If you hanker for a modern-day motoring experience similar to that of fictional Boss Hogg when he cruised through Hazzard County, you’d be delighted to hear that Cadillac will be coming back to South Africa next year.
By Gareth Dean
If you hanker for a modern-day motoring experience similar to that of fictional Boss Hogg when he cruised through Hazzard County, you’d be delighted to hear that Cadillac will be coming back to South Africa next year.
The announcement, which coincided with the commencement of Hummer H3 production (for export) at The General’s Port Elizabeth facility, was no surprise… CARtoday.com reported in March that GM vice president of global product development, Bob Lutz, unveiled two Cadillac models – the BLS and CTS – on behalf of GMSA at a Press function and that the legendary automotive product guru strongly suggested that the US marque would be launched on our shores in the first quarter of 2007.
The automotive industry juggernaut General Motors appears to be showing no let up in its quest to span the globe. Its latest foray into South Africa sees the return of the Cadillac brand to our shores in the first quarter of 2007.
The local model portfolio will include the STS full-size luxury saloon, the SRX crossover SUV, and the BLS sporty compact saloon (comparable in size to a C-Class Merc or Audi A4), which is based on the underpinnings of the Saab 9-3 and powered by a choice of three engines. The turbocharged 2,0 litre 16 valve unit generates 131 kW at 5 500 r/min and 265 N.m torque at 2 500 r/min, dismissing the 0-100 km/h dash in 8,5 seconds. The range-topping 2,8 litre Ecotec V6 turbo boasts 188 kW at 5 500 r/min and 365 N.m at 2 000 r/min enabling a seven second sprint to 100 km/h. The third option is a 1,9 litre direct injection common rail turbodiesel that reaches 100 km/h in 11,5 seconds courtesy of generating 110 kW at 4 000 r/min and 310 N.m at 2 000 r/min.
The SRX will probably be offered with a quad-cam 3,6-litre V6 VVT engine, which produces 342 N.m of torque at 2 800 r/min, and the STS, which is similar in dimensions to the S-Class (it is 4 985 mm long and has a 2 957-mm wheelbase), will be powered by a 239 kW 4,6-litre Northstar V8 mated with a five-speed auto’ transmission.
The line-up has been developed for “luxury international markets”, Cadillac’s international marketing and brand development director James Vurpillat has stated, and will represent GM in the premium segment, competing against the likes of luxury European marques such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes.
The Cadillac brand saw a 13 per cent growth in markets outside the United States last year, while China has seen a 93 per cent increase in Cadillac sales in the same period with the brand only having been there for two years.
President and managing director of GM South Africa Robert Socia has announced that a dedicated distribution network will be set up in the major cities to provide a “luxury customer experience” to those interested in the marque.