Corvette comes to the UK

400hp 6-litre V8 makes a good start...

By PH Staff / Tuesday, 23 November 2004 / Loading comments

GM boss Bob Lutz yesterday announced plans to launch the Corvette (top right) into the UK -- finally it's official. He also said that GM wants to re-introduce Cadillacs -- slightly less exciting, perhaps.

The new, 400hp Corvette, whose 6-litre V8 generates 400lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm for a 0-60 of 4.2 seconds, will go on sale early in the New Year in left-hand drive form only -- there won't be a RHD version. Top speed is 186mph.

GM also said that the Cadillac CTS sports saloon will be available in right-hand drive from the beginning of 2005, with other models due to be available in right-hand drive in the near future. However, the XLR luxury roadster (bottom right) will join the Corvette on sale in the New Year.

The first Cadillac and Corvette showroom, at a prestigious site on Park Lane, was officially opened yesterday. The new Corvette will be sold alongside Cadillac models in the UK. The plan is to open Cadillac Experience Centres in the UK's major urban areas in the next few years. The first target locations are in the process of being identified.

Generating a blizzard of marketing-speak, the press release then blethers on about branding and distribution:

Lutz explained the development, saying, “Our intention is to establish Cadillac and Corvette as successful worldwide brands and this is not possible without a concerted effort in Europe and that means tackling the ultra-competitive British market. The brands, while well-known names to most people and automotive icons to many, now need to be brought to market in such a way that they will appeal to a new but discerning customer base. Using European expertise to do this on a market-by-market basis fits the bespoke type of operation required to succeed.”

Kroymans Corporation, based in Hilversum in the Netherlands, took control of distribution of Cadillac and Corvette products throughout Europe on October 1, 2003 by forming Cadillac and Corvette Europe, which is a subsidiary of Kroymans responsible for running the Cadillac and Corvette business throughout the EC and Norway and Switzerland. Kroymans Corporation is an established European distributor and retailer of prestige car marques.

President of Cadillac & Corvette Europe Bert Kreber said, “The British car market is the second largest in Europe and has a strong heritage in the luxury sector. Apart from increasing our availability of right-hand drive cars it is essential to develop a new network dedicated to this high quality and distinctive brand. I am pleased to be able to announce that our partner in Great Britain is the highly respected Pendragon Group.”

In his turn Pendragon boss Trevor Finn said, “Cadillac and Corvette are welcome additions to our portfolio of brands and we look forward to building a dealer network in Britain which properly reflects the status and capability of the brand. Our experience with other top brands gives us the confidence to know that Cadillac and Corvette will be successful here. An important aspect of our decision has been the strength of product now coming through and the attention Cadillac’s top management team is giving to Europe.”

Pendragon made its name representing prestige franchises and has added volume makes such as GM Vauxhall in more recent years. The Group operates 250 dealers in the UK, eight in Germany and nine in the USA.