true, full-size flagship above both the CTS and the upcoming XTS. The car has not been clearly defined yet. The Zeta platform (Holden Commodore, Chevrolet Camaro, etc.) is heavy and dated, and therefore the flagship is more likely be built on a stretched version of the CTS’s Sigma platform.” Of course, this only brings up several questions, like… • The XTS isn’t scheduled to arrive until 2013—maybe. Even if Whitacre signed off on the new, new flagship today, we’re looking at 2014 at the earliest before it hits showrooms. Again, maybe. • What Jens isn’t mentioning is big Ed’s recently added responsibilities for global product planning he's taken on, basically Bob Lutz’s old job. Which scares the beejessus out of me. GM’s new product guy, on the day his CEO appointment was announced, said, "I know nothing about cars." Great. Do you think the XTS can hold water as a true flagship? Or does GM really need a rear-drive luxury sedan to compete with the likes of Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW? [Sources: Car & Driver, Autoweek]

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