New design chief to keep Cadillac style

Cadillac will maintain its characteristic sharp-edged Art and Science design theme under new British design boss Mark Adams. 

Speaking at the Paris motor show, Adams said he wanted to add ‘design quality’ to build on the US marque’s crisp-edged styling lines, gently curved body panels and tall, narrow headlamps and tail-lights.

This is contrary to the expectations of some in the Cadillac design department, who had expected Adams to introduce European elements.

Art and Science was created in the late 1990s under chief designer Wayne Cherry. It gives Caddy’s cars a personality apart from German rivals now dominating the global luxury market.

Adams believes his mission will be eased by a recent reorganisation of GM’s North American design department that ensures staff work only on the marque they’re allocated to, rather than by platform or vehicle type across all the brands.

Adams plans to further refine the creative process at Cadillac, which should be a success, since he’s widely acknowledged in the  industry as having had a very positive effect on design at Vauxhall when he worked there. 

Cadillac will also maintain its ambition to become a significant global premium brand. But in Europe, at least, that road will be long.