Cadillac confirmed for Australia

[Poetic Justice]

Holden has confirmed the Cadillac brand will be sold in Australia in 2008.

The return of Cadillac after nearly 40 years confirms one of Holden’s worst kept secrets, signalling the arrival of yet another luxury brand to a market segment dominated by Mercedes-Benz and BMW and, to a lesser extent, Lexus and Audi.

Hosting an end-of-year lunch for the media in Melbourne today, Holden chairman and managing director Chris Gubbey said the quintessentially American Cadillac luxury brand will go on sale in Australia for the first time since 1969.

"With cutting-edge design, serious performance and luxury appointments, Cadillac will appeal to Australian prestige car buyers and quickly establish itself in a segment traditionally dominated by European brands," says Gubbey.

"Cadillac is undergoing a brand renaissance and global expansion driven by dramatic design and technical innovation."

Cadillac will launch locally in the fourth quarter of 2008 with its CTS model that's powered by a 227kW 3.6-litre V6. It's based on the Holden Commodore's Alloytec V6, albeit with added efficiency due to a more advanced direct-injection system that boosts power and reduces fuel consumption.

A 2.9-litre V6 turbo diesel will become an alternative engine choice for the sedan in 2009, and is also rumoured to be in the pipeline for the Commodore.

All CTS models will feature a six-speed automatic transmission, with stability control, front/side/curtain airbags, and iPod compatibiliity also standard.

Buyers will be offered the choice of two sporty suspension packages, and a 40GB hard drive and keyless start system are among the options.

In trying to establish a niche within the Australian market, Cadillac will play on its bold, angular styling and American heritage as well as a value-for-money pitch against rival European makers.

Holden says it wants the Cadillac CTS to take on BMW's 3-Series and Audi's A4 - specifically the 335i and A4 3.2 models.

Cadillac will provide increased competition for other luxury brands, too, including Jaguar and even General Motors' European luxury brand, Saab.

As Lexus is to Toyota, Cadillac would effectively be the luxury arm to Holden, allowing the company to push beyond its $80,000-odd price limit today.

The Cadillac CTS could be priced from an estimated $70,000 to $80,000. Priced against the likes of the BMW 3-Series, the CTS is closer in size to the BMW 5-Series, which is more expensive.

Cadillac will also offer more in the way of engine performance compared with similarly priced European rivals.

Cadillac is expected to seek modest sales ambitions, in much the same way as the General Motors-owned Hummer brand is filling a niche rather than upending the 4WD market. Holden will set up about 15 Cadillac dealers through its GM Premium Brands division that also includes Hummer and Saab.

Other Cadillacs that could eventually arrive in Australia include a high-performance convertible, larger sedans and a four-wheel-drive.

Holden and has been evaluating the importation of Cadillacs for years but has been hamstrung by a lack of availability of vehicles with the steering wheel on the right-hand side.

Like many American brands, smaller volume right-hand-drive markets such as Australia have been largely ignored as car makers expand their model line-ups for local markets.

But efforts in recent years to target smaller markets and take brands such as Cadillac global have ensured car makers are working on developing vehicles with a global market in mind.

Despite confirmation from Cadillac sources in the United States that the brand was confirmed for Australia, Holden has for years maintained that the business case for bringing Cadillac to Australia was not confirmed.

However, Drive learnt earlier in 2007 that selected Holden dealers toured Cadillac dealerships with a view to opening their own Cadillac division.

Gubbey’s announcement today will finally put luxury car rivals on notice that yet another brand will enter a highly competitive market segment where brand values are arguably more important than ever.

In a small way Holden know-how helped shape the Cadillac CTS that will be sold in Australia; former Holden design boss Michael Simcoe helped smooth the lines of the new CTS that was unveiled at the beginning of 2007.

Holden has also been rumoured to be playing a role in the development of a V12 engine for a flagship Cadillac of the future.

While denials have been made about Holden’s involvement in a V12 Cadillac program, rumours about such a vehicle – and potentially some Holden input – refuse to go away.

The rumours suggest two V6 engines could be mated to form a potent V12 for a flagship Cadillac.

[3vXT]

I'm not sure if i like that ^^^ but the V8 one in bad boys 2 looked sweet.

[Poetic Justice]

I wonder if this could open the doors for Lincoln to step into Ford Australia in a similar situation to revive the LTD/Fairlane/LWB market!?

[Dave_au]

I'm sure Lexus/Toyota will look in their order cataloge and decide to bring the IS350 to Australia to give the Cadillac grief.

The CTS is getting a bit old now too from memory - isn't it an 2003/04 model year car? It's going to be competing against the next generation Germans.

[DivHunter]

Didn't Top Gear say 'if you want a Cadillac, buy a Vauxhal' refering to the Monaro back when the CTS came out?

[Bossxr8]

^^^Thats hiddeous. I really can't see anyone shopping a BMW, Mercedes or Audi against something so pretentious and ugly like a Cadillac. Whats the quality like, typical american?

[ClevlndStemer]

they have recently released a new version of the caddy in the states (2008 model),which I assume we are going to be getting here.
Ugly as hell still though.

[XR Martin]

Yes thats the new model. Apparently its quite good, also planned is either a LS7 version or a 6.2L Supercharged version.

[T3ts50]

Is CTS the only planned release? What about STS, DTS or XLR.

[nommic]

Looks fairly slab-sided, like a fridge. Also can't help but shudder at the thought of American "build quality" trying to compete with the Euros...

[3vXT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96W0JIpjht4

[MAFIA]

Originally Posted by blackout

I wonder if this could open the doors for Lincoln to step into Ford Australia in a similar situation to revive the LTD/Fairlane/LWB market!?

That what i was thinking too!

[T3ts50]

Originally Posted by nommic

Looks fairly slab-sided, like a fridge. Also can't help but shudder at the thought of American "build quality" trying to compete with the Euros...

Apparently new Caddilac has used the same plastics supplier as Merc to improve interior quality for the new CTS.

[vztrt]

Are the CTS's FWD?

[sleekism]

No I think they are a GM RWD platform that will underpin the next Torana???

[MNM96]

Looks like a 380

[Paxton]

I don't know about the rest of youse, but I wouldn't pay $80,000 for an American built car other than a Mustang. They are of dubious quality, and even more questionable value.

On the other hand, I would happily pay ~$50,000 for this:



Same V6 as Orion MKII, AWD+RWD, and about the same size as a Falcon.

[Fev]

dont like it although that engine sounds like ford will have to up the bar on their v6 for the orion

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by Paxton

On the other hand, I would happily pay ~$50,000 for this:

My god that looks too much like a Honda Accord Euro (excluding the bumper and grill). Honda should sue for copyright!

[T3ts50]

Originally Posted by Paxton

I don't know about the rest of youse, but I wouldn't pay $80,000 for an American built car other than a Mustang. They are of dubious quality, and even more questionable value.

On the other hand, I would happily pay ~$50,000 for this:



Same V6 as Orion MKII, AWD+RWD, and about the same size as a Falcon.

What car is that, couldnt find anything on the Lincoln website.

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by T3ts50

What car is that, couldnt find anything on the Lincoln website.

Lincoln MKS. Brand new MY2008.

Look down the bottom of the page (on Lincoln.com), under Lincoln News. It is item 1. Clicking on it opens a Flash site.

[Poetic Justice]

I really like the MKS.... I think it would do well here as a Fairlane/LTD. So much of a different look, yet still looks somewhat LIKE the Orion renderings..

[T3ts50]

Originally Posted by blackout

I really like the MKS.... I think it would do well here as a Fairlane/LTD. So much of a different look, yet still looks somewhat LIKE the Orion renderings..

Its too small to be a replacement for Fairlane/LTD. I think it could be the same size if not bigger than the current Mondeo.

[Poetic Justice]

Oh right... didn't know that. I always figured for some reason that all Lincolns were LWB cars, hah!

[XHUTE6]

2.9l V6 Turbo?
Any competition with our 4l turbo?

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by XHUTE6

2.9l V6 Turbo?
Any competition with our 4l turbo?

Its a diesel

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by XHUTE6

2.9l V6 Turbo?
Any competition with our 4l turbo?

no, but in about 3-4 years when they are 1/4 of there original price, how many of them are we going to see with those stupid bling bling 20"+ chrome wheels?

EDIT: just realised there won't be any, because no one would be stupid enough to buy one new in the first place

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by T3ts50

Its too small to be a replacement for Fairlane/LTD. I think it could be the same size if not bigger than the current Mondeo.

According to Wikipedia, the MKS is bigger than the Falcon in every dimension, as is the Taurus/FiveHundred it is based on. For Example:

Wheelbase:
BA Falcon: 2829 mm (111.4 in)
Lincoln MKS: 2868 mm (112.9 in)

Length Over All:
BA Falcon: 4916 mm (193.5 in)
Lincoln MKS: 5184 mm (204.1 in)

More like Fairlane size.

[T3ts50]

Originally Posted by Paxton

According to Wikipedia, the MKS is bigger than the Falcon in every dimension, as is the Taurus/FiveHundred it is based on. For Example:

Wheelbase:
BA Falcon: 2829 mm (111.4 in)
Lincoln MKS: 2868 mm (112.9 in)

Length Over All:
BA Falcon: 4916 mm (193.5 in)
Lincoln MKS: 5184 mm (204.1 in)

More like Fairlane size.

So it should be the replacement (long overdue one) for the Town Car in the US.

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by T3ts50

So it should be the replacement (long overdue) for the Town Car in the US.

MKS is based on Taurus. Towncar replacement will be based on the Future Fairlane platform, that Ford Australia are going to be engineering.

The MKS is just that, not a replacement for anything.