Product Development - 2029 Cadillac XT4

In this graduate project for AENG 500: Automobile – An Integrated System, I led the end-to-end product development of a conceptual 2029 Cadillac XT4. The work combined systems engineering, product planning, and validation to define a feasible next-generation compact luxury SUV. Starting from customer needs and competitive benchmarking (Volvo XC40, Lexus NX), I translated survey data, Pugh diagrams, and attribute trade-offs into preliminary design specifications and a full technology roadmap.

I then developed a vehicle validation plan covering EPA emissions and fuel economy (using ALPHA-based engine and eMotor maps), NVH customer and expert evaluations, off-road and mixed on-road drive routes, proving ground testing, and cold-weather evaluations. In parallel, I created package layouts, SAE-based dimensional targets, sales projections (2018–2023 data), a program timing plan from T-46 months to Job #1 and beyond, and a simplified financial model estimating development, manufacturing, and marketing costs in the $4.2–$6B range. The result is a cohesive concept vehicle proposal that integrates technology, validation, timing, and business case into a single product plan.