Detroit show: Cadillac goes all-electric
BY SPENCER LEECH | 15th Jan 2019
CADILLAC made its presence known at the Detroit motor show this week, revealing its first fully electric crossover concept alongside its new road-going – and conventionally powered – XT6 crossover.
The electric Caddy is the first model derived from GM’s future EV platform, as the brand readies itself for an ‘all-electric future’.
As is often the case with EV concepts, the high-riding Cadillac features large wheels, futuristic design cues with a matte silver paint scheme, narrow headlights and clean flat body panels.
While it remains mute on details, and the EV’s name, a recent statement hints that the vehicle will go into production in some form.
The statement also revealed that the company expects to introduce new models at the rate of “roughly one every six months through 2021”.
Cadillac says that its new EV platform will allow it to quickly respond to customer preferences with a ‘relatively’ short lead time, and a variety of body styles will be possible with the architecture.
The battery cells are said to be designed for versatility throughout GM vehicle line-ups, and the platform can accommodate front-, rear- and all-wheel drivelines.
Although Cadillac sells the bulk of its product in North America, the company’s president Steve Carlisle has international expectations for its electric vehicle division.
“Cadillac’s EV will hit the heart of the crossover market and meet the needs of customers around the world,” he said.
“It will represent the height of luxury and innovation while positioning Cadillac as the pinnacle of mobility.”
While there has been talk for over a decade that Cadillac will be relaunched in Australia, GM Holden appears no closer to making it happen after the reintroduction was postponed during the global financial crisis in 2008.
However, last year Cadillac parent-company General Motors announced it will recruit 150 engineers to form the Australian division of the Advanced Vehicle Development team, who will focus on autonomous and electric technologies.
As such, the future Cadillac EV could be developed, at least partially, in Australia.
