GM to introduce redesigned Cadillac CTS in March

GM to introduce redesigned Cadillac CTS in March

GM to introduce redesigned Cadillac CTS in March

ORLANDO, Fla. --- General Motors plans to introduce a redesigned Cadillac CTS at the New York Auto Show in March.

The redesigned luxury sedan will hit showrooms in the fall, Bob Ferguson, vice president for global Cadillac, said in an interview.

Ferguson also said GM would soon introduce a coupe version of the all-new compact Cadillac ATS, which last month won North American Car of the Year. That will hit dealerships in 2014, but it's not clear when it will be shown to the public.

Meanwhile Cadillac's all-new Escalade and ELR luxury electric coupe will reach showrooms in early 2014.

Ferguson said GM designers and engineers have tweaked the Cadillac CTS to distinguish it from the ATS.

Ferguson said the new CTS would be a strong competitor against BMW's popular 5-series.

"It's just gorgeous," Ferguson told the Free Press near the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention. "We are positioning that car as a step up, so there will be a marketing challenge to reposition that car."

The CTS is significant for GM in part because it played a key role in revitalizing the Cadillac lineup in the midst of GM's toughest financial Times.

But CTS sales have slipped as the car has aged and with the arrival of the slightly smaller ATS and the larger all-new XTS sedan. CTS sales fell 14.6% to 46,979 units last year.

But the ATS has started strong, and analysts expect Cadillac sales to surge in 2013 because of the recent new products.

Ferguson, speaking to the Free Press at the national automobile dealers Association convention, said 70% of Cadillac ATS buyers are new to the brand and 50% had never bought a GM product before.

Ferguson said the ATS is also reaching younger buyers, women and customers in California.

"We've only had full inventory on ATS for a couple months, so it's way too early to declare victory. But we're pleased with what we're seeing," Ferguson said.

Contact: Nathan Bomey at 313-223-4743 or nbomey@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @NathanBomey.

AutoMotiQue.Blogspot.com