Cadillac is considering developing a rival to the Mercedes-Benz CLA

The compact saloon segment of the premium market is not only growing in Europe, but is also gaining popularity in the United States. The Audi A3 Sedan and the Mercedes-Benz CLA are meeting very little resistance in that market in attracting customers who are looking for a small saloon with a higher level of luxury than the rest of products of that size.

Cadillac has noticed the success of this formula and, according to its marketing director Uwe Ellinghaus speaking to the American magazine Car and Driver, is considering competing against the Germans with its own weapons. The new model would complete the range below the ATS, a saloon whose next generation would grow in size to distance itself further from its future smaller sibling.

However, this idea poses a dilemma that is creating considerable conflict within Cadillac: would it keep rear-wheel drive like the rest of the brand’s products, or would it do as BMW and Mercedes-Benz and opt for front-wheel drive? For Cadillac’s chief engineer, Dave Leone, and chief design executive, Andrew Smith, this alternative would allow a cheaper product and, after all, many customers actually don’t know what type of drive their car has.

But for Ellinghaus, switching to front-wheel drive would damage Cadillac’s image, which could offer rear-wheel drive as a differentiating selling point against its German rivals. As for the difficulties of adapting that configuration to a body of reduced size, Ellinghaus revealed that Cadillac is studying offering this saloon with only two small rear seats, so that the design would be more attractive than if a normal second row were kept.

Source | Car and Driver