UK's Independent on Sunday Crucifies Cadillac SRX
For reasons both cultural and non-commercial (I’m looking at you, tax-payer funded Top Gear), the British press feels less inhibited about telling the truth about cars than their American cousins. And when it comes to yank tanks, let’s just say the car hacks’ Super Ego takes a nice long holiday in Majorca. To wit: The Independent on Sunday’s review of the Cadillac SRX, in which Michael Booth tears Caddy’s crossover a new one. “Cadillac says it is ‘targeting’ the BMW X5 and Mercedes ML; ‘stalking’ would be a better description. Peering at them from behind the bushes while rubbing itself suggestively is about as close as the SRX is going to get to the premium German market.” And you thought TTAC was tough on the General. As Dick Van Dyke would say, 'cor blimey!
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The Mustang has received decent reviews in British magazines, as the reviewers see the car for what it is and accept it for that. The problem with the SRX is that GM is touting it as a BWM and Mercedes competitor, and this writer - along with his counterparts at other British car magazines - isn't at all shy about pointing out that the emperor has no clothes.
The Brits have always hated American cars. I would be worried if they didn't complain about them - it would mean American cars are in fact truly dead, replaced by a mishmash Eurojapanese contraption. Bring back the Fleetwood.
Noticed in the original article that their observed fuel mileage was 14 mpg--would that be IMPERIAL gallons? Hooboy, no wonder they see this thing as a fuel hog. As for the article, I've seen this sort of cutesy metaphoric writing in the auto press on this side for years...just more aimed at American senses of humor.
"The Brits have always hated American cars. I would be worried if they didn’t complain about them" Not really. Chrysler has sold bucketloads of Jeeps, PT Cruisers, Neons, Voyagers, 300s and even the odd Crossfire (aka Mercedes SLK) in the UK and continues to do so. They don't have a European division like Ford and GM do so they import their models from the US, Mexico etc. but have adapted them to the UK market. Cadillac have been here before. They targeted the BMW 5 Series with the Seville STS a few years ago and failed appalingly. Even Bangle's ugly 5-Series couldn't help them. I think its am image thing. Say Cadillac to an American and it generates an image of luxury, perhaps the fleetwood and other great cars of the past. Say Cadillac to a Brit and it generates an image of 70s land yachts, Huggy Bear furry purple interiors and fake motel style wood. Say it to a teenage brit and its images of "Gansta's" arriving at a "Save The World" concert in an Escalade. This new campaign has the smell of commercial death all over it.