Cadillac Press Release: 1997 Cadillac Catera Luxury Model Comparison
08/12/96
CATERA: A GREAT VALUE IN LUXURY CARS
CHANTILLY, Va., July 23 -- Catera, the newest member of
the Cadillac family, will make luxury more fun. Catera will also make
buying a luxury car easier on the bank account. Cadillac today
announced that well-equipped Cateras will start at $29,995.
"We know that entry-luxury customers are savvy shoppers," says Dave
Nottoli, Catera brand manager. "They are typically people who can
afford a more expensive vehicle, but they choose an entry-luxury car
because it represents a good value to them.
"Catera, at $29,995, is a complete luxury car, with features that
should please even the most astute shoppers," says Nottoli.
All Cateras include the following standard features:
* A 200-horsepower V6 engine, the most powerful standard engine in
the entry-luxury class;
* A four-speed automatic transmission with easy-to-select Sport,
Normal and Winter driving modes;
* A luxurious interior that is among the roomiest in the
entry-luxury class;
* A three-piece fold-down rear seat for versatile cargo carrying;
* Full-range traction control and anti-lock brakes;
* Seven-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires;
* Full instrumentation, including oil pressure and battery gauges;
* Dual-zone automatic climate control;
* A dust and pollen filter to clean the interior air;
* A premium eight-speaker audio system with cassette player.
Catera will offer a limited number of factory options, including
leather seating, front and rear seat heaters, a Bose audio system, an
automatic power sunroof, a three-channel garage door opener and
five-spoke alloy wheels in either natural or chrome finish.
Even when equipped with every factory option, Catera will list for
under $36,500, less than the price of modestly equipped versions of
several major competitors. Says Nottoli, "We encourage customers to
compare Catera with any entry-luxury car, Japanese or European."
The Catera price announcement was made today at the Cadillac long
lead press preview at the Westfields International Conference Center in
Chantilly, Va., where Cadillac's 1997 models were introduced to the
press.
CATERA VALUE COMPARISON
Model/ 1997 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996
Features Cadillac BMW Infiniti Lexus Mercedes Volvo
Catera 328i I30 ES300 C280 850
Base price* $29,995 $32,900 $28,800 $32,400 $35,250 $26,300
EPA class midsize sub- midsize compact compact midsize
compact
Horsepower 200 190 190 188 194 168
Automatic S O O S S O
transmission
Traction S O O NA O O
Control
Automatic
leveling for S NA NA NA NA NA
the rear
suspension
Full gauges: speedo, speedo, speedo, speedo, speedo
speedo, tach, S tach, tach, tach, tach, tach,
fuel, temp, fuel, fuel, fuel, fuel, fuel,
oil, battery temp temp temp temp temp
Folding rear small
seat S O pass- NA O S
through
Interior air
filter S S NA NA S NA
Automatic
headlamps S NA NA S NA NA
Daytime
running S NA NA NA NA S
lamps
All-season
tires S S S O S S
Standard 225/55R 205/65R 205/65R 205/65R 205/65R 195/60R
tire size 16 15 15 15 15 15
Alloy wheels S S S S S O
Dual-zone single- single- single- dual-
automatic S S zone zone zone zone
climate auto auto auto manual
control
* plus destination charges of $495-640 per car