Middle East Cadillac Sales Up 28% in Q1 2010

Cadillac announced today a 28% increase in total regional sales in Q1 2010. This impressive growth is due to high demand for the all-new SRX luxury crossover vehicle which was successfully launched in the region in January this year, and the continued popularity of both the Escalade full-size utility vehicle and the CTS entry level luxury sedan.

Offering peace of mind and low cost of ownership is a focal point of the Cadillac experience, which is why every Cadillac vehicle comes with a free bumper-to-bumper and four-year or 100,000 km warranty, including free service and maintenance, as well as free 24-hour regional roadside assistance.

“The luxurious Escalade, the all-new SRX crossover, and the bold CTS, along with Cadillac’s reputation for quality and best-in-class features, are attracting discerning new customers, and this is evident in our sales results,” said Thierry Sabbagh, Regional Brand Manager, Cadillac, GM Middle East.

Sales of the third-generation Escalade, the flagship of the Cadillac brand are up 29% over Q1 2009. The Escalade ranks as one of the safest vehicles in its category, with numerous safety systems and crash-avoidance technologies, including head-curtain side air bags with rollover protection for all rows of seating and a 360-degree front safety belt pretensioner activation system, while Magnetic Ride control, the world’s fastest reacting suspension, provides poise and sure handling on any road surface.

Last year, Cadillac introduced the Cadillac Escalade Platinum, a further enhancement on the original Escalade and the epitome of luxury. Large, 22-inch, multi-spoke, chromed aluminium wheels, full LED forward lighting using the first-ever LED headlamps on an SUV, Platinum logos on the bodywork and the CTS-inspired front fascia and grille, quickly define the Platinum edition.

Generating high footfall and subsequent demand in showrooms, the all-new SRX has driven volume for Cadillac, emerging as a leader in the luxury crossover segment, the region’s fastest growing luxury segment.

Completing Cadillac’s model line up and with a bold exterior design and a handcrafted interior featuring the latest technology, the CTS entry level luxury sedan has also proven very popular in the region. The CTS has a fast, coupé-like profile and standard nine-spoke, 18-inch wheels with polished aluminium trims, while elegant, handcrafted details highlight the unique and inviting interior of the CTS. The top-level 3.6-litre, V6 SiDi engine uses variable valve timing (VVT), delivering 304 hp (net) at 6,400 rpm and 369 Nm of torque (net) at 5,200 rpm.

Even more in demand is the CTS-V, the world’s most powerful V8 production sedan with 556 hp (net) and an acceleration time of 3.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. Car Middle East magazine awarded the CTS-V the illustrious title of ‘2009 Best Executive Car’, while Ward’s presented the CTS-V with the “Best Brand Expression” Ward’s Interior of the Year award, a testament to the CTS-V’s unique styling and refined detail.

Across the board, the Cadillac brand itself has received industry recognition, with AutoPacific naming Cadillac as the Top Brand for two consecutive years, in 2008 and 2009.