America needs a true luxury car company and Cadillac is it. What about Lincoln, you ask? It seems like Ford's upscale brand is still trying to find its feet. To take full advantage of this, Cadillac intends to regain its position as a full-out luxury competitor over the next 5 years with a more traditional lineup, shooting volleys across the bows of more than just the 5-Series and E-Class.
That's right, we can expect entry-level, mid-size, and full-size luxury, along with one model that will still appeal to the "traditional" Cadillac buyers of the 90's (if they're still around).
At the top of the lineup is the forthcoming Alpha-based ATS, set to target the 3-Series and C-Class. At launch we're likely to see a sedan, but clearly more would be needed to truly compete properly. Coupes, convertibles, and wagons could make an appearance depending on how big popular the C-Class Cadillac gets. Engines will likely include turbocharged 4-cylinders and V6s. All-wheel drive? We'll see.
Mid-range, going up against the 5-Series and E-Class, will be the CTS. This will also ride on the upcoming RWD Alpha platform and hopefully be just as major as the current model. V6s and a V8 will likely continue on.
Then there's the XTS, which everyone seemed to think was going to be the end of the line after the DTS/STS were euthanized. Based on the Epsilon II platform, the XTS will likely be packing V6 and hybrid power with front or all-wheel drive. This is the wild card of the bunch, hanging around the outskirts of the lineup. Not really competing with the S-Class, the XTS will still provide those traditional Caddy buyers with a big, soft, luxury Buick.
Now for the good stuff: a Zeta-based, dyed-in-the-wool S-Class and LS fighter. This is the one that's important in Cadillac's bid to be a contender, for three major reasons:
1) despite the state of the economy, to compete at this level manufacturers need a large, RWD, V8-ish car,
2) GM still wants to get some of its money back after its Zeta investment (a big-body Buick alone isn't enough),
3) the XTS, a prettier Buick LaCrosse, doesn't really translate as "big luxury". At least not the kind that S-Class buyers look want. Engines will probably be V8s and mild hybrids, while a naturally-aspirated or turbocharged 6-cylinder could do base-model duty.
Other than the car lineup, a refreshed SRX and Escalade family are on their way. There also might be a Cadillac version of the Lambda-based Acadia /Enclave /Traverse. Looking at the near-$30,000 gap between the current SRX and Escalade, it would make sense. Badge engineering? To an extent, but the General's top dog seems to know what it's doing.
This is a lineup that both has promise and will likely help Cadillac get on the field with the major players, representing America in the luxury consumer market. Without the right cars it can't compete; if it can't compete, then what's the point?
Can the formerly-geriatric country club brand make the comeback necessary to take on the German and Japanese world-class heroes? As a native, I hope so, but only time will tell.
By Phil Alex
Source: Autonews (Sub. Req.)
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Photo Gallery: 2003 Cadillac Sixteen Concept
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