The all-new Cadillac CTS will receive its European premiere at the Frankfurt motor show.
It's a medium-sized saloon which is based on the architecture of Cadillac's ATS. A selection of petrol engines will be offered, including a turbocharged four-cylinder unit, a naturally aspirated V6 and a new range-topping twin-turbo V6.
With its lower, longer and sleeker looks, the CTS is stated to advance the brand's 'Art & Science' design philosophy. Modern exterior touches include bold LED signature lighting, which uses crystalline light guides to deliver what Cadillac says is a 'technologically advanced appearance'.
Thanks to lightweight design methods, including the use of aluminium door structures, the CTS has a lower kerb weight than its predecessor. It's also claimed to have a near 50/50 weight distribution.
Inside it benefits from a more driver-focused layout, as well as a considerably increased amount of technology. Options include a 12.3-inch configurable LCD instrument cluster and automatic parking assist.
Four trim levels will be offered - Elegance, Luxury, Performance and Premium. Depending on the model and trim specified, the materials used inside include wood, carbonfibre, aluminium and leather.
Powertrain options include rear-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations for the turbocharged four cylinder and naturally aspirated V6 models. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which has a redline of 7000rpm, produces 272bhp and 295lb ft.
Cadillac's naturally aspirated 3.6-litre V6 revs all the way to 7200rpm and outputs 321bhp and 275lb ft. The all-new twin-turbo unit offers up a claimed 420bhp and 430lb ft, but features a slightly lower 6500rpm redline.
Average economy figures are 30mpg, 28mpg and 25mpg respectively. V6 models will be available with a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic transmission, while the four-cylinder engine is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The twin-turbocharged V6 is only available in the rear-drive CTS Vsport model, which also benefits from 18-inch wheels, a quicker steering rack, all-round Brembo disc brakes, heavy-duty cooling system, an electronic limited-slip diff and a driver-selectable track mode.
With 90 per cent of peak torque available from 2,500rpm, the CTS Vsport is claimed to be capable of sprinting from 0-60mph in 4.6sec.
Bob Ferguson, vice president of Global Cadillac, said “With Cadillac growing globally, driven by rising product credibility, the new CTS elevates the brand to a new level.”
It's thought that the CTS will go on sale in Europe in early 2014, but there are no firm plans for right-hand-drive versions. It's also unlikely that a diesel version will be offered, although Cadillac does state that it "expects the line-up to be expanded within its life cycle".
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Yes, but...
...the German trinity will only be in trouble if the Cadillac not only rides and handles as well as it looks, but also gets lots more dealers and offers better service than other GM brands do while also offering a far wider range of engines suitable for the European market. It doesn't look like they're going to do either, so I doubt European makers are especially worried.
Cadillac
This is a very handsome elegant car, far more interesting looking than the BMW 5 series. Slight fussiness of the dash aside, if this car rides and handles as well as it looks, the German trinity are going to be in trouble.
Lovely car doomed to fail in Europe ....
..... blah, blah ... Cadillac to try again in Europe ... blah blah ... Cadillac ignores the needs for 2 diesel engines (a small one for sales volume and a large one for credibility) .... Cadillac fails again despite having a decent enough product because of GM's amazing ability to cock up. I guess those Opel managers in Australia have a new job to go to ... they can mess up again at Cadillac, perhaps in a different way to them not understanding the European market for the 20th time in a row.
This car should sell well in China as it has a small petrol turbo engine but for any brand with global ambitions to be run by such hopeless fools beggars belief.