Cadillac CTS to gun for Euro brigade

Cadillac's entry to the Australian market in the last quarter of this year via the chiselled new CTS sedan will be under intense scrutiny by industry watchers.

Some pundits have questioned the wisdom of launching a car that, as a pure physical entity, closely mirrors its locally built GM stablemate, the VE Commodore.

Both derive propulsion (in base-model form) from 3.6-litre V6 engines, they're both rear-wheel drive (although the Caddy can be had in all-paw guise) and they're very similar in length, width, height and wheelbase (see comparative table below). Heck, they're not too far apart (depending on spec levels) in poundage either.

So where's the logic in introducing a US-built car that, for all intents and purposes, could be substituted by a local one?

The argument isn't as cut-and-dry as it might seem as -- despite their on-paper similarities -- the VE Commodore and Cadillac CTS will compete in different market segments and will be pitched at diverging audiences.

Put simply, the CTS will be marketed as an alternative to mid-sized Euro opposition (read: BMW 5 Series/Audi A6/Mercedes E-Class), which means it'll be priced accordingly. It's unlikely to cost as much as these Teutons, but it won't offered for Commodore money either.

Some parallels can be drawn with the Middle East market as this is arguably the only other arena where the Commodore (badged as the Chevrolet Lumina) and Cadillac CTS are sold alongside each other.

Where Lumina pricing starts at just under $A24,000 (yes, cars are cheap in the Middle East) and ends just below $28K for the LTZ (the highest-spec V6 model), the new CTS range isn't likely to even get started until $40K.

The CTS's Middle East pricing will put it up against the likes of the Lexus ES350 and Infiniti G35 -- and just under entry-level versions of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class.

You may well question the prospects of a so-called 'Yank Tank' against exalted opposition such as this, but respected Aussie journalist Angus MacKenzie (who is editor-in-chief of the US publication Motor Trend) has been effusive in his praise for the car.

"The Cadillac CTS marks the first time in decades an American automobile has been designed and engineered with an eye on the global marketplace," said MacKenzie.

"Among its many excellent qualities, perhaps the most valuable one is that it shows Detroit can build a world class car to compete with the best Munich, Stuttgart and Toyota City have to offer. With the CTS, Detroit is officially back in the car business, not just the truck or SUV business."

With a glowing assessment like this, it's hardly surprising the CTS was named Motor Trend's 2008 Car of Year (it beat opposition that included the Audi A5/S5 and Mercedes C-Class). That said, Motor Trend is a US title, so there would undoubtedly have been partisan forces at work.

The acid test will come when less misty-eyed Euro and Aussie hacks get their paws on the car on home soil. Stay tuned for the Carsales Network's first drive report over the coming months...

NUTS AND BOLTS:
VE Commodore
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Power: 180kW at 6000rpm; 195kW at 6500rpm (High Output)
Torque: 330Nm at 2600rpm; 340Nm at 2600rpm (High Output)
Transmission: 4-speed auto; 6-speed manual/5-speed auto (High Output)
Driving wheels: Rear

Cadillac CTS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6 (direct-injection optional)
Power: 196kW at 6200rpm; 227kW at 6400rpm
Torque: 343Nm at 3100rpm; 370Nm at 5200rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual; 6-speed auto
Driving wheels: Rear or optional all-wheel-drive

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