Cadillac will highly striking concept car

The sky's the limit with the new Cadillac CIEL-concept car- or so it seems with the striking convertible, the references to the future flagship model in the development of luxury brand of General Motors.

It is a hard year for Cadillac, but the once dominant brand is intent on regaining the momentum, that it seemed to have ten years ago. That is, if it for the first time that edgy, to distinguish the brand "Art & science" design theme, for which often a tendency, a bit too much to look the same from other luxury nameplates.

During the CIEL - what means "sky", in French - discharge, as GM global push Design Director Ed Welburn head to head for the prototype, the Caddy against the best cars offered by luxury segment leaders of Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz would position still has not received company insiders.

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GM management has given has already green light for a variety of other new Cadillac models, which they hope to expand the brand appeal, is.

"You a flagship must succeed today in your portfolio in the luxury market", said lead designer Clay Dean, Cadillac.

The CIEL is a hint of what such a car could be. Almost as long as the large Escalade Sport utility vehicle, the prototype in convertible form in last week of Pebble Beach Concours d ' Elegance appears likely a number of changes would subject before the encounter showrooms. First, you can start form in sedan.

Although the concept called offers what Welburn "a touch of a fin", deans goal was not to go retro, but take art & science topic which edgy even more in the future.

The original CTS sedan was the design concept and the first significant bump in demand for the brand in decades. But the subsequent products - such as the larger STS sedan and XLR Roadster, which ended up with a blow, caddies answer to the classic Mercedes-Benz SL - what many to questions whether CTS was a one-shot wonders.

The latest version of the medium-sized model has again good reviews and buyer enthusiasm, and so has a stylish remake of the SRX crossover. But two powerful products can no brand in the luxury market today, analysts caution, especially as Cadillac lead position rival massive product dissemination.

Look at Mercedes. Two decades ago, the automakers discussed whether extended the small c-class, mid-luxury E-class, then add the big S-class and the SL roadster from. Today includes the automakers of the line-up, the smaller a- and B-class range, the GLK, G and M-class transitions, the V class-van and a long list of sedans and coupes.

"I think they have acknowledged that they had fallen behind have", said Dave Sullivan, automobile analyst at AutoPacific, to Cadillac. "they are no longer the standard of the world, as they have long been announce."

It's not that the Detroit brand to restore not that image, and new products are crucial for the recovery of the amount. In addition to the second generation CTS sedan, a striking new version of the Coupe, a station wagon and super-high-performance V-series versions was added to Cadillac.

Other new vehicles are in the works. Last week confirmed GM officials, she had reversed a previous decision and will now bring the acclaimed Converj concept on the market. The version of the plug-in hybrid - the parts of a drive train with the established Chevrolet Volt - will synchronize the ELR.

GM will add also, a new small car, provisionally called the ATS, and a replacement of the much maligned STS which are marketed as the XTS.

The next CTS, are now somewhat larger and more luxurious, on products such as the BMW 5-series and Mercedes.

A decision as to whether CIEL add should by the end of the year, Cadillac sources available. It would take a further three years probably, internally referred to as the "Omega" vehicle will lead the market. Few expect the over-the-top design of the CIEL - what would grill the first production 4-door convertible in half a century - but the subject of design with its signature Cadillac, would significantly affect the final product.

Clearly, several company officers stressed that Omega project strongly influenced by the potential demand in emerging markets, especially China, where luxury cars in high demand are. In fact that has contributed to an unlikely turnaround for caddies sibling brand, Buick, Herald, one of the best-selling in the booming Asian nation.

Chinese buyers have some surprisingly picky, proven, because many luxury car owners prefer to be chauffeured, they should be many rear seat room and facilities. The CTS has been updated for Chinese traders - China's buyers as the latest Buick flagship, lacrosse, largely designed to the requirements of more expansive.

Cadillac has fought, to foreign markets in recent decades, especially Europe, analyst Sullivan warns "It will not be easy" to North America in the future. But with a wider range of products, Cadillac officials hope that they better, against the rival everywhere where they, whether in the US market, Europe, or new markets, competing from the place for luxury brands, are positioned.

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