General Motors has confirmed that the Cadillac brand will return to Australia — after almost a 40-year hiatus — in the fourth quarter of 2008. The first Cadillac to be offered in Australia since 1969 will be the all-new CTS — which shares some parts with GM’s Australian arm, Holden.
The announcement was made at a media event in Melbourne. “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,” Holden chairman and managing director Chris Gubbey said. “Cadillac is undergoing a brand renaissance and global expansion driven by dramatic design and technical innovation.”
The CTS will be offered with two engine choices: GM’s familiar direct-injection 3.6L V6 and, starting in 2009, a 2.9L turbo-diesel V6. All models will come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission, stability control and iPod connectivity.
It remains unclear if the 2.9L diesel unit will eventually find its way into the U.S.-spec CTS.
12/03, 9:53 AM
posted by:
injunraiv
In other news, the Cadillac will rebadged as a Pontiac, to show solidarity with GMs Holden division…
12/03, 10:13 AM
posted by:
global_lightning
Somehow this makes sense. GM will have better chances selling Cadillacs in Australia than in Europe
12/03, 10:26 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
hell yeah tell them illwill.
12/03, 10:28 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
damn it, they get the diesel.
12/03, 10:30 AM
posted by:
sharpie
Good move. The only obstacle is to move the steering wheel column to the “wrong” side.
12/03, 10:33 AM
posted by:
lucklaster
Oz will love this car and I think the diesel will make it’s way to the U.S.
12/03, 11:48 AM
posted by:
mazdaman
This is great news. It’s good to see that GM truly envisions Cadillac as a global brand. They will have a tough battle against the established BMW/Mercedes icon brands, but Cadillac should become a major competitive force if it continues to refine/redesign its products on a timely basis. I would love to see Cadillac reclaim its “Standard of the World” status.
GM should really plan on bringing the 2.9 diesel to the U.S. also.
12/03, 12:49 PM
posted by:
///m
any aussies on this messageboard?
12/03, 1:02 PM
posted by:
LP640
Crikey mate, thats bad news for the folks down under
12/03, 2:10 PM
posted by:
Impulsive
NICE.
12/03, 4:15 PM
posted by:
RicardoHead
If they aren’t already, I wouldn’t be surprised if CTS’s make it over to China soon too.
12/03, 7:11 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
I love how the only negative comment comes from LP640 so far. Not surprising there.
RicardoHead-yeah the CTS is going to China. I think in 08 it’s going there. They have Chinese spec CTS’s on GM’s Milford Proving grounds. They get some pretty cool things that we don’t, like LED lights that illuminate the door-sills. I think for the US all we get is just Lights that illuminate underneath the dashboard. I could be wrong, haven’t been in a new CTS.
Yeah as one Aussie said in the Holden/Pontiac G8 UTE/ST post, I think his name was Gumball? He said that the Australians love 4 door RWD cars. So this should be a big seller in the land down under
12/03, 7:24 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
One vegemite sandwhich, please
12/03, 8:06 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
What exactly constitutes ‘Chinese spec’? 7/8 scale?
12/03, 8:39 PM
posted by:
RicardoHead
Johnny, it’ll be the Rickshaw DeVille.
12/03, 9:18 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’m thinking there must still be a warehouse of unsold Cimarrons somewhere. Give ‘em those instead. At least it’ll make up for some of the crap they keep sending us…
12/03, 9:31 PM
posted by:
stick2clutch
GM stepped it up with the new CTS. I deffinately will give this a try when I’m back on the market. Never thought I’d say that.
12/03, 11:35 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
lol that was a good one johnnycanuck. When I said Chinese spec I just meant that they have some features that our CTS doesn’t. Also it was complete with the owners manaul being in Chinese and some of the language in the car itself. message on the mirros, little details like that. But the big thing i was referring to were these LED or bar lights that outlined the entire door bay when you opened it. It just looked really cool.
12/04, 2:25 AM
posted by:
meekin111
yeah ///m, im Aussie. This is good news although it has been all but certain for half a year now. Caddys are going to be sold in “GM Premium” branded dealerships along with Saab and Hummer.
12/04, 6:07 AM
posted by:
V2
I’m from australia and i gotta tell you guys this piece of **** will never sell there. We prefer european built cars not plastic fantastic american crap. You guys can’t build a decent car to save yourselves. European’s cant stand your cars and refuse to buy them and so will we. I think we have a little better taste than you guys in cars and expect quality, european finishes…….not dashboards and door handles made of cardboard!!!