CTS goes point

Cadillac is aiming high with its first Australian market model. Confirmed to arrive Down Under in the last quarter of 2008, the Cadillac CTS will be aimed four square at the brands that virtually define the luxury segment locally: BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

Though GM Premium Brands boss Parveen Batish says the CTS will take on the likes of BMW's 3 Series and Audi A4, the new US-built Cadillac is actually closer in size to Beemer's 5 Series, Audis's A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

At 4860mm in length, the CTS is a touch longer than the 5 but shorter than the Audi or Benz. The Caddy's 2880mm wheelbase is longer than the Audi and Benz and within 10mm of the BMW's. The three models' width is spanned by just 33mm with the Audi the widest. Kerb mass sits in the middle of the trio, too.

Launched at the 2007 Detriot motor show, the CTS is the GM flagship brand's latest 'all-Cadillac model' -- the Saab-based BLS recently added a wagon variant to its line-up to take 'outright' Caddy honours. Built at GM's Lansing Grand River plant in Lansing, Michigan, the CTS will be offered Down Under with GM's most advanced naturally-aspirated six-cylinder engine yet -- a direct-injection V6 that displaces 3.6-litres and pumps out 227kW and 370Nm.

Aussies will also get the option of turbodiesel power later, when the new 2.9-litre VM Motori sourced direct-injected V6 (pictured) comes on line in 2009.

Though the CTS is offered in an all-wheel-drive version in the US market, the right-hand-drive model that will sell into markets like the UK, Japan and now Australia, is expected to be rear-wheel drive only. Locally, the driveline will be auto-only -- a GM-built six-speeder -- by the time the model arrives Down Under

CTS is Cadillac's first global engineered and developed model. Built on a modified, wider version of the Sigma platform that underpinned the first CTS, the new generation model features a sophisticated short/long-arm front suspension which is fashioned using aluminium castings and is supported by an alloy front subframe. At the rear there is a multilink set-up that while also sourced from the first generation CTS has been substantial upgraded.

Cadillac will offer two different suspension tunes when it releases the CTS Down Under. Both are sportier than you might expect from Cadillac, says insiders. The sharpest set-up is tipped to be matched with 18-inch wheels and low-profile Michelin rubber, while a more comfort-oriented model will roll on 17-inch alloys.

Brakes are four-wheel discs with all the electronic assistance you'd expect from a current luxury car.

The CTS's interior is a significant step up in quality for the brand and boasts hand-cut and hand-stitched interior trim components as well as what is described as "an innovative ambient interior lighting system. In naming CTS its car of the year, Motor Trend said the CTS had the "fit and finish to rival the best of the Europeans".

Expect the Aussie version to arrive with all mod cons. Keyless entry and start, integrated satnav and audio visual goodies will be available -- the later featuring integrated MP3 compatibility and a 40 gigabyte hard drive, says Batish.

Officially, CTS pricing, full technical and feature specification and certification details will be released closer to launch. Our belief is that meantime GM Premium Brands is 'pinning' the CTS to the BMW 3 Series (specifically 335i) and V6-powered A4 models as an indicator of price. Clearly the first official Cadillac to come Down Under since WWII will be to a segment bigger in dimensions and accommodation.

That said, with the twin-turbo BMW just over the $100K mark and the Audi priced from the mid-$80Ks, Batish is leaving himself plenty of room to move.

If we were betting men and women we'd say the CTS will kick off under the Audi at around $79,000 -- coincidently the price Lexus charges for its top-selling IS250 Sports Luxury.