Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Cadillac CTS-V Sports Wagon Coming to Europe

2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept


What first emerged during last year’s Detroit Auto Show, attendees of the Geneva show finally be able to see the Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept car in all its glossy glory up close in the sheet metal. Additionally, the concept will be the first view of the Platinum sub-brand — Cadillac’s moniker for its highest-end luxury models — to a European audience.The XTS will showcase a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain attached to GM’s preexisting 3.6L V6 engine, as well as all-wheel-drive. For those that remember, the XTS is currently underway in taking production-spec form and we may see as soon as the tail end of next year in the ‘States.
Considering that Europeans have a genuine infatuation with 5-doors that is genuinely lacking in the ‘States, the LSA-powered CTS-V Sport Wagon will most likely find its calling by not only provide the utility Europeans are looking for, but also carving up the Swiss mountain roads and devour them sashimi-style with its enormous power output, magnetic ride suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. The 556 horsepower CTS-V Wagon will be able to dethrone the Europe’s current wagon champion in the Audi RS6 Avant by fall of this year.

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon Black Diamond - Chicago 2011

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept


2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe Road test

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
CTS Coupe is the first luxury sports coupe from an American automaker for which I would make room on a list that includes the likes of the Audi A5, BMW 335i Coupe and Mercedes E350 Coupe -- European brands all. Stylistically, the Cadillac puts its German rivals on the shelf, its Art and Science design as sharp as a Ginsu knife, unchanged from the concept car that dropped more than a few jaws when it debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2008.
2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
And the CTS Coupe is not a matter of "all show, no go," either -- Cadillac has given it some heat for the street. Sure, the uber gear heads will plunk their cash down on the high-performance CTS-V version and its 556-horsepower supercharged V8. But the base model and its direct-injected 304-hp 3.6-litre V6 and six-speed manumatic is not exactly anemic. Testing of the rear-drive model (all-wheel drive is also available) at the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's annual TestFest late last year recorded a zero-to-100-kilometres-an-hour-time of 7.3 seconds, with an 80-to-
2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
120-km/h acceleration run of 5.5 seconds -- competitive times for a car that weighs a stout 1,773 kilograms. It's far from peaky, too; the power flows in a fairly linear fashion. As for fuel economy, my test average of 12.9 litres per 100 km of driving felt a tad on the thirsty side, which was somewhat assuaged by the fact the V6 drinks regular unleaded and not the premium stuff. The only somewhat disappointing aspect of the powertrain is the lack of a truly growly exhaust note more in keeping with the Coupe's sporting demeanour.

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

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