1000-HP Ultra-Luxury Cadillac Not Likely to be Produced

Not Enough Multi-Millionaires to Go Around, Study Says

General Motors Cadillac premium car division is not likely to create a new standard of the world Bentley Arnage, Rolls-Royce Phantom or Maybach 57/62 competitor anytime soon, according to a Financial Times (FT.com) report.

After studying the possibility GM decided there were already too many vehicles in the $250,000 plus arena.

GM, hoping to draw some attention to the fact that the crested wreath brand was once considered on par with the aforementioned luxury brands, developed the Cadillac Sixteen concept car, complete with over the top luxury appointments and a 1,000-hp V16 engine.

Initially GM insiders were intimating that something close to the Sixteen could be produced, possibly with a toned down 12-cylinder powerplant and a more conventional front opening hood - the Sixteen concepts hood opens at both sides in a reverse clamshell, similar to cars of the depression era.

This is considered by automotive analysts as a wise choice for Cadillac, as many believe after the initial enthusiasm for the new Rolls-Royce and Maybach dies down the brands will be struggling to meet annual targets. The Bentley Continental GT should fare better, due to its much lower price point of $150,000.

Initially when these cars were in planning stages the global economy was in an upswing, with fresh dot.com money feeding luxury goods retailers in unprecedented volumes. Ironically the originally Cadillac V16, the spiritual muse for this years Sixteen concept was launched in 1928, one year prior the 1929 stock market crash that eventually led to the Great Depression of the 1930s.

On the subject, Bob Lutz, GM Chairman and product guru told the Financial Times, "I think it is a very limited market and I think it is going to be very difficult for everybody to sell to capacity."

Interestingly Franz-Josef Paefgen, Bentleys CEO, commented that he felt there werent enough multi-millionaire clients globally that would part with the money necessary to buy one of the super-elite sedans. This statement, of course, supports his companys direction of introducing a much less expensive luxury car.

But to the contrary, DaimlerChrysler, Maybachs parent company, and BMW, Rolls-Royces owner, are bullish regarding future prospects. The former has already sold out its first year while the latter reports sales are good, according to the Financial Times.

In the end Lutz wouldnt rule out building a version of the Sixteen as a very low-volume vehicle, commenting, "You would want to find a way to make it share a lot of main components with mainstream cars which is the only way you could make it pay off."

Currently Cadillac is launching its XLR roadster, the most expensive model at $75,385 to ever in the brands long history. GM will continue to push the brand up market, especially important with its reintroduction to European customers this year.