The Swedish SKF ball-bearing company, in the early years of the 20th century, decided also to sell roller bearings, and trademarked the name "Volvo," which is Latin for "I roll" or "I revolve."
But the perception was that that Trademark lead to customer confusion, so the trademark was shelved.
But in the 1920s, a couple of SKF engineers decided to design a truck for Sweden's cold winters and bad roads, and they took the already-registered trademark off the shelf. Volvo.
The other Latin-Pun Auto-Trademark Story is "AUDI." Imperative Latin for, "Listen" or "Hear" (as in Auditorium).
The car company that was founded included an engineer named Horch (German for "Listen;" but, more accurately, "Harken"), but he was under a non-compete. So, he translated his name into Latin.
It seems Cadillac benchmarked the E46 3 Series for its driving dynamics when developing the Alpha platform, particularly the ATS and subsequent CT4. However, it seems they also benchmarked that car’s interior volume. What a few inches of wheelbase wouldn’t do for this car’s livability.
I sat in a new CT4-V Blackwing on the showroom floor and could not sit behind myself in the rear seat. My head was touching the roof. And I’m not tall (comfortably under 6’).
I'm just gonna say it, it's OK to be small (no that's not what she said). Sport sedans are supposed to be sporty. I have a G70 Sport and the back seat is punishingly small, but the car fulfills its mission, even if the kids complain. I mean, get in a sport sedan from the 80s or 90s and wonder how people survived.
Agreed - this reminds me of the compact luxury sedans from 10-15 years back (not necessarily a bad thing). At just over 6’, I don’t believe I can fit in the rear seats without aggressively slouching to avoid the low headliner, nor can my feet fit in the rear footwells.
I don't think there are many (any?) cars in this class that can seat someone 5'10"+ in the back without headroom issues.
That said, the ct4 has unusually poor packaging. It's closer in exterior size to an E39, but on paper (haven't seen one in persion) it has even less rear seat space than an E46, headroom and legeoom. They didn't give it to the truck either - both 10.7 cu ft. Bizarre.
Tom, don’t procrastinate to long, Mary is sticking to her plan to make Cadillac all electric, not going to happen as quickly as the great transition was suppose to, but all the product in pipeline are EVs. With the associated problem that you just can’t drop a 472 or 500 in a chassis built for an EV.
I hate to admit it, but I, ahem, actually like the Lyriq. It’s easily the most comfortable Cadillac currently available for guys my height, and for a combover, it almost looks attractive. Of course, I’d like it more if it had a nice little V8 in it.
Honestly, I don't hate it. It's at least interesting looking and I can pick them out in traffic. But below-zero interest in an electric. They should shoehorn in the 3.6L V6.
Gotta get lucky, but look for used low mileage sedans that are known to be reliable. Whatever you liked in the past, there’s bound to be a nice one out there somewhere. I really don’t like anything new, so used is the route I took.
I’ve actually been kicking around getting a 2019, the last year of production, to replace it. The CT6 would be great, but I wonder what parts availability will be like, as it was pretty low production. At least the XTS shares a lot with the Impala.
I don’t trust Cadillac to make parts available for the CT6 down the road. XLR owners already had this happen to them with headlights and tail lamps, and that was also a low production model.
Even C5 owners are running into major issues. It’s odd how GM won’t support the vintage Corvette scene at least. Let alone a not very popular Cadillac.
"VOLVO" is a Latin pun or witticism.
The Swedish SKF ball-bearing company, in the early years of the 20th century, decided also to sell roller bearings, and trademarked the name "Volvo," which is Latin for "I roll" or "I revolve."
But the perception was that that Trademark lead to customer confusion, so the trademark was shelved.
But in the 1920s, a couple of SKF engineers decided to design a truck for Sweden's cold winters and bad roads, and they took the already-registered trademark off the shelf. Volvo.
The other Latin-Pun Auto-Trademark Story is "AUDI." Imperative Latin for, "Listen" or "Hear" (as in Auditorium).
The car company that was founded included an engineer named Horch (German for "Listen;" but, more accurately, "Harken"), but he was under a non-compete. So, he translated his name into Latin.
Rilly.
john
It seems Cadillac benchmarked the E46 3 Series for its driving dynamics when developing the Alpha platform, particularly the ATS and subsequent CT4. However, it seems they also benchmarked that car’s interior volume. What a few inches of wheelbase wouldn’t do for this car’s livability.
I sat in a new CT4-V Blackwing on the showroom floor and could not sit behind myself in the rear seat. My head was touching the roof. And I’m not tall (comfortably under 6’).
Which just makes me sad they killed the coupe.
I didn't try the back seat. I'm 5'11" and about 175, so I knew it would be...suboptimal.
I'm just gonna say it, it's OK to be small (no that's not what she said). Sport sedans are supposed to be sporty. I have a G70 Sport and the back seat is punishingly small, but the car fulfills its mission, even if the kids complain. I mean, get in a sport sedan from the 80s or 90s and wonder how people survived.
They did not, however, benchmark BMWs powertrain refinement.
It's a hard purchase to justify in a world awash with cheap E90s
Agreed - this reminds me of the compact luxury sedans from 10-15 years back (not necessarily a bad thing). At just over 6’, I don’t believe I can fit in the rear seats without aggressively slouching to avoid the low headliner, nor can my feet fit in the rear footwells.
All 6’4 of me is not happy in them.
I don't think there are many (any?) cars in this class that can seat someone 5'10"+ in the back without headroom issues.
That said, the ct4 has unusually poor packaging. It's closer in exterior size to an E39, but on paper (haven't seen one in persion) it has even less rear seat space than an E46, headroom and legeoom. They didn't give it to the truck either - both 10.7 cu ft. Bizarre.
It's too bad the CT6 isn't around anymore. I had a brief experience with one and was satisfied that it was sufficiently big.
I drove a couple at McLaughlin. Very nice cars. Not as cushy inside as a contemporary Lincoln Continental, but more fun to drive.
Whoever cancelled it and gave us the Lyriq needs to be retroactively fired two years.
Tom, don’t procrastinate to long, Mary is sticking to her plan to make Cadillac all electric, not going to happen as quickly as the great transition was suppose to, but all the product in pipeline are EVs. With the associated problem that you just can’t drop a 472 or 500 in a chassis built for an EV.
Cadillac is dead to many of us. And I would love to buy a big new Cadillac sedan with a V8.
I hate to admit it, but I, ahem, actually like the Lyriq. It’s easily the most comfortable Cadillac currently available for guys my height, and for a combover, it almost looks attractive. Of course, I’d like it more if it had a nice little V8 in it.
Honestly, I don't hate it. It's at least interesting looking and I can pick them out in traffic. But below-zero interest in an electric. They should shoehorn in the 3.6L V6.
I don’t disagree. And I wonder if one would fit. Seeing how well the EV market is doing, they may have to eventually do that.
We can only hope!
And, not that I’m looking to do it for a few years yet, but what the heck do I replace my XTS with???
That’s the question a lot of people currently driving sedans are asking—me included.
Gotta get lucky, but look for used low mileage sedans that are known to be reliable. Whatever you liked in the past, there’s bound to be a nice one out there somewhere. I really don’t like anything new, so used is the route I took.
I’ve actually been kicking around getting a 2019, the last year of production, to replace it. The CT6 would be great, but I wonder what parts availability will be like, as it was pretty low production. At least the XTS shares a lot with the Impala.
I don’t trust Cadillac to make parts available for the CT6 down the road. XLR owners already had this happen to them with headlights and tail lamps, and that was also a low production model.
Even C5 owners are running into major issues. It’s odd how GM won’t support the vintage Corvette scene at least. Let alone a not very popular Cadillac.
What are they selling those for currently?
I'm surprised you aren't into any of the Genesis products.
Some are aesthetically pleasing, but I don't trust Hyundai/Kia and no Genesis dealer here in the metro area anyway.
Lexus does it better.