• The Wall Street Journal, Friday, November 17, 2006 11:15 AM

A sleek Cadillac tailored to the Chinese market is being unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show this week. It is longer and plusher than models sold in the U.S., but underneath, the car has the same chassis, engine, transmission and other key components as its counterparts in the U.S. and Europe.

In effect, the Cadillac SLS is General Motors' poster model for new-car development. As GM--and other major carmakers--fight to survive in a fiercely competitive global marketplace, they are tweaking vehicles to appeal to local markets. At the same time, they are wringing costs out of manufacturing by hewing to common standards.

The SLS sedan provides more legroom for rear-seat passengers, since many wealthy Chinese ride in chauffeur-driven cars. The interior contains wood paneling, reclining back seats, indirect lighting and flat-screen televisions. Prices start at $62,500--and depending upon the model and options, could jump as high as $93,750.

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