Sunday, December 27, 2009

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

The 2010 Cadillac CTS sport wagon.
The 2010 Cadillac CTS sport wagon.
The 2010 Cadillac CTS sport wagon.


Cadillac really speaks my language. And to say such words after growing up in the ‘70s, when there was absolutely nothing cool about the crested wreath brand for a kid in love with Datsun 510s and 240Zs, VW GTIs and Sciroccos, BMW 2002tiis and 3.0 CSi Coupes, not to mention all the Euro exotics, Cadillac had about as much mojo as Corvette in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, before the brilliant ’84 ‘Vette changed perceptions back to world class levels.

The turnaround car for Cadillac was the equally brilliant Seville STS of ’92 through ’97, a car that pulled in its fair share of import buyers, which at that time was a shock to the entire industry. The Cadillac that sealed the deal, however, came a full decade after that Seville STS ended its five-year run, and the 2002 CTS sport sedan not only changed the way premium buyers viewed Cadillac from its inaugural day forth, but also ushered in the brand’s metamorphic Art and Science design language, a collage of angles and creases that almost singlehandedly made curves obsolete.

The 2008 CTS once again shocked the industry by improving on every aspect of the outgoing car, from styling and driving dynamics to leading edge features and interior quality, and so much so that it was immediately revered as a styling leader, one of the best driver’s cars in the class, a technology tour de force and one of the most beautifully detailed vehicles in the segment.

But don’t take my word for it, go sit in the driver’s seat of a new CTS and you’ll be wowed by a meticulous attention to detail that somehow evades a number of the top Japanese and European brands, and more so, what I often refer to as “a sense of occasion” that brands like BMW, Lexus and Saab have never really achieved in their “lower end” cars. In a word, Cadillac’s smallest is opulent, but not opulent in the grad limo like ways it was when Burt Reynolds look-a-likes, clad in bright polyester shirts opened wide to expose hairy chests adorned with shining gold chains slouched behind the wheels of these overwrought yet underachieving land yachts, but rather opulent like the W New York, modern in design yet still reeking of luxury.

That’s how I felt when settling inside Cadillac’s new CTS Sport Wagon. Yes, it’s impressive that this American producer is now playing the European game at least as well as the Germans, its new Sport Wagon going head-to-head with BMW’s 3-Series Touring and Audi’s A4 Avant, and ironic that this Caddy is besting Mercedes-Benz by offering a five-door in a segment the Stuttgart-based automaker helped to establish, yet no longer competes in, only offering a sedan in this compact class for the time being. Yet Cadillac is no longer only a domestic player, having established itself on The Continent for some time now, albeit with less than stellar success. Just the same, the Sport Wagon is the type of car Europeans go for, and might want to be considered by we North Americans for the same reasons our friends across the pond do.

From my point of view, having two kids with me often and sometimes three when on vacation the added convenience of a wagon’s storage space is more than welcome, it’s critical. And while the CTS Sport Wagon is hardly large by domestic standards, it’s three market segments above entry-level in Europe. I’ve been considering how much space I really need, as the economy gets more difficult and my finances tighter, not willing to drive an economy car, but nevertheless not appreciative of a big V8 that makes me cringe when just contemplating filling it up.

And the CTS Sport Wagon is ruddy quick off the line, in either of its engine configurations. The base model gets a 3.0-litre V6 with 270hp available at 7,000 rpm and 223 lb-ft of torque at 5,700 rpm, while a 3.6-litre V6 with 304hp, ready and willing at 6,400 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque from 5,200, can be had in top-level trim. Both are thoroughly modern powerplants with direct-injection and come mated to a quick yet smooth shifting 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode that either powers the rear wheels or all four, combining for an estimated fuel economy rating of 11.8L/100km in the city and 7.5 on the highway for the 3.0-litre and 11.7L/100km and 7.4L/100km for the 3.6! Yes, you read that right, the larger more powerful engine gets slightly better fuel economy, go figure, and both use regular fuel to extract full power, which costs about 10% less on average. Try that in an Audi or BMW!

Cadillac Concept Car, 2011 CTS-V Coupe

Cadillac Concept Car Picture

Cadillac Concept Car Picture

Cadillac's new concept, debuting in January at the Detroit show, is the latest in a series of "Art & Science" concepts that include the Converj and the Sixteen.
cadillac will formally unveil a new "Art & Science" concept at the upcoming Detroit auto show, along with the new 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe.

The CTS-V Coupe goes into production in the summer of 2010.

Cadillac released a teaser shot of its Detroit concept, describing it as the latest in a series that includes the Cadillac Sixteen, CTS Coupe Concept and Converj.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe

C2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe

The long due Cadillac CTS Coupe is slated for production from Spring of 2010 and will be on full display at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The coupe will now join the 556 hp (415 kW) CTS Sport Sedan and CTS Sport Wagon in remodeling the Cadillac brand to compete with the big guns, and to help bring GM out of its financial mess. From the looks of it – GM seems to have worn a magic hat on this one, with styling decisions that could sway a million heads.

“CTS Coupe is the new focal point of Cadillac, expressing both our design and technical capabilities,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “It is intended to appeal to a new generation of car enthusiasts.”


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
The 2010 Cadillac CTS sport wagon.

Cadillac really speaks my language. And to say such words after growing up in the ‘70s, when there was absolutely nothing cool about the crested wreath brand for a kid in love with Datsun 510s and 240Zs, VW GTIs and Sciroccos, BMW 2002tiis and 3.0 CSi Coupes, not to mention all the Euro exotics, Cadillac had about as much mojo as Corvette in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, before the brilliant ’84 ‘Vette changed perceptions back to world class levels.

The turnaround car for Cadillac was the equally brilliant Seville STS of ’92 through ’97, a car that pulled in its fair share of import buyers, which at that time was a shock to the entire industry. The Cadillac that sealed the deal, however, came a full decade after that Seville STS ended its five-year run, and the 2002 CTS sport sedan not only changed the way premium buyers viewed Cadillac from its inaugural day forth, but also ushered in the brand’s metamorphic Art and Science design language, a collage of angles and creases that almost singlehandedly made curves obsolete.

The 2008 CTS once again shocked the industry by improving on every aspect of the outgoing car, from styling and driving dynamics to leading edge features and interior quality, and so much so that it was immediately revered as a styling leader, one of the best driver’s cars in the class, a technology tour de force and one of the most beautifully detailed vehicles in the segment.

But don’t take my word for it, go sit in the driver’s seat of a new CTS and you’ll be wowed by a meticulous attention to detail that somehow evades a number of the top Japanese and European brands, and more so, what I often refer to as “a sense of occasion” that brands like BMW, Lexus and Saab have never really achieved in their “lower end” cars. In a word, Cadillac’s smallest is opulent, but not opulent in the grad limo like ways it was when Burt Reynolds look-a-likes, clad in bright polyester shirts opened wide to expose hairy chests adorned with shining gold chains slouched behind the wheels of these overwrought yet underachieving land yachts, but rather opulent like the W New York, modern in design yet still reeking of luxury.

That’s how I felt when settling inside Cadillac’s new CTS Sport Wagon. Yes, it’s impressive that this American producer is now playing the European game at least as well as the Germans, its new Sport Wagon going head-to-head with BMW’s 3-Series Touring and Audi’s A4 Avant, and ironic that this Caddy is besting Mercedes-Benz by offering a five-door in a segment the Stuttgart-based automaker helped to establish, yet no longer competes in, only offering a sedan in this compact class for the time being. Yet Cadillac is no longer only a domestic player, having established itself on The Continent for some time now, albeit with less than stellar success. Just the same, the Sport Wagon is the type of car Europeans go for, and might want to be considered by we North Americans for the same reasons our friends across the pond do.

From my point of view, having two kids with me often and sometimes three when on vacation the added convenience of a wagon’s storage space is more than welcome, it’s critical. And while the CTS Sport Wagon is hardly large by domestic standards, it’s three market segments above entry-level in Europe. I’ve been considering how much space I really need, as the economy gets more difficult and my finances tighter, not willing to drive an economy car, but nevertheless not appreciative of a big V8 that makes me cringe when just contemplating filling it up.

And the CTS Sport Wagon is ruddy quick off the line, in either of its engine configurations. The base model gets a 3.0-litre V6 with 270hp available at 7,000 rpm and 223 lb-ft of torque at 5,700 rpm, while a 3.6-litre V6 with 304hp, ready and willing at 6,400 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque from 5,200, can be had in top-level trim. Both are thoroughly modern powerplants with direct-injection and come mated to a quick yet smooth shifting 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode that either powers the rear wheels or all four, combining for an estimated fuel economy rating of 11.8L/100km in the city and 7.5 on the highway for the 3.0-litre and 11.7L/100km and 7.4L/100km for the 3.6! Yes, you read that right, the larger more powerful engine gets slightly better fuel economy, go figure, and both use regular fuel to extract full power, which costs about 10% less on average. Try that in an Audi or BMW!

Agile describes the handling, with overall solidity on the road that mirrors the best from Europe, yet it doesn’t feel quite as “tossable” as a 3-Series Touring. It’s a nicer car all-round though, with that greater sense of occasion I mentioned earlier, inside and out. The CTS Sport Wagon looks fabulous, with superb lines that I find more attractive than the sedan, already a great looking car. Its tall tail nearly doubles the four-door’s cargo capacity too, now measuring 736 litres (25.9 cu ft) with the split-folding rear seatbacks upright and 1,642 litres (57.9 cu ft) when they’re folded flat. Cadillac adds a standard rear cargo management system featuring adjustable sub-floor containment, while more gear can be stowed atop the car too. Rather than the regular roof rack system, however, Cadillac has devised an innovative load system of integrated roof crossbars that melds in with the roofline and therefore looks great while reducing wind resistance. And just in case you want to pull something behind, its towing capacity is hardly SUV-like at 454 kilos (1000 lbs), but should do the job for most owners.

The CTS Sport Wagon comes standard with some pretty sweet features, such as a power liftgate, a great stereo system with iPod/MP3 capability, OnStar with Turn-by-Turn navigation, and 17-inch wheels on 235/55R17 H-rated tires. My tester was fully furnished with heated and cooled front seats, the UltraView Double Sized Power Sunroof, an AM/FM/CD audio system with 40-gigabyte internal hard drive, navigation with a really cool pop-up monitor, a backup camera, Bluetooth connectivity, proximity sensing keyless entry and start, ultrasonic parking assist, and 18-inch rims on 235/50R18 V-rated all-season tires.

Of course, it includes all the usual airbags standard, plus a very sophisticated performance-oriented traction and stability control system. Lastly the CTS Sport Wagon is backed by a standard four-year, 80,000 km comprehensive warranty and five-year, 160,000 km powertrain warranty, the best coverage in the premium sector.

That’s a lot of gear in one car, but it’s not just the features that make it special. It’s the way Cadillac has organized them all into an efficient yet awe-inspiring package. The way the navigation screen doubles as a flush-mounted audio interface and then magically rises out of its lodgings to present a graphically stimulating infotainment, navigation and rearview camera display. The beautifully finished leather-covered dash with its stylish exposed, contrasting French stitching is exquisite, sweeping across a attractive gauge package that lies next to an elegant centre stack with nicely detailed vertical vents, a classic analog clock in the middle, and high-quality switchgear surrounding. The entire cabin is a sight to behold, made even more visible by the near roof-long glass skylight overhead, surrounded by high-quality woven roofliner material that wraps down each pillar snuggly.

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe


Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Cadillac 2011 CTS Coupe revs up LA Auto Show

Cadillac 2011 CTS Coupe
The new 2011 CTS Coupe

When GM designers turned their attention towards the next step in the rejuvenation of the Cadillac brand, they didn't have to look very far.

Returning to the mainstay of the lineup, they recently unveiled the 2011 CTS Coupe at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

This latest and most dramatic expression of Cadillac design traces its roots back to the original CTS that was spawned from the Art & Science philosophy first illustrated by the 1999 Evoq Concept.

"And this production version of the coupe is almost ninety percent faithful to the CTS Coupe Concept that we showed at the beginning of the year in Detroit," according to Clay Dean, Executive Director GM Advanced Global Design/Cadillac Brand Director.

Yes, the concept wore 20-inch rubber instead of the available 18- or 19-inch wheels but, seen in profile, this is a beautiful car, with sleek, flowing lines that pay tribute to the coupes of the past in an exciting and contemporary new way.

"Cadillac has always been an emotional brand - it's about delivering art regardless of body style," said Max Wolff, director of exterior design for Cadillac. "With the CTS Coupe, it was about taking something very strong - the CTS Sport Sedan - and extending its potential."

The coupe has the same wheelbase as the CTS, but its roofline is approximately two inches (51 mm) lower. Overall length is also two inches (51 mm) shorter, giving the coupe short overhangs and a wheels-to-the-corner aggressive stance.

You'd expect to find parts in common with its CTS sport sedan sister, but the CTS Coupe shares only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders and grille.

From the A-pillar back, the coupe is a completely different car. The windshield is laid back at a faster angle (62.3 degrees) and, combined with the lowered roof and a long, nearly horizontal rear window, contributes to the sleek and dramatic profile. The smooth-sided profile is emphasized even further by the classic hardtop styling with no conventional B-pillar, and by touch-pad operated doors that have removed the need for conventional handles.

Wedge-shaped body lines rising toward the back lead to a striking rear view that includes a rear fascia pierced by a centre-outlet exhaust with twin dihedral-shaped tips that are bracketed by mesh lower grilles.

If you squint hard enough, you can trace the heritage of the very modern signature vertical taillights, highlighted with LED light pipes, back to the Eldorados of the '60s. An innovative centre high-mounted stop lamp has been integrated nicely into the decklid spoiler.

The 2011 CTS Coupe may feature classic 2+2 layout but there's nothing dated about either quality or content when you slip into an interior bolstered with advanced technology and instrumentation.

The gadget list includes:

* 40-gig hard drive, including the ability to store music and pause-and-replay live radio

* Pop-up navigation system

* Adaptive forward lighting system

* Bluetooth connectivity

* Standard Keyless Access and Smart Remote Start

* Rear Camera system

* Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround audio system with integrated iPod/MP3 capability

The long list of amenities compliment a driver-focused interior that includes hand-sewn accents covering the door, console and instrument panel trim. Seating is comfortable for two. As with any 2+2 coupe, think of the back seat as a place to throw your purse or briefcase, with occasional emergency seating utility for people you don't like much anyway.

For enhanced performance comfort, Recaro sport seats, previously exclusively offered on Cadillac's V-Series model, will be offered on all CTS Coupe models as an option.

The CTS Coupe harnesses a direct injected 3.6-litre V6 rated at 304 hp at 6400 rpm and 273 lb/ft of torque at 5200 rpm. Fuel economy is estimated at 15.6/10.5L/100km (city/hwy) on regular octane gas. A six-speed manual transmission is standard along with an optional six-speed automatic with Driver Shift Control (and available steering wheel mounted shift buttons).

Drivers can also choose either rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD).

The 2011 CTS Coupe joins a wide selection of CTS choices that includes the CTS Sport Sedan, the 556 hp CTS-V and the recently added CTS Sport Wagon.

Coupes have always been the purest form of automotive design expression and it would be tempting to label the 2011 CTS Coupe as the jewel in the Cadillac crown. But we might have to reserve that for the upcoming CTS-V Coupe, a high-performance follow-up destined to debut at the Detroit Auto Show this January. No details yet but we can probably take cues from the CTS-V sedan and expect something similar to its 556 hp 6.2-litre V8 power and even more dramatic mesh-grilled, aerodynamically-skirted appearance package.

Both the 2011 CTS and 2011 CTS-V Coupe versions will go on sale by early summer in the U.S., coming to Canada about a month later, probably by July or August of 2010, with Canadian pricing and packaging details released just before.

Monday, December 21, 2009

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe


The first Cadillac coupe in almost two decades features a classic 2+2 seating layout and is slated to arrive in U.S. showrooms in the spring of 2010. The most obvious rivals for the 2011 CTS Coupe are the BMW 3-Series Coupe along with the new Audi A5 Coupe, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and the Infiniti G37 Coupe.

The coupe has the same wheelbase as the CTS, but an overall height that is approximately two inches (51 mm) lower and an overall length that is two inches (51 mm) shorter.

According to Cadillac, even though the Coupe is based on the CTS sedan, it shares only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders and grille with four-door model.

At launch, the 2011 CTS Coupe will be offered with GM’s direct injected 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 304 horsepower and offers an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg on the highway.

The V6 engine is coupled to a standard 6-speed manual gearbox with an automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control and available steering wheel mounted shift buttons offered as an option. It will also come with rear- or all-wheel drive.

New Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon 2010

Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon 2010The all-new Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon takes driving to the next level while offering all the luxuries you've come to expect from Cadillac. As Cadillac's first-ever North American wagon, the 2010 CTS was designed to offer the cargo space of an SUV with the compactness of a sedan.

The Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is based on the popular CTS Sport Sedan and features a dramatic design that leaves yesterday's wagon in the dust. On the outside, the wagon is essentially the same size as the sedan, yet its carrying capacity is nearly doubled. Unlike the traditional wagon, the roof load management system blends with the roofline, creating a subtle fin effect at the trailing edges of the rear panels. Inside the CTS, the rear cargo area offers an integrated cargo management system that stows neatly under the floor when not in use.

Price for the 2010 CTS Sport Wagon

2010 CTS Sport Wagon

Cool ride: The new Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is made at GM's Lansing Grand River plant.

Prices for the 2010 CTS Sport Wagon - and yes, it is very sporty indeed - start at $39,830 for a rear-wheel drive model with a smooth six-speed automatic transmission and 270-horsepower 3.0-liter direct-injection V6 engine.

An all-wheel drive CTS wagon with that engine and transmission is available from $41,730. Moving up to a 304-horsepower 3.6-liter direct injection V6 raises the tab to $45,625 for rear-drive and $47,525 for all-wheel drive.

I tested an extremely well-equipped rear-drive CTS Sport Wagon with the Premium Collection equipment group and a performance package that included 19-inch summer tires, polished aluminum wheels and upgraded brakes and cooling. It cost $54,805. All prices exclude destination charges.

The CTS wagon competes with luxury sport wagons like the Audi A4 2.0T Avant Quattro, BMW 3- and 5-series, Mercedes-Benz E-class, Saab 9-3 and 9-5 and Volvo XC70.

From the base model to the loaded Premium Collection - which includes everything from a voice-controlled navigation system to a panoramic sunroof, programmable three-position power tailgate and an excellent 10-speaker Bose stereo - the CTS Sport Wagon's price stacks up well against those admirable competitors.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager Special Edition 2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager Special Edition 2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager Special Edition

2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager Special Edition

2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager Special Edition
2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager Special Edition

2010 Cadillac SRX

2010 Cadillac SRXThe CTS sedan has been a great success for Cadillac, garnering much praise from the automotive media. So it's no wonder that the 2010 Cadillac SRX leans heavily on the same cabin tech and bold design features that made the CTS so popular. In many ways, the new SRX looks like the CTS on stilts.

When this small SUV arrived in our garage, we were pleased to find cabin tech similar to what we liked so much in the CTS. There was the same LCD that partially stows itself in the dash, leaving a strip visible to show audio information. There was the hard drive-based navigation system with traffic. The car even comes with the record button that saves radio broadcasts, essentially it works like TiVo for radio.

2010 Cadillac SRX
A round screen in the center of the speedometer shows a variety of useful information.

However, there were a few new details included, too. Details that we hope find their way into the next CTS update. For example, Cadillac added a round, color information display to the speedometer that shows a variety of information--such as the trip computer, navigation directions, and even the speed limit of the current road. When starting the SRX, an animation of the Cadillac logo rolls into place, adding a little special effects glory for this high-tech cruiser.

Direct injection religion
GM is adhering to its new direct-injection religion with the 2010 SRX, fitting the small SUV with a 3-liter V-6 engine, which should be the perfect size for this vehicle. For most people, its 265 horsepower will be enough to get to work, make grocery runs, and take the occasional weekend trip to grandma's house. However, power-mad speed demons will be disappointed with the cars meager reaction when they hit the gas pedal. The SRX engine's 223 pound-feet of torque does not deliver the kind of thrust to put you firmly in your seat.

However, Cadillac hasn't forgotten driving enthusiasts. The company has an optional turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6 engine for the 2010 SRX. While the turbocharged engine doesn't have direct injection, its turbo helps it make 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

2010 Cadillac SRX
The transmission is very capable, more so than the engine.

Our review car came with all-wheel-drive and the 3-liter V-6. It also had a six-speed-automatic transmission, the same as the one used in the CTS. We've been impressed with this transmission's sport mode in other reviews. When racing toward a corner and then hitting the brakes, the transmission will aggressively downshift and hold a low gear as you hit the gas on the way out to the next straightaway. The transmission exhibits similar behavior in the SRX, only the 3-liter engine can't really realize the transmissions potential. It's like putting an F-22 pilot into a 747; he might have incredible reflexes, but they will be largely wasted.

Putting the transmission into sport mode enables manual shifting, with sequential gear changes. For a torque converter, these shifts are pretty sharp, and it is best when used to drop a few gears to gain passing power or for engine braking down a long grade.

In standard drive mode, the transmission seeks higher, gas saving gears. The SRX gets an EPA-rated fuel economy of 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway, fairly typical numbers for a small SUV. In our driving, we only achieved 19.4 mpg.

Cadillac luxury
Although it's not dynamically dampened, the SRX's suspension system uses stabilizer bars fore and aft along with a linked H arm at the rear to control body roll and provide a generally supple ride. The ride is part of what makes sitting in the SRX a treat, and keeps Cadillac's luxury reputation intact.

2010 Cadillac SRX

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Wagon of Cadillacs

CTS Sport Wagon

The first regular-production wagon Cadillac has sold in the United States, the CTS Sport Wagon flaunts the division's rakish knife-edge styling.

FOR most of us, the classic American station wagon — with its acres of fake woodgrain siding, sticky vinyl bench seats and lazy-revving V-8 engine — is a fixture of our collective automotive consciousness. It is also extinct. The gas crises of the ’70s hobbled it, the minivans of the ’80s dealt a knockout blow and the S.U.V.’s that followed stomped on its grave.

Could the new Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon — the only American-brand station wagon now available in this country — be a green shoot that portends a revival of this American archetype?

Not a chance. Instead, this car’s inspiration comes from Europe.

On the Continent, station wagons never were the wallowing land arks we knew, so today’s European car buyers aren’t scarred by that memory. And with Europe’s sky-high gas prices and narrow streets, S.U.V.’s make even less sense there than they do here, so Europeans who are engaged in all those much-talked-about “active lifestyle” pursuits — or who just need to carry a lot of stuff — often drive station wagons.

They drive so many of them, in fact, that it’s not unusual for station wagons to outsell their sedan counterparts. That explains why European carmakers haven’t dropped the body style — their home market loves it. Thus, most of the wagons sold here are European makes: Volvo, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Cadillac ardently wants to be thought of as a legitimate competitor to those makes, and it would also like to increase its tiny business in Europe. “For us, with aspirations in Europe, it made sense to do a wagon,” said Steve Shannon, the Cadillac marketing director. “It’s a relatively inexpensive vehicle to do once you have the sedan. And we think that over time there will be some European-ization of the U.S. market as vehicles get smaller, with smaller-displacement engines. A greater interest in wagons may also be a result.”

2010 Cadillac CTS coupe

The unveiling of the 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe has topped a busy month for both the car, and the brand.

2010 Cadillac CTS coupe

The 227kW/370Nm 3.6-litre V6 will be officially revealed at the Los Angeles Motor Show next month before a mid-2010 release in the US.

It comes around three weeks after Cadillac announced six finalists in its high profile search for an agency to handle its national creative account.

Cadillac will hold meetings with the agencies in Detroit before they make their final pitch in January.

But Cadillac’s vice chairman of marketing and communications, Bob Lutz, has been doing a reasonable job of marketing the brand himself.

2010 Cadillac CTS coupe

The 77-year-old laid down the challenge to owners of four-door sedans to beat his time of 2:56.321 around a wet Monticello Motor Club track set in his US$62,020 CTS-V.

Eight were chosen, and in the end a 21-year-old in a BMW M3 recorded the fastest time – a 2:50.424 – but winning on the track was almost irrelevant to Lutz.

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
The Cadillac CTS has been a tried-and-true winner for GM, and now the automaker adds the Sport Wagon version for 2010. For a price bump of $3,000, you’ll get double the cargo room packed into an already “exceptional” vehicle. Still, Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder has a few bones to pick with the Sport Wagon—especially compared to a few competitors.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Reviews the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Ctswagon
The Cadillac CTS has been a tried-and-true winner for GM, and now the automaker adds the Sport Wagon version for 2010. For a price bump of $3,000, you’ll get double the cargo room packed into an already “exceptional” vehicle. Still, Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder has a few bones to pick with the Sport Wagon—especially compared to a few competitors.

2010 Cadillac CTS



On the strength of its bold styling, interior quality and athletic handling, the Cadillac CTS sedan has been a sales success, and now its model line is expanding. For 2010, the sedan is joined by a CTS Sport Wagon, which nearly doubles the sedan's cargo space and adds $3,000 to its base price. Often cited as Exhibit A in the case for GM's ability to build a world-class car, the CTS is indeed exceptional, but a few performance and quality shortcomings dampen our praise of the new wagon.
A Looker ... As Wagons Go
To my eye, the CTS embodies Cadillac styling: unapologetically bold and better-executed than any of the brand's other models — especially the first-generation CTS, which was replaced in 2008. The wagon is as impressive as the sedan, though I don't know if it will sway typical American buyers, whose disdain for once-successful vehicle genres is as overblown as their enthusiasm for the next ones. Are minivans and SUVs taking so much abuse that wagons will seem fresh and new?

The CTS wagon brings some of the advantages of SUVs and crossovers, such as a cargo hatch and optional all-wheel drive. Its gas mileage beats the average crossover, but it doesn't have the crossover's high seating position. For that, you'd have to move to something like Cadillac's new 2010 SRX compact crossover.

Cadillac produced the Sport Wagon to compete with the likes of BMW's 3 Series wagon and Audi's A4 Avant — two models with which the CTS competes strongly in sedan form. The CTS is larger than both of those cars but not as large as the Audi A6 Avant and BMW 535i Sport Wagon, which start at a hefty $53,310 and $55,800, respectively.

Like its German competitors, the CTS wagon is very much a CTS sedan with a wagon rear end — rather than a dramatically different car — with almost identical exterior and interior dimensions, including front- and rear-seat headroom, legroom and hip room. The SRX crossover, which is a dramatically different model, isn't notably roomier.

Friday, December 4, 2009

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe: Up Close

The CTS coupe, a car GM placed on hiatus during its bankruptcy, joins a sedan and wagon to give the CTS nameplate as many variants as a typical BMW or Audi might offer. True to the CTS coupe concept shown at last year’s Detroit auto show, this is no watered-down production version — the arcing taillights, central exhaust pipes and brash C-pillars are the stuff of concept cars and will make it to driveways.

GM went that direction with the Chevrolet Camaro, and owners paid a price for it in visibility, backseat room and trunk space. I’m glad to see that isn’t the case for the CTS coupe. The car’s sightlines are decent, though I could only gauge this in the auto show's static setting. The C-pillars are small enough and the rear head restraints are also tiny, keeping blind spots minimal; sizable side mirrors should keep adjacent traffic on your radar. The front seat belts need no device that keeps them within reach; they’re easy to grab, which is unusual in a two-door car.

I’m not wild about the coupe’s electronic door handles. Like in the Chevy Corvette, you reach into a crevice to press a button that unlatches it. That’s fine, but it also means the cabin swaps the CTS sedan’s tasteful door handles for plastic buttons. It may be high-tech, but it feels low-rent.

The backseat is a squeeze to get into, but adults should find legroom manageable. I’m 5 feet 11 inches tall and my head mashed the headliner. If I leaned back, I wouldn’t quite reach the rear glass — a more tenable position, at least until the road got bumpy.

At 10.5 cubic feet, the trunk is small. Granted, buying a luxury coupe for the trunk room is like getting a Whopper for the fiber. Like fast food, the CTS coupe is a guilty pleasure.

Front angle

Profile

Front

Grille

Nose

Side

Tail

Rear angle

Exhaust

Badge

Taillight

Badge

Dashboard

Gearshift

Front seat

Trunk

Rear seats

Dashboard

Door

Headlight

Cadillac CTS Coupe Revealed at L.A. Auto Show

Cadillac CTS coupe side view picture

Cadillac displayed the production version of its CTS coupe at the L.A. Auto Show. The production CTS coupe, which will be available summer 2010, retains the concept’s aggressive, in your face styling. The coupe model is part of Cadillac’s plan to steal back the luxury market from Audi, BMW and Mercedes. That plan includes offering several different body styles of each car, like the Germans do. Cadillac already has a CTS wagon on sale, so the coupe will bring the CTS line onto an almost level playing field with the Germans (still missing a convertible).

The CTS coupe keeps Cadillac’s corporate cow catcher grill, and it might be the only car in Cadillac’s stable that the giant grill actually looks right on. That coupe also features an immense C-Pillar that will be sure to polarize buyers, but that’s to be expected. Every Cadillac sold today is a love it or hate it kind of model. There is a market of people who can afford a luxury car and don’t want the subtle looks of a German car. For those people, the CTS coupe should be a hit.

If you’re one of those people and are already checking when your CLS’ lease is up, be prepared to pay well over sticker price, which hasn’t been announced yet but should fall near the CTS Sedan’s $36,730 base price.

GM will not build a convertible version of the Cadillac CTS

GM will not build a convertible version of the Cadillac CTS
Fans of the Cadillac CTS line are extremely disappointed with the General Motors’ decision to consider the line complete and stop short at producing a convertible.
When GM had an upheaval, it was doubtful whether a Cadillac CTS Coupe or a wagon would ever see the light of day. But these variations are both around now. For a time, fans fully expected to one day see a CTS convertible.

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