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Filed under: Sedan, Cadillac, Rumormill, Luxury

2003 Cadillac Sixteen concept

2003 Cadillac Sixteen concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Imagine a Cadillac and you’re about as likely to conjure up images of big, rear-drive landyachts of yesteryear as you are to picture the automaker’s considerably tauter products of today. But Cadillac has long been rumored to be pondering a return to its classic formula with a new flagship sedan, and those rumors are rounding the mill once again.

This time, word has it that Cadillac is developing a new rear-drive luxury sedan to slot in above the upcoming front-drive XTS in pursuit of territory currently dominated by the likes of the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and Lexus LS. If and when it does materialize, sources place its launch around 2014. Power would more likely come in the form of a V8 than the 13.6-liter V-16 engine of the 2003 Cadillac Sixteen concept pictured above (though that would no doubt be incredibly awesome), but a hybrid variant could follow.

The new model would be built on a new platform reportedly dubbed ‘Omega’, but while the architecture would be developed uniquely for the big sedan, a further extension is being muted as a possibility to take on the likes of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley Mulsanne and the Maybach. Far-fetched? Probably. But intriguing nonetheless.

Gallery: Cadillac Sixteen Concept

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[Source: Car and Driver]

Rumormill: Cadillac still wants a big rear-drive sedan to battle the import flagships originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Elantra

2011 Hyundai Elantra – Click above for high-res image gallery

The rakish 2011 Hyundai Elantra hit North American dealerships late last year, priced from $14,830 (*excluding $720 for destination). In December 2010, Elantra sales totaled 13,096 units, up from 5,763 in 2009, and this high demand for the new Elantra may be higher than the Korean automaker had originally anticipated.

This increased demand has prompted Hyundai to consider importing some Elantras from Korea. Currently, Hyundai produces U.S.-market Elantras at its Montgomery, AL plant. This facility’s annual production capacity, which stands at 330,000 total units, may not be enough to satisfy America’s thirst for the stylish compact. Recently, Hyundai spokesman Frank Ahrens told Automotive News that:

If Elantra does what we think, hope it will do, it will mean we’ll have to export them from Korea. We’re pretty bullish on it, given the reviews it’s received so far and the price.

The 2011 Elantra is $1,445 cheaper than a base Chevrolet Cruze and $1,440 less than a base 2012 Ford Focus, which makes Hyundai’s model a pocketbook-friendly alternative to its main competitors in the compact class.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Elantra: First Drive

2011 Hyundai Elantra

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Hyundai may import Elantra from Korea to meet surging demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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