AD #1465 – VW’s More Versatile Golf, Mercedes GLA Impressions, Ford’s New Prisoner Hauler
September 25th, 2014 at 11:51am
Runtime: 6:01
- Renault Espace Crossover
- VW Reveals More Versatile Golf
- Opel’s Triple Shot for Paris
- Cadillac’s New Naming Scheme
- 2015 Mercedes GLA Impressions
- Ford Tricks Out Transit for Police
- Ford Adds Bodies at KC Plant
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Hello and welcome to Autoline Daily. In today’s show we’ll give our first impressions of the Mercedes GLA, Ford hauls prisoners in a tricked out Transit and Cadillac changes its naming scheme. But first off, we’ll start with some new vehicles that will debut next week in Paris.
RENAULT ESPACE
Renault will show off a new version of its Espace crossover. The company says it has a lot in common with the concept version it showed off last year. It’s available in five and seven seat versions and has an all-new interior but we’ll have to wait to see the inside when we’re in Paris next week because Renault didn’t provide any pictures.
VW REVEALS MORE VERSATILE GOLF
Volkswagen is setting its aim at the European customer thats looking for a little more versatility from a Golf. Meet the Golf Alltrack, which starts life as a standard Golf wagon but gets a suspension that’s been raised by 3/4-inch, an updated version of the automaker’s all-wheel drive system and an electronic differential lock. Other features include underbody protection, new front and rear bumpers and unique accents both inside and out. It can be powered by either turbocharged 1.8L gasoline engine or 3 diesel engine variants. The Golf Alltrack goes on sale in the UK next summer.
OPEL’S TRIPLE SHOT FOR PARIS
Opel will have three new vehicles at the show. First up is the fifth generation Corsa. It’s available with the company’s new 1.0L three-cylinder turbo engine and has an all new interior. Production of the new Corsa starts at the end of the year. The German automaker will also reveal a sportier version of the ADAM called the ADAM S. It’s powered by a 1.4L four-cylinder turbo that’s mated to a six-speed manual and cranks out 150 horsepower. The ADAM S hits dealerships early next year. And last but not least is the Mokka which is now available with a new 1.6L turbo diesel. When equipped with start/stop and a six-speed manual, it’s fuel economy comes in at 4.1 liters per 100 kilometers or about 57 MPGs. But remember that’s on the European test cycle. The new diesel Mokka is available early next year.
And don’t forget to tune into tonight’s Autoline After Hours. The crew is out in San Diego for the launch of the new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Guests include Tony DiSalle, the VP of Marketing for Buick and GMC; Jeff Luke, Chief Engineer for Global Full-Size Trucks and Anita Burke, the Chief Engineer of the Colorado and Canyon. If you have any questions about the trucks these are the people that can answer them. So get your questions in early, just send us an email at viewermail@autoline.tv or you can tweet us at twitter.com/autoline.
Coming up next, we’ll take a look at the day’s other news.
CADILLAC’S NEW NAMING SCHEME
Last Friday we learned that we would see Cadillac’s new high-end luxury model next year and now we’re learning that it will be called the CT6. It was also announced that Cadillac will rename its other cars using CT followed by a number to signify the size and position in the line-up. Does this mean the ATS and CTS will be renamed the CT2 and CT4? Sounds like Cadillac wants its naming to be more like Mercedes and BMW.
2015 MERCEDES GLA
And speaking of Mercedes, we just got the chance to drive the company’s new compact crossover, the GLA, and here are the highlights. It’s built on the same architecture as the CLA and is powered by the same 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Like the CLA, there’s also an AMG version for those who want sportier driving. That model, which is equipped with a souped version of the base engine, comes with standard dual exhaust which sounds great and also loves to cackle a little. The interior layout is also very similar to the CLA but it’s not built for tall people. If you’re around 6 feet tall, you’re going to feel a bit cramped in the GLA. Starting price is around $32,000 and it’s hitting dealerships now. The AMG version comes in at just under $50,000 but easily shoots past 60 grand with options. We’ll have more about the GLA in a future Autoline Daily.
FORD HAULS PRISONERS AWAY
Ford has a long list of law enforcement vehicles in its lineup and now it may add another. This time around the automaker is looking at a solution to get prisoners from point A to point B in a tricked out Transit van. The Transit is available in three roof heights, two wheelbases, three lengths, four body styles and could carry up to 12 prisoners in 3 separate compartments. It also has 2 gasoline engine options as well as a diesel variant. Ford is already the sales leader of police vehicles and it doesn’t look like it’s going to give up that title.
FORD ADDS BODIES AT KC PLANT
And speaking of the Transit, Ford announced that it will be adding 1,200 new jobs and a second shift at its Kansas City Assembly Plant, where the all-new Transit is built.
But that wraps up today’s show. Thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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Comments (34)
September 25th, 2014 at 12:03 pm
and CT stands for?
Cadillac’s Turn?
Crummy Transporter?
Crash Tested?
Corners Terribly?
Charred Turd?
Chariot Thunder?
Cute Turkey?
Cream Tortoise?
Champion Tickler?
See what happens with incomplete information…you loose control of your market image.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:08 pm
Regardless what it stands for this will be a good move for Cadillac if they can stick with it for 10+ years. But I am sure as they cycle through execs…someone will have a great idea to change them.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:09 pm
I’ve always seen prisoners being transported in converted, retired school buses, not brand new inefficient vehicles, this country gets more ridiculous all the time.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:10 pm
I have said this many times,caddy should use some of the old names like DeVille etc.The can use alphabet designators till the cows come home and still not match the panache that the Mercs see.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:11 pm
#3
Roger That.
Police, Fire Stations and other public works are always using brand new vehicles. Seems like a huge waste of money.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:15 pm
#4
BMW and Mercedes have a good scheme with a respectable market image. Cadillac keeps reinventing the wheel so often its really hard to take them seriously.
If they would stick to a naming convention it will take time to build the image.
I like old names too..but..Cadillac has a lot of bruises on those names.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Hasn’t Caddy learned from Lincoln that the alphanumerics are much too forgetable than actual classy names? Didn’t you report on here that Lincoln did a survey and people still remember Town Car and Navigator but cannot name a current Lincoln vehicle? Even as alphanumerics go, CT6 sounds way too small, soft and wimpy compaired to its competition, the A8, S Class, and 7 Series. Cadillac can pick from many classic names, but will fall pray to the forgetable obscurity that is plaguing Lincoln.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:18 pm
#5 depends how wasteful the local govt is, around here, they spend a crapload of money on new emergency vehicles, back home in a small NJ town, they kept their police cruisers and other emergency vehicles until they could not run anymore, here they have acres full of unused, retired equipment sitting around, collecting rust and once in a while, they’ll sell a couple of them to some less well-off community in the US.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:20 pm
How Cadillac Middle Kingdom?
Oh, yeah. Ford’s got MK
September 25th, 2014 at 12:20 pm
Back then, you knew a Deville was a Caddy and a Town Car was a Lincoln, now with all these alphanumeric designations, you need a score card to know who makes what letter and what number.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:25 pm
If I may reveal my Yankee ignorance, doesn’t the sussurous sound of CT6 sound a lot like Mandarin? Maybe CT6 sounds good in Chinese. Caddy’s future is in Xinhua, and we’re the old country now.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:29 pm
It disappoints me that Europe gets more models (example: Civic hatchback and Prius with 7 seats) than America. Also more engine options ranging from 1.0 upto 2.5 liter in their sedans. I want the same choices here.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Ref Cadillac naming – Perhaps Cadillac should have saved CT for the renamed Escalade & SRX (unless they change their naming scheme before those models are redone). Then at least they could pretend it stood for Cadillac Truck.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Escalade should be renamed STM (stolen the most)
September 25th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
Colorado in Cali
I’d like to see John climb up onto the back of the Colorado. Also, lower and raise the rear gate. Step into and out of the cab.
September 25th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Whatever Caddy names it, they should take a page from the Chrysler playbook and fill it with Easter Eggs using the numeral 8. Affluent Chinese will go crazy for it.
September 25th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
6, I liked BMW and M-B’s naming schemes, when they indicated engine displacement. Now, though, the last part of the model names are more-or-less random numbers. At least the C, E, S, 3, 5 etc. still have meaning regarding the body series.
September 25th, 2014 at 2:15 pm
12, Yeah, cars sold in Europe still have engine and transmission choices, like American cars did in the ’60′s. I wish it was that way here in the U.S.
September 25th, 2014 at 3:28 pm
#15
HtG – There is a video of the tailgate on the Autoblog review and Pickuptrucks.com has them stepping up on the bumper pockets.
John Mc – Were you guys invited to San Diego this week to review the Colorado/Canyon? Upcoming show?
September 25th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
TB, they’re all out in SD tonite. It’s going to be on AutolineAfterhours.
thanks for the other info.
September 25th, 2014 at 4:28 pm
I saw the new Colorado (in person) at Epcot’s Test Track but couldn’t get in and look at the interior. It might, and I say might, not be too big; it may be on my radar for a replacement for my Olds Bravada (again, though, might). It sure did look nice.
I think Caddy better make a ‘beat all’ new large car (so the name doesn’t matter) because CT6 is lame (IMO). And I’m a Cadillac fan (so I’m not bashing). Love my STS.
September 25th, 2014 at 6:02 pm
A few days ago, we discussed possible engines for the Cadillac flagship. A likely possibility was a turbocharged pushrod V8. An engine of that type is good enough for this car, so it should be fine for the Caddy.
http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/811-lb-ft-torque-introducing-bentley-mulsanne-speed?utm_source=DailyDrive20140916&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=image-top&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awdailydrive
September 25th, 2014 at 6:16 pm
Does “CT” mean “Cadillac Touring”?
September 25th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
It looks like Europeans are now taking to Americanized cars, given that the 4wd Golf with the lift kit is hitting the market first in the UK. I fully expect it to be sold in the U.S., but probably with no choice of powertrain.
September 25th, 2014 at 7:05 pm
AAH, John accessing the bed and getting into the truck.
Wow, thanks guys. I’m honored. Getting in and out of trucks for loading and just plain getting home were some of the most important things when I did that kind of thing. Thanks, John.
September 25th, 2014 at 8:16 pm
#7 – I agree in regard to names used by Lincoln. Who can remember if it was a MKT or a MKS that we liked on their website? The alphabet soup currently used by Cadillac is bad enough, but who wants a CT6? What’s that, “Cheap Transportation 6″ or something? If the number 6 conveys something, who would want to buy a CT1 or a CT2? Too bad GM forgets their own history: Seems to me I remember the G6 and G8 from Pontiac a while back. The names Grand Prix and Bonneville are a lot more memorable. It appears De Nysschen wants to have it his own way. However, he is no doubt ignorant of GM’s history and will probably eliminate what little momentum Cadillac has built up in the marketplace. He will then leave, claiming that GM didn’t give him enough control. Somebody should remind him this isn’t the land of MB.
September 25th, 2014 at 8:33 pm
26,
3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 series work for BMW. A3, A4, etc. work for Audi. That, no doubt is what Cadillac people are thinking with the number thing. Yeah, Cadillac is not BMW in people’s perception, but I kind of see what they are thinking. Maybe C6 would make more sense than CT6, but people associate that with a car from a different GM division.
Would the old Cadillac names really fit with their current offerings? I don’t really think so.
September 25th, 2014 at 9:11 pm
Doesn’t Johan D’Nyssen run Caddy now? Didn’t they also streamline their alphabet soup names? I miss the days of a car having a real name. I waiting for the day when I get asked what car do you drive? a brand new FU-2. What was wrong with Eldorado,Deville, Seville Fleetwood? Those names you immediately knew they were talking about a Caddy.
September 25th, 2014 at 9:13 pm
Meaning he streamlined the names at Infiniti. Sorry for the omission
September 25th, 2014 at 9:39 pm
Should cars have names like this, an Apperson Jackrabbit?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kitgerhart/15169263427/
It celebrated it’s 100th birthday in Kokomo, Indiana.
September 26th, 2014 at 12:00 am
The idiocy at Cadillac is astounding.
September 26th, 2014 at 1:23 am
Cadillac and car names. Cadillac’s current offerings may not match up to the past names (except for DTS = DeVille), however giving names to their products would differentiate Cadillac from the other Luxury OEMs. The main thing Mercedes-Benz and BMW have is the GREAT PRODUCT behind the name (or number). That is why 3,5, or 7 series and C, E, S, class means something. MKT, MKZ, and MKS do not mean much in the marketplace (as evidence Lincoln has added the Town Car name to the MKT recently) because they do not have great product.
September 26th, 2014 at 8:53 am
31, When I first saw an MKT, it struck me as being the ugliest vehicle to hit the road since the Aztec. Now, by using the Town Car name in it, they are making the TC name unusable for a future product where it might belong, like a big, rear drive sedan, if they ever do one.
I agree that the old Cadillac names don’t really fit any of the current cars. The closest would be Sedan Deville for the XTS, but that doesn’t really fit. I suppose Fleetwood Brougham might work for the upcoming CT6, if they put a padded vinyl roof on it.
September 26th, 2014 at 11:14 am
Ohh Noo,not the vinyl roofs again.