| Back during the glory days of American motoring, | | | | Brand confusion has reigned too as Cadillac once sold |
| enthusiasts could expect a sharp battle between two | | | | rebadged Chevy Cavaliers as Cimarrons and as so |
| luxury car giants for market supremacy. Lincoln and | | | | many of Lincoln's models have failed to capture the |
| Cadillac competed for luxury car leadership, but that | | | | imagination of potential buyers. European brands |
| was then and this is now. | | | | gained in prominence as many of their models were |
| Back during the 1950s and all the way through the | | | | considered to be better engineered, better built, |
| 1980s, two American luxury car brands battled for | | | | more fuel efficient, and just as luxurious as the |
| supremacy. For General Motors, builder of Cadillacs | | | | American brands. |
| and for the Ford Motor Company, builder of Lincolns, | | | | Cadillac Transforms, Lincoln Wallows -- Although |
| corporate prestige rested upon which automaker sold | | | | Mercedes and Lexus both outsell Cadillac today, |
| the most models each year. For many years, a | | | | Cadillac has made dramatic improvements over the |
| pitched battle was raised until the clock struck | | | | past ten years while Lincoln has not. Most Lincoln |
| midnight on New Year's Eve. During those years, no | | | | vehicles sold today are simply reskinned Fords while |
| one knew for sure who the sales winner was until | | | | Cadillac has been developing and successfully |
| well into January; that is when the final sales tallies | | | | marketing new models that are unique to the brand. |
| were released. Today, the luxury car market has | | | | Most Cadillac products today compare favorably with |
| changed dramatically, so much so, that the storied | | | | BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, and Mercedes vehicles. Most |
| battle between the two automakers no longer | | | | Lincolns do not compare favorably with any other |
| matters. So, what brought about this change? | | | | luxury models. All of this has been proven out in the |
| Several things, please read on for the details. | | | | marketplace as Cadillac regularly outsells Lincoln by |
| More Competition -- Before the 1980s, Mercedes and | | | | more than 2 to 1. |
| BMW were minor players in the luxury car market. | | | | Yes, the luxury brand battle has changed well beyond |
| Infiniti, Lexus, and Acura were previously nonexistent | | | | Cadillac versus Lincoln giving consumers better |
| brands created during the 1980s by parent Japanese | | | | vehicles and more choice. While Cadillac has |
| auto giants, Nissan, Toyota, and Honda respectively. | | | | successfully redone its dowdy image, Lincoln has not. |
| Add in Audi, Jaguar, Volvo, and Saab and the | | | | That, with the increased competition from foreign |
| competition really heats up. | | | | makes, spells all the difference in what was once a |
| Higher Incomes -- The average American family's | | | | heated battle for American luxury car supremacy. |
| income level has surged over the past two decades, | | | | Copyright 2006 - Matt Keegan is a freelance writer |
| meaning more buyers are choosing luxury brands. | | | | covering the luxury brands as well as automotive |
| Why settle for a Chevy when you can afford a | | | | trends. You can keep your Cadillac, Infiniti, Lincoln, |
| Cadillac? Why buy a Cadillac when there are so many | | | | Mercedes, or other fine make at peak performance |
| other choices for consumers? | | | | by shopping Performance Market for high quality |
| American Quality Problems -- Both Cadillac and Lincoln | | | | automotive parts and accessories. |
| have had their share of quality issues over the years. | | | | |