Report: Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept hints at future Mini rival

November 30, 2010 Omar Rana Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept, Compact Cars

When we saw the Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept at the 2010 LA Auto Show, we weren’t really sure what Cadillac was thinking. According to British designer Niki Smart who provided the creative influence behind the Urban Luxury Concept, the compact Caddy concept hints at a future Mini rival.

“The time is ripe for Cadillac to make this car,” Smart said. “We need a bigger spread of models, particularly for Europe. The Mini’s success is proof of people’s open-mindedness.”

Smart admitted that the Urban Luxury Concept is a challenging creation for a brand known for its large sedans with lots of power.

However, he said that opens creative opportunities. “There is no iconic history of small cars at Cadillac, so I’m happy not to have had to return to a previous design,” he said.

Refresher: Power for the Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept comes from a 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged engine with electric assist. The system could help the compact Caddy average an estimated fuel-economy of 56/65 mpg (city/highway).