The Soul of New American Luxury Is in California, Not Detroit

摘要

Americans are at our best when we look forward instead of at what others are doing. Cadillac and Lincoln used to epitomize this idea. When your slogan is "Standard of the World," you have to live up to that promise. When the first tailf ins sprouted from the back of a 1948 Cadillac, it symbolized the newfound jet age and the eternal optimism of postwar America. Meanwhile, Lincoln epitomized the American way of doing things, with big engines, even bigger sheetmetal, and imaginative midcentury modern designs. Even European automakers bought in on the concept of American exceptionalism with their imitative designs. But the moment Cadillac and Lincoln started looking over their shoulders at what the European luxury makers were doing, both lost the plot. While Cadillac has spent the past three decades copying BMW's homework and Lincoln spent the same time building cost-cut, rebadged Fords and Mercurys, the soul of American luxury escaped Detroit. Today, it has settled in sunny California.