Cadillac Flagship to Be Built at Detroit-Hamtramck

The next major step in Cadillac’s plot to regain legitimacy as a world-class luxury brand will debut to the public in the first half of next year.

Cadillac announced today that its new flagship sedan will be built at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant based on a new rear-wheel drive architecture codenamed Omega. Production of the new sedan will begin during the fourth quarter of 2015 following a public debut of the car earlier the year, likely during the New York Auto Show in early April.

“The objective for this upcoming model is to lift the Cadillac range by entering the elite class of top-level luxury cars,” said newly-installed Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen. “Currently in development, this new rear wheel drive-oriented sedan uses completely new, custom-designed materials on a unique vehicle architecture.”

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In order to make its new flagship competitive with full-size sedans from Germany, the company is aiming to deliver the lightest product in the segment. In order to do that, Cadillac lead executive chief engineer Dave Leone said during an interview in August that the company will use a mixture of materials that will employ a diverse mix of materials. At the time, Leone declined to offer specific details but said high-strength steel, aluminum and magnesium could all find a place in the car and that Cadillac would use castings to help save weight.

Leone also said Cadillac plans to make driving dynamics its top priority for its new products, even if that means falling behind the competition in fuel efficiency.

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Rather than replacing a model in the brand’s stable, the car rumored to be called “LTS” will add to the company’s lineup. The choice to build its new “top-end, high-technology car” at the Detroit-Hamtramck facility is part of a previously-announced $384 million investment in the facility earlier this year. Over the last five years, GM says it has invested over $1 billion in the facility.

Tools and equipment necessary for producing the new flagship sedan were installed at the facility over the past several weeks. The company didn’t offer details about what engine it is planning for the vehicle, but the same twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 used to power the CTS Vsport mated to an eight-speed automatic.