General Motors announced yesterday that it will invest $190 million in its Lansing Grand River assembly plant for the production of a new Cadillac model that will fit below the Cadillac CTS and will compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3-Series.
Known as the Cadillac ATS, the model is expected to debut in a sedan variant in the fall of 2012 as a 2013 model year. GM doesn’t plan on stopping only with a sedan version of the Cadillac ATS.
reports suggested that General Motors was on the cusp of announcing a $190 million upgrade to its Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan. Earlier this morning, GM confirmed the investment, which is designed to allow the plant to build a new Cadillac model.
Although Ackerson didn't reveal the Cadillac model by name, mention of an all-new small luxury car points directly to the forthcoming Cadillac ATS model range. The model, which is designed to compete against the BMW's 3 Series, will allow the next iteration of the CTS to grow in size to target the BMW 5 Series. Both models are expected to share GM's next-generation Alpha rear-wheel-drive architecture, and as announced today, will be built within the same factory.
Hell, even Chrysler has really gotten its act together with cars like the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 Dodge Durango. But when you see what Ford and General Motors is putting together, you can really become astonished.
Keeping in mind that Cadillac has brought its "A" game lately -- with the Cadillac CTS, which has the nicest American interior probably ever -- it seems like Cadillac may have a huge opportunity to go head-to-head with entry-level premium cars like the BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4.