Automotive - Cars Evolution: Lincoln

Showing posts with label Lincoln. Show all posts

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Cadillac making it on Broadway. Iconic brand breaking off from GM and moving headquarters moving from Detroit to NYC!

In a major upturn in the revitalization of Cadillac. Today General Motors announced that the iconic Cadillac brand which has stood for luxury for the better part of 112 years will be spun off from parent GM to be a stand alone business unit. With this new re-alignment will also come a move of Cadillac world headquarters from Detroit to New York City.

Johan de Nysschen, who became the new President of Cadillac in August, will be responsible for the brand’s overall operational performance. He is certainly up to the job. He was formerly North American CEO for Audi and CEO of Infiniti.

While Cadillac's current line up has a few flat spots in terms of sales, the all new Escalade, and a new flagship sedan that was teased to the world as the El Miraj concept give a clear view of where Cadillac plans to go to differentiate itself. The move to become a separate entity from parent GM rather than remaining a division as it has for the majority of its life at GM, will allow Cadillac more freedom to pursue growing areas of the luxury car market with more clarity and focus moving forward.

A move like this can only make one wonder what Ford's direction with Lincoln will be moving forward.

Source: General Motors

Press Release:

NEW YORK – As part of the continued expansion of Cadillac, General Motors today announced a strategic realignment that will establish the flagship brand as a separate business unit. In addition, the new Cadillac organization will expand to New York with a new global headquarters opening in 2015.
The realignment affirms Cadillac’s importance to GM’s strategy. Creating a new Cadillac business unit enables it to pursue growing opportunities in the luxury automotive market with more focus and clarity.

“With the relentless upward repositioning of successive new-generation Cadillac products, the next logical step is to provide Cadillac more freedom to cultivate the brand in pursuit of further global growth,” said GM President Dan Ammann.

“Cadillac’s mission is to reinstate the brand to a pre-eminent position among global luxury brands, a bold challenge requiring a distinct and focused new organization,” Ammann said. “More than a division or brand, Cadillac is becoming a center of excellence for our company.”
Johan de Nysschen, who joined Cadillac as its new president in August, will be responsible for the brand’s overall operational performance.

Cadillac’s leadership council is headed by de Nysschen, and consists of Jim Bunnell, vice president of sales and service; Uwe Ellinghaus, chief marketing officer; David Colasinski, chief financial officer; David Leone, executive chief engineer, and Andrew Smith, executive director of design. Further expansion of the Cadillac leadership team will be announced later.

Expansion Includes New York Headquarters
The plan includes expansion to New York City in the form of a multipurpose brand and event space in conjunction with modern loft offices located in the heart of a city renowned for establishing trends and setting standards for the global luxury market.

While the majority of functions with oversight and responsibility for both global and U.S. operations will be located at the new global headquarters, there will be no change to technical product development teams located in Michigan, nor does the plan impact manufacturing or assembly operations. Cadillac management is reviewing options for which specific staffs will be based in New York and which will remain in current locations in the Detroit-area or elsewhere.

Cadillac has operations in more than 40 countries. The brand’s ongoing growth has been driven by an expanded product portfolio, leading to 28 percent global growth in 2013 and an increase of about 10 percent so far this year. Cadillac sales in China have grown 75 percent year to date.

“We are very proud of our Detroit roots and heritage, and the majority of the Cadillac workforce will remain in Michigan," de Nysschen said. "But there is no city in the world where the inhabitants are more immersed in a premium lifestyle than in New York. Establishing our new global headquarters in Soho places Cadillac at the epicenter of sophisticated living. It allows our team to share experiences with premium-brand consumers and develop attitudes in common with our audience."
Company officials thanked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his active support of and involvement in establishing the creation of Cadillac NYC.

"As the media and advertising capital of the world, New York is the ideal location for Cadillac to move its marketing operations to enhance their brand and spur future growth," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said.

"From Day One, our administration has been creating a more business-friendly environment that encourages new investments and job creation, and today is another example of how that approach is delivering results for New Yorkers. I welcome Cadillac's marketing team to New York and commend them on their decision to invest personnel and resources alongside our world-class workforce."
Said U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer: “To have an iconic American brand like Cadillac choose Manhattan for its global headquarters is another example that this city is a growing hub of innovation. New York continues to be a magnet for the best and the brightest companies and workers alike, and as Cadillac continues on its impressive growth trajectory as a global brand, I’m thrilled it will do so based in New York City."

By: Austin On 19:03

Saturday, 6 April 2013

Lincoln Navigator

Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV built by the Ford Motor Company for its luxury division, Lincoln. Introduced as a 1998 model, production began May 14, 1997 with sales beginning in August. The Navigator was Lincoln's first SUV as well as its first four-wheel drive capable vehicle. The Navigator shares its platform, mechanical features, and other equipment with the Ford Expedition, which was introduced a year earlier. Unique and upscale styling, interior materials, and other features differ the Navigator from the Expedition. Given its platform mate, the Navigator is the largest vehicle Lincoln currently offers, having the greatest cargo capacity and seating for seven to eight people, depending on the model. For 2007, a longer, extended wheelbase version of the Navigator called the Navigator L was introduced, increasing cargo capacity further. Since its introduction, Lincoln has offered only one engine choice at a time in the Navigator in any model year; all are variations of Ford's 5.4 L Modular V8.

Lincoln Navigator

Lincoln Navigator Interior

By: Austin On 22:29

Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln MKZ, initially named the Lincoln Zephyr, is a mid-size, entry-level luxury car from the Lincoln Motor Company of the Ford Motor Company. The MKZ was the first in a series of new "MK"-named Lincolns, and has since been followed by the MKX, MKS, and MKT. A hybrid version was launched in the U.S. market in September 2010. The MKZ Hybrid was the first hybrid in the market priced the same as its conventional gasoline-engine version. An all-new second generation MKZ went on sale in December 2012.

Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln MKZ Interior

Lincoln MKZ

By: Austin On 21:55

Lincoln MKX

Lincoln MKX is a mid-size luxury crossover CUV from Ford's Lincoln division and a de facto successor to the Lincoln Aviator luxury SUV. It debuted as a 2007 model in December 2006 as a production version of the Lincoln Aviator Concept shown at the 2004 North American International Auto Show. The MKX is based on its sister vehicle the Ford Edge, sharing Ford's CD3 platform, powertrain, body panels, and other design elements. The MKX is of unibody construction and is natively front-wheel drive with available all-wheel drive. Its sole powertrain is a 3.5 L Duratec V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The MKX can seat up to five people. The MKX is a stark contrast to its predecessor, the Aviator, which was based on the Ford Explorer's rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive body-on-frame platform, came with a standard V8, and was larger with seating for up to seven people.

Lincoln MKX

By: Austin On 03:13

Friday, 5 April 2013

Lincoln MKT

Lincoln MKT is a full-size luxury crossover utility vehicle built and marketed by the Ford Motor Company's Lincoln Motor Company division since the 2010 model year. The MKT was introduced as Lincoln's second crossover in the lineup, slotted above the Lincoln MKX mid-size crossover and below the larger Ford Expedition-based Lincoln Navigator full-size sport utility vehicle. Sharing a common platform with the Ford Flex and Ford Explorer, the MKT does not have a direct predecessor. Instead, the MKT and smaller MKX both serve as replacements of the Lincoln Aviator, as the division moved into the luxury crossover market.

Lincoln MKT

Lincoln MKT Interior

Lincoln MKT

Lincoln MKT 2010

By: Austin On 23:11

Lincoln MKS

Lincoln MKS is a full-size luxury sedan from the Lincoln division of the Ford Motor Company. The MKS first appeared in concept form at the North American International Auto Show in January 2006 with the production version, a 2009 model, appearing later at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November 2007. The MKS began production in May 2008 with sales beginning a month later. The Lincoln MKS continues Lincoln's three-letter nomenclature for new models, preceded by the MKZ and MKX. The purpose of the new nomenclature was to mimic the alphanumeric naming schemes used by other luxury brands like Cadillac and products of the major German manufacturers.