Cadillac goes global

CADILLAC’S surprisingly capable CTS MkII sedan will lead a host of Australian-bound new-model activity from the century-old marque.

First Cad off the rank after the sedan will be the CTS Coupe, which managed to be the best-kept secret at last month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Even Cadillac boss Jim Taylor was surprised that word had not leaked out prior to the CTS Coupe concept’s unveiling on the second press day of the motor show.

Although Cadillac is only calling its show-stealing two-door coupe a concept for now, production is a certainty. Expect an announcement later in 2008, with vehicles arriving sometime next year.

GM product czar Bob Lutz said that both the CTS coupe and sedan were on the drawing board at the same time, adding that it looked so great that “we just had to do it.”

GoAuto can also reveal that the Coupe concept will lose very little of its lithe lines in the transition from show-car to production.

“It is much closer than you might think,” said Cadillac CTS chief engineer Elizabeth Pilibosian.

Exactly what powers the CTS Coupe concept is unclear, but GM says it is capable of using the new direct-injection 3.6-litre V6 destined for the CTS sedan, or a 2.9-litre turbo-diesel V6.

Expect this engine and a number of derivatives – developed by VM Motori of Italy – to find its way across the GM range in the next two years.

It will sit on the same rear-wheel drive Sigma platform that underpins the CTS sedan, as well as the larger STS sedan and related SRX crossover wagon.

Left: Cadillac BLS and STS.

The production CTS Coupe is expected at the same Lansing facility in Michigan.

A CTS wagon will also follow in 2009, although GM refuses to confirm this.

However, one Cadillac insider promises that it will possess the same levels of dynamic ability as its well-received CTS sedan sibling.

According to the director of GM Premium Brands Australia, Parveen Batish, Australia is scheduled to receive every CTS derivative available.

Of course, this excludes the CTS-V, which is not built in right-hand drive guise due to packaging issues associated with the V8 installation.

Meanwhile, since 2006, Cadillac has offered a re-nosed and re-tailed version of the current Saab 9-3 range called the BLS. Built in Sweden and sold mainly in Europe but not the United States, it has not lived up to sales expectations.

Nevertheless, an American GM insider suggested to GoAuto that the next-generation BLS – which may be made in America or Mexico since it shares much of its Epsilon II architecture with the next-generation Saab 9-5 and 9-3 due in 2009 and 2010 respectively – will have bespoke bodywork as well as a stronger driving character, as Cadillac attempts to redress two of the biggest criticisms levelled at this vehicle.

If given the green light for Australia, expect to see the BLS II after 2010. Bob Lutz reportedly announced that this car would be going global.

The Epsilon II architecture’s versatility will see it underpinning the Saab 9-4X-based Cadillac BRX compact SUV. Unveiled in concept car form at the Detroit Show last week as the hybrid-powered Provoq Concept – it is virtually a certainty for Australia.

Australian input via Holden into the replacement for the rear-wheel drive Cadillac STS large sedan is also on the cards, as the next-generation model – due in about 2010 – will use a revised version of the CTS’ Sigma architecture, which is thought to use plenty of Zeta (VE Commodore) engineering know-how as well. The SRX crossover wagon that Sigma also spawns may also follow suit.

Details are sketchy, but GM is working hard to rationalise the two premium rear-drive platforms for global use.

With GM thought to be well-advanced in the development of a smaller rear-wheel drive range of vehicles conceived under the ‘Alpha’ platform architecture (and with the help of Holden), a sub-CTS line (perhaps to be dubbed ‘ATS’) is another future Cadillac prospect that is looking more likely to see the light of day.

Jim Taylor told GoAuto last week that Cadillac would have to produce smaller vehicles if it is to be considered a global player.

In fact, Bob Lutz has already said that smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient vehicles are the way forward for GM, particularly as increasingly stringent fuel consumption and emissions regulations forcing the company’s fleet to downsize.

“It is, or would be, about the size of a BMW 1 Series – maybe just a tiny bit bigger to enable larger wheels” is how Mr Lutz describes the Alpha architecture vehicle – if it eventuates.

“Alpha is still under consideration, but we haven’t kicked off any design work or any engineering work because we have to sort our way through this 35mpg task.

As we've previously reported, Mr Lutz – as well as GM chairman Rick Wagoner – confirmed Holden’s role in the development of all future rear-wheel drive vehicles for now.

“If we proceed with the Alpha Architecture, I think it is safe to say that Holden would be vitally interested in participating in that project,” Mr Lutz said.

Further down the line, we can expect to see every model Cadillac – including the full-sized luxury sedans that the brand sells as American-made alternatives to the Mercedes-Benz S-class, the successor to the XLR luxury sports convertible, and the eventual replacement for the popular Escalade SUV.

“We have already confirmed that we will consider every vehicle that is available to us for Australia,” a GM Premium spokesperson said.

Cadillac has not been imported into Australia through official GM channels since 1969. However, several models were brought in by private concerns, including the Deville until 1973, as well as the controversially styled ‘bustle-backed’ Seville from 1980 to 1984.

What's coming from Cadillac:
CTS Sedan	Last quarter 2008
CTS Coupe	2009
CTS wagon	2009
BLS II	2010
BRX mid-sized SUV crossover	2010
STS large RWD	2010
SRX large SUV crossover	2011
‘ATS’ compact RWD	2011
Escalade IV SUV	2012

Read more:

First drive: CTS cuts the American mustard!

Detroit show: Cadillac CTS Coupe

First look: High-performance Cadillac breaks cover

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