Photo: Chevrolet
Update: According to several websites, GM has reached out to deny officially that Cadillac is planning a "Cruze-derived hatchback for Cadillac." We don't know where that leaves us, but maybe it's not a hatchback that they are trying to keep under wraps.
While it's not good to put everything in one basket when it comes to eggs, the same cannot be said about car platforms. The more advanced they are, the higher the chance they will be profitable. GM is now putting together a Cadillac model based on the same architecture as the Cruze and Volt. Why? Because it wants a slice of the Audi A3 and Mercedes CLA sedan action.
The new model has been all but confirmed by Cadillac executive chief engineer Dave Leone in an interview with GM Inside News. The entry-level car will take the shape of a 4-door and ride on the same D2XX platform as the 2016 Cruze.
Before we tell you that there are not many details available and start speculating, let's round up some of the nice things being said about the Cruze. The redesigned model makes the compact car segment feel all grown up. Not only does it look less fat than the older model but it also weighs 220 fewer pounds thanks to the D2XX platform and a downsized turbo engine.
Cadillac's version may use different powertrains, though these have yet to be confirmed. Rumor has it that two turbocharged and direct-injected units will be offered, a small 1.5 and a more powerful 2.0L that competes with the CLA 250. The standard gearbox will be an 8-speed automatic, not a twin-clutch unit.
Many companies have tried to turn regular compacts into premium ones, including Toyota and Honda. However, it's not as easy as it sounds and there's the brand image to consider before approving a tiny Cadillac.
We all remember the old Cimarron built between 1981 and 1988 that shared its J-body platform with the Chevy Cavalier. We know it won't be as bad as that, but the trick is to add as much technology as possible while staying under $30,000.
Insiders say the yet unnamed Cadillac will be up to $9,000 more expensive than the Cruze. It makes more sense than the RWD A3/CLA competitor that Cadillac was originally planning to make. However, there's the overlap with the Buick Verano to consider and what it means for the Chinese market.
Before we tell you that there are not many details available and start speculating, let's round up some of the nice things being said about the Cruze. The redesigned model makes the compact car segment feel all grown up. Not only does it look less fat than the older model but it also weighs 220 fewer pounds thanks to the D2XX platform and a downsized turbo engine.
Cadillac's version may use different powertrains, though these have yet to be confirmed. Rumor has it that two turbocharged and direct-injected units will be offered, a small 1.5 and a more powerful 2.0L that competes with the CLA 250. The standard gearbox will be an 8-speed automatic, not a twin-clutch unit.
Many companies have tried to turn regular compacts into premium ones, including Toyota and Honda. However, it's not as easy as it sounds and there's the brand image to consider before approving a tiny Cadillac.
We all remember the old Cimarron built between 1981 and 1988 that shared its J-body platform with the Chevy Cavalier. We know it won't be as bad as that, but the trick is to add as much technology as possible while staying under $30,000.
Insiders say the yet unnamed Cadillac will be up to $9,000 more expensive than the Cruze. It makes more sense than the RWD A3/CLA competitor that Cadillac was originally planning to make. However, there's the overlap with the Buick Verano to consider and what it means for the Chinese market.
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