Cadillac Catera

Cadillac
Cadillac Catera (1996-1999)
Catera
Production period:	1996-2001
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engine : 3.0 liters (149 kW)
Length:	4882-4928 mm
Width:	1786 mm
Height:	1430-1433 mm
Wheelbase :	2731 mm
Empty weight :	1768 kg
successor	Cadillac CTS

The Cadillac Catera was an upper mid-range vehicle offered as an entry-level model from Cadillac . It is a badge-engineering model based on the Opel Omega B with higher quality equipment as standard.

history

Rear view (1996–1999)

As early as the 1980s, Cadillac added an Opel derivative, the Cimarron, to its portfolio as an entry-level model.

In the 1990s, a new approach was started to expand the model range downwards with a mid-range vehicle. Since the European brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW were very strong in this segment , the Opel Omega was chosen. A modified version of this was manufactured for Cadillac in Rüsselsheim, which differs from its German counterpart in particular in that it has more standard equipment.

The first formal presentation of a concept vehicle for the Catera took place at the Detroit Auto Show in 1994 under the name Cadillac LSE . Since the rear was redesigned due to the reactions of the trade fair audience, the series vehicle was renamed Catera.

The Catera was produced in Rüsselsheim together with the Omega and exported to the USA as a complete vehicle. However, it was only introduced in autumn 1996, i.e. more than two years after the start of production of the Omega B.

It was only available with the three-liter V6 petrol engine. The maximum power in America was given as 149 kW (200 hp), while the European variant had a maximum power of 155 kW (211 hp).

Around the same time in the summer of 1999, the Catera and the Omega B were slightly revised.

Cadillac Catera (1999-2001)

The Catera was positively received by American car testers, but with around 95,000 units produced it was not a sales success. Even if well equipped, Cadillac buyers expected a more spacious car, but at the same time the Catera did not succeed in convincing Mercedes and BMW drivers to a large extent to buy. Before the end of production of the Omega in mid-2003, the Catera was taken off the market in autumn 2001 and replaced by the in-house development Cadillac CTS .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ WILLIAM R. DIEM: CADILLAC DRAWS ON GM EUROPE FOR NEW SMALL CAR. In: autonews.com. January 10, 1994; Retrieved August 5, 2018 (American English). 
2. ↑ Jim Mateja: Improved Caddy Catera No Show Job - tribunedigital-chicagotribune. In: articles.chicagotribune.com. December 10, 1995. Retrieved August 5, 2018 (American English). 
3. ^ Bob Nagy: 1997 Cadillac Catera - First Drive - Motor Trend. In: motortrend.com. January 1, 1996; Retrieved August 5, 2018 (American English). 
4. ↑ 2000 Cadillac Catera Review. In: newcartestdrive.com. December 22, 1999. Retrieved August 5, 2018 (American English). 
5. ^ John Voelcker: New and Used Cadillac Catera: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Specs - The Car Connection. In: thecarconnection.com. February 11, 2014, Retrieved August 5, 2018 (American English). 

Web links

Commons : Cadillac Catera  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files