Filed under: Sedans/Saloons (http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/), Plants/Manufacturing (http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/), Cadillac (http://www.autoblog.com/category/cadillac/)

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/cts-v-grille-580.jpg (http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1749690)

The days of Cadillac's big DTS sedan are numbered as the plant that builds it will soon be shut down and re-tooled. The Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant that builds the DTS and Buick Lucerne will switch over to building the Chevy Volt in 2010 and the current products are both long in the tooth.

The National Post is reporting that the new Cadillac flagship will be dubbed XTS and will be produced at the Oshawa assembly plant. It will be built alongside an updated Chevrolet Impala, the new Camaro and the Buick Regal. The DTS is a front-wheel drive car, but the XTS is expected to the share the Epsilon II platform with the Regal and the new Impala. As such, it will likely get all-wheel-drive at least as an option. For its part, the Regal will likely be a re-badged version of the Opel Insignia. The report goes on to say that Oshawa will produce a hybrid version of one of those offerings - a gas-electric Regal model is a reasonable bet.

Earlier reports had pegged the next Cadillac sedan as a model that would supplant both the DTS and the slow-selling STS (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/cadillac-replacing-dts-and-sts-with-one-vehicle-entry-level-model/), and although the NatPost article does not speak to this, it is reasonable to assume that the new XTS will result in the phase-out of both model lines. The new model line was reportedly put on hold back in August of last year (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/report-cadillac-places-dts-sts-replacement-on-hold/), but it apparently has once again been given the go-ahead.

The XTS is scheduled to be launched in December 2011, with the new Impala coming in early 2013. Thanks to Ben for the tip!

[Source: The National Post (http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1749690)]REPORT: Cadillac DTS to be replaced by XTS, which will be built in Canada alongside new Buick Regal (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/report-cadillac-dts-to-be-replaced-by-xts-which-will-be-built/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).



Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/report-cadillac-dts-to-be-replaced-by-xts-which-will-be-built/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19084478/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/report-cadillac-dts-to-be-replaced-by-xts-which-will-be-built/#comments)

Read more... (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/report-cadillac-dts-to-be-replaced-by-xts-which-will-be-built/)

I have a feeling that this car is going to be competing directly with the Lincoln MKS...

the XTS is expected to the share the Epsilon II platform with the Regal and the new Impala. As such, it will likely get all-wheel-drive at least as an option. For its part, the Regal will likely be a re-badged version of the Opel Insignia

I'm confused.

The Opel Insiginia is slightly shorter than the Cadillac CTS, so how can the XTS be larger than the CTS if it's based on the Regal platform which is a rebadged Insignia?

I'm confused.

The Opel Insiginia is slightly shorter than the Cadillac CTS, so how can the XTS be larger than the CTS if it's based on the Regal platform which is a rebadged Insignia?
They're going to stretch it...

Ah fair enough!

I believe this is the same platform as the 2010 Buick LaCrosse in the U.S.

I believe this is the same platform as the 2010 Buick LaCrosse in the U.S.
I think you're right.. If so, the new Cadillac flagship will ride on a mid-grade Buick platform. :p

Boy I like the sound of this....not

The new LaCrosse is not bad at all, on paper. I considered it a possibile alternative when I was shopping for an STS, but they weren't yet available. Unfortunately, I accidentally test-drove a CTS-V and that changed my plans altogether.

... So they are going to do what Ford did and take their biggest car and shrink it and try to get top dollar out of it yet?

Glad I just traded my 05 STS for a 09 DTS. If a mid size car is all they are going to produce , another American icon goes down the drain. The same car with a Buick. Chevy or Caddy badge. GM tried this a few times before and it didn't work. Who is the wizz kid that thinks it will work this time?

I've been predicting this move for a while. Despite what the auto enthusiast press and forum members say, most American drivers want FWD. They're convinced that FWD has better traction than RWD and AWD is desireable in northern climates. They have come to expect and tolerate understeer and are scared of oversteer. I work with a dyed-in-the-wool DeVille owner whose brother owns a new STS. He said he didn't like the way the STS drove, but he couldn't really say why. I asked if he realized that the STS was RWD. He replied something like "Why would anyone do that?"

What worries me is the quality of this new car. Lincoln launched the MKS last summer, building it in the same Chicago plant as the high volume Taurus. This year, Lincoln dropped something like 26 places in the J.D. Power survey - supposedly due to MKS quality problems.

How do you finarkey an FWD car with a sidewinder motor into an AWD; some kind of crazy right angle drive?

How do you finarkey an FWD car with a sidewinder motor into an AWD; some kind of crazy right angle drive?

It's all in how you twist the rubber band. Some systems are fulltime AWD while others are FWD that only engage AWD when wheel slip is detected. I believe the system on my MKZ functions like fulltime AWD at low speeds and reverts to FWD at highway speeds.

Some FWD/AWD configurations don't allow you to pair AWD with more powerful engine options. (Think Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe.) The 2010 LaCrosse is like this, offering only the 3L engine on AWD units rather than the 3.6L engine. On the other hand, the 2010 MKS with the optional 340HP ecotec engine requires AWD.

BTW, I hate the name XTS.

Someone at GMINSIDE mentioned the XTS will be Theta-Epsilon II like the SRX, so it will be AWD as well.
I think this is very plausible and I salute this development.

+1 for hating the XTS designation.

It screams "X-TREME Touring Sedan."

The XTS should be the name they give the SRX because all I see out of it is C(X)rossover touring sedany thing.

Just as long as we don't end up with something like STD (SeVille Touring DeVille) :P

The SRX is FWD with available AWD. Also with AWD the front wheels do most of the propulsion except under heavy acceleration. Makes the car more efficient. There are a lot of cars like this, the Evo is one. Its system is based on a FWD with a transverse mounted engine. I really hope the this isn't true though. I really want a new flagship that can go agaisnt the the 7, S, 8, XJ, etc. etc. It has to be RWD and AWD with a strong 6 and available DI VVT V8. I don't care if they use the Gen5 V8's that are supposed to be in development for the new Corvette. I really hope they don't drop the ball, they have been doing so well.

The SRX is FWD with available AWD. Also with AWD the front wheels do most of the propulsion except under heavy acceleration. Makes the car more efficient. There are a lot of cars like this, the Evo is one. Its system is based on a FWD with a transverse mounted engine. I really hope the this isn't true though. I really want a new flagship that can go agaisnt the the 7, S, 8, XJ, etc. etc. It has to be RWD and AWD with a strong 6 and available DI VVT V8. I don't care if they use the Gen5 V8's that are supposed to be in development for the new Corvette. I really hope they don't drop the ball, they have been doing so well.

How about it will just fulfill to be a true Cadillac? How about a Cadillac that just doesn't care about 7, S, 8, XJ, A8, whatever? How about a car with a comfortable size and driving characteristics, an engine that makes the ride smooth? How about a service that makes you happy, whatever happens? How about a sales that makes you feel special in stead of under pressure to buy?

I think people are just getting too focussed on the 'competition'. I think GM and Cadillac need to grow up and have fun in designing cars. And express and share the passion with the customers by treating them special as well.

I just visited an Infinity dealer and MAN, what a difference! The best about Infinity is, is that they don't talk about other brands as 'competitors'. They just focuss on what you like and see if they can fullfill your needs with one of their models. Meanwhile they offer one of the best services you can get. Wow, you just feel so comfortable and special.

Imagine a dealer that is trying to overwelm you with facts and how much better this brand and/or model is compared to others; blah blah. Now compare it to a dealer that just welcomes you with a nice coffee and he really listens to you about what you like and what you need. He lets you talk and ask and he answers. And he asks about how this brand or model could satisfy you. He is even honest to tell you he doesn't have what you are looking for.
Now, the service is free for 3 years or up to 64K miles and they always offer free alternative transport in case you get stranded. Even if you drive another car (like a replacement of AAA)!

See, that just makes me care a lot less about an inch, a galon, a mile, a dollar, a horse more or less.

I just read the national survey on which brand the customers are the happiest with in Germany: NOT BMW, NOT Mercedes Benz, NOT Audi, NOT VW!

Number 1 is Subaru
Number 2 Lexus
Number 3 Jaguar
Number 4 is Honda

BMW is at 15th
Mercedes is at 21st

And behold, Opel is at 26, above VW at 28. Audi is at 16th place.

How about that?

I just want them to build a great car. I want a full size car that is a drivers car, powerful, smooth delivery, taught handling, nice turn-in, maybe a little oversteer, all the future technologies, nimble, solidly built, erases bumps and holes in the road, and has an interior that's just gorgeous. nice materials, nice layout, a pleasant place to be.

Hmmmm... So where did Cadillac rank in this survey?

Hmmmm... So where did Cadillac rank in this survey?

It didn't rank, because sales were so poor, it didn't even show up to be considered in the survey. Personally, I wouldn't rank it that high though. :(

I'll never understand this decision. They already have the excellent and under-utilized Sigma II platform on which the CTS is getting very favorable reviews. Why not give a 2nd-gen STS another chance on the updated chassis?

Oh well...I guess the most we can hope for is that the XTS keeps the DTS's long and sleek proportions and V8 under the hood. But I don't think Mercedes and Lexus will be losing any sleep over this.



I have a feeling that this car is going to be competing directly with the Lincoln MKS...

Yeah, they're really shooting for the stars with this one, huh :rolleyes:

From GMI:

XTS: Talking to Nick Twork, I asked him questions regarding this upcoming vehicle, really trying to find out what Cadillac wants with a car like this. He explained to me that the segment that the XTS will be going into is a very large and profitable market, offering a softer side of driving. He talked about how brands like BMW focus on a certain type of driving style, being aggressive and sporty or comfortable and quiet. He said that Cadillac does not feel it should be secluded to one segment or the other, offering all types of driving styles. The XTS would obviously be in the latter, offering a much softer yet still capable driving vehicle. I had asked him if that in fact is going to draw comparisons to the new Buick LaCrosse, and he quickly dismissed that. He said that LaCrosse target is the ES350 type car, while the XTS will offer that type of comfort and quietness, but with a much more upscale type vehicle. I was about to rebut his answer, when he stopped me and said in a few months, we will see exactly what he was talking about. So does that mean an XTS type debut at Detroit 2010? It seems that this car could be in production faster than our next car.

From GMI:

Wow, so it sounds like they really DO want to create their own true Cadillac, without hooking up to an existing nieche. So, indeed, it will practically replace the DTS. Or will be the new DTS afterall... :o