CTS coupe and wagon coming-and an Audi A3-fighter for Europe

[dado]

From Motortrend :

Cadillac gets serious: CTS coupe and wagon coming-and an Audi A3-fighter for Europe

By Editors of Motor Trend

Art By Mark Stehrenberger

Cadillac thinks it has a winner on its hands with the new CTS and wants to expand the CTS franchise with coupe and wagon variants. The strategy is similar to that employed by Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, which all build coupe and wagon variants of their entry-level sedans. The move will make the CTS more appealing to a broader range of buyers, particularly in Europe.

So where does that leave the Europe-only Cadillac BLS? Built on the versatile Epsilon architecture, the front-drive BLS lacks the sporty handling and powertrains it needs to be Caddy's BMW 3 Series fighter in Europe. (The CTS is perceived as closer to a 5 Series and E-Class in size.) But a Europe-only rear-drive Caddy smaller than CTS isn't likely to sell in the numbers necessary to justify the new platform it needs.

Instead, GM insiders are mulling switching the replacement for the BLS to the smaller front-drive platform used for theOpel/Vauxhall/Saturn Astra. The Astra offers the powertrains and suspension tuning to position this new Caddy as a sporty entry-level model to sell against Audi's A3, BMW's 1 Series, and the Mercedes-Benz B-Class

For rest of the text and pictures: http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_ne...c_future_models

Will future cts coupe be smaller than sedan version? MT says that it will compete against m3 coupe.

[Delta Force79]

This as close as Eldo lovers are gonna get to having a new Eldorado any time soon...should be a sweet car

[pow]

Hmmm... I don't know if the Astra has the chassis necessary for a premium car. The A3, 1-series, and B-class all have independent rear suspensions, and the Audi has AWD available while the BMW has RWD.

[Z-06]

I like what uncle Lutz mentioned a while back before the LA Auto Show, -- RWD 1-series competitor for the Cadillac. The Kappas when they come for an upgrade can base their underpinning on this platform and thus effectively GM can save money in the long run.

Another thing I want is that "PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THE PLATFORM HEAVY."

GM is gettin heavier than most of the other manufacturers. They need to stop obessing their cars.

[Northstar]

I think this A3-fighter is wrong. They're probably hearing grumblings about the Alpha Cadillac.

[NOS2006]

I think this A3-fighter is wrong. They're probably hearing grumblings about the Alpha Cadillac.

Wouldn't the A3-fighter essentially be a CTS Sport Wagon?

[CSpec]

Wouldn't the A3-fighter essentially be a CTS Sport Wagon?

The CTS is waaaay bigger.

[NOS2006]

The CTS is waaaay bigger.

Okay. I wasn't sure because I thought the A3 was the same size, but he mentioned the 1-Series in the same sentence.

Then that means, to confirm for me, the CTS Sport Wagon be competition for the A4 (or A6?) and 3-Series Sport Wagons, right?

[Northstar]

The CTS will still be way bigger than the 3-Series wagon and A4. It will be more along the lines of the 5er wagon and A6, and E-Class in terms of size, though the price should be more like the 3-Series.

[NOS2006]

The CTS will still be way bigger than the 3-Series wagon and A4. It will be more along the lines of the 5er wagon and A6, and E-Class in terms of size, though the price should be more like the 3-Series.

What is there not to like about that? What is this 'Alpha Cadillac' you speak of, Northie? Something more 3-Series sized?

[97regalGS]

What is there not to like about that? What is this 'Alpha Cadillac' you speak of, Northie? Something more 3-Series sized?

Alpha is the rumored small RWD architecture that will spawn vehicles for Cadillac and Pontiac, maybe others. specifics aren't known, but 3Series size seems reasonable.

from a cadillac perspective, it will lineup their vehicles more closely with their european competitors. an alpha cadillac will help push the cts up market, while at the same time the 2008 CTS itself 'pulls itself' up-market, with more content, a brilliant interior and less polariziing exterior.

[Flybrian]

Alpha is the rumored small RWD architecture that will spawn vehicles for Cadillac and Pontiac, maybe others. specifics aren't known, but 3Series size seems reasonable.

from a cadillac perspective, it will lineup their vehicles more closely with their european competitors. an alpha cadillac will help push the cts up market, while at the same time the 2008 CTS itself 'pulls itself' up-market, with more content, a brilliant interior and less polariziing exterior.

So, we can look forward to a lineup of:

RWD Alpha Caddy

CTS

Zeta DTS (or an STS that doesn't suck)

[NOS2006]

Very cool. That'd cover the whole spectrum. Now, although not necessary to happen right now, they need a Z4-like roadster/coupe... (*cough* wait for my GM-Chrysler report/lineup. It's been delayed, but it's still coming...)