Cadillac Engine Strategy Evolving Alongside Luxury Buyer...4-cyl ATS??

[Andy]

05chevytahoe5.3Lgetchoo136DETROIT – The return of the 4-cyl. car at Cadillac may not be too far off, General Manager Bryan Nesbitt suggests.“Let’s ask the question,” Nesbitt tells Ward’s in an interview at the North American International Auto Show here. “Let’s find out.”ADVERTISEMENTCadillac’s last 4-cyl. model was the Cimarron, a Chevrolet-derived, entry-level compact badged with the Wreath & Crest between 1981 and 1988. The Cimarron is blamed for helping drag down Cadillac’s image, sending the brand into a tailspin from which it still has not fully recovered.But at this week’s Detroit auto show, the marque takes a big step in downsizing with the XTS Platinum concept. The top-of-the-line 4-door sedan combines GM’s award-winning 3.6L V-6 with the auto maker’s next-generation 2-mode plug-in hybrid system.Even by today’s standard for downsizing, where the U.S. trails the rest of the world, a 3.6L V-6 for a fullsize Cadillac is quite a jump down the displacement ladder. But to hear Nesbitt speak, perhaps Cadillac could have gone smaller.“The question is, what is the (luxury customer’s) threshold,” Nesbitt offers. “This is a test well.“It is understanding what they feel is tolerable or smart, and still in their mind a luxury proposition,” he adds. “Could you do a 2.0L twin-turbo? Could you boost a smaller powerplant? To me it makes a lot of sense, but will the customer be interested?”More at the linkIf the ATS gets the 2.0L turbo it better have at least 290 hp with the upgrade pack for the turbo. It would definitely make this car fly as well i hope its light and agile.Even if it only has 260hp it's performance will be the same as cars like the 328i, C300 and the rumored Infiniti G25.

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