CADILLAC'S drive back into Britain won it some unexpected new friends when the Seville STS bowed in at the Fleet Motor Show. Interest in the plush American alternative to executive models from Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz left the man responsible for UK sales wearing a wide smile.

'We had expected our main target area to be the entrepreneurs who run small businesses, but we've been surprised at the response from other potential corporate areas,' said General Motors North American brand manager Peter Wartnaby. 'Contract hire companies have been in contact and told us they like the looks, pricing and packaging of the Seville. We're delighted that they are rating it as a viable option to established European prestige marques. Their comments leave us even more confident of achieving more than the 325 registrations we set ourselves for this year.'