General Motors’ Cadillac brand has reestablished itself as a rear-wheel drive automaker here in the United States, but a new report suggests the luxury marque could be backing off from that stance in the coming years. Cadillac has been planning a smaller rear-wheel drive model to slot beneath the current CTS, but cost cuts could force that model onto GM’s front-wheel drive Epsilon platform.
According to Motor Trend, Cadillac is planning a new sub-CTS model based on the front-wheel drive Epsilon II platform – the same that underpins the Opel Insignia and new Buick LaCrosse . The new model would bridge the price gap between the Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac CTS , and would likely be available with all-wheel drive. GM reportedly decided on the Epsilon platform to cut costs.
Motor Trend speculates the new model would compete with the Lexus ES and would also push the CTS upscale. Since the Cadillac STS/DTS replacement is indefinitely on hold, the CTS would also move up in size to better fill the upper-level gap.
However, a few points of the Motor Trend report just don’t add up. Motor Trend claims the new model is codenamed GM 166, but Leftlane sources have revealed that isn’t a valid GM program code. GM has also worked very hard to return Cadillac to its rear-wheel drive roots, so a front-wheel drive sedan just seems out of character. Lastly, GM specifically designed the 2010 Buick LaCrosse to do battle with the Lexus ES, so it would seem a new Cadillac model would be better suited to take on the likes of the BMW 3-Series .
While it remains unclear exactly what form the new Cadillac model will take, it should be ready to hit the market in late 2011 as a 2012 model – given GM’s financial state doesn’t take a turn for the worst.
