Cadillac Design Chief Hints At Keeping Sedans Alive In The Near Future

“Sedans aren’t dead.” Those words out of the mouth of an everyday layman wouldn’t mean much considering the state of the market. Several car companies have greatly reduced their sedan production. Others have removed them from the portfolio altogether. When a design chief at Cadillac says it though, it carries a lot more weight.

Mike Simcoe is the same man who designed the 2001 Holden Monaro, the 2015 Buick Avenir concept, and the 2015 Chevrolet Bolt. Not only does he know a lot about design itself but also where Cadillac is headed next.

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“We will certainly have a sedan in the portfolio at some point in the future,” he tells Drive.com.au. Simcoe made these statements at a roundtable discussion in Australia where Cadillac is returning later this year. While he didn’t specifically say that the sedan would be electric his setting indicates just as much. Cadillac is exclusively selling its electric lineup, the Lyriq, Optiq, and Escalade iQ in the nation.

Those SUVs might not be as engaging as something like the Holden Maloo but they’re an important part of Cadillac’s future in Australia. “SUVs are a necessary evil,” Mr Simcoe, said. “They’ve taken over the market … [SUVs are] a comfortable, rational purchase,” he continued. To that end, Cadillac hopes they’ll help it gain a real foothold in the country. Then, it can move into the business of bringing back an electric sedan perhaps.

In fact, it makes sense that Cadillac might lean into electric sedans. The segment appears stronger in the premium and luxury categories as buyers there can afford something less practical than an SUV. Mainstream brands like Ford might not have a sedan on offer at all but most of Cadillac’s rivals do. Simcoe explains this in part by pointing to the wealth of its customers. “For those who can afford it, though, there’s always a second car that isn’t an SUV,” he says.