“We were successful in capturing the Cadillac essence in a really small athletic package,” says Robin Krieg, with a certain pride. He is lead exterior designer for what is probably one of America’s most iconic automakers and which, for many, still symbolises the opulence of the 1950s. With an overall length of just 4.59 metres, the newest addition to the family is surprisingly compact for an American, more in line with European tastes, as is the Jeep Cherokee, for example.
However, the design standards remain true to those of its American counterparts, starting from the headlights, which feature an unusual downward sloping oblong “appendage”. The elongated vertical rear lights also have a familiar feel, reminiscent of the light blades of the past, made more complex by the added horizontal extension. The design of the third side window, in perfect harmony with the cut of the C pillar, completes the overall look that is decidedly Cadillac. The interior is classical in style, with high quality materials (such as the option of leather seating surfaces with perforated inserts) and an advanced but not ostentatious technology package (including an 8-inch infotainment screen).
The Launch Edition Sport version also features a sport steering wheel and aluminium sport pedals. Behind all this American design though, lies an Italian powertrain: the 2.0 litre 174 horsepower diesel engine developed by General Motors Global Propulsion Systems in Turin.
