Cadillac ULC - Urban luxury concept

Cadillac is well on its way to becoming the Standard of the World once again. The Escalade is the gold standard among luxury SUVs, the CTS-V is nearly as fast as a Corvette ZR-1, and the SRX has carved a place in the mid-size crossover segment. A new compact, the ATS, is just over the horizon as are the XTS full-size sedan and finally a flagship luxury sedan on par with the Mercedes S-Class. Success is not keeping the brand from looking to different markets and drivers, especially given impending fuel economy standards. Take a look at the Urban Luxury Concept from the Los Angeles Auto Show.

“This is a new vision in vehicle design that was created to answer the needs of city dwellers,” said Frank Saucedo, lead designer. “The door design is purposeful and technologically advanced, which is the essence of how we’re taking Cadillac into the future. It may not look like Cadillacs on the road today, but it shares the comfortable and high-tech elements that owners have come to associate with larger, traditional luxury sedans. As more customers demand premium features even in smaller vehicles, a vehicle like the Urban Luxury Concept could be a solution.”
Despite the concept’s futuristic one-box design, the front bears Cadillac’s eggcrate grille, razor thin vertical headlamps, and faceted fenders that recall the ’67 Eldorado. From the grille, a seamless line arches to the rear hatch. Vertical taillamps could come from nothing but a Cadillac.

To get inside, one opens Lamborghini-style scissor doors that allow unimpeded access to both rows of fine leather seats. Touch-pad screens and projected readouts replace normal gauges and serve as controls for audio and climate systems. As in a Smart, the tall cabin and huge windshield provide an incredible amount of airy passenger space over a footprint shorter than a Mini Cooper.
Given the car’s size, it doesn’t need an especially large engine. To maximize efficiency with adequate cruising power, engineers developed a hybrid system based on a 1.0-litre three-cylinder gasoline engine. Regenerative braking, engine start-stop function, and a dual-clutch transmission work with the batteries to tread lightly. Cadillac estimates the vehicle would achieve 56/65-MPG city/hwy.

A car like the ULC is obviously not for everybody – even if Cadillac decides to build it. However, if Cadillac wants to keep selling Escalades, it will have counter them with ultra fuel-efficient models to keep its overall fuel economy average under Uncle Sam’s radar. As Cadillac expands in Europe and Asia, a car like the ULC makes a lot of sense as it would compete against the Mercedes A/B-Class, Mini Cooper, and BMW’s upcoming city car.
Cadillac has not decided if it will build the ULC, but initial response has been positive and it is listening to feedback as the car is shown to audiences. Younger and free-thinking drivers have a perception of luxury that doesn’t include 5,000-lb. behemoths that can cross continents in a single bound. For them, having style, technology, and a tidy package would be compelling reasons to enter a Cadillac showroom. The Standard of the World could be smaller than you imagined.
By Casey Williams - MyCarData