Cadillac's new luxury SUV, the XT5, is a Lexus RX fighter - Los Angeles Times
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Cadillac’s new luxury SUV, the XT5, is a Lexus RX fighter

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Dear Lexus, we are coming for you. Signed, Cadillac.

That was the message at the L.A. Auto Show as Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen talked about the company’s just-presented XT5.

The luxury SUV, the successor to Cadillac’s successful SRX, is positioned to take on the Lexus RX -- the only vehicle that it trailed in sales.

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When finished, the XT5 will be powered by a new 3.6-liter V6 engine -- which also runs in the Cadillac ATS and CTS sports sedans -- that makes 310 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. (In China, the car will also be offered with a 2-liter, turbo-charged 4-cylinder engine, which in time will also be available on U.S. models, De Nysschen said.)

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It will also have more legroom, and more overall length, but will be 278 pounds lighter, than the outgoing SRX.

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Importantly, De Nysschen said, it will take buyers away from Lexus.

“We anticipate we will retain a lot of our loyal SRX customers, but we expect it will also attract a lot of conquest sales,” he said. “Frankly, because they are the leader, we expect to take a strong slice of customers from Lexus.”

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