British car site Autocar is reporting that Cadillac has set its sights on MINI with the Urban Luxury Concept recently debuted at the LA Auto Show. Talking with designer Niki Smart, the MINI appears to be an inspiration for the future car’s possible positioning.
“The time is ripe for Cadillac to make this car,†he said. “We need a bigger spread of models, particularly for Europe. The MINI’s success is proof of people’s open-mindedness.â€
Smart went on to talk about small cars in particular as a new path for the marque.
“There is no iconic history of small cars at Cadillac, so I’m happy not to have had to return to a previous design,â€
Personally, this concept was the one item from the LA Auto Show that really caught my attention. It’s undeniably Caddy, but more than that it looks like where a car of the future could finally meet the cars of the present. I love it, but that’s me. It’s obviously just a concept at this point. Whether or not it’s a real threat to MINI in Europe would depend on the final car. Sadly, I don’t think Cadillac’s got the stones, as they say ‘cross the pond, to actually take something this outlandish to market. Which is really too bad. The world needs more interesting cars. What do you think? Check out the full gallery over at Autocar and sound off in the comments.
<p>Pretty fugly, IMO… Far too angular, no “flow”. “Car of the future” perhaps, but to me the term suggests something that looks dated quickly and lacks any sense of “timeless” design and beauty. It’s almost like the designer started sketching, got as far as the layout lines, then decided to go have a beer instead of finishing up.</p>
<p>I think it’s perfect for soccer moms. They will rush into cadillac dealers to buy it. It’s classy and the final design will probably look like the Mercedes A Class. Soccer moms represent a good chunk of MINI buyers in France and they like everything that is new shiny, so they will probably switch to that. As for MINI hardcore fans, no way they’ll buy this thing because it has no history. Full disclosure, my mom is a soccer mom…;)</p>
<p>This should be fantastic, IMHO. Competition is always a great thing, and that is one heck of small car statement. Love</p>
<p>Cadillac is the only American carmaker that consistently turns out a car or two a year that I find compelling. The Allante caught my attention first, with it’s modern step away from classic Cadillac design. Then the STS solidified it. Cadillac’s designs (read CTS V) have only grown more appealing to me.</p>
<p>It better have lots of camera coverage and driver ‘heads up’ displays for rear and even side vision. the rear seat passengers have no side vision. As I recall Chrysler, with their high belt line designs, found out that was a bad idea, especially for children. I’ll pass on this design trend until it has more versatility / utility.</p>
<p>Holy cow that thing is ugly! But then, I don’t like much of anything Cadillac puts out. It looks like a prop from some futuristic movie. Or a chopped Smart. So it ought to sell well in Europe, where there’s less room to park and not so much danger of getting run over by a Suburban or Hummer. Here in the states, probably not so successful. Interesting concept, though.</p>
<p>Hate to judge based on a single angle and the outrageously over-sized wheels and tires that will never make it to production don’t help, but… /boggle</p>
<p>As a 2-seater, I could almost see the driver being positioned far enough back to have reasonable forward and side visibility. As a 4-seater (which it presumably is), I have no idea how the driver would not have extremely obstructed visibility from the A-pillar.</p>
<p>Competition is good, but fugly is fugly. Looks like something VW may have discarded as a poor visualization of an ultra-futurized Rabbit.</p>
<p>It may well sneak into the MINI market by pure stealth. The radar profile has to be near zilch. Looks like a F117 without the wings or even the new Navy LCS without the helo deck. Paint it desert camo and I’m sure the military will buy it by the thousands.</p>
<p>I’ll go with the “Fugly” as well. By the time GM gets around to production they will have Daewoo producing it and they will use the American motoring public as the test bed for working out all the kinks. In the meantime Mini will have gone well past them in quality and performance.</p>
<p>Of course, by the time GM goes from concept to production, it will probably end up looking like slightly more modern version of the Cadillac Cimarron. Just look at how the Volt concept turned out.</p>
<p>“looks dated quickly and lacks any sense of “timeless†design and beauty”… Have ya seen a Gallardo or Countach? Seems they also have lost their way?</p>
<p>Seems a stretch. A car known for comfort ride marries an edgy hot wheel. I’m not a soccer mom, but I can see antiques, plants and lots of weekend luggage in the back of that!
It will come to performance for my vote.</p>
<p>I think it looks good. Although I appear to be in the minority around the office with the design. Others said “I think it is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen” and “You couldn’t pay me enough to drive that thing.”</p>
<p>As far as threatening MINI, from the pictures it would appear to be much closer to Smart than MINI.</p>
<p>Who designs these “American” cars? What are they on, because I want some! MINI have just sent poor old (at 57) Gert out to pasture, so why not give him a job?
I can’t see Elvis, Super Fly or other Pimps driving around in one of these… Best place for this is the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo…</p>
<p>Um… somebody take that thing out behind the barn.</p>
<p>I really hate the current design of all Cadillacs, as well as every “futuristic city car” concept that I see. This is the worst parts of both. Despicable.</p>
<p>“Have ya seen a Gallardo or Countach? Seems they also have lost their way?”</p>
<p>I have. The Countach is a good example – the design was “cutting edge” in its day, but looks extremely dated 20 years later. The Gallardo is significantly less outrageous (and signficantly better looking than the Countach, IMO)… The design is only 5-6 years old at this point so time will tell, but I’d wager it ages better than the Countach.</p>
<p>At first blush, I’m not sure if I like the design. Perhaps it will grow on me. But, the criticism I have is that it almost looks the design was done in order to have a place to hang that grill. In other words, the grill seems too prominent…</p>
<p>If GM were to leave the design to their European design house and give it MINI, BMW or Audi type handling and performance it could be a winner for them. But whatever they do it has to be able get out of it’s own way and be fun to drive.</p>
<p>What the world does not need is another Preis. Cadillac was known for it’s high performance cars, and racers, way back when they started. Maybe they should try to work their way back to that. They are certainly part way there with the CTS-V.</p>
<p>Time to step away from the marshmellow ride and pimpmobile image.</p>
<p>I agree that Caddie making a move at MINI will be good for the brand. Though with BMW talking about making a small front drive car I am not so sure that GM is looking at MINI as a target. I do not believe this car would do well outside a show room. Needs more glass. If it is going to be driven on the world stage in places that are crowded driver vision will be more important than what the designer of the above exercise though.</p>
<p>Ugly AND a death trap. Good luck seeing out of any of the windows and I expect changing lanes on the freeway is always a risky proposition in this thing seeing as your blind spot would be larger than the actual car itself.</p>
<p>This trend in increasing the ratio between body cladding and window sizing has got to end. It’s just crap. Cars are meant to be driven from the inside, not the outside.</p>
<p>I agree with Aaron about those narrow “slot” windows. One of the best features of MINI’s are the “tall” roof design and large windows all around. I especially like the large side windows, which will become a lot smaller on the 4-door Countryman.</p>
<p>It looks like the head section of a transformer… It is radical in design, just not the kind I’d like to be seen driving.</p>
<p>I love it! If the thing handles and goes as good as a MINI, I’d buy one in 2 seconds! Of course I would keep my MINI too!</p>
<p>Frankly, I’d stick with a MINI.</p>
<p>Pretty fugly, IMO… Far too angular, no “flow”. “Car of the future” perhaps, but to me the term suggests something that looks dated quickly and lacks any sense of “timeless” design and beauty. It’s almost like the designer started sketching, got as far as the layout lines, then decided to go have a beer instead of finishing up.</p>
<p>I think it’s perfect for soccer moms. They will rush into cadillac dealers to buy it. It’s classy and the final design will probably look like the Mercedes A Class. Soccer moms represent a good chunk of MINI buyers in France and they like everything that is new shiny, so they will probably switch to that. As for MINI hardcore fans, no way they’ll buy this thing because it has no history. Full disclosure, my mom is a soccer mom…;)</p>
<p>I’d love to see the design memos for this thing:</p>
<p>“We need a super stylish small car.”</p>
<p>“Okay, but you have to use these leftover grills from the last Escalade.”</p>
<p>“But we need a super stylish small car–“</p>
<p>“– built around an Escalade grill! I know you can do it, Bob! Chin up!”</p>
<p>If there’s a ‘V’ edition with 556hp, sign me up!</p>
<p>This should be fantastic, IMHO. Competition is always a great thing, and that is one heck of small car statement. Love</p>
<p>Cadillac is the only American carmaker that consistently turns out a car or two a year that I find compelling. The Allante caught my attention first, with it’s modern step away from classic Cadillac design. Then the STS solidified it. Cadillac’s designs (read CTS V) have only grown more appealing to me.</p>
<p>It better have lots of camera coverage and driver ‘heads up’ displays for rear and even side vision. the rear seat passengers have no side vision. As I recall Chrysler, with their high belt line designs, found out that was a bad idea, especially for children. I’ll pass on this design trend until it has more versatility / utility.</p>
<p>Holy cow that thing is ugly! But then, I don’t like much of anything Cadillac puts out. It looks like a prop from some futuristic movie. Or a chopped Smart. So it ought to sell well in Europe, where there’s less room to park and not so much danger of getting run over by a Suburban or Hummer. Here in the states, probably not so successful. Interesting concept, though.</p>
<p>NOT FOR ME GO MINI!!!!</p>
<p>Hate to judge based on a single angle and the outrageously over-sized wheels and tires that will never make it to production don’t help, but… /boggle</p>
<p>As a 2-seater, I could almost see the driver being positioned far enough back to have reasonable forward and side visibility. As a 4-seater (which it presumably is), I have no idea how the driver would not have extremely obstructed visibility from the A-pillar.</p>
<p>Competition is good, but fugly is fugly. Looks like something VW may have discarded as a poor visualization of an ultra-futurized Rabbit.</p>
<p>It may well sneak into the MINI market by pure stealth. The radar profile has to be near zilch. Looks like a F117 without the wings or even the new Navy LCS without the helo deck. Paint it desert camo and I’m sure the military will buy it by the thousands.</p>
<p>I’ll go with the “Fugly” as well. By the time GM gets around to production they will have Daewoo producing it and they will use the American motoring public as the test bed for working out all the kinks. In the meantime Mini will have gone well past them in quality and performance.</p>
<p>Of course, by the time GM goes from concept to production, it will probably end up looking like slightly more modern version of the Cadillac Cimarron. Just look at how the Volt concept turned out.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry. Their last small car was the Cimarron and we know how well that went.</p>
<p>“looks dated quickly and lacks any sense of “timeless†design and beauty”… Have ya seen a Gallardo or Countach? Seems they also have lost their way?</p>
<p>Ugliest car since Pontiac Aztec.</p>
<p>Seems a stretch. A car known for comfort ride marries an edgy hot wheel. I’m not a soccer mom, but I can see antiques, plants and lots of weekend luggage in the back of that!
It will come to performance for my vote.</p>
<p>I think it looks good. Although I appear to be in the minority around the office with the design. Others said “I think it is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen” and “You couldn’t pay me enough to drive that thing.”</p>
<p>As far as threatening MINI, from the pictures it would appear to be much closer to Smart than MINI.</p>
<p>Who designs these “American” cars? What are they on, because I want some! MINI have just sent poor old (at 57) Gert out to pasture, so why not give him a job?
I can’t see Elvis, Super Fly or other Pimps driving around in one of these… Best place for this is the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo…</p>
<p>Wow.</p>
<p>Um… somebody take that thing out behind the barn.</p>
<p>I really hate the current design of all Cadillacs, as well as every “futuristic city car” concept that I see. This is the worst parts of both. Despicable.</p>
<p>and he’s trading in his Mini for a Cadillac AK AK AK AKK</p>
<p>Cory and MINIme – y’all said it. Ugly…</p>
<p>“Have ya seen a Gallardo or Countach? Seems they also have lost their way?”</p>
<p>I have. The Countach is a good example – the design was “cutting edge” in its day, but looks extremely dated 20 years later. The Gallardo is significantly less outrageous (and signficantly better looking than the Countach, IMO)… The design is only 5-6 years old at this point so time will tell, but I’d wager it ages better than the Countach.</p>
<p>no competition to MINI whatsoever.</p>
<p>At first blush, I’m not sure if I like the design. Perhaps it will grow on me. But, the criticism I have is that it almost looks the design was done in order to have a place to hang that grill. In other words, the grill seems too prominent…</p>
<p>BUTT UGLY! Looks like it came out of the same gene pool as the Aztec.</p>
<p>It’s not April 1st, it’s December 1st, right?</p>
<p>If GM were to leave the design to their European design house and give it MINI, BMW or Audi type handling and performance it could be a winner for them. But whatever they do it has to be able get out of it’s own way and be fun to drive.</p>
<p>What the world does not need is another Preis. Cadillac was known for it’s high performance cars, and racers, way back when they started. Maybe they should try to work their way back to that. They are certainly part way there with the CTS-V.</p>
<p>Time to step away from the marshmellow ride and pimpmobile image.</p>
<p>I agree that Caddie making a move at MINI will be good for the brand. Though with BMW talking about making a small front drive car I am not so sure that GM is looking at MINI as a target. I do not believe this car would do well outside a show room. Needs more glass. If it is going to be driven on the world stage in places that are crowded driver vision will be more important than what the designer of the above exercise though.</p>
<p>Ugly AND a death trap. Good luck seeing out of any of the windows and I expect changing lanes on the freeway is always a risky proposition in this thing seeing as your blind spot would be larger than the actual car itself.</p>
<p>This trend in increasing the ratio between body cladding and window sizing has got to end. It’s just crap. Cars are meant to be driven from the inside, not the outside.</p>
<p>I agree with Aaron about those narrow “slot” windows. One of the best features of MINI’s are the “tall” roof design and large windows all around. I especially like the large side windows, which will become a lot smaller on the 4-door Countryman.</p>