New luxury Cadillac may be built in Oshawa

DAVID COOPER/TORONTO STAR

The Cadillac XTS Platinum concept car's world premiere came during the second day at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. (January 12, 2009)

Tony Van Alphen

BUSINESS REPORTER

DETROIT — General Motors unveiled a "top of the line" Cadillac concept car here today that the company will eventually build in Oshawa, according to a major industry group.

GM officials revealed the XTS Platinum concept at the North American International Auto Show here in what the company calls "a new paradigm for the luxury sedan of the future."

The Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association disclosed recently in a "critical intelligence note" to member companies in Canada that GM would start assembling the luxury vehicle in January 2012 at its manufacturing complex in Oshawa.

But GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz said the company has not yet set a launch date or site for the flagship car of a new Cadillac series of luxury autos that would compete primarily against European models such as Mercedes-Benz.

Lutz said in an interview that when the company makes a final decision on proceeding with the XTS, it would shoot for annual sales of about 50,000.

That would fit well on GM's new flexible manufacturing line in Oshawa, which currently builds the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car and will start assembling the Buick Regal sports sedan in the first quarter of next year.

In its presentation, GM officials said the XTS features a 3.6 litre V-6 direct injection gasoline engine plus a plug-in hybrid system.

The XTS, which can run on a rechargeable battery-powered electric motor or a 350-horsepower V-6 engine, has touch-screen entertainment and navigation and information systems, GM says.

The car also has magnetic ride control with sensors on all four wheels to read the road and adjust the suspension to movements of the car's body, GM said.

For Jim Kenzie's view, click here.

The XTS has two electric motors and a gasoline engine controlled by a computer that decides the most efficient combination.

"We envisioned this concept as an automotive personal headquarters, using advanced technology to enable new levels of connectivy and luxury," said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac's general manager, who added that Cadillac plans to introduce Platinum and V-series versions of all of its vehicles in future.

— With a file from the Associated Press

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