General Motors says it will seek global input for developing future Cadillacs. GM will take a group of designers and tour China, Russia and other developing countries. Unlike its present cars that are manufactured with Americans in mind, the next set of models will be developed for global customers.

Cadillac's new global design director, Clay Dean, said, "What we see happening in China is profound in terms of how quickly and exponentially the growth is happening". "The luxury market is going to be big in China. It isn't big there yet, but it will be big in the first- and second-tier cities," he added.

The first of its global products will be a rear wheel-driven large sedan debuting in 2011 or 2012. It would serve as a replacement for STS and DTS models and would compete with the Mercedes-Benz E class and BMW 5 series.

Cadillac's direct competitors are all global players. BMW, Audi and Mercedes make cars that are accepted worldwide unlike Cadillac's. One fine example is the BLS model(both sedan and station wagon variants) which is facing tough times in Europe.

GM also plans to add a small rwd sedan that will replace the BLS around 2010 and be targeted at the BMW 3 series. A small all-wheel-drive crossover inspired by the Provoq concept is also on the cards.

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