Jim Queen, General Motors Corp.'s head of global engineering, said that the Cadillac brand needs a flagship model that is not currently in the range. Thus it is expected that the largest automaker will be entertaining a number of fascination upgrades and innovations to come up with an extraordinary product line.
According to Dave Leggett, just-auto.com's managing editor, when asked about the possibility of a Holden developed V12 engine for such a vehicle, Queen chose his words carefully. GM will be assigning responsibility for GM vehicle development to different regions according to their expertise. This move is part of the automaker's 'global vehicle development programme.' In the said programme, Holden in Australia was burdened with the responsibility for engineering the architecture for GM's large RWD cars.
GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz was recently quoted as saying that the development work on a flagship Cadillac, a car that would be competing with the likes of the Mercedes S-class, was well under way in Australia. Additionally, reports have also suggested that a new engine for a flagship Cadillac is in the works. The 7.2 liter V12 engine, which is based on the combination of two Commodore 3.6 liter 'Global V6' engines, will be mated to the to boost the performance of the vehicle.
"We need to provide Cadillac with a flagship that is not yet in the portfolio," Queen said, speaking to just-auto at the SAE show at Cobo Hall, Detroit. He added, "We showed the Cadillac Sixteen a few years ago and that signals that there is a need to continue to move that brand upstairs and one of the mechanisms for doing that is a flagship vehicle not in the stable right now." And would a flagship Cadillac need a suitably flagship engine? "Perhaps," responded a smiling Queen.
Queen is one of the famed leaders in the GM auto reign. He is responsible in engineering world cars that have been built so as to cater to the specific needs of varied markets. At present, Queen is in the middle of rationalizing the automaker's platform-sharing at the same time modernizing its engine lineup. The challenge that lies on his hands includes rationalizing platforms to pave way for different cars on the same platform.
Rationalizing platforms mean taking into consideration the interiors, sheetmetal, and character of the cars in order for them to have relevant yet distinct individual markets. The tin-top head is responsible for the manufacture of the Saturn Aura, which is built in any Epsilon factory in the world. The production of the car is up on the remarkable V-6s. Queen is also behind the automaker's plan to build a light-truck diesel before the end of the decade.
