Cadillac will introduce a compact rear-wheel drive sport sedan in 2011 to compete with the size and performance of cars like the BMW 3-series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-class.
The car may offer a high-powered four-cylinder engine. However, it's been engineered to match the top sports sedans' performance, unlike the regrettable Cadillac Cimarron, the last four-cylinder model car the brand sold in the United States. The front-wheel drive Cimarron debuted in 1981 to give Cadillac a fuel-efficient small car. Its performance and quality never came close to Cadillac standards and the brand's prestige suffered.
"There are mistakes we've made twice, but that won't be one of them," Cadillac spokesman Kevin Smith said.
GM is still debating whether to offer the car with both V6 and high-output four-cylinder engines. No production site has been announced, but North American assembly is likely.
If a four-cylinder model gets the green light, look for the engine to produce more power than the 260-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder GM now uses in cars like the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Chevrolet HHR SS.
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