The content of the article:
- "American Spirit" in the automotive industry
- America's rival automakers
- Comparison: Lincoln Continental vs Cadillac CT6
For a long time, Cadillac and Lincoln cars were the embodiment of America, dictating to the world their ideas about luxury, speed and safety. With many European and Japanese cars entering the international car market, the position of luxury limousine manufacturers has been shaken ...
American fellow competitors fall short of the luxury segment from Audi and BMW. The statism of machines, which is important for people of the old school, is gradually being lost.
After the total sale of all unprofitable assets, which, according to the management, included the legendary Aston Martin and Jaguar, Volvo and Mercury, as well as the Land Rover family of SUVs, the premium cars of the Ford corporation are represented only by the Lincoln brand.
Realizing that only patriotic pensioners are interested in cars, the brand began to fight hard to rejuvenate the audience.
Cadillac faced a similar problem with aging fans. Attempts to attract the attention of young people due to the brutality of the design and high-power motors have not yet brought the desired result.
According to the rating of last year's sales, Lincoln sold about 85 thousand cars during the year. The top management of the company insists on the necessary 100 thousand sales, advising to change the image of the model and use the maximum technical innovations.
At the moment, the Lincoln lineup is represented, for the most part, by SUVs and crossovers.
"American Spirit" in the automotive industry
Cadillac and Lincoln present luxury cars. Both companies were founded by Henry M. Leland.
Cadillac was created in 1902 and is one of the world's oldest car brands. Currently owned by General Motors.
Since its inception, the company laid the foundations for mass production of cars by introducing the concept of interchangeability of parts and earning the title of the first American high-class automobile brand.
The factories assembled only luxury luxury cars, leaving the popularization of the "vehicle" to other brands.
The very first car air conditioner was installed in 1930 on a Cadillac model. With the outbreak of war with Nazi Germany, the company quickly established the production of tanks and aircraft engines.
Today, Cadillac remains a symbol of American culture and spirit. Launched in the 1950s, the Cadillac Eldorado has become synonymous with the American Dream.
In the photo: Cadillac Eldorado, 1960
To perpetuate the influence of Cadillac on the minds of Americans, the Cadillac Ranch (Texas) was created in the early 1970s. A huge number of old cars of all evolutionary lines have formed a gigantic installation, praising the mobility and freedom offered by the car.
Lincoln was founded in 1917, created specifically for the production of aircraft engines.
Henry Leland did not own it for long, getting involved in an unprofitable luxury car business. Purchased by Henry Ford, founder of the US automotive empire.
From that moment until the early 1970s, all cars were produced on their own platforms, united only by unified engines, in order to save money.
In the photo: Lincoln, 1965
During the period when the company was led by Alan Mulally, the question was raised about the possible closure of the brand. Only the current head of Ford, Mark Fields, managed to defend the American legend.
The question of Cadillac's profitability became acute in 2009. Then the whole corporation General Motors was already facing the threat of bankruptcy, and the management hastily got rid of such promoted brands as Saab, Pontiac and Hummer.
The presidents of the United States became the most valuable customers for Lincoln, because they raised the prestige of models to unattainable heights.
The first Sunshine Special limousine was received by Franklin Roosevelt. The next model, named Bubble Top, rode Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, and Nixon, Ford and Carter rode it. Bush senior also preferred limousines from Lincoln.
Rival company Cadillac wanted to haul presidents too. This brand was preferred by Hoover, Reagan, Clinton, Bush Jr. and Obama.
America's rival automakers
In the photo: Cadillac Escalade & Lincoln Navigator, 2015
The prestigious Detroit-based automakers have long determined the taste preferences of US residents in the automotive industry, until they were ousted by practical "Germans" and comfortable "Japanese" during the gasoline crisis. For a long time, the concerns "stewed in their own juice", allowing them to dominate the world market for luxury luxury cars Mercedes, BMW, Lexus and Audi.
Entering the 21st century, Cadillac was preoccupied with the prevailing position in an already divided market - it was seized with a certain obsession to achieve the speed and handling characteristics that BMW was rightfully proud of.
Lincoln was not as active as it was, plunged into the jungle of internal company problems.
Earlier, from the late 1990s and early 2000s, cars of both brands managed to attract the attention of car owners interested in off-road innovations - Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade. But the spike in gasoline prices brought the companies' efforts to naught.
With a significant commitment of resources, both companies continued to refine their models. Moreover, the approaches of the companies differ significantly.
So, Cadillac is developing more intensively, using the slogan and advertising "Challenge" to promote the brand. To “hear the pulse of the big city,” the office moved to the never-sleeping New York - a real “mecca” of luxury cars.
Lincoln continues to call the much quieter Detroit its home with the car slogan "Tranquil Luxury". The face of the company is Oscar-winning Matthew McConaughey, reflecting on life in hypnotic videos. The main incentive was the constant participation in the New York Auto Show, where Ford consistently demonstrates concept cars and their technical achievements.
The lines of models of both companies do not stand still, gradually expanding. The huge "American" sedans, conquerors of the Wild West tracks, are becoming a thing of the past. They are being replaced by fast and aggressive coupes and sedans from Cadillac and powerful, unstoppable crossovers from Lincoln.
Slightly different from the "light" information systems of the "Europeans", the filling of the "Americans" is even lighter and more intuitive, integrating the car with the owners' phones.
Cadillac has an improved CUE system, coupled with signaling and high-speed 4G LTE data transmission. Lincoln has focused on the infotainment system.
In terms of speed indicators, American cars are still inferior to the European auto industry. Lincoln management decided that speed is not the main thing, there are other values in addition to acceleration seconds and maximum squeezed speed. Being luxurious doesn't mean being the fastest.
For those who like to drive, Cadillac offers sporty versions of the models, but this is still an attempt to adapt to BMW standards. The company considered an important aspect of the reorientation to the production of crossovers, one of which - the XT5 - was included in the number of cars sold.
Comparison: Lincoln Continental vs Cadillac CT6
In the photo: Cadillac CT6
To understand who is cooler, you need to compare two flagship models belonging to the luxury category and similar in characteristics.
Total information
By demonstrating the Cadillac CT6 at the New York Auto Show, the company has written a new page in its history.
This car has no predecessors, it was developed from scratch and stuffed with technological "chips" - one audio system with several dozen speakers is capable of shaking the imagination. Launched in Detroit and China.
Lincoln Continental is in no way inferior to the competitor; the USA and China are also recognized as ideal for the main sales market. A huge number of "bells and whistles", the continuation of the policy of "luxury" - here the car almost caught up with the expensive "Germans".
Engines
Pictured: Lincoln Continental, exterior
Lincoln originally planned to release a three-liter twin-turbo V6 (405 hp) with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Then more than two simpler engines were added - 3.5 and a turbo 2.7 liters, as well as a front-wheel drive version.
Cadillac initially had a more expanded line of engines: a base turbocharged V6 with two liters (265 hp) with front-wheel drive, 3.6 liters (335 hp) and 3 liters (400 hp) - all-wheel drive. Box - "automatic" for 8 steps.
It is planned to release a hybrid (335 hp) with a fully steered chassis. In terms of "engines", based on the information available, Cadillac is definitely in the lead. Cadillac-Lincoln score 1: 0.
Interior
In the photo: Cadillac CT6, salon
The luxury Continental is luxurious: Venetian leather, rose gold, Alcantara, satin, pure lambswool, rear seat multimedia display.
The basic version is simpler, there is not much of luxury left in it - the functionality and the name.
CT6 is trimmed with wood and leather, there are monitors for the back row in the cabin, in general everything is stylish, modern and sophisticated, but no frills, a lot of sensors and buttons.
In general, it is difficult to make a clear choice, so in this aspect, both cars are excellent. Cadillac-Lincoln score 2: 1.
Usefulness
In the photo: Lincoln Continental, salon
Continental has a lot of useful "chips": seats are adjusted to the passenger in 30 variations, they have built-in heating, massage and ventilation, there is a view "from above", an integrated security system, advanced multimedia.
But most of all, the stationary door handles are mesmerizing, which open when you touch their inner side, and from the inside they are triggered by pressing a hidden button. Available - panoramic roof.
Cadillac hits on the spot with 34 speakers of the music system - not a car, but a symphony orchestra. The speakers are crammed everywhere, offering amazing, surround sound.
Design
Lincoln is similar to a concept version of itself, but at the same time, the features of different cars are guessed in it: the rear is licked off from the Audi Prologue, many elements indicate a careful copying of the ideas of Bentley implemented in the Flying Spur.
Everyone agrees that there are a lot of borrowings, although ideas are in the air - and "two bars are not plagiarism."
Cadillac is unique, if it borrows an idea, it is only from its own piggy bank. He has a personality and a recognizable appearance. With a large length (5148 mm), it cannot be called overweight.
The designers managed to create the perfect combination of presentability and individuality, enclosed in a modern, laconic body. Another well-deserved point goes to Cadillac, since Lincoln's lack of its own style is an absolute disadvantage. Cadillac-Lincoln score 4: 2.
Historical retrospective
In the photo: Trump's Cadillac
Lincoln's name for the car - Continental - was used as early as 1938, appearing from time to time in model names. This name is a kind of challenge, as it belonged to cars that are undeniable competitors to Cadillac. It now reflects the rivalry in the luxury segment.
The Cadillac CT6 is new in everything. It has no predecessors, was created from scratch, and represents the style of a global renewal of the concern.
The stakes of both competing firms are quite significant - they will have to fight for buyers in their domestic market and in the Chinese market, where a serious struggle is unfolding.
Whichever rating the cars received in the last round of comparisons, the undisputed leadership remains with Cadillac. It is cooler, more stylish and more interesting, although each of the American car brands has fans. Only a test drive can decide what is best for you.
Conclusion
Cadillac and Lincoln, having gone through a phase of stagnation, managed to survive and successfully compete with other players in the car market, not inferior to them in the production of SUVs and crossovers.
It is still difficult for them to come close and push out such "monsters of sales" as BMW, Mercedes and Lexus, but the American nation stubbornly strives to lead in this area as well.
Sales of luxury cars are already generating significant profits for companies, because during their absence from the car market, both companies managed to dispose of technical innovations, reaching a qualitatively new level of the automotive industry.
