GM Approves Cadillac XTS For Production, Lincoln MKS/Taurus SHO Benchmarked?

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Motor Trend reports that Cadillac’s long search for a flagship is over. After debating a number of options, including importing a stretched Chinese-market STS, GM has decided that the “Super Epsilon”-based XTS will be the future range-topper for its luxury brand. The XTS was developed on a stretched version of the platform that underpins GM sedans including the Buick LaCrosse, Chevy Malibu and the forthcoming Buick Regal, and was shown in concept form as the XTS Platinum concept at the Detroit Auto Show. That concept was shown with a theoretical plug-in drivetrain made up of Cadillac’s 3.6 liter DI V6 and the plug-in components from the canceled Vue plug-in, and according to MT, the recent cancellation of the Converj plug-in means “there’s profit and green image to be had in the plug-in XTS.” Until that technology is production-ready, choosing the XTS’s engine options will be an interesting challenge.

Should Cadillac offer the XTS with the stock 3.6 V6? It’s the only engine option that’s ready to go out of the box, but it would also mean the XTS “flagship” will be motivated by the same engine that’s available in the aging CTS. As if the XTS’s CamCord-killer underpinnings weren’t enough of a luxury liability. And it seems that this liability is already being considered. According to MT:

to compete with large German sedans like the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8 in this category and establish the right image, Cadillac may have to shoehorn a small-block V-8 transversely under the hood.

Since the XTS will not be bought by anyone seeking performance luxury on par with the new A8 or BMW 7 series, a nose-heavy V8 and a faithful translation of the XTS Platinum Concept’s interior might make for a modern take on the classic Cadillac plush cruiser formula. Too bad such a simple, relatively attainable product goal doesn’t jive with GM’s new “Euro-fighting, world-class, dynamics-driven luxury” image for Cadillac. Once again, Cadillac falls into the perception gap between world-class pretensions and a small-town customer base.But because GM’s execs know best, they’ll probably push Cadillac, kicking and screaming, out of the V8 era. As MT puts it:Cadillac could become a bold leader in engine downsizing and offer the XTS only with V-6s.Alternatively, Cadillac could admit that it cheaped out by putting the XTS on a gussied-up version of a pedestrian mid-sized platform, and that no engine choice will ever make the XTS the kind of brand-building flagship the brand desperately needs. But hey, Hyundai gets journo-props for downsizing to 4-cylinders only for its new Sonata [check out a great interview covering this issue and others with Hyundai USA boss John Krafcik here], why shouldn’t Cadillac play the same game? You know, besides the fact that Hyundai has nothing to lose image-wise, while by virtue of its heritage, Cadillac should arguably be one of the last brands in the world to give up on V8 flagships.Still, with CAFE ramp-ups looming, the chances of Cadillac offering a V8 aren’t good. And not just because GM is taking inspiration from Hyundai’s bold downsizing strategy. The General has taken notice of the good press garnered by Ford’s EcoBoost, and they’re out to build one of their own, with the XTS in mind. GMInsideNews.com reports:

According to GM engineering sources, GM is currently working on a twin-turbo 3.0L V6. Development on the new engine is so far along that it has a RPO code of “LF3.” The naturally aspirated 3.0L debuted in several 2010 products with direct injection and has the code “LF1.”

GMI was not able to obtain projected power ratings on the new engine, however output is very application specific under new SAE testing rules. Sources did say to expect the engine to rival Ford’s EcoBoost 3.5L.

The engine’s introduction is expected in late 2011 or early 2012 in the Cadillac XTS. Sources also state that GM is looking to use the engine in the Cadillac ATS and possibly even the next Chevrolet Camaro. Cadillac has historically always debuted new variants of the High-Feature V6 lineup, so it comes as no surprise that the XTS is the likely to pioneer the 3.0L twin-turbo.

Of course, this raises some interesting powertrain strategy questions. The 3.0 clearly lacks the torque needed to lug around larger (er, heavier, anyway) vehicles, but it also gets the same fuel economy numbers as the 3.6. Turbocharging will help with one of those problems, but not necessarily the other. Meanwhile, what happens to the 2.8 turbo V6 (LP9) currently found in the Cadillac SRX? Or, for that matter, GM’s in-house experiments turbocharging the 3.6, which it claimed could make 425 HP in a 2009 SEMA Jay Leno Camaro concept?

Any way you cut it, GM is worrying about the color of lipstick to put on a pig. If the XTS debuted as a plug-in only model, it might offer some brand-halo benefits, but the pricetag would likely keep sales to niche levels at best. On the other end of the scale of options, if GM offers a base model with the stock 3.6 or a shoe-horned small-block V8, it might sell decently to old-school Cadillac buyers and luxury value-hunters, but it would do nothing to take the brand in the upscale direction GM wants it to go. But then that ship probably sailed when GM decided to base its luxury flagship on a beefed-up Buick platform. Which leaves little choice but the derivative middle ground, and developing a new EcoBoost-alike engine.

And where does that leave the XTS? Assuming GM can match the Taurus SHO’s 365 hp EcoBoost output (which isn’t guaranteed), the XTS offers .6 inches of length over the SHO (203.5 inches for XTS Platinum Concept compared to 202.9 for the SHO), but with an inch shorter wheelbase (111.7 inches vs. 112.9 inches). And at 74.8 inches, the XTS will be 1.4 inches narrower than the SHO. In other words, Cadillac’s range-topping flagship will be competing primarily with a $38k Ford (not to mention its Lincoln clone). The Taurus SHO ain’t a bad car, in fact it was almost too luxury-oriented for our “mad” Jack Baruth. But is it the benchmark for a world-class luxury brand flagship? Hardly.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • G37S G37S on Jul 20, 2010

    Great move.. More front wheel drive based garbage. Ditch the old man appeal by making younger looking RWD luxury performance cars. AWD is not needed - it just adds weight.

  • Mattjo3201 Mattjo3201 on Sep 27, 2010

    Looks exactly like an A8 down to the rim. The new SRX looks exactly like an RX. GM is getting worse than Hyndai. At least the put a S front, A8 profile, 7 Trunk, and LS interior! LOL. Either way, its sad. I have the 08 CTS too. At least the CTS looks mostly original. No mistake when you see it. Lease is coming up on the Caddy. Seams the only way to stay safe from a carbon copy is to go Merc or BMW. Looks like GM got a little high on the CTS success and are dropping the ball all over again.

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
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