Synonymous with luxury and performance, General Motors’ flagship Cadillac brand will enter the Australian market in 2008.

Making the highly anticipated announcement today, GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Chris Gubbey officially confirmed Australia as the next step in Cadillac’s global expansion.

“We are excited to have Cadillac coming to Australia,” Mr Gubbey said.

“Cadillac is undergoing a brand renaissance and global expansion driven by dramatic design and technical innovation.

“With cutting edge design, serious performance and luxury appointments, Cadillac will appeal to Australian prestige car buyers and quickly establish itself in a segment traditionally dominated by European brands.”

Mr Gubbey said Cadillac had a clear and successful strategy to move the brand forward globally, taking advantage of the right-hand drive portfolio and increasingly incorporating the needs of global customers in the vehicle development process.

Cadillac luxury vehicles are sold around the world with increased sales of 45.3 per cent in Europe, 98.4 per cent in Asia Pacific and 49.4 per cent in Latin America, Africa and Middle East for the first three quarters this year.

Cadillac will be managed in Australia by GM Premium Brands under Director Mr Parveen Batish, joining Saab and HUMMER in the portfolio.

The introduction of Cadillac will be spearheaded by the acclaimed new generation CTS sedan and Australian Cadillac dealers will be appointed within the existing GM Premium Brands network.

CTS will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2008, with other exciting models and powertrains confirmed subsequently for the Australian model line-up.

Named ‘2008 Car of the Year’ by Motor Trend magazine, one of the world’s premiere automotive authorities, Mr Gubbey said CTS would be perfectly at home in the performance-loving Australian market.

“CTS has been designed and engineered to challenge the very best in the world,” he said.

“Its dramatic design, serious V6 performance and sports car handling will win over performance and luxury car lovers in Australia.”

The rear-wheel drive Australian CTS range will be powered by the 3.6-litre VVT direct injection Global V6 engine, generating 227kW* and 370Nm* of torque.

Direct injection fuel delivery enables efficient combustion, helps reduce emissions and allows higher compression ratio for better fuel economy.

Unlike many of its competitors the 3.6-litre direct injection engine requires only regular unleaded fuel, resulting in additional savings for the owner.

The Australian market will have the choice of two performance tuned suspension packages in six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2008 CTS builds on Cadillac’s reputation for safety with an impressive range of standard features, including Stabilitrak® electronic chassis/stability control system and front, side and curtain airbags.

“The CTS design is contemporary rather than traditional and the dramatic and sharply tailored exterior adds unique passion and attitude. Inside, Cadillac has combined advanced technologies and electronics with outstanding craftsmanship,” Mr Gubbey said.

The Cadillac interior boasts hand-cut and sewn interior trim components, an innovative ambient interior lighting system, integrated iPod®/MP3 compatibility and an advanced audio system with an integrated 40 gigabyte hard drive will be available.

The EasyKey system, which enables passive vehicle and boot entry and keyless ignition, will also be available on Australian CTS models.

CTS pricing, full technical and feature specification and certification details will be available closer to launch.