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The Detroit News is reporting that Cadillac's product chief John Howell is considering producing a hybrid model of each Cadillac in the face of declining year-over-year sales, as well as keeping pace with Lexus, one of the division's key rivals, who currently offers three hybrid models, and will likely roll out more.
But why should Cadillac stop at just hybrids? If they want to be seen as the "greenest" luxury brand, why not offer both hybrids and clean diesels? Here are my humble suggestions:
Escalade: A hybrid version of the big-baller Escalade has already been announced. Why not also offer it with the recently-announced new 4.5 liter Duramax? With 310+ horses and more than 520 lb./ft. of torque, it should offer plenty of grunt to get the big ute going, as well as offering as good if not better mileage than the gas hybrid. While they're at it, why not make the hybrid model flex-fuel as well? Never mind the fact that the vast majority of Americans live nowhere near an E85 pump currently. But bragging rights are bragging rights, and if you're gonna go green, you might as well go all the way.
 STS: Perhaps some would see it as overkill, but why not offer the 4.5 Duramax as an option in the STS? Packaging-wise, it should fit in about the same space as the Northstar. Pulling around the lighter chassis of the sedan as opposed to the trucks and SUVs, it should get close to if not more than 30 miles per gallon, and with 520 lb./ft. of twist, should be able to deliver sub 6-second 0-60 times. For the second green option, do a scaled-down two-mode hybrid paired with the direct-injection 3.6 V-6. Instant GS 450h competitor.
CTS: The Euro-version of the CTS will soon be available with a powerful VM Motori 2.9L V-6 diesel offering upward of 250 horsepower and 400 lb./ft. of torque. If they could get it to pass Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions, this would be a great powertrain option. For the hybrid, do a 2.8 high-feature (with direct-injection) and mate it to a two-mode system.
 SRX: Some have hinted that this crossover may be getting the axe. For shame. This is probably one of the most award-winning Cadillacs in recent memory. Besides, I think from a status standpoint, it would be worth it for Cadillac to have something different from the Lambda-based Outlook and Enclave. Never mind the fact its longitudinal powertrain layout would lend itself well to the two-mode system. Oh yeah, since it shares a lot of components with its CTS and STS counterparts, make the 4.5 Duramax an option.
If Cadillac beat Lexus to the punch with the most hybrid models, and matched Mercedes with the number of diesels, it would truly have some bragging rights in the luxury sector. I say with the General's determined new swagger, they should go for it.
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