Concept of the Week

Cadillac's stunning CT Coupe Concept is the kind of product entry that every luxury brand should have

Perfect Timing

By Stuart Schwartzapfel

Cadillac unveiled its CT Coupe Concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, signaling that the resurgent domestic luxury brand intends to play in the growing sports coupe segment that now includes high-impact vehicles such as the BMW 3 Series and new Audi A5.

The concept is based on the newly redesigned 2008 CTS sedan, which recently nabbed Motor Trend's "Car of the Year" award. Despite being built on the same platform, the concept features two doors rather than four, with a more aggressively forward-leaning position. In terms of aesthetics and styling, the CT Coupe shares the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders, and grille with the production car. And the concept evolves the brand's "Art & Science" design language ushered in with the first-generation CTS sedan in 2003, defined by sharp, angular lines and deep creases in the sheet metal.

If it goes into production, the new model will likely be powered by Cadillac's current 3.6-liter direct injection V6 or a 2.9-liter turbo diesel currently in development. In Detroit, it won the "Eyes On Design" award for best concept, chosen by a panel of industry designers from Chrysler, General Motors, and Mazda.

The Verdict: Design-wise, it's a no-brainer. Cadillac just needs to step up to the plate and build it.
..
Stuart Schwartzapfel is a regular contributor to BusinessWeek.com. He has studied the automotive marketplace and works as an advertising and marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.

Click here for more BusinessWeek.com Auto Design stories