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Cadillac Catera sports sedan comes from European Opel Omega
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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BEE CAVE, Tex. -- On a romp across tall Texas hills west of Austin, my sports sedan exhibited a no-nonsense attitude of European touring cars with exacting road manners which generate confidence for a driver.
When running fast into too-tight curves on a wiggly route around Lake Travis, it plowed through every bender with nimble agility.
When whipped over multiple lanes in town, its athletic ability allowed me to scoot past traffic tie-ups.
When forced to avoid a sudden road hazard, it stopped quickly in controlled fashion with no deviation from a straight-line path.
And everywhere I steered it during the recent tests in Texas, this one seemed uncommonly quiet in the cabin, which posed twin bucket seats in front of a bench for three.
Meanwhile, cool melodies floated through the leather-lined confines of the passenger compartment, thanks to a Bose sound system as filtered through eight speakers.
Such pleasant behavior and plush comforts in the manner of fine European touring sedans may not be uncommon, yet the twist to this car's good behavior is that it bears the badge not of some elite and ultra-expensive German brand but the laurel crest of Cadillac at General Motors.
Cadillac, it seems, serves up a sedan with definite European airs in the pleasing form of mid-size Catera.
How can Cadillac, that icon of Detroit steel, produce a European car? Product planners at Cadillac simply went shopping in Europe through the GM network of automotive subsidiaries.
Basics for Catera start with a European brand of GM called Opel, which produces the rear-wheel-drive Omega MV6 sedan of mid-size dimensions.
Catera rides on a beefed up version of the Omega chassis, which comes together in Germany and mates with a 200 hp Opel V6 engine built by General Motors in England and a 4-speed electronic GM automatic transmission from France.
The car contains MacPherson struts with stabilizer bar in an independent front suspension system, plus a cockpit rigged with firm and supportive front bucket seats specifically adjusted to conform to Cadillac's image of elegance, with power-driven controls added and a host of comfort and convenience features too.
Cadillac's worldly car lands in North America with price points which compete strongly against the Europeans -- the bottom line dips as low as $30,630, which clearly makes it the most affordable choice in Cadillac's stable.
Development of Catera signals a shift in Cadillac's traditional marketing strategy and it coincides with evolving demographics among luxury car consumers. As the sun sets on the land yacht crowd, the sun also rises on the Baby Boomer brigade now nearing the age of 50 and in significant numbers moving into the affluent market for near-luxury automobiles.
This shift in composition of the luxury car market becomes obvious when comparing type of buyer.
Early in this decade, purchasers of traditional large luxury cars like Cadillac's former Fleetwood and current Sedan DeVille dominated the market at 52 percent, while entry luxury customers only accounted for 25 percent.
By mid-decade, though, traditional buyers had dwindled to 35 percent as those in pursuit of affordable luxury vehicles increased to 39 percent.
The rising trend for affordable luxury vehicles continues today, which explains why Cadillac now reaches out to the Boomer market with Catera as a lure.
Boomer shoppers -- affluent, educated and product savvy -- as a rule don't bring to market any brand loyalty, according to Catera's brand manager, Dave Nottoli. They read labels, compare products, like to shop around.
For their autos, big is bad but mid-size is good.
Regarding point of origin, automakers from Europe and particularly Germany have the market locked up. "Boomers," observed Nottoli, "prefer tighter suspensions and responsive handling. They want cars that are sporty, safe, luxurious."
In Catera comparative tests against potential luxury competitors from Europe and Japan, the Cadillac performed admirably. On twisty roads, it exhibited an aggressive posture and maintained lateral stability with a responsive ride quality.
Chassis enhancements and noise-reduction measures by Cadillac fine-tune a vehicle that was already impressive.
For instance, the Omega's chassis was strengthened with additional bracing at key flex points, then the front suspension's lower control arms were stretched to increase stiffness and produce a more athletic ride quality.
Also, modifications were made to control noise and vibration in Omega.
Omega's twin-cam 3.0-liter V6 -- produced at GM's Elsmere Port Engine Plant in England and designed to sustain high-speed sprints on German autobahns -- serves as the power fountain for Catera, but changes in a multi-ram 3-mode intake system generate more low-speed and mid-range torque, which suits the American style of driving at slower speeds.
Top speed, electronically limited, runs to 125 mph.
Catera's transmission, the electronically-controlled 4-speed GM 4L35E produced at Strasbourg, France, employs adaptive logic to tailor shifts to specific driving conditions. Finger buttons allow the driver to choose from three shift programs -- normal, sport or winter, the latter with third-gear start to minimize wheel slippage.
For safety, Catera applies a steel cage around the passenger compartment, with front and rear crash zones built into the structural architecture, plus side door beams and a collapsible steering column. Driver and front passenger each get an adjustable 3-point safety belt and airbag.
In addition, Bosch traction control and a 3-channel anti-lock brake system appear as standard features.
Options include a power sunroof, the 8-speaker Bose sound system, a luxury package with leather seats, and Cadillac's OnStar communication and navigation system with satellite tracking and cellular telephone to provide directions or dispatch emergency services.
The luxury package adds $3,000 to Catera's base tab of $30,635, with Bose sound at $723 and OnStar for $895.
1998 CADILLAC CATERA SEDAN
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1998 CADILLAC CATERA Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size sport/luxury sedan |
| Model Options: |
Mid-size sport/luxury sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
107.4 inches |
| Overall Length: |
194.0 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 3.0-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Rear |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS/ASR |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
18/25 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 30,635 to $ 37,500 |
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