At the turn of the year, spy shots revealed Cadillac has green-lit the stunning Elmiraj concept for production. Codenamed the "LTS," word on the street is that the rear-drive flagship will be ready to make its public debut at the 2015 New York Auto Show. Set to cross swords with the Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series, the LTS will ride on a new RWD chassis developed by Holden, but its engine lineup hasn't been decided yet.

Rumor has it that anything from a turbocharged four-cylinder, through a twin-turbo V6, to an updated version of GM's 5.3-liter V8 could be utilized. Even a production version of the Elmiraj concept's twin-turbo V8 is possible. Whichever engine wins out, it'll be paired to either a nine- or ten-speed transmission. As for its price tag, Cadillac expects a certain profit margin from its cars. The problem here is that with the inclusion of cutting-edge equipment, and a desire to deliver consummate comfort and world-class ride quality, if the carmaker insists on making a decent return, the price tag may put off new customers to the brand.

With other luxury marques content with losing money on halo vehicles (Lexus with the LFA, Audi with the R8 to cite just two examples), Cadillac may have to change tact with the LTS in order to help reestablish itself.