titan

GM’s CEO Fritz Henderson has made it pretty clear that the automaker will now focus on four-core brands including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac - leaving Cadillac as the only top-tier luxury division of the General.

The future is looking pretty bright for Cadillac with a CTS Coupe and Wagon variants on the way. A new Escalade and a production version of the Converj concept are also in the works. However, according to Motor Trend, the entry level Alpha based Cadillac and the sedan that was supposed to replace the DTS and STS, have been cancelled.

In comes a new Cadillac sedan model built on an Epsilon front-drive and all-wheel-drive architecture, codenamed GM 166. It is said to fit between the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and the rear-wheel-drive CTS. The GM 166 is scheduled for a 2011 release as a 2012 model year.

We’ll learn more as time goes on

http://www.egmcartech.com/2009/04/28...rive-platform/

titan

Just a year ago, the future of Cadillac's line-up looked pretty bright. By 2010, the CTS would spawn coupe and wagon versions, the "super-Theta" platform SRX would replace its Sigma-based predecessor, the Escalade would get a Lambda-based replacement and the Converj would come to market. Cadillac was also tipped to launch a new small sedan to slot in below the CTS using the new rear-drive Alpha platform, plus a new larger sedan to replace the aging DTS and STS models. However while the CTS derivatives, the new SRX, Escalade and Converj are all still in the works, drastic cutbacks at GM have meant the Alpha and DTS/STS successor have been canned. In their place, the next-gen. CTS is expected to grow larger, while a new front/all-wheel-drive sports sedan is now tipped to enter into the mix.

In order to make the Alpha compact rear-drive platform feasible, GM would have needed to spread development costs across several of its divisions, but many of those brands – chiefly Pontiac and Saturn – are now facing the axe, while its European assets Saab and Opel are on their way out the door. So what is a downsized GM planning for Cadillac instead? Using the next-generation Epsilon II platform, the replacement for the European-market BLS is tipped to come home to roost, positioned between the new Buick LaCrosse and the Cadillac CTS. With its advanced turbo-diesel programs also on hold, the General realizes it lacks the resources to produce a serious contender for the European market, so expect a decidedly more American approach when the new small Caddy hits the market late in 2011 as a 2012 model with a price tag of around $35,000.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/28/r...-epsilon-ii-p/

titan

eneral Motors CEO and President Fritz Henderson admitted in his reorganization press conference Monday morning that his company doesn't have the money to make Cadillac a competitive luxury brand in Europe. The 4.5L turbodiesel V-8, the 2.9L VM Motori turbodiesel V-6 and the Alpha 3 Series-fighter platform all are on hold, and are unlikely to be revived while GM tries to avoid bankruptcy. The Standard of the World will have to get by with the North American markets and parts of Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, for now.

Cadillac needs sedans beyond the CTS, though, and Motor Trend has learned that GM will supply it with an Epsilon front-drive and AWD sedan, codenamed GM 166, slotting between the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and the rear-drive CTS.

Since the DT7 -- the planned RWD combo of the STS and DTS -- also is on-hold and likely to be killed, the implications are that the next-generation CTS would grow in size and fill both CTS and DT7 slots. GM 166 will be the largest car on the Epsilon II platform, which includes the LaCrosse and Opel Insignia. Gen I Epsilons include everything from the Chevy Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura to the Saab 9-3 and Cadillac BLS.

The Caddy 166 is being scheduled for calendar year '11 as a 2012 model, and will continue evolution of the brand's design language, jumpstarted with the 2008 CTS. Early designs have been described as "spectacular," with particular attention to interior detail and exterior jewelry.

As for product placement, pricing presumably would start where the '10 Buick LaCrosse leaves off. Unlike previous GM models sharing platforms, Buick has equipped the LaCrosse so it actually is priced well above Chevy's Epsilon, the Malibu, and the lame duck Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura. Base pricing for the '10 LaCrosse ranges from $27,835 to $33,765. The 166 should start at $34,000-$35,000 in '09 dollars, and compete directly with the front-drive Lexus ES 350. This also should push up pricing on the CTS -- that car is still available with the 263-horsepower 3.6L V-6 without gas direct-injection, simply to provide a sub-$40k price point model. The next CTS should be a 2013 model, although virtually all GM projects have been slipping under current financial problems.

Bad news is that with advent of the 166, the Alpha rear-drive compact Cadillac is probably dead. To make a viable business case, GM needed to use the RWD platform in at least one higher-volume brand, and is rumored to have considered everything from small Chevy, Pontiac or Buick sedans, as well as a smaller next-generation Camaro or possibly a new Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Pontiac has been scratched from GM's future lineup, and the Alpha platform needed a good deal of high-strength steel to be lightweight, and that proved too expensive for a Chevrolet.

Cadillac's '09 lineup: CTS sedan, DTS, STS, XLR, Sigma SRX, GMT 900 Escalade/ESV/EXT

How Cadillac's '10s lineup looked a year ago: Alpha rear-drive sedan and coupe, CTS sedan/coupe/wagon, DT7 large rear-drive car, "super-Theta" SRX, Lambda-based Escalade.

How Cadillac's '10s lineup looks now: 166 Epsilon sedan, CTS sedan/coupe/wagon, "super-Theta" SRX, Lambda-based Escalade, Converj.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...cts/index.html

titan

I understand that the reason for this news is because of GM's dire circumstances, but it's a huge step behind for Caddy. Caddy was on the verge of moving the CTS up just a hair, and making it a full fledged competitor to the 5-Series and E-Class, including an entire family (sedan, coupe, wagon). That's still coming, and it's great. But the CTS needs a supporting cast. From all accounts, the upcoming Alpha sedan had all of the trappings to be a first class 3-Series/C-class/G/IS competitor. Not making it carries huge implications for Cadillac. Even worse, the STS/DTS RWD flagship that was coming was finally going to put Cadillac back in full luxury status... Wow, this is huge. Additionally, the introduction of the FWD/AWD Epsilon II based car will undboubtly step on the new Lacrosse's toes, and that sucks because it's a really nice car. Long story short; IMO, Caddy doesn't need a FWD based car. Leave the ES350 to the ES to outclass in that department.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Pw

agranado

I wouldnt necessarily say a huge step back, But there is definitely no forward progess here like it seemed the was going to be just months ago.

Hopefully current Caddy models continue to evolve properly and that GM can eventually introduce a more full lineup once they can figure out this near-bankruptcy mess.

charliemike

I dunno, Audi seems to think FWD/AWD is okay.

As long as the car is as good as the CTS is right now, I think people will accept it.

If it's a cheap POS like the euro BLS was then they are screwing themselves indeed.

agranado

However, if its going to be slotted above the new Lacrosse, that's gotta be some kinda good news... especially the way that new lacrosse is shaping up

charliemike

I still cannot believe that GM is selling Opel.

Are they going to make Vauxhall their GM UK/Europe brand?

biker

I wouldn't call the BLS a cheap POS.

I also wouldn't believe any future model annoucement from a company on the verge of bankruptcy.

chill_dog

GM already has enough FWD drive cars. Did they ever think they could change some of their FWD cars to RWD and thus utilize the Alpha platform? Well, it seems they "thought" about it, but not seriously.

charliemike

For what they were asking for it in Europe, it was an embarassment.

It was a tarted up Saab 9-3 V6. I don't think there's a single person here at AZine that has had anything good to say about Saab for a while now.

I liked the idea in theory. In practice it was a huge mistake.

biker

^ there's nothing wrong with Saab other than the value proposition and a few quirks. All asking prices in Europe compared to the US could be called an embarassment.

charliemike

Saab is an inferior car to everything in its class.

And come on, you know comparing US to Europe is pointless. I was talking about pricing within the UK/Europe markets.

Gary TL S

AwD for the win ...

afjock21

CTS-V coupe....

Belzebutt

This one should be exciting...



http://www.caranddriver.com/features...ac_ats-feature

phee

iTrader: (5)

oh man. do ettt

biker

MeehowsBRZ

Coupe + V PLEASE!

Moog-Type-S

please!

fsttyms1

Awesome.

agranado

Finally. Been waiting for this for a long time!

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Hmmm....this could be interesting! Turbo too...wow.



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phile

looks amazing

Costco

ATS-V

V-variant or not, it BETTER have a 6-speed manual. And it better get better comments about it than the current 6MT CTS.

ThermonMermon

hell yeah.

hope they dont rake c pillar to the point of no trunk lid.

Costco

It definitely won't be that extreme.... see: new Buick Lacrosse

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Sick.

charliemike

My guess is it's a hatch

JediMindTricks

the possibilities...,


ATS-V
ATS-V coupe
ATS-V wagon

.....

Black Tire

If they put a vette engine in there, consider the competition road kill.

Yumcha

TSX, who...!??

myron

iTrader: (4)

those wheels look a little too big, it looks like it's gonna go 4x4ing. any pics of the front

JediMindTricks

^but they're real clean though!

Yumcha

Well, clearly, they've been washed prior to that pic...

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Love it. I love it.

Brandon24pdx

Maybe a supercharged V6 for the -V. I don't see the LS-9 (or whatever it's called in the CTS-V) making it's way into a car in this class size.

onebadna1nsx

!!

HBaJ

It looks too...
cute?