Cadillac has released the above rendering of, well, mostly of a headlight, in advance of the Detroit Auto Show.
Eventually, Cadillac is expected to unveil an entire concept car connected to this headlight--once that car is built, that is. That as-yet-unnamed concept is expected (by us) to be a large sedan that will reveal the basic styling the brand's upcoming XTS full-size luxo-boat that will replace both the STS and DTS models. Last we heard, the production car will use a version of the Buick LaCrosse's Epsilon front-/all-wheel-drive platform and won't go into production until 2011.
We make this leap of faith since, well, we know the XTS is coming, we can see two door handles on the driver's side (in spooky blue light) and because this thing looks big. Case closed.
We asked a Cadillac rep about the vehicle's size to which he cleverly replied, "no comment." We suppose it could be a concept to hint at the upcoming 3-series-fighting ATS sedan or possibly a thinly disguised Tata Nano competitor. He did confirm that it will not be a re-badged Toyota iQ city car.
firstclass says:
11:24 PM, 12/21/09
I love Cadillac’s concepts but only the ones that don’t make it to production. The Cadillac Cien and sixteen as well as the Converj concepts were all such powerfully striking car’s that they made me believe in Cadillac’s motto “Art & Science”, unfortunately none of Cadillac’s concepts slated for production pull on my heartstrings. If only production Cadillac’s could capture the Art and Science thyme those three concepts held. Whether this concept be a work of art or a monster of science I can’t wait to see what’s unveiled.
Glad to hear the DTS is leaving us as well, that car was every bit it’s name pronounced backwards. But now I fear a revival of transversally mounted engines in Cadillac’s;all wheel drive or not. This may bring Cadillac down a peg in my mind (imo).
.
93aero says:
12:06 AM, 12/22/09
i agree with firstclass all the way. whats the point of making such inspiring designs if your just going to dull them down? from gold to dirt with some of these cars. Lovin the CTS , not a fan of the DTS at all. STS, yes, sad to see it go, unless of course they can deliver with this one. Tho i cant say im going to be excited if this is just another rebadged dressed up la cross, i want that part of GM to be gone.
93aero says:
12:25 AM, 12/22/09
i think your in luck first class, reports all over say this car is supposed to look like the 16... hopefully thats true!
redgeminipa says:
04:32 AM, 12/22/09
They really need this car, and it has to be right. Cadillac can't let the Hyundai Genesis steal all the attention.
redgeminipa says:
04:39 AM, 12/22/09
They really need this car, and it has to be right. Cadillac can't let the Hyundai Genesis steal all the attention.
xprojected says:
06:25 AM, 12/22/09
"Cadillac's Detroit Auto Show Concept to Presage XTS Sedan "
Don't you mean "Presaj"?
danielpund says:
07:13 AM, 12/22/09
xprojected,
Nice.
Daniel
1487 says:
08:15 AM, 12/22/09
"Tho i cant say im going to be excited if this is just another rebadged dressed up la cross, i want that part of GM to be gone. "
Platform sharing isnt leaving GM or any other major automaker. Its the way business is done. For the record the Lucerne and DTS look nothing alike inside or out. I'm pretty sure the XTS won't look anything like the Lacrosse and will have far more equipment.
"They really need this car, and it has to be right. Cadillac can't let the Hyundai Genesis steal all the attention."
The Genesis costs less than the CTS- this car is likely to be much more expensive than the GEnesis. I would expect it to start near $50k.
wrinklebump says:
08:23 AM, 12/22/09
Tailfins. That's all I'm asking for.
carlisimo says:
10:56 AM, 12/22/09
It has an X in it, so it's definitely going to be great!
roadburner says:
09:30 PM, 12/22/09
Will it be available with gold trim and a continental kit?
My 80 year old uncle may be interested in one.
123xlr8 says:
08:28 AM, 12/27/09
I liked most all the looks I saw at the Cadillac area at the LA Auto Show. I thought it was a really advanced USA look... though, like all Caddy designs, a tad too angular. My wife on the other hand felt it was a USA slug, she drives an A4, I drive a MINI S.
While sitting in the SRX I suggested that the dash was a tad over the top, for my tastes, to a fellow sitting in the car with me, a rather wealthy looking Armani wearing lawyer, he felt the dash was just the right amount of "bling" he wanted... "It ain't no BMW, and I like it this way!" And there ya go.
@roadrunner... and may a landau top?... ;-)
deadviper says:
09:23 PM, 12/28/09
Caddy's done competing with the germans for top cog car if this transverse engine non-sense is true. REAL executive cars are rear wheel drive, period and compromise is for the chevys and the hondas of the world. Not for Audi, BMW The Mercs or anyone else who would call themselves competing with them.
Too bad. They were starting to show some real potential as a brand with the new CTS-V but to drop a RWD/AWD STS for this is to surrender any pretension they had at beating the Bravarians or the mercs. I'd say "It's all up to Lincoln now" if they hadn't gone in the same cost-cutting direction. (Sigh) american luxury badly needs a return to form.
deadviper says:
12:55 PM, 12/29/09
@firstclass
Exactly. Cadilac needs to grow some balls, do away with this transverse nonsense and get back to designing REAL competitors to the mercs and the LSs of the world, instead of trying something that isn't working for them now (DTS), doesn't work for Lincoln, isn't working for Acura, and Didn't work for Audi.
Cadilac was on the right path with the CTS-V and sixteen concepts, but this upcoming car is going to be a hit to their credibility they really don't need, and the typical Merc-caine user is going to think twice before buying because of it.
m89 says:
10:55 AM, 12/30/09
Well put deadviper! Cadillac and Lincoln need to get out of the 80s big time. The STS had the groundwork for a great flagship luxury sedan (great engines & chassis), they just didn't execute it properly. Replacing it with an 80s era FWD transverse 2 1/2 ton land yacht is only going to get seniors and Enterprise Rent-A-Car longing for it. Stick with the RWD/AWD (they have Sigma and Zeta to use), design and build it right and price it competitively in the market and they'll get the import buyers they so desperately need. It worked for Lexus in the early 90s and Hyundai today with the Genesis.