Report: Cadillac flagship sedan gets the green light

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5 1,230 views Jul 20, 2009

The DTS/STS replacement has had a rocky road through GM's restructuring process

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The range-topping Cadillac had been derailed by the financial crisis and then bankruptcy General Motors has so famously dealt with over the last year, but now that the New GM is running the show, the DTS/STS replacement is go, reports Motor Trend.

The report indicates that the Zeta-based solution won't be used, however, and that instead the new flagship will ride on a lengthened version of the Sigma platform used for the CTS. How that stretching might affect dynamics is anyone's guess, but it's within reason that the extra wheelbase and rear-seat room necessary for a full-size executive sedan could change things from the familiar - and fantastic - CTS.

Rather than contradicting our report from earlier this month, the new report merely fleshes out what's to come for the next-gen car, presumably to be named the XTS.

Whatever is to come of the top-end Cadillac model, however, don't expect to see it on the road until very late in 2011, though it will likely make an auto show debut sometime before that. The plant where the car is expected to be built - GM's Oshawa, Ontario plant - isn't going to start on the XTS until December 2011.

The next-gen Buick Regal will also be built there, as will the next Chevrolet Impala. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is already being built there.

The Regal - which may be re-named Invicta for the U.S. - could end up being the most interesting car out of that rather attractive group, however, with a potential 2.0L four-cylinder turbo, a hybrid version and the 2.4L-3.6L range found in the 2010 Buick LaCrosse all gearing up for use.

We'll keep you on top of the details as they break, but in the mean time, you can read up on our experience with the 2010 LaCrosse if you haven't already.