Cadillac broadened its luxury portfolio by introducing a full-size sport-utility vehicle at the start of the 1999 model year. Based on General Motors' full-size sport-utility platform, the new vehicle represents the first product in a long-term strategy to give Cadillac a significant presence in the luxury end of the sport-utility segment.

"Entering this market next fall represents an acceleration of our plan to do so a few years later. We are doing this because of greater than expected growth in demand for luxury sport utility vehicles," said John F. Smith, Cadillac general manager and GM vice president. "This new sport utility will offer an excellent opportunity to attract new customers — especially younger, upscale buyers — to Cadillac showrooms."

Ronald Zarrella, GM vice president of North American Operation’s vehicle sales, service and marketing, said the new product demonstrates GM's ability to take quick action to bring Cadillac into this market.

"While a sport-utility vehicle was already in Cadillac's portfolio plan, this offering enables Cadillac to respond to customer needs more quickly than originally planned," Zarrella said. "The luxury sport-utility segment has tripled in one year, and we are moving swiftly to take advantage of this opportunity by committing to delivering the product less than one year after making the decision."

"With both Cadillac and GMC offering luxury sport utilities, we expect to double our share of this hot-growing segment while responding to the growing demands of luxury customers," Zarrella added.

"For Cadillac, the new entry is the first in a series of vehicles that over time will combine the strengths of today’s SUVs with the refinements and technology found in Cadillac passenger cars," Smith said.

Smith said the broader portfolio means dealers can offer more choices to people who shop Cadillac, and can retain more loyal customers. "More than 50 percent of our customers lease. These customers tend to be younger, and when they come back to the showroom after two or three years, we'll be able to offer them an expanded choice of luxury products," Smith said.

"This new luxury sport utility is another important step in our long-range plans to revitalize Cadillac," Smith said.