Cadillac an Aussie design

Former Holden and GM Daewoo designer, Max Wolff is person behind the styling of the sleek 2+2, which was unveiled today at the Los Angeles Motor Show.  Wolff is now exterior design chief for Cadillac, reporting to former Holden design chief, Mike Simcoe, who is now General Motor's executive director of North American exterior design.

And Wolff is clearly – and understandably -- proud of his latest project. "Cadillac has always been an emotional brand,'' he says. "it's about delivering art regardless of body style.  With the CTS Coupe, it was about taking something very strong - the CTS sport sedan - and extending its potential."

Cadillac general manager, Bryan Nesbitt, says the coupe is an expression of the company's technical and design capabilities.  "It is intended to appeal to a new generation of car enthusiasts,"  he says.  The car's design carries over virtually unchanged from the concept car that was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2008.

The coupe is a classic 2+2 layout bolstered with advanced technology, such as a rear-view camera system and a performance-oriented suspension system coupled to rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.  It has same wheelbase as the CTS, but the roofline is 51mm lower and the overall length is also 51mm shorter.

Although it draws from its sport sedan sister, the coupe shares only the instrument panel, console, headlights, mudguards and grille.  Some of the key design features include: classic hardtop styling, with no conventional B-pillar;  touch-pad operation for the doors removes the need for conventional door handles; windscreen laid at a faster angle (62.3 degrees) and a long, nearly horizontal backglass area combine to create a dramatic profile.

There are other Cadillac family cues like the signature vertical rear lights and spoiler integrated into the rear high-mounted stop light.  Initially, it will be powered by a 227kW/370Nm 3.6-litre direct-injection V6 with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.

However, a hotter ``V'' version using the same 415kW/747Nm 6.2-litre supercharged V8 from the CTS-V sedan, will be available next year.