It’s fair to say that not everyone is impressed by every automotive manufacturer on the planet. Each has inadvertently caused people to form a variety of stereotypes or assumptions of their own about the automaker’s vehicles or its reliability, dependability, quality, or even drivers. Many of those brands, through millions of dollars of marketing, seek to discourage the public from thinking that these beliefs are false. Often, these slogans like Ford’s latest “Ready Set Ford” can come off as a facade hiding what’s really going on behind the badging.
This does not mean that manufacturers are completely dishonest or misrepresenting themselves. But we, the consumers, and especially the enthusiasts, live with these rolling machines. We are surrounded by the plights experienced by friends and family who have purchased these products, as well as our own gaudy nightmares (whether through personal or press exposure). This pent-up frustration or anger is then turned into some kind of darkly humorous joke claiming that this is what these car companies are actually selling.
Taking inspiration from your personal struggles and experiences with these cars, I wondered what you could write as an honest slogan for any car company today.
CADILLAC: Your fabulous midlife crisis on wheels
Today’s question was inspired by a recent conversation I had with some friends regarding the identity of a Cadillac. First of all, this should have been an easy answer. A while back, General Motors, now a “tech” company, pitched Cadillac as the face of its EVs, and the product lineup seems to point things in that direction. The Lyriq soon gained a garage companion in the handcrafted Celestial, signaling a return to Cadillac’s classic luxury roots. It made the change even more credible when it gave the Escalade a swan-song V-Series version.
However, during this transition, Cadillac made itself an exceptionally favorite car to listen to as its V8 reached the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) category in IMSA. It then took another bold step into motorsports with its own Formula 1 team. However, both use approved hybrid systems.
So, Cadillac is an EV brand that sells EVs, but also sells performance models powered by combustion engines, but now mostly crossovers, and competes in two series pairing combustion engines with hybrid systems that they do not develop while also not offering hybrid production vehicles. Ok. Thus: “Cadillac: Your glorious midlife crisis on wheels.” It has not taken steps to identify itself or perhaps acknowledge that it is a performance EV brand. who’s to say?
What comes to your mind when I ask what it would look like if a car company’s slogan was honest? Share your best ideas in the comments below. Remember, only the best ones get a chance to be featured at the end of the week.
