Caddy set to unveil all-new CTS

Cadillac has provided the first glimpse of its all-new medium-large CTS sedan, ahead of its official unveiling at January's North American International auto Show in Detroit.

Pictured next to the partially revealed CTS are GM's vice president for global design, Ed Welburn, and GM global product development boss Bob Lutz.

Production of the new CTS will begin in mid-2007 and US sales will commence around September next year.

What does all this have to do with us? Well, the car you're looking could be a starter for the Oz market  -- possibly within the next 18 months.

Holden boss Denny Mooney (an American ex-pat) has long harboured an ambition to introduce the premium US brand locally as a supplement to the General's Aussie-branded offerings.

Mr Mooney said the key to a local Cadillac strategy was to have a full range of right-hand-drive models.

"We have said all along (that Cadillac has) got to have enough of a portfolio of right-hand drive products available for us to satisfy our distribution system, because our dealers have to make money," he said 12 months ago.

"We can't ask dealers to limp along with one product. There are plans to get a full portfolio of right-hand drive Cadillacs," Mr Mooney said.

The rear-wheel-drive CTS is pitched in other world markets as a less-expensive rival to the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5 Series. No specs have as yet been announced for the new CTS, but the existing model is available with V6 power as well as a stonking 300kW V8 (in the case of the range-topping CTS-V).

The CTS is a strong seller in its home market, notching up 60,000 US sales in 2005, compared to about 38,000 in 2002, an increase of more than 50 per cent. 

According to US industry researchers AutoPacific, there are approximately 275,000 Cadillac CTS owners worldwide and they are among the most satisfied in the automotive market. AutoPacific rated CTS as the top Entry Luxury Car in its annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards in 2006.