Welburn: More contours in next Caddy CTS
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DETROIT -- Expect "more sophisticated, more premium" styling when the next-generation Cadillac CTS hits showrooms next year, General Motors design chief Ed Welburn says.
When it debuted in 2002, the CTS ushered in Cadillac's so-called art and science design language of crisp lines and sharp edges. But when Welburn sees a first-generation CTS on the road, he doesn't exactly beam with pride.
"It had a dramatic presence, very angular. But when you really look at it, the surfacing of the body was not very sophisticated at all," Welburn told Automotive News.
In 2007, that version was replaced by the current car, which Welburn says offers a more interesting, "more sculpted" design to offset some of the sharp edges. The current CTS will be sold until the next generation is released, likely in the second half of 2013.
Welburn hints that the redesigned car again will trade some of the bold edges for more contours, an evolution seen in Cadillac's just-released ATS compact. He vows that the CTS "will continue to be very dramatic, but I think in some ways even more sophisticated."
For example, Clay Dean, GM's director of advanced design, said recently that the redesigned CTS wouldn't have as much chrome as the current car.
GM is expected to lengthen the next CTS to better match the sizes of other mid-sized luxury sedans. The longer profile could also give the sedan a sleeker look.
You can reach Mike Colias at mcolias@crain.com.
