AutoNews: Small Cadillac and Future Plans...

[megeebee]

GM plans rear-drive baby Caddy

Jamie LaReau

Automotive News | October 8, 2007 - 12:01 am EST



DETROIT — Cadillac will get a small rear-wheel-drive car positioned below the CTS sedan, part of General Motors' aggressive plans to expand the brand's U.S. reach.

Plans for a baby Cadillac were confirmed after the UAW published a summary of its tentative labor contract with GM. The summary listed GM's plan to produce a vehicle based on a new architecture called Alpha. Several sources later confirmed that Alpha would be for Cadillac.

A less costly Alpha variant may go to Pontiac, a brand that GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz wants to revitalize with a new lineup of affordable rwd cars.

Cadillac also will:

Launch a CTS coupe and wagon in 2009.

Introduce a rwd sedan, expected in 2011, to replace the front-drive DTS and the rwd STS.

Consider a vehicle powered by a fuel-cell version of the E-Flex plug-in hybrid powertrain. The E-Flex powers the Chevrolet Volt concept.


GM's product plans
Cadillac gets a small, entry-luxury vehicle.
Cadillac may get a fuel-cell variant of the E-Flex technology used in the Chevrolet Volt concept.
Cadillac will get a rwd sedan to replace the STS and DTS.
Cadillac gets a CTS wagon and coupe.
Chevrolet may get a European-style small minivan.
Pontiac may get a small rwd vehicle on an Alpha variant.


Cadillac goes global
In 2011 General Motors will launch Alpha production in its Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant, which produces the Pontiac G5 and Chevrolet Cobalt.

Alpha will be for Cadillac's entry-level model. According to a knowledgeable source, it will be aimed at the near-luxury segment once occupied by the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class, when those nameplates were smaller and cheaper.

The larger 2008 CTS carries a base price of $32,990, including shipping.

The product plans outlined in the UAW document suggest that GM has resolved its internal debate over Cadillac's future.

Previously, Cadillac General Manager Jim Taylor had said he did not need a new entry-level car.

But Lutz favored it, arguing that it would help Cadillac in overseas markets.

The Saab-based Cadillac BLS — on the market in Europe — is not selling well.

More recently, Taylor has said he would welcome a baby Cadillac if it carries a premium price and if the brand gets a new flagship, too.

Alpha “is really critical to Cadillac becoming more global,” says one source familiar with GM's product plans.

“You'll see Cadillac really start to take shape.”

Cadillac may not be the only brand to get a product based on the Alpha architecture. Pontiac or GM's Australian Holden subsidiary might get a cheaper variant.

“I don't think anyone would want to see a degradation of the Cadillac brand because it's sharing with another brand,” says the source.

“If there is an offshoot product of Alpha, it'd be a re-engineered platform.”

The UAW's contract summary also revealed GM's plans to produce a U.S. version of the next-generation Opel Zafira in 2009. It probably will be badged as a Chevrolet.

The seven-seat people mover is code-named global Delta MPV7, and it will be assembled in GM's Detroit- Hamtramck plant. Hamtramck produces the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS.



Source:www.autonews.com
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[b4z]

I wonder if the CTS WAGON will get the 116" wheelbase of the SRX/STS instead
of the 113.XX" wheelbase of the CTS?
More rear legroom is needed, thats why I have bought 2 SRXs instead of the CTS.

I REALLY hope that GM will change it's mind and make a 2nd gen RWD SRX rather than the FWD version that is planned.

Don't know how Cadillac expects to seriously compete against MB and BMW if they don't offer a RWD mid size crossover?!!!!

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by b4z

...I REALLY hope that GM will change it's mind and make a 2nd gen RWD SRX rather than the FWD version that is planned.

Don't know how Cadillac expects to seriously compete against MB and BMW if they don't offer a RWD mid size crossover?!!!!

I don't know, either. This seems to have the same flavor as GM's usual strategy of cut and run whenever it gets a little difficult in the market.

Cadillac also will:

Launch a CTS coupe and wagon in 2009.

Absolutely delicious(!), and I'm praying that either Detroit or LA treats us to a preview this year.

...Cadillac goes global
In 2011 General Motors will launch Alpha production in its Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant, which produces the Pontiac G5 and Chevrolet Cobalt.

Alpha will be for Cadillac's entry-level model...

Done correctly, this car will take off (and cause Cadillac sales to follow). And, for me, it will also make it much more difficult to decide between a CTS and an alpha.

[camaro_freak]

the coupe and wagon should have been ready at launch. That would have been a KILLER combo. Hopefully they'll be available fall of next year!

[Bravada]

Roewe - wrong way, to quote the wise Chinese. To take off, Cadillac needs superb CORE models, which in their case are the large cars. Any small car will run the danger of languishing at the end of the crowded compact executive class, trying to elbow its away ahead of much more established names. Even if absolutely stellar, it would have a much more uphill climb than a serious executive or luxury car from Caddy.

Chevrolet may get a European-style small minivan.

What for? They already have the HHR! Unless they are talking about something even smaller (Fiat-Idea-sized?) or a "leisure-activity vehicle"...

[bhoppes]

I still think that Cadillac needs something between a flagship sedan and the CTS. Yes I know that the CTS is the new 5 series, but i still think Cadillac should make the DTS into a flagship sedan and have the STS between the CTS and the DTS. Lexus has the LS (DTS) and the GS (STS). I have always thought there should be something in between the 5 and 7 series. I know BMW has the 6 series, but it is only a coupe and convertible, they should have a sedan between the 5 and 7 series.

[samkung]

Maybe GM should consider increase the price of CTS, make the price stand up to 5-series standard. Human being are silly creature, sometimes if the thing isn't expensive, they might consider it not as good as the more expensive one haha

[Chaz_23]

What for? To compete with...Scions?

[JT87]

Originally Posted by Bravada

What for? They already have the HHR! Unless they are talking about something even smaller (Fiat-Idea-sized?) or a "leisure-activity vehicle"...

Think along the lines of the Mazda5 or Opel Zafira... but last I heard this vehicle was going to be a Saturn/Opel

[GM-Joe]

The Alpha will be interesting, a backwards Delta, I suppose?

[JVal14]

Buick seriously needs to get a piece of the Alpha action. They desperately need a car to win younger buyers, and a small, semi-sporty RWD sedan could be just the ticket. If GM is serious about reviving Buick, this is an excellent place to start.

[Bravada]

Originally Posted by JT87

Think along the lines of the Mazda5 or Opel Zafira... but last I heard this vehicle was going to be a Saturn/Opel

Well, thinking along the lines of Opel Zafira I come to.... Opel Zafira! How surprising!

Now, Chevrolet has the HHR, which is an interesting alternative for the compact minivan class - especially now that the ingenious folks at Cerberus sealed the PT's fate. The best thing GM could do to boost Chevrolet's ratings worldwide is supplant the apalling Tacuma with the HHR and make sure a worthy successor will be there on time.

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

Absolutely delicious(!), and I'm praying that either Detroit or LA treats us to a preview this year.

As much as I would love this too, I doubt we'll see these anytime soon. The article says 2009, but I believe this means calendar year. Personally, I think it will be Detroit 2009 before we see the production cars.

[ghughes]

"Cadillac gets a small, entry-luxury vehicle." - This is the DUMBEST idea and waste of resources that GM has done in a long while - compete with ALL of their other brands in price; Cadillac does not need a baby "ME-TOO" audi and BMW. They will never sell a tiny car well in Europe. This has shades of the idiocy going on at Lincoln.

[Geotpf]

Originally Posted by Chaz_23

What for? To compete with...Scions?

I always thought the HHR competed directly with the Scion xB.