I wasn’t sure if I’d see the Cadillac XT6 in person, even though I assigned myself the story when us editor types divvied up our coverage of this year’s Detroit Auto Show.
You see, I asked to be added to the media list a little late, and was told the event would be at capacity. But a journalist doesn’t let little things like “fire codes” stand in the way of his story. So I showed up a little late and used my Midwestern charm to get in the door. In a very polite way, I crashed the party.
Which is what Cadillac is doing, in a way.
The XT6 officially broke cover while I was making my way across Michigan, and pics cropped up on social media. As did derision from journos. Paraphrasing: “It’s an expensive Hyundai Palisade!” “It’s front-wheel drive and expects to compete with Audi and BMW and Volvo?” “Man, it’s boring — Cadillac needs something snazzier than this.”
Even at the event, another journalist sidled up to me and said something like, “where was this two or three years ago?”
Cadillac, then, has crashed the crossover party, arriving late and trying to get in the door.
Wearing the equivalent of a tasteful yet plain suit, the XT6 will be powered by a 3.6-liter V6 expected to make 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive will be available (standard on the Sport trim), and the V6 will pair with a nine-speed automatic and offer cylinder deactivation. It will ride on 20- or 21-inch wheels.
Slated for production in Spring Hill, Tennessee, Cadillac has loaded the three-row XT6 with a lengthy list of available content, including: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an updated version of Cadillac User Experience, navigation, in-car wi-fi hotspot, satellite radio, wireless cell-phone charging, rearview-camera with remote wash, rearview-camera mirror with remote wash, night vision, a trailer-hitch guidance system, head-up display, all the usual safety and driver-aid systems (adaptive cruise control, forward-collision alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, etc.), hands-free liftgate, NFC phone pairing, heated and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, keyless entry, and something called adaptive remote start.
The third row of seats folds down with power, and the second row can be folded via remote.
Seen up close, the XT6 doesn’t exactly excite, but I do like the Cadillac grille and headlight treatment. Otherwise, the peanut gallery is on to something — the boxy XT6 is a bit of a letdown from a brand that has taken chances with design in recent years. Maybe “art and science” wasn’t for you, but Cadillac can’t be accused of not trying. Even the XT4 is an attempt at excitement, even if you don’t think it succeeds.
On the other hand, does the well-heeled family give a whit? For some, the long list of available features will be enough, and the Cadillac name still carries some cachet. There will be some in the private-school carpool lane who don’t need a BMW or Audi badge to feel good about themselves, and some of these folks may find the Escalade too flashy.
And that may be the biggest downer about the XT6. Not that it’s a bit anonymous, but that Cadillac probably could’ve gotten away with it two years ago.
Unless one is trying to sneak in, it’s harder to make a grand entrance if you’re too late. You need more pizzazz in that case, and the XT6 appears to lack it upon first blush.
That said, final judgment only occurs from behind the wheel. This Caddy still has time to schmooze. But until then, it’s the quiet party crasher, not the fun one.
[Images © 2019 Tim Healey/TTAC]
Who designs interiors at Cadillac, and how do they still have jobs? The Aviator absolutely annihilates this on the inside, much less anything from Europe – other than MAYBE the stone age GLS, and I’m sure Mercedes will rectify that soon enough.
THIS is going up against the Aviator?
At least it is not made in China like the Envision.
It’s a rebadged Chevy Traverse built on the now ancient Lambda platform.
It’s chock full of Lowest Bidder Chinesium parts.
It’s a boring, blob of front-wheel drive architecture anonymity in which Cadillac could not even be bother to change the dash and other major interior components from the XT5.
It has the ubiquitous 3.6 liter Guangzhou-Guadalajara Motors motor shared in everything from Chevys to GMCs and Buicks.
It would make Roger Smith absolutely beam with pride (it should have some nod to Roger Smiith in the form of an exterior and interior badge/plaque/decal).
In fact, for those curious about the exterior styling, check out the Chinese GAC SUV spotted on U.S. streets a while back (though the GAC, at that will probably be $30,000, is nicer inside and out, a d will love to be far more reliable).
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2018/08/our-future-awaits-brawny-chinese-suv-spied-testing-in-Colorado/
CADILLAC: THE STANDARD OF THE WORLD!!!
GUANGZHOU-GUADALAJARA MOTORS (NEW GM LLC): MARK OF EXCELLENCE!
MARY BARRA, DAN AMMANN, STEVE CARLISLE: MODERN DAY GENIUSES!
GUANGZHOU-GUADALAJARA MOTORS (NEW GM LLC) PRODUCTS ROCK!!!
Roger Smith signature edition…
(Makes as much sense as the “Walter P. Chrysler” signature edition jellybean minivan that one of my employees drives.)
1. Lambda isnt around anymore, this is on a modified Epsilon platform (Lambda was loosely based on the W body).
2. This is smaller than a Traverse.
3. I stopped reading your post after the first line.
To my eyes it looks about the size of a reskinned Acadia. I think GM missed an opportunity here in using the smaller architecture vs whatever the Enclave and Traverse ride on presently. I would venture a guess that they didnt want to cannibalize sales of the Slade with a high interior volume but less expensive 3 row. Im sure it will sell, but with maybe only 6 inches on the XT5 and the penchant for abundant space that we know is a constant in 3 row crossover shoppers and likely in most Cadillac intenders, bit of missed opportunity me thinks.
Poor XT6. I think it’s decent looking, if a bit on the conservative side, and it’s sure to print a lot of dollars, but most auto journalists all over the net right now have pretty much assassinated it right out of the gate.
Meanwhile, in the next year or so I hope we get Cadillac vs Lincoln SUV sales comparisons. Because most people are just dying to see Cadillac lose, and Lincoln is starting to put together a competent lineup.
Heck, the interior of the Kia Telluride looks more premium and it will sell for thousands less.
XT6 is a big disappointment
It okay looking and seems to have the ?Buick LaCross dash now!
Joystick shifter thingy… Meh.
I think those journalists who complained were a little off. For one thing, everything Volvo makes is transverse-engined and FWD-based, including the XC90. And indeed, this looks like an XC90 from the sides.
Second, I don’t think this’ll compete with the Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz crowd at all. As I said elsewhere, I think it’ll do battle against the aforementioned XC90, in lesser trims, as well as the Acura MDX, Infiniti QX60, and Lexus RX L. That segment does not demand the athletic platforms and powerful engines that are seen on stuff like the GLE and GLS-Class, X5 and X7, Q7, or Range Rover Sport. All you need is a competent platform, space for seven people, premium styling, and plenty of features. It also costs a lot less to acquire the vehicles in the former category.
Where do you feel that the Aviator fits in?
The Aviator looks more like a competitor to more-expensive European SUVs.
But that’s the problem. Cadillac isn’t supposed to be competing against the MDX, XC90, or RX-L….Buick is. And Buick already has the very similar Enclave. Cadillac is supposed to be GM’s competitor to Mercedes, Audi, and BMW. Instead, they repeat what they did with the Escalade (and Cimmaron) and just gussy up a Chevrolet and try to pass it off as luxury.
Yea, I hear a lot of people claiming that this “lost” to the Aviator. But Caddy seems to be following Lexus’ playbook with the RX, which is the top selling midsize CUV by a wide margin, with much less be$poke equipment.
I do think Cadillac may need a flagship unibody crossover above the Escalade, but the Alpha platform isn’t conducive to that, and GM doesn’t have the money. There is talk of an EV crossover coming to the Cadillac line but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Agreed about the drivetrain layout. Many of the people buying these thing don’t know or care about the differences between a FWD or RWD layout. When people start bashing it for that, it becomes obvious they don’t really know what sells here. My wife has an XT5 and is very happy with it. For her purposes, a RWD layout would be a downgrade frankly.
IMO GM’s real mistake here was using the same boring 3.6 v6, without any upgrade option, and the EXACT dash and door panels from the XT5. WTF? The XT5 interior is actually pretty nice and simple in its own right but it’s 3 years old now. No way is it fit for a NEW MODEL just coming out in 2020. Totally lazy on GM’s part.
On the other hand Lexus was even lazier with the SWB / LWB RX and they seem to be doing just fine there. So maybe this is the right move if you think of the XT6 as just a XT5-L
“On the other hand Lexus was even lazier with the SWB / LWB RX and they seem to be doing just fine there. So maybe this is the right move if you think of the XT6 as just a XT5-L”
That’s basically what it is. This has the same wheelbase as the XT5, Blazer, and Acadia, but is longer behind the rear wheels than those cars. So it’s sized somewhere between mid- and full-size.
And as far as the dashboard being the same as that of the XT5, other manufacturers do stuff like that. Check out the GLE-Class and the GLS-Class. Or the new X5 and the X7. Or the Expedition and the F-150.
The one advantage of the Aviator’s RWD/AWD layout is it creates an excellent aesthetic for the design that is very dynamic; almost no front overhand and a set-back look. Very Range Rover, BMW, or Merc.
I forgot to mention Aviator — which is a natural competitor.
The XC90 has design, the MDX reliability and some Dynamics in driving, QX60 sells on low lease prices, and the Lexus on it’s badge and reliability.
This won’t have any of that. If anything, this will complete with the Atlas and likely won’t compete on price with the VW.
I imagine it’ll be reliable enough. The MDX isn’t all that athletic, but does handle decently for a FWD crossover. Also, GM’s twin-clutch AWD, which you can get on the XT6 Sport Design, is comparable to the MDX’s SH-AWD.
I imagine the XC90 would quickly become more expensive to buy and own, and really only lesser versions (T5 Momentum FWD, for example) compete in this territory. Once you drop $70K for a nicely-equipped Inscription, you’re getting a much nicer car and are in different territory.
I’ll give you the Lexus, which has a long tenure of being the best-selling luxury crossover on the market, although not as a three-row vehicle.
And I don’t know what to say about the QX60.
Kyree, is this vehicle Acadia/Blazer sized or equivalent to the larger Traverse? The latter category is where I’m shopping. What I’m really looking for is something with a bit more power than the Traverse rather than additional luxury. For that reason I’m cross shopping the new Explorer versus a lower trim or lightly used XC90 T6.
Your comparison seems apt, but to my eyes the XC90 is a classier effort given the lack of “gills” on the front that the XT6 has.
This is NOT Traverse-sized.
It’s closer to the Acadia.
In the past, the Acadia and Traverse were the same size. The Traverse stay the same, maybe a tad larger, but the Acadia shrunk a little bit.
If one wants a GMC version of the Traverse, one now gets a Buick Enclave from their “Buick-GMC” dealer.
The old “triplets” sold very well, even in their last few years, after being on the market almost TEN years.
Good question.
The Acadia’s wheelbase is 112.5″ and it has an overall length of 193″. The Blazer is comparable, with a wheelbase and overall length of 112.7″ and 191.4″, respectively. The XT5 is a little shorter, at 189.5″, but has a similar 112.5″ wheelbase.
The Enclave’s wheelbase is 120.9″, and it has an overall length of 204.3″. The Traverse is identical on both of those.
The new XT6’s wheelbase—per the press release—is 112.7″, and it has an overall length of 198.8″.
So, the XT6 uses the same wheelbase as the shorter C1XX SUVs, but gets more length behind the rear wheels than those cars, in order to provide for a reasonably roomy third row. So it’s sized neatly between the Acadia/Blazer/XT5 group and the Traverse/Enclave group.
Lincoln’s Aviator hit the ball out of the park with styling, engines and especially the interior. Cadillac’s offering will attract Cadillac diehards but seriously, offering the tired 3.6 V6, the same interior as its other offerings and a bland exterior in 2019 in the hottest segment seems a little complacent.
Yikes. Looks like a cross between a Durango and some Chinese knockoff and the interior? Thats Chevy grade apparel. MMMMM taste that FWD. Once again a big swing and miss by Caddy/GM.
I’m not sure where you see Durango. This has very upright styling, whereas the Durango is sleeker and sportier-looking. If anything, I’d say it looks similar to the current Pilot and the current XC90.
It looks like a barely disguised Honda Pilot. When I opened TTAC today, I saw a Cadillac CUV that finally looked comfortable in its skin. It turns out what I was seeing was the Kia Telluride.
It is badge engineering, which is something GM is not particularly good at, but it seems like they can’t give up on this drug.
At least Ford and Lincoln are trying. I personally think the new Aviator is worlds better (new platform, more powerful engines, incredibly luxurious interior) than this redbadged Chevy Traverse.
Funny you say that, since Lincoln’s entire lineup is nothing but shinier Fords, and not a single completely bespoke model in the lineup.
How’s the sales of the ‘rebadged’ Ford Taurus doing, btw?
Platform sharing is not badge engineering. Not when GM does it, and not when Ford does it.
I recommend you read this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebadging
Just an overpriced minivan. Wow.
Was a Dodge Journey the design benchmark?
Ouch!
I think for what the Cadillac brand has become, this is a fine looking vehicle. We’ll see how it holds up & performs on the road.
Your tasteful but plain analogy is accurate, as well as identifying this as good for someone for whom an Escalade is a bit too much.
If this is priced in Escalade land it’s DOA. I also think of the models you named this would be the runt of the litter.
So, Chevy Traverse for a $20K premium, what took them so long? To be honest this isn’t even the best looking of the bunch, the Buick Enclave is
“What I really want is a Chevy Traverse with more epic depreciation.”
(Said no one ever…)
I m no fan of GM. Especially Cadillac.
-Art and Science, fail and stayed with it too long.
-JdN
-Alpha numeric names.
-Late to the party – real late- with CUV.
But, The XT 4, 5, 6 are nice looking (from the pictures)
I wish them well.
My sister is on her 2nd XT5 and loves it except the start-stop. I test drove one and almost got one except the CUE was bad. Just BRUTAL.
What happened to the first one? That’s a fairly new model. Was it in an accident?
I imagine he meant she had an SRX before since a lot of people, consider them the same model lineage. It’s like saying “I’m on my third Forte” even though you had a Sephia and Spectra before, same thing, different names.
an ’15 and ’18 XT5. Leases.
Oh, okay. The ‘15 would have been an SRX, because it didn’t become the XT5 until the 2017 redesign.
GM must have died when the Aviator bowed in LA know that they were about to drop this dud a few month later. From the exterior and interior design to powertrains, the Lincoln is over and above this sad effort in every way.
Just like how GM died when the Continental bowed and the journos and the B&B declared it would destroy Cadillac’s sedan lineup?
Exactly my thoughts.
Lincoln is far lower on people’s radar than even Cadillac. The Continental is miles better than the XTS yet we know which one sells better, even without livery customers.
Yeah go look on AutoTrader for used XTS and used Continentals. Even restricting it to model years where they were both being sold there will be likely a 2-1 ratio in favor of the XTS.
Losing round headlights has been like losing God. Everything thereafter is a chaotic hodgepodge of the disjunct, warring components of disharmony.
I mistook a photo of the XT6 for a render of a redesigned Traverse. This is a blow to everything Art & Science promised to be. It is bland and harkens back to the days of lazy GM rebrands. It seems hurriedly put together and it’s a major disappointment.
This is the kind of car GM and Cadillac should excel at making. This should be a class-leading, gorgeous crossover. Instead, it is as bland and uninspired as it is late to the party.
Sometimes, I don’t know why I expect more from GM.
Hurried, yet 10 years late. This is a zero effort money grab. Hardly “Standard of the World.”
There must be a lot of smiling faces at Lincoln today. Never been a big fan of Ford/Lincoln design, but at least it has some attitude – this looks like just another generic CUV. The Aviator has 400/450 hp options, a hybrid, distinctive interiors and exteriors. It will be interesting to see who sells more.
I don’t know where to start with this. Firstly how did it take them this long to produce a poorly badge engineered Traverse!? I mean really, you have to significantly question the management that was so low to bring this to market. I’m not even mad by how bland it looks or how little effort appears to have gone into it. Being this late to the gravy train with this little effort speaks volumes about what is going on at GM
Any plans for a V-Sport version at this point, Tim?
Looks like a rebadged 2017 Chevy Traverse, the Traverse was built in Spring Hill until they shipped it up to Mich. in 2010.
HAAAAAHAHAHHAHHAHAA HAH HO oh hoho ha HAAAAHAHHA
They’re trying to sell THAT as a cadillac?
That vehicle looks like the badge-less, anonymous car used for insurance commercials. What a flop.
I don’t know what those idiots are thinking about in the hallowed halls of Cadillac. they have progresively ruined the standard of the world. though i am still a huge Cadillac fan………….i am now relegating myself to their older stuff. this is just a Caddied up Traverse and although the traverse is cool as it is………..I cant swing with this. The Escalade i don’t mind and like very much, but this just shows that the guys at GM have no clue and they are overpaid morons.
What an embarrassment! This is Traverse with a bling grill. Look at the ass end, it stinks of plebian roots. Good thing they gave it an alphanumeric name because anything else we would be attempting to merge it with the name Cimarron.
I think even the Blue Hairs in Central Nebraska will scoff at this as their XTS wears out, its over to the Blue Oval store for an Aviator.
Hey GM: FAIL!
Not only is it late to the party, but it’s dressed for a beer bash at a champagne soiree.
It’s the champagne of beers
Oh I get it – this is the new Custom Cruiser!
(See even GM misses Oldsmobile!)
I have to presume all of those saying “But the Aviator will kill this!” are the same people who said similar things when the Continental debuted a while back. And the Continental is mostly invisible on the roads these days. I expect the Aviator will be similar, especially with its iPad glued to the dash and its ultra-wide space-eating center console setup. Lincoln is a brand on life support.
This is perhaps disappointing in not being more different from the XT5 but I expect it will do just fine.
Of course they are. They’re the same “I wish Cadillac would just die” people.
And how are you any different towards Lincoln? Can’t even acknowledge that the Aviator went a lot further than this when it couldn’t be more obvious. But, no, we need to distract from that, so let’s concentrate on some discontinued Cadillac sedans and how they’re just KILLIN’ IT.
Sedans are falling and utilities rising.
You really think this fat bland Acadia with a Chevy Impala engine is so much better than the Aviator? If you need to tell yourself that, fine.
The platform for the Aviator was designed with a premium vehicle in mind to start with, this was designed for cheap mainstream vehicles, and some extra lipstick added later to call it a Caddy.
Lincoln puts 400 horsepower as standard, goes all out on the interior, and offers a PHEV version with even more power. You can’t tell me this isnt half-assed compared to the Lincoln.
I hate to sound like deadbeat, but this thing seems ripe for the Chinese market, where you can sell your American brand luxury cars on name alone. That isnt true here. You gotta knock it out of the park and Cadillac barely made it to 1st base.
Stop with the silliness. The Aviator platform was designed with the Explorer in mind, because that is what it is built on. It’s a gussied-up Explorer under the Land Rover-esque skin.
>>the XT6 will be powered by a 3.6-liter V6
Corporate engine to the rescue! – yeah I know Lexus does the same thing (or did) and pulls it off.
3.6 is just about as ubiquitous as the Toyota 3.5 – GM is throwing the 3.6 around like it is the Olds 307 V8 in the late 80s.
Got a big passenger vehicle? Don’t know what to power it with?
3.6!
P. Dan. 307 powerful, no :(. Smooth, quite, fuel efficient and dead reliable, Yes! I always wonder what a TBI system and Vortec style heads would have done for the venerable Olds V-8. IMO, miles ahead of any SBC.
I never said it was “powerful” – even an Iron Duke “powered” whatever it was put in, however roughly and slowly.
I owned an Olds 307 – I want to kill be beancounters who kept the engineers from building a TBI version.
Indeed. My grandmother had a 1985 Buick Riviera with the 307. From what I remember, the electronic carburetor was…finicky.
“IMO, miles ahead of any SBC.”
Agree to disagree.
Do the executives and marketing types know that they whiffed this when they are up there introducing it, or are they that oblivious?
Why would anyone choose this vehicle, does it have any usp?
What cadiillac and others are trying to do is sell vehicles which have no real desireable charateristics by claiming electronics and safety systems are it. Many of us of us turn those (sometimes reliable) systems off.
A premium car/vehicle needs to pull at the emotions with something.
Whats caddy offering
“Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an updated version of Cadillac User Experience, navigation, in-car wi-fi hotspot, satellite radio, wireless cell-phone charging, rearview-camera with remote wash, rearview-camera mirror with remote wash, night vision, a trailer-hitch guidance system, head-up display, all the usual safety and driver-aid systems (adaptive cruise control, forward-collision alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, etc.), hands-free liftgate, NFC phone pairing, heated and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, keyless entry, and something called adaptive remote start.”
Seriously you can get all that in a 30k korean car.
Subaru who has staed their clam on safetey and electronics is seeing sales decline. Vehicles have to have some emotion.
A warmed over acadia aint it.
They’ll probably sell a few to squids and turn a profit.
At least the aviator has appeal past the electronics.
Looks like they sucked the life out of a Highlander.
The outgoing CT6 has presence.
The incoming XT6 has none.
I’ll wait to see one in the flesh before passing final judgement, but in photos the XT6 exterior appears handsome and understated to my eye. Certainly preferable to the wildly over-styled RX350 and QX60 and goofily-grilled-and-calipered MDX. The standard-issue 3.6L/9AT powertrain, while competent, is a bit boring. Guess I should shut up and be thankful it’s not another overworked 2.0T. Interior design appears underwhelming in comparison to those of Europeans and Aviator. Still, auto journalists’ scorn for the XT6 seems premature to me.
Separately, the trend of fake air intakes needs to die. Looks to me like the upper grille and most of the lower are functional. But all of that black solid plastic surrounding the vertical LED DRLs? Christ, save us. I recognize that Cadillac is far from the only (or worst) offender here. The new Aviator’s front end is comparatively free of fake inlets, though I have problems with other details like the Japanese-looking headlights and tacky fender badges.
So disappointing. Just another me too product. Has zero chance of luring chasers of the Roundel and three pointed star away from them at all. It’s a freaking Volvo with a bad interior and a few dopey exterior tweaks.
Aviator, please.
I don’t think Cadillac knows what “luxury” is anymore, regardless of which market they are selling for.
Every Cadillac needs a “Heritage Edition” by Bob Lutz. Brash, blinged, and big-engined by Maximum Bob. Or a “Bad Boy” edition Mary Barra would love to drive. Instead, we get rebadged Chevies and anything with a slanted “L” on the grill gets the upscale market.
This looks exactly like a Nissan Rogue. Even the window profile is the same.
https://preview.netcarshow.com/Cadillac-XT6-2020-800-04.jpg
Like the wheels!
I been looking at photos of the new XT6 and I am warming up to it! Have to see it in personal to have a clear opinion of it however.
3.6 six is a decent motor, but I think that it shouldn’t be fit in every single vehicle-they probably have the per unit cost down so low that it fits literally everywhere. Need 300 hp twist ? Here ya go.
DW’s comments about lowest bidder parts bin stuff is accurate, though. My Cadillac is gone. In 75k the ‘repairs” folder was the same size as my MDX with 196k miles…and I’m not including consumables. GM is very good at making a car cheaply. Cadillac deals with this by the best warranty at GM, but once the first buyer is through the car, sayonara ! It’s probably cheaper to warranty the parts that fail under 120k than fix the problems (and screw the lower tier buyers).
The styling is total meh. Not ugly, but other than the side looking kinda BMW-ish, the front looks like someone’s first pass. Interior likewise. I’m very unlikely to buy another GM, and don’t need a family truckster any more, but this isn’t going to clog the school run in the nicer burbs around NYC. Like the CT6, I’ll probably need a few months to see one in the wild, in the most new and competitive auto pool short of Beverly Hills…..
My caddy proved the point that to drive a used luxury car you can afford a new one, and lived the meme of unreliability that is credited to Germans on the internet. Meanwhile, my Germans were friggin Hondas compared to the Caddy.
Rolling dumpster fire Guangzhou-Guadalajara (GM) vehicles, whether bearing a Chevrolet bowtie, or Chevrolac/Clakilac wreath & crest, are full of absolute lowest cost bidder reject parts, yo.
Cadillac hangs down with Jaguar-Land Rover-Range Rover in terms of reliability according g to the most complete, comprehensive and voluminous surveys and indexes.
The XT6 is a rebadged Traverse, ala Roger Smith-era GM, and another pox among billions on the Silver Silos and the braniac trust of Barra-Ammann-Carlisle.
It’s a laughable and insulting joke of a product that is engineered cynicism on 4 wheels, and makes the new Kia Telluride and new Ford Explorer look positively amazing, both inside and out.
Just take Cadillac behind the barn and cap it in the head, and sell the carcass to GM Shanghai (SAIC) before the brand equity depreciates to $0 or worse.