The CT Coupe takes Cadillac's Art and Science design language and adds more of both. More expressive, more technical and very personal, the CT Coupe extends the design of its sedan predecessor with all-new sculpted bodywork aft of the front fenders.

"The CT Coupe Concept is a dramatic design statement," said Ed Welburn, VP, GM Global Design of the car which premiered at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.

"We did not create it as the result of sifting through reams of market data, nor is its shape trimmed to suit the input collected at a consumer clinic — it is emotion on four wheels and the very essence of what defines Cadillac today."

The CT Coupe Concept has a classic 2+2 interior layout, highlighted by black leather and Alcantara microfibre trim that's complemented by yellow ochre-coloured seat inserts and leather stitching. It is designed to accommodate a range of engines including Cadillac's 3.6-litre Direct Injection V6, as well as a new 2.9-litre turbo-diesel currently in development.

"This Coupe Concept is a natural extension of our design language, and of the CTS itself," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "Very simply, the dramatic design of the sedan begged the question of what it would look like in the unbridled form of a Coupe."

Spark of imagination

Its fast-rake styling — it has the same wheelbase as the CTS, but an overall height that's approximately 101mm shorter — blends with hand-sculpted bodywork that bulges around the wheels.

"Just about every decade, Cadillac designs a breakthrough car that becomes synonymous with the brand's character of the period, such as the 1938 60 Special, the 1959 lineup, the 1975 Seville and the 2003 Sixteen Concept," said Clay Dean, global director of design, for Cadillac. "The CT Coupe Concept is the next great design, carrying the baton from the Evoq Concept that ushered in the Art and Science era in 1999."

Among the CT Coupe Concept's signature design cues are elements that are intended to suggest the look of a carefully cut diamond — particularly at the rear. These elements are seen in everything from the chrome header above the rear license plate holder to the indents that comprise the basic form of the rear fascia.

"The diamond-cut elements enhance the sleek profile of the car," said John Manoogian II, director of exterior design for Cadillac. "The CT Coupe uses the elements, along with other nods to classic Cadillac cues — such as vertical headlamps and taillamps — to acknowledge the brand's heritage without resorting to nostalgia. It is a forward-looking design in every sense of the term."

Although based on the sedan, the CT Coupe shares only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front bumpers and grille with the production model. Unique elements include a CTS production windshield laid at a faster angle to create a sleeker profile; chrome, split seven-spoke wheel design; 20-inch front wheels and 21-inch rear wheels; sculpted lower front fascia with unique brake-cooling vents; slim-profile outside mirrors; XLR-type hidden door handles with proximity remote opening; unique front fender vents; diamond-cut rear fascia with mesh lower grilles and centre-outlet exhaust; taillamps with a subtle fin profile; and a rear spoiler integrated into the centre high-mounted stop lamp.

"The cliché is to say that there were no compromises in the design, but that is absolutely accurate in the case of the CT Coupe," said Manoogian. "Each line and angle of the bodywork was carefully honed, and the final design's proportions were judged by the eyes of the design team, not computer-generated math data."

"At first glance, the design appears effectively simple, because there are no extraneous moldings, spoilers or other protrusions, but the more you look at it, the more complex it becomes," he added.

Personal environment

The classic 2+2 interior environment shares the hand cut-and-sewn instrument panel and centre console with the CTS, but features unique front and rear seats, a continuous console running between the front and rear seats, and custom door panels.

"The CT Coupe is a personal car — something a customer would choose to reward him or herself — and the passenger environment reflects that," said Eric Clough, interior design director.

Custom-trimmed sport seats from Recaro are located in all four positions, covered in rich, black and suede-like microfibre material, with yellow ochre-coloured inserts. Yellow ochre stitching is also used throughout the interior, including the seats, instrument panel add shifter knob.

Black microfibre fabric covers the front armrest, as well as an armrest located between the rear seats. The armrests are part of a continuous console that stretches from the instrument panel to rear seats. Carbon-fibre trim accents the console. The interior also features ambient lighting throughout.

Performance-bred

As is the case with its design, the CT Coupe extends the performance capabilities of the sedan. This includes the capability to support a broad engine range of gasoline and diesel engines.

The CT Coupe, of course, ascertains the sedan's 3.6-litre V6 engines, including the 227kW Direct Injection power plant. The Coupe Concept also is designed for a new 2.9-litre turbo-diesel being developed for international markets. This new engine, tailored for use in the CTS, will deliver an estimated 184kW and 550 Nm of torque.

A six-speed manual transmission backs the engine, sending torque to an independently sprung rear axle. The CT Coupe's sport-tuned suspension gives it a slightly lower ride height than a production CTS — a look enhanced by the car's rakish shape and large, 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels.

Behind the chrome, split-spoke, aluminium alloy wheels is a set of high-performance brakes, featuring cross-drilled rotors. Six-piston calipers clamp down on the front rotors, while four-piston calipers grab the rear rotors. All of the rotors have a distinctive, yellow-painted finish.