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Cadillac confirms RWD four-cylinder compact sedan

 
9 3,502 views Aug 25, 2008
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Cadillac confirms RWD four-cylinder compact sedan

Cadillac confirms RWD four-cylinder compact sedan

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Cadillac will bow to public pressure for smaller and more fuel-efficient models by offering a four-cylinder compact sedan in the U.S., a prospect almost unthinkable just 12 months ago. The small RWD sedan will likely come towards the end of 2010 for the 2011 model year and will be positioned below the current CTS.

Cadillac already sells a small BLS sedan (pictured) in Europe but so far the car has suffered from dismal sales due to Cadillac’s poor brand image and lack of competitiveness with luxury powerhouses such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. While the current BLS is built on the Saab 9-3 platform, the next-generation Cadillac small car will be built on General Motors’ upcoming Alpha architecture and may not even be called a BLS. There's also the chance that both a coupe and cabrio versions of the car could be offered as well.

The name of the new small sedan is not the only issue in contention, with managers still debating on whether or not to offer a six-cylinder engine as an option or not. Cadillac general manager Jim Taylor explained to Automotive News that a portion of the Cadillac team was thinking that they “ought to go all the way, say, to fours.”

The majority, however, is resisting the idea of only offering a four-cylinder engine with Taylor suggesting that the engine a four-cylinder Cadillac would be unpopular with most Americans. “I don’t think Americans are going to become un-American that fast,” he stated.

The car will eventually be sold in Europe as well.

As for Cadillac’s other models, Taylor confirmed that the single STS/DTS replacement has been put on hold along with the replacement for the XLR roadster. Instead, Cadillac is considering adding a plug-in hybrid vehicle based on the Chevrolet Volt platform but such a car wouldn’t arrive until at least 2012, Taylor revealed.



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Comments (9)

  1. By mlevere1992 Posted: 8/25/2008 8:22am PDT

    Boy, I hope this isn't the return of the K-Car Caddy.
     
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  2. By Chris Posted: 8/25/2008 8:43am PDT

    offer the 2.4L turbo and the 3.6L V6 and see which engine people prefer.

    its the same thing i say to ford.. offer the 4.6L v8 and then 3.5L ecoboost v6.. see what people prefer.
     
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  3. By dan Posted: 8/25/2008 9:31am PDT

    Cadillac, is one of the top preforming autos in the world. I think they can build a small car that handles as they did with the current CTS. Gas mileage is critical to US costumers believe it GM!!!!
     
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  4. By Titanosaurus Posted: 8/25/2008 10:41am PDT

    Looks like the TSX will start getting some competition in its niche market.
     
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  5. By NaBUru38 Posted: 8/25/2008 10:57am PDT

    The A6 / 5er / E-Klasse trio has only two decent European rivals: the XF and the S80/V70. The other European brands either sell archaic executive cars (Alfa 166, Saab 9-5) or lack big car image (Citroën C6, Lancia Thesis, Peugeot 607, Renault Vel Satis). Leaving European carmakers aside, the German luxury carmakers should worry only about Cadillac, Lexus and Infiniti.
     
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  6. By NaBUru38 Posted: 8/25/2008 10:59am PDT

    I forgot to say I'm talking only about the Euroopean market.
     
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  7. By NoNameDenton Posted: 8/25/2008 4:02pm PDT

    Make the 4 cyliders standard and make a super or turbo V6 as a V-series
     
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  8. By bgd73 Posted: 8/25/2008 4:13pm PDT

    alpha body. Hmm. Make it a classic romeo and put a 3 main boxer in to compete with the toyota using the crazy 5 main...Come on america. Take the reigns again like a hetero man would. Be a real alpha..without the animal
     
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  9. By Drover Posted: 8/26/2008 5:04am PDT

    Offer the 2.0 turbo currently in the Solsitce GXP/Sky Redline/Cobalt SS and this little bruiser will immediately go on my shopping list.
     
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