Cadillac re-launches UK assault with CTS

Crowd pleaser or motoring teaser?

Cadillac has had more UK launches than the slip-ramp on the marina outside ExCeL, but the US firm is hoping to finally crack the British market with its CTS. The big saloon is certainly a striking-looking machine, standing out under the show lights among more familiar metal. Jonathon Nash, Cadillac UK's Director in Charge said: “the launch of the right-hand drive CTS marks a major step forward for the Cadillac brand in the UK.” The bold styling is certain to appeal to show-goers, but whether conservative UK buyers will abandon tried-and-tested premium brands for Cadillac remains to be seen.

Stand out features?

The CTS is big and imposing, the bold grille reminiscent of Cadillac's cool Sixteen concept car. Unlike it, the CTS won't feature 16-cylinder power; instead customers will have to make do with ten less, the CTS offered with 2.8- and 3.6-litre V6 engines from launch. To really compete in this marketplace Cadillac needs a diesel, the firm promising a 2.9-litre V6 turbodiesel will join the line-up in 2009. Typically for an American car the CTS comes absolutely loaded with equipment as standard, the firm only offering three options: metallic or premium metallic exterior paint, an electric sunroof and a wood interior finish.

Showroom soon or never to be seen?

If you can find a Cadillac showroom you can buy this car from September 1. Small numbers are likely, meaning that if you want exclusivity then you could do a lot worse. So a bit of both then, in the showrooms soon, but also likely to never be seen. At least, not very often.

Kyle Fortune