Cadillac envisions building CIEL concept flagship

DETROIT - Cadillac expected green light a new flagship, based on the same platform as the CIEL to create concept car.

General Motors is expected to give green light to the Cadillac's flagship Omega project before the end of the year, senior sources, encouraged by the mostly positive reaction of the Division's luxury new CIEL concept car of manufacturer's top management.

It is unclear whether a convertible or limousine, which would be based on the large Omega platform first to the market, but it is a clear consensus that Caddy has a super premium model, if it have a chance, once again, its position as the "Standard in the world" as the longtime ad slogan.

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Omega just one in a variety of new offered is that the Cadillac line-up would be added, TheDetroitBureau.com, said officials in the so-called "white space" between the current help the once dominant brand, model mix to fill. Include, not only a new plug-in hybrid but very probably somewhat more conventional hybrid-electric models, as well.

Add a "flagship" of the line-up is critical, said first public demonstration in Detroit during the CIEL Cadillac design director Clay Dean. The concept convertible was first, earlier of this month, in advance of the annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it generates "Wows" of potential customers and the collected media.

The decision, the prototype was point strongly influenced a market segment of the upcoming Cadillac XTS objectives by the need formally to the Omega project, would - even the replacement for the largely unloved Caddy STS sedan. While there is strong support for the super-premium project there was concern whether the public would accept the idea of something so bold.

"We have the residual positive mood, but the fact is that we have not for many consumers", said Don Butler, marketing director of the Division.

Was afraid of some GM executives to the Office of the Chairman. But a car as Ciel, Cadillac is betting, would the brand back on the radar for even the wealthiest buyer on the status quo of luxury brands such as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The convertible, with his dramatic suicide door design and subtle note of caddies classic fins, was elected to the brand strategy represent, because Ragdoll tops have tends to be more emotional power as limousines.

Design Chief Dean hinted that a hardtop Coupe version is already in hand and be publicly shown in the months was to come.

Precise timing for a production version of the big car is a closely guarded secret, although sources indicate that the manufacturer hopes to market it, at the latest by mid decade.

In the meantime is Cadillac line-up are much larger than it is today. In the coming months, the brand will start, the small ATS sedan and XTS, proposed the latter model "Modernisation and redefinition", the image of the brand, Butler.

Even in tap water the Cadillac ELR is Volt extended range electric vehicle, a high end version of the Chevrolet a plug-in in popular vernacular. The Cadillac version is all-new sheet metal, use a unique interior, different suspension tuning - and a much improved version of the Volt-gas electric drive, Dave Leone, GM chief engineer for rear-wheel drive and performance.

ELR Leone is based on the popular Cadillac Converj concept vehicle, and if it emphasizes styling, "The concept car is the car (production)." On the technical side but, said he "there are still some tweaking goes."

In particular, the ELR used a newer version of the power pack lithium-ion of the GM battery partner SG Chem. This means that she will keep for a given mass more power. While it would be as the possible, the Pack electric-only scale to shrink volts, it seems more likely that Cadillac will - use better product range, improved performance higher energy density or both - Leone suggested.

GM makes a significant push in battery drive and ELR not likely the last "electrified" vehicle in the line-up, the engineering chief said. It is "very likely", which not only will be several more hybrids in the Caddy line-up but that "you see more than one (hybrid)-technology." This could mean a model with a focus on fuel economy, but a different taking advantage of the potential performance benefits of electric cars.

Cadillac also a push in diesel could make? For the time being, Leone and other officials played down this option. The high performance technology would be more attractive, if Caddy not big bigger players in Europe, but diesel enough, in the yet to justify the investment, the manufacturer believes United States, and even less traction in China, Cadillac would it second largest market.

While Beach works GM global design head Ed Welburn proposed - the brand of the CIEL Preview in Pebble for more new products than ever before. This is obviously not limited to the models that it has already promised. Models, such as the ATS, XTS and ELR bow "only the wave", ECHO General Manager Butler in the Cadillac session Monday.

That reflects the comprehensive dissemination, which has swept luxury-car market which, said Aaron Bragman, auto analyst at IHS. "It is the reason why BMW and Mercedes-Benz could grow so much." "Now, Cadillac has to go, after this space."

As for the CIEL convertible or a hardtop Coupe alternative Bragman said an essential complement to that considered a global luxury player line-up. "they need a flagship." And it must be a really striking flagship. "

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