Detroit show: Cadillac XTS flagship emerges

GENERAL Motors unveiled a Cadillac large car concept – the XTS Platinum – at the Detroit motor show this week, showcasing new and near-future technology such as instrument panel touch-screens and a 3.6-litre V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Said to be designed from the inside out, the XTS – a nameplate expected to replace the DTS and STS by the 2012 model year – introduces a “new approach” to in-car electronics that GM claims improves the form and function of the car’s entertainment, navigation and information systems.

For example, organic light-emitting diode displays are used in place of traditional gauges and screens. These display screens are integrated into a flowing instrument panel dubbed a “dead front” design as the panel appears black until the car’s ignition is turned on and the screens illuminate.

The designers have also infused the XTS cabin with “uncompromising luxury and attention to detail” in an attempt to bring American consumer attention back to GM from Lexus and European brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

“The Platinum distinction in Cadillac means the fullest extent of luxury and technology and we’ve tried to reach even further with this concept,” said Cadillac design director Clay Dean.

“Just as the technology pushes the boundaries of what a Cadillac can offer, so do the details that make the XTS Platinum concept an uncompromising experience.”

Understood to be built on the same platform as the Buick LaCrosse, the XTS is longer and wider than the LaCrosse and relies on a plug-in version of the hybrid propulsion system already seen on vehicles such as the Escalade Hybrid.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in conjunction with an electric motor and GM’s familiar 3.6-litre SIDI V6 engine for a combined output estimated at 260kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

Few other mechanical details were provided at the show stand.

“Superior roadholding performance” claims come with the standard fitment of all-wheel drive, Magnetic Ride Control and 20-inch wheels with custom-made Bridgestone tyres.

The XTS measures 5170mm in overall length, 1900mm in width and 1500mm in height, with a 1589/1594mm front/rear track and a 2837mm wheelbase.