Cadillac said Friday it will roll out an all-new, “high-technology” flagship late next year. Expected to debut the maker’s new autonomous highway driving technology, the new model will be a critical link in the General Motors brand’s long-sought global resurgence. GM is investing $384 million to ready its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant to produce the as-yet unnamed model, which will go up against some of the most formidable competitors in the premium luxury market, including the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 7-Series, the Audi A8 and the Lexus LS.
“The objective for this upcoming model is to lift the Cadillac range by entering the elite class of top-level luxury cars,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. Cadillac can use a boost. While the overall U.S. market has been steadily recovering from its worst recession in decades, Cadillac domestic sales have slid this year despite the addition of new models like the entry-level ATS, a redesigned CTS and full-size XTS. Worldwide sales rose 10 percent through the end of August, but U.S. sales slipped 4.7 percent.
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-- By Paul A. Eistenstein, The Detroit Bureau