It’s on, and then it’s off. Plans to bring American premium brand Cadillac to Australia have always been hot topic at parent company General Motors and its Australian subsidiary Holden. After years of discussion, it seems those talks have finally gained traction, as evident by this Cadillac CTS, spotted completely undisguised on the streets of suburban Melbourne.

The sleek saloon bears the badge ‘3.0 TT’ which means lurking under that elongated bonnet (or hood, more appropriately) is a 3.0-litre twin turbo petrol V6 packing 301kW and 542Nm of torque. Driving the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic, the 5-Series and E-Class beater is good for a 0-100km/h sprint time of just over 5 seconds.

As can be seen from the sneaky interior shot, this CTS was a left-hand drive model, so don’t expect to see one at your local Holden dealer anytime soon. But words on the street are that Cadillac is eyeing to fill the void left by Holden’s bespoke performance models, namely the HSV range of high performance V8 Commodores.

While HSV currently offers a right-hand drive converted Chevrolet Camaro for the local market, Cadillac is positive that large sports saloon will also rhyme well with Australian enthusiasts. According to a previous report, former Cadillac marketing head Uwe Ellinghaus was quoted saying the high performance rear-wheel drive sedan segment was “exactly the spot of the market” that he has in mind in Australia.

While this may be good news to Holden fans, Uwe said that they should not expect Commodore prices if Cadillac does enter the market. He said that he sees the American brand as almost on the same level as BMW M or Mercedes AMG.

While Cadillac’s recent focus is America and China, it also has Europe on its growth radar, something that would require right-hook cars for countries like the UK – opening opportunities for Australian-bound RHD Cadillac’s.

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Cadillac has unveiled the Escala Concept, signalling a possible return of the American luxury marque to the large sedan arena. Set to be unwrapped at this weekend’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Escala Concept previews the next evolution of Cadillac design and technology.

“Escala is a concept with two clear objectives,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Global Cadillac. “First, Escala is a statement of intent for the next iteration of the Cadillac design language, and also technical concepts in development for future Cadillac models. Secondly, Escala builds Cadillac’s aspirational character, signaling the brand’s return to the pinnacle of premium.”

The Escala is expected to an early mould for Cadillac’s long-rumored S-Class and 7 Series fighter, slotting above the not-quite-big-enough CT6.

“Escala is a concept car, but one based upon the unrelenting rise of our product substance,” de Nysschen said. “Depending on the development of market segment for large luxury sedans, Escala is a potential addition to our existing product plan.”

Designed to be both a driver’s car and an indulgent flagship sedan, the large 4-door sedan features an expansive liftback design, and at 5347mm in overall length, Escala is roughly 15mm longer than the CT6.

Escala features a new and evolved face of Cadillac design that will begin appearing on production models soon. This includes a new expression of Cadillac’s vertical lighting, a brand signature since 1948.

There are also the three-dimensional precision pattern in the grille design and 22-inch wheels with two layers of spokes.

“This concept shares how Cadillac will bring forward a new experience that is uniquely American, and unmistakably Cadillac,” says Andrew Smith, executive director of Cadillac Global Design.

“Escala is an expressive symbol of reward and an exhilarating driving experience. On the interior, we pushed further. It’s about precision and ingenuity in craftsmanship, and the artistic integration of technology.”

The Escala features a “dual personality” interior crafted with distinctly different zones: The front is about intensely focused modern technology, while the rear delivers relaxation.

“My brief to the designers was to create a car you desperately want to drive, and also one in which you want to be driven,” Smith said. “So rather than a single design, this interior consists of two themes. It was an opportunity for our designers to break the rules a little bit, exactly what Cadillac should do from time to time.”

An array of three curved OLED screens is a prominent feature in the front of the cabin. The very thin, curved displays are layered in front of the driver, with the back sides wrapped in hand-stitched leather embossed with the Cadillac script. The array of screens consolidate the traditional “cluster” of driving gauges with the “center stack” into one integrated unit.

The Escala Concept utilises Cadillac’s new RWD-centric large luxury car architecture, which debuted on the new CT6. The mixed-material construction promises new level of agility and efficiency.

Powering the Escala is a new 368kW 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which Cadillac has finally confirmed is under development for future models. The engine utilizes Active Fuel Management technology, which allows 4-cylinder operation under light loads to save fuel. While Cadillac won’t reveal anything more, we expect the new mill to pair with GM’s all-new 10-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels.

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Cadillac may be coming back to Australia. Yet again. With GM’s restructuring of its Australian business, and the recent onslaught of stylish, desirable products like the ATS (below), CTS (above)  and the Holden Volt-based ELR (last image) from Cadillac, management is looking at reintroducing the brand to Australia.

Cadillac almost made it to Australia 5 years ago when the GFC hit and plans were shelved. According to a recent report, General Motor thinks Cadillac can fill the performance void left by Holden after its factory closure in 2017. Although Holden has confirmed it will continue to sell the Commodore, which will switch to front wheel drive, fate of performance models such as the V8 SS is still unknown.

When asked if Cadillac could provide a model to replace Holden’s performance models, Cadillac’s marketing boss, Uwe Ellinghaus said it is something he can envisage very well and that it is “exactly the spot of the market” that he has in mind in Australia.

While this may be good news to Holden fans, Uwe said that they should not expect Commodore prices if Cadillac does entre the market. He said that he sees the American brand as almost on the same level as BMW M or Mercedes AMG.

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General Motor’s luxury arm, Cadillac, has released details about the brand’s new twin-turbo 3.6-litre V6 engine that will propel the 2014 Cadillac CTS VSport and 2014 Cadillac XTS VSport.

The powerplant produces a V8 rivalling 305kW (410hp) and 500Nm in the XTS VSport and 313kW (420hp) and 583Nm in the CTS VSport. As it is GM’s/Cadillac’s first twin-turbo engine, the company’s engineers have focused making it both powerful and refined.

To minimise turbo lag, they have developed and patented a new air flow design that uses less heat-exchanger tubing. Cadillac says this helps to reduce air flow routing volume by more than 60 per cent when compared to a conventional design that features a chassis-mounted heat exchanger. The water-to-air cooler system achieves more than 80 per cent cooling efficiency with only about 1 psi (7kPA) flow restriction at peak power for fast torque production.

“By creating a very short path from the turbos to the throttle body, the compressors are able to draw air directly from the inlet box and send pressurised air through the intercooler immediately. This gives the driver more immediate feeling of power on demand,” explained Richard Bartlett, Cadillac’s Assistant Chief Engineer for the 3.6-litre engine.

By using two smaller turbochargers rather than a single, larger turbo also helps with immediate performance because smaller turbos spool up quicker to generate horsepower building air pressure that is fed into the engine. An integrated charge air cooling system also contributes because the compressors blow through very short pipes up to the intercooler.

Both models will go on sale in America in the northern hemisphere spring priced from US$59,995 for the CTS VSport, and $63,020 for the XTS VSport.

Will GM’s local arm be able to lay their hands on these engines? Possibly, but not in the immediate future as Cadillac would want to keep them to themselves for a while due to the development outlay.

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Although Cadillac is not sold in Australia, it doesn’t stop us from drooling over this new 2014 CTS which will make its official debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show.

America’s answer to the BMW 5-Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class brigade, the new generation CTS looks sleek and modern, but still encompasses typical American design cues, like the tall pointy taillight treatment.

At the front, the Cadillac grille is now more prominent, flanked by a pair of tear-drop LED lights that stretch into the front bumper. In profile, there is a slight hint of Mercedes E-Class, especially in the rear three quarter.

Inside, the cabin shares styling cues with recent Cadillac models, such as the ATS and XTS, with a large central touch screen for the CUE infotainment system. The CTS’s instrument clusters seems to feature a digital screen, not unlike the one found on Jaguar XJ. There is also plenty of wood panelling.

The car will be offered with three petrol engines at launch, starting with a base 2.0-litre turbocharged four with 272hp (203kW) before moving up to the mid-range 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6 that delivers 321hp (240kW). The range will be topped with, for now, a brand-new 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6 rated at 420hp (313kW). All engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. An all-wheel drive option is also available on the two base engines.

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What happens if you take a V8 American muscle and give it more muscle?  Meet the Hennessey Twin Turbo V1000 CTS-V Coupe. As the name suggests, it is based on the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe. The standard CTS-V Coupe packs GM’s ferocious 6.2-liter supercharged LSA V8 motor, producing 556 horsepower and 747 Nm of torque. That is a hell lot of power, but not according to Hennessey.

Hennessey ditched the supercharger and replaced it with two turbochargers, strengthen the internals of the massive V8, upgraded the injectors, intake, exhaust and installed a completely new engine management unit. The result is (ready for this?) a mind boggling 1000 horsepower and 1288 Nm of torque! This means a 0-100 kph time of just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 370 kph.

In addition to the massive power increase, the Hennessey V1000 CTS-V Coupe features an aggressive widebody kit with a host of carbon fiber aero parts. Only a very limited production of 12 samples will be built.

2012 Hennessey Twin Turbo V1000 CTS-V Coupe Specification

Power:
• 1,000 bhp @ 6,400 rpm
• 950 lb-ft torque @ 4,000 rpm

Acceleration:
• 0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
• 1/4 Mile: 10.9 @ 136 mph
• Top Speed: 230 mph

V1000 Twin Turbo Upgrade Includes:
• 427 cid LS V8 Engine
• Forged Low Compression Pistons
• Forged Steel Connecting Rods
• Callies 4340 Forged Steel Crank
• Balanced and Blueprinted Rotating Assembly
• ARP Main Studs & Head Bolts
• High Flow Cylinder Heads
• Hennessey V1000 Camshaft
• Upgraded Fuel Injectors
• Upgraded Fuel System (Includes Lines, Rails & Pump)
• Twin Ball Bearing Turbochargers
• Dual Wastegates
• Electronic Boost Controller
• Stainless Steel Piping and Exhaust
• Air-to-Air Intercooler
• High-Flow K&N Air Filter
• 160 Degree Thermostat
• Professional Installation
• HPE Engine Management Calibration
• Dyno Tuning & Road Testing
• Hennessey Exterior Badging
• Serial-Numbered Dash & Engine Plaques
• 1 Year / 12,000 Mile Limited Warranty

REQUIRED TRANSMISSION UPGRADE:
• Manual: Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch Upgrade
• Automatic: Performance Build & Torque Converter Upgrade

Braking:
• Brembo Carbon Ceramic Brake Upgrade
• 15.1 inch Carbon Ceramic Rotors (Front & Rear)
• Calipers: 8-Piston (Front); 6-Piston (Rear)

Wheels & Tires:
• Hennessey Monoblock Wheels
• 20×10 inch (Front); 20×13 inch (Rear)
• Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires
• 275/30YR-20 (Front); 345/30YR-20 (Rear)

Suspension:
• Lowered 1? (Front & Rear)
• Factory Magnetic Ride Control Tuned by John Heinricy

Body:
• CarbonAero CTS-V Widebody Upgrade
• Carbon Fiber Front Splitter
• Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser
• Carbon Fiber Front Fenders
• Carbon Fiber Extractor Hood
• Carbon Fiber Rear Fender Flares

Interior:
• Alcantara Headliner
• Carbon Fiber Door Sills
• Upgraded Leather & Stitching
• Hennessey Embroidered Heardrests
• Hennessey Premium Floormats

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