Cadillac Gearing Up For Global Assault: Australia Back On The Cards?

GM is preparing to take its Cadillac prestige brand on a global assault. Until now, the focus for Cadillac has mostly been on left-hook North American and European premium markets.

A number of its models, including the barn-storming CTS-V Coupe have not been available at all in right-hand-drive. But that would appear to be about to change.

Speaking with Britain's Autocar magazine this week, GM marketing boss Joel Ewanick said that while the 415kW CTS-V was "designed for Europe," the carmaker hasn't pushed it hard enough in the UK market.

"We’re geared up for right-hand drive now. We’re working on it," he said.

"There wasn’t a commitment to the product before and we didn’t design cars to the market demands. There is now a full resource commitment and a vision to get this right. Bankruptcy refocused GM."

The debut this month of the new 3 Series-rivalling ATS sedan marks a turning point for the luxury marque, developed with a global and ambidextrous assault in mind.

Of course, you don't commit to right-hand-drive for just one market. The brand will likely make a move on the Japanese market, along with the growing demand in India for prestige cars.

Could we at last see Cadillac in Australia? Through local arm Holden, GM has reiterated that Cadillac is not on the radar.

For now, in Australia, GM Holden is focused on getting German brand Opel off the ground; it's bringing a comprehensive range of new models here to get the fire started.

As with its platform-sharing stablemate Buick in the US, the Opel brand carries some premium cachet with buyers, sitting one rung below Cadillac in both the US and European markets.

Its Australian launch will give GM a fancier sword in the local market to take on the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lexus. Also adding the Cadillac brand into that fight could really make things interesting.