strong American brands have often struggled for success in Europe, but at the Geneva motor show Cadillac revealed ambitious plans for a new expansion here.
Apparently due to roll out steadily over the next ten years, the product offensive will start with the launch of the all-new Escalade SUV and svelte ATS coupe in right-hand drive in selected markets in continental Europe this year.
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The Escalade will come in two different guises. Both the standard car and the stretched ‘ESV’ version come with room for seven or eight passengers, but the ESV model adds an extra 500mm to the overall length and a bigger boot. In the us it comes with a 414bhp V8 engine and switchable four-wheel drive.
The standard car is already the same length as the long-wheelbase range Rover and slightly wider too – so the ESV model could be a tight fit on small UK roads.The brand’s director of emerging markets Jim Vurpillat told us on the stand:
“We currently have one dealer in the UK, and the new Escalade will be available to buy in left hand-drive this year, but we won’t expand the network until we have diesel power trains and right-hand drive – but they are both in the plan.”