Cadillac Fan Club

Cadillac CTS-V Sports Wagon Coming to Europe

2011-03-01T02:18:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-01T02:15:00.000-08:00

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.

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-

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

Cadillac SVX Luxirous Vehicle

2011-02-02T05:43:00.000-08:00

Cadillac SVX

Looking for a cheap and simple used family crossover?
I’ll do you a favour and tell you to sign off here. This week’s used vehicle review will focus on the first-generation Cadillac SRX, which is a machine that takes the higher-end approach to family hauling.
Like many of its competitors, the SRX existed somewhere between a wagon, minivan and SUV. It was available with six- or eight-cylinder power, two or all-wheel drive and plenty of goodies. It was on sale in Canada from 2004 to 2009 inclusive, and has now been replaced by an all-new model that launched for the 2010 model year.
Standard for the flexible SRX was a 3.6-litre V6 with around 280 horsepower, a five- or six-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive.

Cadillac SVX

Shoppers after more performance could check out the available 4.6-litre Northstar V8 and its 320 horsepower.

2012 Cadillac SRX To Adopt 3.6-Liter ‘LFX’ V-6

2011-02-02T05:41:00.000-08:00

2012 Cadillac SRX

Just a few weeks ago we reported on GM deciding to ditch the 2.8-liter turbocharged engine in the Cadillac SRX and stick with its naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V-6 as the luxury crossover’s sole engine option. We now have an update on those reports, with news today claiming the 3.0-liter V-6 will also be replaced with a single 3.6-liter V-6 codenamed the LFX.

2012 Cadillac SRX

You may recall that the LFX is also reported to feature in the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, and now GM Inside News is claiming the engine is also destined for the 2012 Cadillac SRX.

The new V-6 engine’s full codename is “LFX 3.6L SIDI, DOHC, VVT, E85 MAX, Alum GM”, which means it will displace 3.6-liters and feature spark ignition direct injection technology, dual overhead cams, variable valve timing and E85 flex-fuel capability.

2012 Cadillac SRX INTERIOR

Beautifully Brutish Cadillac Hits the Track

2011-01-24T05:59:00.000-08:00

We love the Cadillac CTS-V because, frankly, for all our love of green tech and eco-friendly motoring, we have a soft spot for a big honkin’ car with a big honkin’ engine putting down 556-horsepower and enough torque to yank the moon from orbit.
Cadillac, having had the sense to build so wonderful a machine, had the sense to realize it really needed to take that machine racing. And so it is returning to the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge this year. GM’s luxury marque will field two teams in the GT class, both running cars based on the CTS-V Coupe.

Lingenfelter Unveils Performance Package for Cadillac CTS-V

2011-01-24T05:55:00.000-08:00

Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, the aftermarket performance company best known for its Chevy performance conversions, is now offering an upgrade package for Cadillac's CTS-V models.
The package includes engine removal, porting and polishing of the LSA V8 cylinder heads, Competition Cams valve springs, GT9 camshaft by Competition Cams, and a 2.55-inch-diameter steel supercharger drive pulley.
The new supercharger pulley increases the stock LSA 6.2-liter V8's boost from the factory 9.0 psi, while still keeping the Eaton blower in its ideal efficiency range. Engine output is now rated at 623 horsepower and 617 pound-feet of torque at the wheels.
Some of the internal engine modifications require surgical precision, which Lingenfelter has perfected in its years of working mostly with Camaros, Corvettes and other GM models.

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Hits the Track

2011-01-24T05:54:00.000-08:00

Those of us feeling Mother Nature’s icy grip in the Northeast would love to be in Florida for two reasons: the obvious one and to see the Cadillac CTS-V coupe get its first track time at Sebring International Raceway.

According to Cadillac, the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe race car hit the track for the first time yesterday, driven by Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim for tests at Sebring. Cadillac announced in a press release it is reentering the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT series this year, beginning with the season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Fla., on March 25-27. Cadillac competed in the World Challenge series in 2004-2007, earning the Speed GT Manufacturer’s Championship in both 2005 and 2007 with CTS-V Sedan race cars.

Cadillac Plug-in SRX Crossover

2011-01-03T07:12:00.000-08:00

Cadillac Plug-in SRX Crossover

The Cadillac Converj concept was a short-lived concept, greenlighted and then cancelled in short order. However, GM has said that the plug-in hybrid Voltec drivetrain would make it into other vehicles, and the Cadillac SRX is a likely candidate.
When the SRX debuted back in 2004, it was a simple crossover. In 2008 the Provoq concept (above) debut, which GM stated could one day hold a fuel-cell or electric powertrain. The next-gen SRX borrowed heavily from the Provoq concept, but it is more likely the new SRX will get a modified version of the Volt’s hybrid powertrain, running on electric power before switching over to a gas-powered range extender. Initially, it looked like Cadillac was going to get its own version of the Volt, based on the Converj concept (below). I’m thinking that GM reconsidered the idea of selling a $45,000+ gussied up Chevy Cruze with the Cadillac badge.

Cadillac SRX Turbo Killed

2011-01-03T07:11:00.000-08:00

Cadillac SRX

It was good while it lasted. At least, this is what some Cadillac SRX fans said when hearing that the turbocharged flavor of the SUV will be pushed out of production. Speculation regarding a potential axing of the SRX Turbo emerged in late 2010 and, although nobody ever confirmed that such a move is under consideration, voices familiar with the matter hinted that the low sales the car is registering can only lead to its discontinuation.

A Cadillac PR has recently confirmed to GMI that the SRX Turbo has been killed, of course, pointing to the disappointing sales the model has posted in the first and only year of availability.

Cadillac's Robyn Henderson told the aforementioned source that 90 percent of the SRX range sales went to the 3.0-liter configuration which is the only one that remains available across the series.

GM recalling Cadillac CTS and Escalade

2011-01-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

General Motors is recalling close to 100,000 vehicles in two separate campaigns. In a posting with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, GM said that the first recall has already affected almost 96,000 Cadillac CTS sedans from the 2005-2007 model years over concerns that some of thevehicles have a condition in which repeated flexing of the passenger sensing system mat in the passenger seat may break the connection. The company said that if this occurs, the sensor may not detect the presence of a front seat passenger and will disable the bag. In addition, due to the problem with airbag sensors on the passenger side of the car. The sensors could fail to recognize a passenger’s presence and not deploy when needed, GM said.

Cadillac Returns to Racing with Super Charged CTS-V Coupe

2011-01-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

CTS-V Sport Sedan

Cadillac said it plans to return to racing in 2011 with its entry to the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge, North America’s top production-based racecar series. The company’s is returning to the race track with a race-prepared version of its CTS-V Coupe.

The plan to come back to the track returns the sports car maker to a series where it competed from 2004 to 2007. Cadillac has won the Manufacturer’s Championship in 2005 and 2007 and the Driver’s Championship in 2005, competing in the GT Class with the CTS-V Sport Sedan.
The American automaker will field two teams in the upcoming SCCA World Challenge GT Class with a racecar version of CTS-V Coupe. The CTS-V line was recently named to Car and Driver magazine’s 10 Best list for 2011.
To develop the CTS-V Coupe racecar, Cadillac is working with Pratt & Miller, an engineering firm which specializes in motorsports. The company noted that it plans to modify some of the production CTS-V components due to the unique demands of racing or to meet the SCCA series’ technical rules.
The CTS-V, which was introduced for 2003, quickly earned a reputation among luxury sports car buyers. For the 2011, Cadillac added the CTS-V Coupe and the CTS-V Sport Wagon to the family of performance vehicles. The CTS-V line-up feature Brembo brakes, a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that can generate a power of 556 hp and a Magnetic Ride Control suspension system, which can read and react to the road 1,000 times a second.

GM discontinues Cadillac SRX Turbo due to low sales

2011-01-01T20:04:00.002-08:00

2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8L V6 Turbo

Ever since its official debut in 2009, the Cadillac SRX has posted the largest gains in its segment for sales and projected resale value. However, most of the sales came from the 3.0 L V6 model. General Motors confirmed today that it has discontinued the 2.8L V6 turbocharged unit due to sluggish sales.
Cadillac spokesman Robyn Henderson confirmed that low sales resulted in the decision and said that over 90 percent of the SRX sales came from the 3.0L model. Henderson said that the SRX continues to be a leader in the luxury crossover segment and has a larger market share than the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLK.
The Cadillac SRX Turbo is powered by a 2.8L V6 unit making 300-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The model was criticized for having a fuel-economy rating of 15/22 mpg (city/highway).

Cadillac’s New Urban Luxury Concept

2011-01-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

Cadillac has just unwrapped its ultra-cool new Urban Luxury concept at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. The concept behind this show piece is advanced urban commuting and the ULC executes this perfectly with a small package that is high on luxury – even including a Rolls-Royce-esque umbrella in the doors.
Its size is rather small to make this new concept suitable for urban environments. However, the automaker claims that four adults can be seated properly in the small Caddy, with room to spare.

Cadillac SRX

2010-08-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

Cadillac’s SRX is a serious challenger to the best in the luxury crossover segment, and the availability of a turbocharged version only adds to its luster.

Competitors include the Lincoln MKT, Lexus RX350, Audi Q5, Acura MDX, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz M-class and the Infiniti FX45.

Cadillac’s styling is a strong point, and the brand has a distinctive face that is recognizable from model to model. The SRX sits tall, yet the roofline slopes nicely to create a sporty profile. The downside of the sloping roof is a slightly smaller cargo space, but for a majority of buyers, sacrificing a few inches of trunk space is not a major consideration.

Crossovers have become the utility vehicle of choice. In many ways, they’re the contemporary equivalent to the station wagons of a few years back. They offer good room for passengers, a flexible cargo space and the appeal of available all-wheel drive.

The SRX is one of Cadillac’s best products to date, and I was impressed every time I slid behind the wheel.

SRX base prices begin at $33,330 and top out at $51,360 for the test car, an all-wheel drive, turbocharged Premium model.

Many competing crossovers have larger engines, but the SRX makes up in power what it lacks in size. The base 3.0-liter engine delivers 265 horsepower, but for those who want a bit extra, the turbocharged 2.8 liter cranks out 300 horsepower.

The turbo is fun when you mash the throttle and feel a pleasant push in your back. The six-speed automatic transmission makes nice crisp shifts that enhance the feeling of acceleration.

Cadillac Sales Surge 142 Percent In July

2010-08-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

Cadillac Sales

Cadillac continued its strong sales momentum in July with total U.S. sales of 14,919, more than double the total for the same month last year as SRX posted its best month ever and CTS had its best results of the year. It was the best month for the brand since August 2008.

SRX total sales rose almost eightfold, increasing 783 percent in July and marking the best sales month ever for the SRX since its original introduction in 2003. Redesigned for the 2010 model year, the SRX luxury crossover has posted triple-digit percentage sales increases for 11 straight months. In the past year, SRX has posted the largest gain in its segment for both sales and projected resale value. About half of all SRX sales are coming from competitor trade-ins.

CTS posted July sales of 5,516, a 132-percent increase from the same month last year and the best sales month since August 2008. Cadillac began shipping the all-new 2011 CTS Coupe in July to join the CTS Sport Sedan and CTS Sport Wagon. Escalade also had a strong month with sales up 22 percent to 2,209.

“As luxury buyers return to the market, they’re responding positively to the Cadillac line-up,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of Cadillac sales and service. “SRX continues to attract new customers to the Cadillac brand in the crossover segment. The CTS Coupe adds another boost to the line-up with design and performance that stands out in the luxury sports car segment.”

Cadillac Escalade is the Most Stolen Vehicle in the US Again

2010-08-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

The Cadillac Escalade – a notoriously easy-to-spot luxury sport utility vehicle – was the most stolen automobile in the U.S. in 2010, according to a news release from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HDLI) on Tuesday.

The HLDI – an organization affiliated with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – said that 2007-09 models of the Cadillac Escalade had the highest rate of vehicle theft last year, based on rates at which people file insurance claims for stolen automobiles.

The Escalade is followed by the Ford F-250 pickup truck, the Infiniti G37 sedan, and the Dodge Charger with a HEMI engine. The rate at which these four vehicles are stolen is three to five times greater than the average rate for all other car models, according to the release.

"Sedate family cars and fuel sippers aren't on the hot list," Kim Hazelbaker, HLDI senior vice president, said in the release. "Thieves are after chrome, horsepower, and HEMIs."

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

2010-07-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe, about to enter a blind turn on a narrow two lane road. Figuring 60 mph might be just a little hot for this corner, we hit the brakes, making the smart six speed automatic transmission decide a gear change down to second was in order.

As the tach needle swung around to brush the 7,000 rpm redline, the engine sounded off with a strained growl, sounding as if someone were putting a beehive through a bandsaw, not one of the best engine notes we've heard. The wheel felt lifeless as we turned into the corner, its power mechanism tuned more for comfort than track days. But the front end of the car pointed where we wanted, and our still considerable speed in the turn made the summer tires start to slide.

But the wide track of the car, 2 inches greater than that of the CTS sedan, and the grippy tires kept the CTS Coupe under control. Well, mostly under control. From behind the wheel we felt we had a tiger by the tail, the car on the verge of going over the side. The suspension stayed loose, letting it get a little unsettled. Although not the kind of precision handling supplied by a BMW, we enjoyed it.

2010 Cadillac SRX Turbo Photo Gallery

2010-06-25T23:20:00.001-07:00

2010 HOT Cadillac SRX Turbo Photo Gallery

2010 Cadillac SRX Turbo Side View

2010 Cadillac SRX Turbo Interior

2010 Cadillac SRX Turbo Picture

Cadillac's SRX Turbo Premium offers style, power in a crossover

2010-06-25T23:17:00.000-07:00

Cadillac's SRX is one of the few crossovers out there with some styling flair, and it mixes in a healthy dose of luxury ride and interior comfort.

I tested this new, downsized version of the SRX about six months ago and found it mostly to my liking. This model was the top-level Turbo Premium, which starts at $51,360. After adding a pricey rear entertainment system, it hit $53,480.

I was impressed with the SRX's ride, very luxurious and smooth over most of our crumbling Wisconsin roads and city streets. Railroad tracks and highway pavement seams are no more a bother than a cooked pea beneath your shoe. Helping here are 20-inch wheels and tires that suck up a fair amount of road imperfections, and independent sport suspension.

Handling is good with fairly precise feedback to the wheel coupled with a heavy steering feel. Push the SRX and it sticks well in a corner with no, or only minor, body roll. It's a luxury feel, but with a spot of sportiness, sort of like a Mercedes, yet not as racy as a BMW or Audi.

Power is decent. Under normal acceleration, the 2.8-liter V6 provides ample power, but this model tacks on a turbocharger to boost your horsepower to 300 and torque to 295 ft.-lbs. According to the dash gauge the turbo engages early on and helps add some oomph almost from the get-go, but pound the pedal when you need to pass - now - and the SRX really lights it up. Ripping down a highway entry ramp can be particularly spirited.

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe - First Drive Review

2010-06-22T02:18:00.000-07:00

While most Cadillac vehicles still have a way to go to satisfy as drivers’ machines, the second-generation CTS has appeared on our last three 10Best lists; in awarding its 2010 trophy, we called it “maybe the best American car ever made.” High praise, but its combination of unapologetically brash styling, modern luxury, and strong performance credentials—especially in high-po V spec—back it up. For 2011, the new CTS coupe joins the sedan and wagon, adding more style and a higher concentration of performance to the CTS’s winning formula.

Stunning Exterior Styling, Largely Familiar Cockpit

The CTS coupe is one of those cars that loves the camera, and it’s no less stunning in the flesh. Walking around the car, one notices several aspects of the design easily missed in photographs, such as the parallel “light-catcher” lines helping to break up the tall body sides, the tastefully glitzy twin center-mounted tailpipes, the remarkably seamless-looking joint between the body-side stamping and the roof, and the center spine that travels all the way back over the car’s huge rump. The windshield is two degrees “faster” up front than the sedan’s, and the razor-sharp taillamps and CHMSL/spoiler also have aerodynamic-enhancing properties. The only unfortunate bit is a credit-card-sized spacer panels above the recessed, solenoid-actuated door releases; they mar an otherwise perfect waistline. In any case, there is visual drama from every angle, and it works.

Inside, most CTS sedan components are imported without change, although the mood is intensified due to a lower mounting point for the seats, dropping occupants roughly an inch lower into the dash/console architecture. The window sills are high, making arm-out-the-window cruising a bit awkward, but surprisingly, the super-high rear end doesn’t gobble up every shred of rearward vision. It feels purposeful, and we found ourselves very comfortable during our drive.

Cadillac trumpets success of SRX crossover

2010-06-20T01:08:00.001-07:00

There is no disputing the sales increase. SRX's sales rose 654% in May compared with the same month a year, Autodata figures show. In the first five months of the year, Cadillac says SRX outsold Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Acura MDX. The average transaction price for the new SRX is more than $2,300 higher than the previous model. Then there is resale value:

Cadillac says SRX's projected resale value has risen 17 percentage points in the past year, the largest gain in its segment. SRX's projected resale value after 36 months is 48% of the initial purchase price, compared with 31% for the previous model, according to the May/June forecast by industry tracker ALG.

"Cadillac has done all the right things to support higher residual values for the SRX," said Matt Traylen, ALG's chief economist.

2010 Cadillac CTS-V

2010-06-20T01:04:00.000-07:00

Wuchtig. I’m sitting, panting, trying to catch my breath on the side of a tiny two-lane road running through the vineyards of California’s Napa Valley. I’m in an American car. I haven’t spoken German regularly since I was 18. Adrenalin has chased everything resembling a coherent thought from my mind. And yet, strangely, the only thing left banging around my speed-addled skull is a single German adjective for which the English language has no translation: wuchtig.

From the safety of my desk back in Oregon, a German-English dictionary offers a parade of possible English meanings for this word, that 556 horsepower has left ringing in my ears. Weight, pressure, force, impetus, vigor, power, and kinetic energy all make the list. But what about anger? Rage? Impatience? Wuchtig is how daddy shouts when he comes home drunk and angry; it’s the roar of a sweaty millionaire celebrating his dominance in an NFL endzone.

It’s also the sound that 6.2 liters of supercharged V8 make when they get just out of earshot of their rightful owner.

This particular “V” belongs to one of Cadillac’s PR guys, who, having heard that I’d never set ass in the infamous sedan, handed me a key fob. No “be careful” preceded this unexpected gift, no waivers were signed, no next-of-kin informed. Just a friendly “why are you not driving yet?” as I collected my thoughts before approaching the large, dark presence lurking in the parking lot.

But whatever confidence I’d gained by psyching myself up, soon melted in the evil presence of this brute. Walk up, and the smell of vaporized rubber tickles the nose and jangles the nerves, like the smell of blood on the breath of a large predator. And after two days of riding and driving in Cadillac’s standard seats, the V grabs your body in the crushing embrace of something living and powerful. Only after the engine comes to life, and I begin to dawdle out of the parking lot does the V become just another Cadillac, softly woofling towards the open road. But that impression only lasts until I reach the first stop sign, wait for the briefest interruption in traffic, and leap out onto the highway.

GM to recall about 1.5 million vehicles because of fire hazard

2010-06-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

The automaker will disable the heating mechanism on a system that squirts cleaning fluid on the windshield and pay $100 to the vehicles' owners.

General Motors Co. will pay out as much as $150 million to owners of vehicles that are being recalled because it can't fix a flaw in the system that squirts heated cleaning fluid on the windshield.

In one of the largest recalls this year, GM said Tuesday that it was recalling about 1.5 million vehicles, including certain Cadillac and Buick sedans as well as several sport utility vehicles, because the problem could cause the vehicles to catch on fire. The recall of many 2006 to 2009 model-year vehicles will involve disabling the heating mechanism and paying $100 to the owner.

Analysts said the move by GM represented both the speed and willingness of large automakers to make amends with customers after the recent public relations debacle experienced by Toyota Motor Corp. over a series of large recalls and quality issues.

"This should be more common," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety.

GM recalls 1.5M cars for wiper fire hazard Owners to get $100 for loss of feature

2010-06-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

General Motors said Tuesday it was recalling 1.5 million vehicles to disable a heated windshield washer fluid system linked to fires, saying owners would get $100 in compensation.
GM said the system was linked to five fires with no injuries or crashes. The system also had been recalled in August 2008 for fires. GM told dealers to install new wiring.

The automaker said it had kept monitoring the HotShot system made by supplier Micro-Heat since the first recall, and received a report in June 2009 of smoke from the units. GM withheld payments from Micro-Heat after the first recall. The company filed for bankruptcy.

GM said because Micro-Heat no longer existed, it could not provide an improved design again. For the new recall, dealers will remove the fluid heater and reroute hoses.

The $100 "is for the loss of the feature, not the recall," said Jeff Boyer, executive director of safety for GM.

The recall affects the 2006-09 model-year Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Hummer H2; the 2008-09 model-year Buick Enclave and Cadillac CTS; the 2007-09 model-year Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Saturn Outlook and the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse.

Of the 1.5 million vehicles covered, GM said 1,365,070 are in the U.S., with 98,794 in Canada, 26,228 in Mexico and 38,093 exports.

Cadillac goes high performance in the CTS-V

2010-06-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

The first-generation Cadillac SRX was essentially a tall CTS with a wagon body, and we loved it as such, awarding it three consecutive 5Best Trucks honors and voting it into second place in a comparison test four years into its life, ahead of such newer competitors as a Land Rover LR3 and a BMW X5. Now that there actually is a CTS wagon—a delightful one, we might add—the 2010 Cadillac SRX shares much of its bones with the decidedly less exciting Chevrolet Equinox.

More important, it shares engineering philosophies and showroom goals with the snoozetastic Lexus RX350. Now a more upright front-driver with a powertrain portfolio comprised exclusively of V-6s, the SRX lost its spunk and our interest. We found the base V-6 just barely adequate for propelling the 4500-pound luxe-UV, and looked forward to our first test session with the turbocharged 2.8-liter.

Regular gas ruins some 2010 Cadillac SRX engines, recalled for fix

2010-06-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

Can regular gas ruin a turbocharged engine? Many motorists blow off automakers' "premium recommended" or premium required" warnings, but some 2010 Cadillac SRX owners are wishing they'd pumped the more expensive grade.

Cadillac has recalled 2010 Cadillac SRXs with the optional turbocharged V-6 after some customers ruined their engines using regular. So far, 547 vehicles are affected by the recall.

Both the manual and a warning on the fuel-filler door told drivers that "premium fuel is required" for the 300-horsepower, 2.8-liter V-6, according to Cadillac. Typically with engines needing premium, automakers program the electronic control module to adjust -- with a loss of full power output -- to protect the engine if a driver is unaware or attempts to cut costs and fills up with regular.

Cadillac Releases Pricing Info for New 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe Models

2010-05-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

As a complement to the CTS Sedan and CTS Sport Wagon, Cadillac has just announced pricing and option packages for the new 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe. The sleek and styling CTS Coupe will be available with four different packages and a starting MSRP of $38,990 including destination charge. The CTS Coupe will go on sale in early August, while the high-performance CTS-V Coupe will be available later in the summer.

The CTS Coupe models powered by the 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 will be offered in three packages: standard (base), Performance Collection and Premium Collection. The base CTS Coupe comes with plenty of standard equipment like its sedan counterpart including rear park assist, remote start, performance suspension and power-adjustable front seats. The 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe Performance Collection starts at $43,430 and adds a Bose 5.1 channel Surround Sound audio system, a 40-gigabyte hard drive and HID Xenon headlamps with adaptive forward lighting. Like the sedan, the range-topping package for the non-V CTS is the Premium Collection which starts at $47,835 and comes standard with navigation, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, wood trim with ambient backlighting and a rearview camera. For the all-wheel drive versions of these models, starting prices will be $40,890 for the base, $45,330 for the Performance Collection and $49,735 for the Premium Collection.

“CTS Coupe is a compelling new alternative for luxury and performance-minded drivers,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “The addition of a Coupe, especially one this dramatic, provides an important entryway for new consumers to experience Cadillac Art and Science.”

In base form, the CTS Coupe will compete against the Audi A5 and Infiniti G37 with its sporty looks and 304-horsepower engine, but for more performance, Cadillac will also offer the CTS Coupe with a pair of optional tuning packages Performance and Summer Tire Performance. The Performance package comes with 18-inch wheels and all-season tires, while the Summer Tire Performance comes with 19-inch wheels that mimic the design of the wheels used on the CTS-V wrapped in ZR-rated summer tires. Cadillac did not reveal pricing for either package.

Stepping up to the powerful CTS-V also means stepping up to a steeper price with a starting MSRP of $62,990. The highlight of the CTS-V Coupe will be the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that produces 556 horsepower, but the high-powered coupe will come with plenty of performance add-ons as well including 19-inch wheels with summer tires, Brembo brakes and Cadillac’s advanced Magnetic Ride Control. Unlike the other CTS Coupe models, the CTS-V Coupe will not be available with all-wheel drive. The CTS-V Coupe will come with either a six-speed Tremec manual transmission or a six-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

Cadillac designer shows off CTS-V Sport Wagon

2010-05-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

It packs 556 hp and wears the closest things to fins you can find in 2010. What more do you need to know about the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon?

Plenty, actually. And Cadillac design director Clay Dean is happy to walk enthusiasts through the finer points of the of the General’s newest speed wagon in this new video.

It’s the ultimate niche product: a luxury barge with a high-output V8, optional six-speed manual transmission and, oh yeah, it’s unabashedly a station wagon. But this may be our favorite people hauler since the Dodge Magnum R/T.

Clad in a dark jacket and open-collar shirt, the goateed Dean illustrates the V wagon inside and out, touching on the domed hood, 19-inch wheels, mesh grille and the host of top-shelf magnetic ride components. Inside is leather, Recaro seats and “laser-etched” V-emblems.

“We think that the excitement and capability of V blended into the functionality of the wagon gives the customer something different, something unique--something that you’re not going to be able to see everyday,” Dean said.

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon: Baby Got Badass Back

2010-05-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

This is it. The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is officially heading to production. This is the "show car" version of the 556 HP supercharged Corvette-engined Caddy-badged Jesus wagon we'll be seeing live this week in New York. Daddy like.

Cadillac CTS-V named 2010 Car of Texas

2010-05-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

2010 Cadillac CTS-V

It seems that the Detroit auto industry is making an impression clear across the nation with the Cadillac CTS-V being named the offical car of Texas by the Texas Auto Writers Association.

Just recently the CTS was pitted against many other new model cars in the US market in an event known as the Spring Challenge. The Spring Challenge consisted of a series of test drives by the cars at the Texas Motor Speedway which in turn were judged by about 40 auto writers.

This is not the first time that the CTS-V was named the official "Writers Choice Car of Texas" as back in 2004 the car had previously won this honorable title.

“The Cadillac CTS-V is the car that most epitomizes the state of Texas,” said Michael Herzing, president of the Texas Auto Writers Association and publisher of LetsTalkWheels.com. “The CTS-V has power, style, luxury and handling. It has everything.”

Cadillac US Sales Increase 36 Percent in April 2010

2010-05-05T04:42:00.000-07:00

SRX total sales for April rose 587 percent, the seventh straight month of triple-digit percentage increases. Redesigned for the 2010 model year, SRX has quickly become a stand-out in the fast-growing midsize luxury crossover segment.

Cadillac US Sales

The redesigned SRX also is attracting new customers to Cadillac at a higher rate than the previous model. So far this year, about 49 percent of SRX buyers traded in a competitor’s brand, an improvement of 14 percentage points compared to the previous model’s conquest rate.

A five-passenger crossover, SRX’s standard V6 engine is EPA-rated at 25 miles per gallon on the highway. SRX also provides the option of advanced all-wheel drive and a turbocharged V6 engine.

“SRX is appealing to luxury buyers with performance, fuel-efficiency and dramatic design,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Cadillac sales. “SRX has put Cadillac’s signature on the midsize luxury crossover segment.”

Cadillac CTS-V Goes for a Tumble at One Lap Event

2010-05-05T04:40:00.000-07:00

Cadillac CTS-V
During last weekend's One Lap stop at Road America, a tricky, 4.1-mile circuit of asphalt twists and turns, one of the contestants found out just how tough One Lap can be. Road America features multiple heavy braking zones with deep gravel run-offs at most corners and straights where some One Lap cars see upwards of 160 mph.

At turn 12, things turned ugly for a black Cadillac CTS-V piloted by Howard LaFever.

According to Lago, here's what happened:

Reports are conflicting -- LaFever allegedly claims no brakes -- but the recipe is obvious: The CTS-V is approaching turn 12, a sharp left, at over 100 mph. It doesn't slow. The car turns, presumably the driver's effort to make the turn, and skips across the gravel trap before going airborne and flipping onto its roof. The damage looks terrifying, but LaFever reportedly walked away nothing more than a cut on his finger.

Betty White and a Cadillac Named ‘Parakeet’

2010-04-20T02:19:00.001-07:00

AACA Museum The actress Betty White once owned this custom 1977 Cadillac Seville, which is on display at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, Penn.

Betty White is known for her timeless charm and quick wit, but when the 88-year-old comedian and veteran of television series like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Golden Girls” mentioned her “beloved parakeet,” I thought the joke was on me.

“Oh, that’s its name,” Ms. White politely explained, referring to the custom Seamist Green 1977 Cadillac Seville that she once owned for 25 years. The car was recently put on display at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, Pa.

Ms. White said in a telephone interview that she names all of her cars after birds. “I had yellow Cadillac — that was Canary,” she said. “And this one was Parakeet. I have

Cadillac makes the CTS-V Sport Wagon official

2010-04-20T02:17:00.000-07:00

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon.

Cadillac revealed its mega-horsepower CTS-V Sport Wagon two days ahead of the New York auto show’s media days, which begin unofficially with a series of parties on Tuesday night and officially on Wednesday morning.

The Sport Wagon is a station wagon that follows a tradition that had been exclusive to Europe — high performance wagons that can rival sports cars or record boast-worthy Nürburgring lap times (see Audi RS6 Avant). Nick Twork, a Cadillac spokesman, said that the show-version CTS-V wagon was also built to convince company executives — successfully, it turns out — to put the car into limited production. “We just tweaked it for the show a little,” Mr. Twork said. “It’s a business, so we have to justify what we do. People who buy it will be part of a very small club, but it’s the ultimate insider’s car.”

Cadillac Reveals 550-Horsepower CTS-V Sport Wagon

2010-04-09T22:38:00.001-07:00

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon.

The Sport Wagon comes with all the things that make the CTS-V sedan one of the world’s fastest four-doors, including a 556-horsepower supercharged V-8, available 6-speed manual shifter, magnetic computer suspension, Recaro seats, Brembo brakes – and now, a power lift-gate to go with a top speed of roughly 185 miles per hour. The CTS-V wagon should reach dealers at the tail end of 2011. With the sedan starting at $61,545, the wagon version should stay below $65,000, about $30,000 less than the new Mercedes-Benz E63 wagon, if Benz ever decided to import it here.

Cadillac STS

2010-04-09T22:37:00.000-07:00

Cadillac STS
The head of Cadillac says the DTS and STS sedans will be replaced by one premium-luxury sedan. Cadillac also will look seriously at an entry-level vehicle priced around $28,000.The premium-luxury segment was booming five years ago when Cadillac introduced the DTS and STS. But since then, the segment has shrunk and so have DTS and STS sales.Through August, Cadillac sold 33,368 DTS sedans, down 13.9 percent compared with the year-ago period. The STS accounted for 13,156 sales, down 24.7 percent from a year earlier.“So arguably, we don't need two entries there anymore, given the shrinkage of that segment,”

Cadillac's CTS wagon

2010-04-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Cadillac's CTS wagon

Cadillac CTS-V wagon

2010-04-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

Performance enthusiasts often have the same passenger and cargo transport needs as mainstream motorists. Cadillac has targeted a sCadillac CTS-V wagon

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

2010-03-19T02:43:00.000-07:00

the CTS-V Wagon will be wearing wire mesh grilles, a power dome hood, wider tires, high performance wheels, larger brake calipers and sportier body work.

Under that power dome hood sits the now familiar 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 motor known as the LSA. It's good for 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque in the CTS-V sedan; we expect the ratings of the Wagon to be the same.

Test Drive: 2010 Cadillac Sport Wagon and SRX4

2010-03-13T01:18:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is no excuses. The 2010 Cadillac SRX4 2.8T "crossover utility vehicle" is a symphony of compromises. At base prices of up to $40,000, I'll take no excuses.

I spent two weeks in two motorized variations on the theme of the wagon. I gained incredible insight. People loved the CTS Sport Wagon for its sharp styling inside and out, its precise road manners, its utility. But the younger they were, the less they liked it. Why? "Because my parents drove a wagon," was the usual response. So what? "I'm not my parents."

I heard that so much, I looked into it. It certainly was true they weren't their parents. But many of them were parents themselves, with young children they needed to cart about. They wanted to do the carting fashionably. Wagons, they said, weren't fashionable. They much preferred the Cadillac SRX4 2.8T, which had marginally better cargo space, but not more power, better road manners or better fuel economy than the CTS Sport Wagon.

What the SRX4 2.8T had, in their estimation, was what it lacked — the absence of anything that identified it as a wagon.

It was a matter of consumer self-image turned successful marketing hustle. Is there a chance that it will return to truth, to wagons? Much of the stuff people carry in midsize sport-utility vehicles can be carried in wagons — or "sport wagons" if that makes you feel better — with greater ease, better fuel economy, better

2010 Cadillac SRX becomes smaller

2010-03-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Cadillac SRX has been revealed, alongside the CTS sport-wagon. While the older SRX was based on the larger rear-driven CTS platform, the new SRX will be based on a smaller front-driven platform to be shared with the upcoming Saab 9-4X.

The new model is based on the Provoq concept, and was originally supposed to slot in under the existing midsize SRX with a BRX badge. But with falling SUV sales everywhere (except in the GCC of course), GM decided to make the SRX a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle.

So far, only photos have been released, but it is known that front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions will be available, utilising V6 engines shared with the CTS. It is a given that the new SRX will come to GCC markets.

2010 Cadillac CTS wagon unveiled

2010-03-11T09:20:00.000-08:00

Cadillac has developed a station-wagon version of their CTS luxo-sport sedan. The midsize estate is really targeted towards the hatch-loving European market, where GM expects 60% of all CTS sales to be of this big-assed variety.

The design is interesting, with small rear-side windows to make it look swoopy, and yet using a boxy shape to maintain utility.

While the CTS sedan is already available here, we do not expect the CTS estate to come to this region, where wagons are taxi-cabs and soft-roading 4WDs rule the roads.

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

2010-03-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

A look at the 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon

2010-03-11T09:04:00.000-08:00

2010 Cadillac CTS 3.6 Sport Wagon

BASE PRICE: $38,265 for base, rear-wheel drive model; $40,165 for base, all-wheel drive model; $43,365 for rear-drive model with 3.6-liter V-6.

AS TESTED: $51,935.

TYPE: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive, five-passenger wagon.

ENGINE: 3.6-liter, double overhead cam, direct injection V-6 with VVT.

MILEAGE: 18 mpg (city), 26 mpg (highway).

TOP SPEED: 146 mph.

LENGTH: 191.3 inches.

WHEELBASE: 113.4 inches.

CURB WEIGHT: 4,210 pounds.

BUILT AT: Lansing, Mich.

OPTIONS: Premium package (includes sapele wood trim, rearview camera, aluminum wheels, keyless access and remote start, navigation system, Bluetooth wireless connectivity) $5,655; summer tire performance package (includes 19-inch tires and wheels, sport suspension, adaptive high intensity discharge headlights) $2,090.

Review: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon,

2010-03-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Cadillac will forever indebted to two individuals by the names of Wayne Cherry and Kip Wasenko; those are the individuals who designed the CTS, and in turn put Cadillac back on the map, making GM’s luxury brand one to be taken seriously in the segment once again. The duo’s stealth aircraft-inspired “Art and Science” 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon design language continues to be a staple at Cadillac. In hopes to further reinvent the brand and expand its offerings, Cadillac has introduced the CTS Sport Wagon. Before you cringe in disgust at the thought, the sharp-edged rear-end, shiny wheels, and sharp red paint make this wagon one of the sharpest looking on the market, at least in our comparison.2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

new 2010 Cadillac SRX much improved

2010-03-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

Cadillac’s original SRX is history, with nothing left but the name. The all-new SRX should be a strong contender in the rapidly crowding, and largest industry segment — the midsize luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment. Stiff competition is provided courtesy of the Lexus RX 350, Mercedes-Benz GLK, Acura MDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Volvo XC60 — among others.

The original SRX featured rear-wheel-drive with a choice of a longitudinally mounted V6 or V8. The new SRX is front-wheel-drive with a transverse-mounted V6 powerplant. Another notable change is moving from three-rows, and seven-seats, to two, with seating for five. While GM is famous for its global platform-sharing, the SRX shared its underpinnings with only the Saab 9-4X, which given GM’s shutdown of Saab, will never be built.

Model Lineup: The 2010 Cadillac SRX comes in four versions: SRX ($33,330), SRX Luxury ($36,910), SRX Performance ($41,350), and SRX Premium ($43,895). All-wheel drive is about a $2,500 upgrade and is available on the Luxury, Performance, and Premium models.

The SRX comes standard with 18-inch aluminum wheels, leatherette (vinyl) upholstery, multi-function tilt steering wheel, dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, mirrors and locks, AM/FM/CD with auxiliary outlet, iPod compatibility, and four speakers.

Cadillac SRX delivers less than it promises

2010-03-06T12:27:00.000-08:00

This latest SRX rides on a new architecture that borrows engineering elements from two other GM chassis that are quite competitive in their respective segments: the Chevy Equinox's "Theta" and the Chevy Malibu's "Epsilon." (It is not simply an Equinox with frosting, as some believe.)

In base form it uses a direct-injected 265-horsepower 3.0-litre version of GM's "High Feature" V6 family, paired with a six-speed automatic. A 300 hp, 2.8-litre turbo version is also available, but you'll have to move up to the $55,870 "Performance Collection" trim level to get it.

My $52,195 "Luxury and Performance Collection" tester – a trim level that, despite its name, ranks below the "Performance Collection" – had the 3.0-litre mill.

The SRX's available all-wheel-drive system is essentially the same Haldex unit that gives the Saab 9-3 XWD such a wonderfully balanced feel (SRXs are front-wheel drive otherwise). There's even an optional Sport Suspension that features continuously adjustable damping and a special ZF steering rack; all SRXs feature hydraulic power steering and an aluminum-intensive suspension.

2010 Cadillac SRX FWD

2010-03-06T12:26:00.000-08:00

General Motors hopes to target the heart of the luxury crossover segment. The key competitors are the Lexus RX 350, Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes GLK. The only competitor that comes close to SRX is the Lexus 350, in my estimation. With the other brands costing more, the standard SRX price is $43,895 is hard to compete with.

The SRX is powered by a 3.0 L WT DOHC V-6 SIDI or optional 2.8L turbocharged V-6 engine ( 6-speed automatic transmission.).

Cadillac SRX is loaded with luxury conveniences: AM/FM stereo, CD/DVD player, Navigation and voice recognition, 8-inch touch screen, Bose 10-speaker system, and Bluetooth for phone.

2010 Cadillac CTS-V

2010-02-24T23:56:00.000-08:00

With John Heinricy, the former head of GM’s performance division, behind the wheel, the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V handled all 12.9 miles of the Nurburgring Nordschleife racetrack and its 73-corners in 7:59.32. This is regarded by many to be the fastest lap-time ever run by a production-sedan. With this in mind, we were absolutely psyched to get behind the wheel of this high-performance animal for a full-week.

The CTS-V totally departs the Cadillac image of the soft-spoken, smooth riding luxury vehicle. In fact, it’s the total antithesis. For those who yearn for the Caddy of yesteryear; look elsewhere. If you’re the type of driver who lives for that feeling of a cars raw power turning your stomach upside down with every stomp of the gas pedal, you have met your match. The CTS-V is well-known as the BMW M5 Killer – a monumental feat for any American-made car; but its true. The CTS-V gives cars like the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, and the Jaguar XJ-R a run for their money, and accelerates and brakes every bit better than the BMW M5
.

2010 Cadillac SRX is here

2010-02-17T21:58:00.000-08:00

This is one vehicle that I wasn’t even aware it went on sale in the UAE. The 2010 Cadillac SRX, a distant cousin of the lowly Chevrolet Captiva, carries the torch for the outgoing SRX, which was actually a larger vehicle. We were actually supposed to drive it next week, but a GM man suddenly showed up at my doorstep with the crossover yesterday, and I was like “ehh, okay?”

The SRX looks simple in pictures, but in reality, it is an endless montage of edges sharp enough to cut you. The SRX is not pretty in the traditional sense, but still undeniably appealing. It speaks wonders for the team that designed this, considering they managed to integrate Cadillac’s trademark tail-fins onto a compact crossover, of all things.

Really, look at that roofline. And those tail-fins.

Yes. LED-encrusted, tube-lit, pointy tail-fins.

And all the chrome bling deserving of a Cadillac. That faux side vent has a “GM” logo engraved on it, but we hear newer shipments won’t have the logo, for obvious reasons.

As befitting a luxury vehicle, the upper dashboard and door innards have stitched leather linings and a fair bit of soft-touch trim. Some wood and some metallic plastic line the cabin, though a cover for the cup-holders would’ve been nice. The cup-holders themselves can be height-adjusted for everything from paper cups to McDonald’s drinks.

The dash design is probably the prettiest in a segment dominated by dullards such as the Mercedes-Benz GLK and especially the Audi Q5. That pop-up touchscreen is easy enough to use, although the a/c and stereo controls below take a bit of hunting to find while driving.

A cool feature is the full-colour animated circular display within the gauges, flanked by “crystals” that blink with the indicators. Also, the coolest bit is that the main screen slides down when not needed, leaving a smaller display in place. It is a Cadillac-exclusive gimmick that we believe first debuted in the new CTS, though we’ve never even driven a new CTS. That car continues to elude us.

The front leather seats are powered and ventilated, though not bolstered enough for hard driving.

Rear legroom is only about as much as a compact car, with headroom to match due to the low roofline, but average-sized peeps like us had no issues. The pull-down centre armrest houses cup-holders and a storage space, while the front seat-backs have flip-up DVD screens. There are also rear a/c vents with separate controls.

Floor space under the powered tailgate is reasonable, but there is very limited upper volume thanks to the sloping rear window.

The 60:40 rear seat folds almost flat to make a larger cargo area. And the front part of that full-length panoramic glass roof can even open like a regular sunroof, better than the half-baked design in the deadbeat Audi Q5.

It’s styling and innovative features that make the Cadillac SRX an appealing prospect, rather than its actual driving capabilities. In a market segment as boring as “crossovers,” the SRX keeps things interesting. More driving impressions will be in the full review, as we go out tomorrow for performance testing during Dubai’s self-imposed “Car-Free Day.” Ridiculous.

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

2010-02-14T22:56:00.002-08:00

This here is the ultimate iteration of Cadillac's brand-new CTS Coupe and it will make its first public outing at next week's 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. To the surprise of no one, the CTS-V Coupe packs the same 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine found in the sedan version. It produces a hefty 556-horsepower and 551 lb.-ft. of torque (747 Nm) propelling the 2+2 coupe from 0-60 mph (96km/h) in just 3.9 seconds.

Potential buyers will have the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shift control, which transfer power to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential.

The V-spec model also gets Cadillac's Magnetic Ride Control with two selectable modes (Tour and Sport) and Brembo brakes with six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear.

Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

2010-02-14T22:56:00.001-08:00

Meet the Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept that made its world debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Officially, the XTS is just a design study that showcases Cadillac's emerging top-of-the-line Platinum series of models, but unofficially, it previews the Detroit firm's DTS replacement in the full-size sedan segment that's pegged make its way onto the market by 2012.

Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

2010-02-14T22:54:00.000-08:00

Making its world premiere at the Detroit motor show alongside the 556HP Cadillac CST-V Coupe, is the XTS Platinum Concept. GM calls it a concept model, but the 203.5 inches (5,170mm) long XTS is expected to heavily influence Cadillac's upcoming flagship sedan that will replace the DTS, and quite possibly, the STS also.

The full-size sedan, which most likely shares the vehicle platform with the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, keeps all the usual styling cues of modern Cadillacs such as the sharp creases and vertical lights.

The concept's interior blends leather, wood and other high quality materials with modern technology like the Organic Light-Emitting Diode (O-LED) displays that replace the traditional gauges and screens.

Under the Caddy's bonnet is GM's 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct-injection plus a plug-in hybrid system that deliver a combined output of 350HP and 295 lb-ft of torque.

Cadillac's small SUV

2010-02-07T20:42:00.000-08:00

Cadillac's smaller sport utility vehicle, the SRX, is finally downsized enough to warrant the "smaller" label, and for 2010 seats just five people. The SRX's V-8 and rear-wheel drive platform also are gone.

The updates make the 2010 SRX better able to compete with the top-seller in the luxury, mid-size, crossover SUV segment - the Lexus RX 350. In fact, Cadillac set the starting price tag for the new SRX some $7,000 less than last year's larger, seven-passenger model and in the process undercut the Lexus substantially.

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe pictures

2010-02-02T04:48:00.000-08:00

Cadillac ATS Concept to Debut This Year

2010-01-29T04:27:00.000-08:00

With the Cadillac CTS having grown in size considerably since its inception, a true entry-level rear drive luxury sports sedan has been an on-again/off-again project for General Motors. Since emerging from bankruptcy, GM reconfirmed its commitment to the vehicle, likely to be called the ATS.

Now a recent report suggests an ATS concept will debut some time this year, with a possible launch at the Paris Auto Show in the Fall. A more likely debut, however, will be at the LA Auto Show in December, where a new Cadillac model will get the most media coverage.

Cadillac to present C-Class competitor

2010-01-29T04:26:00.000-08:00

It was back in 2008 when we reported Cadillac is preparing a four-door competitor for models like Infiniti G37 and Mercedes C-Class. The car is supposed to be called ATS and will be revealed, in concept form, by the end of the year. It is still unclear if will be in October in Paris or December in Los Angeles.

According to an Inside Line source: "We’re finalizing the four-door showcar of the ATS first. Then we’ll follow quickly after with a wagon, a coupe and a convertible."

The ATS will replace the BLS on the European market and in the USA will be placed below the CTS. It will be built on the "Alpha" platform and will feature a rear-wheel drive system.

2010 Cadillac CTS4 3.6L Sport Wagon

2010-01-29T04:25:00.000-08:00

You would have to have lived your entire life in a cave in the farthest deepest recesses of the Sahara Desert to have never heard of Cadillac. If you are 50 years old or older, you clearly remember the status that carried the family coat of arms of the aristocrat who founded Detroit in 1701, Antoine de La Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac. If you owned and drove a Cadillac, you had made it to the top.

The present CTS is paving the way for the future of Cadillac and for the Cadillac of the future.

Oh, how things can change! Without going into full details on the history of Cadillac, suffice it to state that when the times were good, the times were good and when things went sour, well, you get the point. The 80s and 90s were riddled with poor decisions, awful cars and a lack of vision for the storied brand. Only in 2003 did Cadillac have a breakthrough; the CTS was born. I am purposely overlooking the Catera and never mind the Escalade...

The new beginning
In actuality, the CTS came into its own for the 2008 model year. Totally redesigned, reconfigured and reengineered, the present CTS is paving the way for the future of Cadillac and for the Cadillac of the future. Bold and dynamic are only two of the adjectives that can be used to describe the new face of Cadillac with its oversized grille, lights and generous servings of tasteful chrome. Although the sedan could have stood alone in showrooms, Cadillac did the German thing: the multiplication of body styles.

And one of them is the wagon (there’s a coupe in there somewhere, too...). In case you did not know, I love wagons, therefore the CTS wagon is my favourite of the lot. I think that this brave move is indicative of Cadillac’s intentions: they’re not backing down from the competition, they will plainly stick to ’em!

I am all over this car’s hyper-extended taillights, tight narrow hatch and nearly flush roof rails like bees on honey. Where I’m concerned, the wagon is the perfect expression of the CTS’ sporty front end and choppy character lines. Yes, she’s a beaut!

The 3.6L is powerful and willing to get the 1,900-kg (4,200-lb) car up to speed.

Cadillac Shows Off New 2010 CTS-V Coupe

2010-01-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

There are few Cadillac models that I would care to own. Honestly, there is only one that I would want to own and that is the CTS-V. That car moves me in many ways, but I am not a fan of four door sports cars. I am sure there are many out there like me and Cadillac has answered with a new 2010 CTS-V coupe.

Those doors are massive and the car is dead sexy with more than enough muscle under the hood to back up its good looks, the CTS-V Coupe is certainly not all show and no go. The car packs a massive American V8 under the hood throwing down 556 hp mated to either a 6-cepss auto or a six-speed manual transmission.

Other features include magnetic ride suspension and Brembo brakes. Autoblog figures that the coupe version will tip the scales at about 100 pounds lighter than the four-door. I like, I just need to hit the lottery so I can own one.

Cadillac CTS Coupe Wins Top Honors in The Detroit News Readers Choice Awards

2010-01-16T06:59:00.000-08:00

Two Cadillacs and a Chevrolet won three of The Detroit News Readers Choice Awards on January 15, including the top honor of Best in Show for the Cadillac CTS Coupe.

"Each year, the Detroit News takes 100 readers to the North American International Auto Show at Cobo and then asks them to pick their favorites in a variety of 11 categories along with Best in Show, according Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor of The Detroit News," GM said.

The CTS Coupe and the other award winners were announced today during a Detroit Economic Club luncheon. The dramatic CTS Coupe is slated to arrive in Cadillac showrooms in the spring of 2010.

Cadillac also claimed the Best Future Fantasy Award for the Cadillac Platinum XTS Concept car. Finley said that each of the categories were close calls with the exception of the Future Fantasy/Concept award. "Our readers overwhelmingly voted for the Cadillac XTS as best Concept. They were really impressed by the vehicle," he said.

The Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

2010-01-15T05:14:00.001-08:00

During his speech at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, Cadillac General Manager Bryan Nesbitt confirmed that all Cadillac models in the future will feature a V or Platinum Series model.

“In luxury segments where overwhelming luxury performance is the primary desire we will apply our V Series design and technical capabilities to create a dominating presence,” said Nesbitt. “And when gracious comfort, elegance and an extra measure of hand crafted materials are expected, Platinum will be our offering.”

At the 2010 NAIAS, Cadillac showed its new CTS-V Coupe and the XTS Platinum Concept. Of course, we’re hoping that the production XTS gets a V series variant very soon.

Detroit Motor Show 2010: Cadillac XTS

2010-01-15T05:12:00.000-08:00

The Cadillac XTS is large but handsome
The unveiling of a new big Cadillac should be one of the highlights of any show, but at this year’s Detroit Auto Show 2010 big was not necessarily beautiful.

Instead the Cadillac XTS played up the extent of its interconnectivity, touch-screen instruments and entertainment options for the passengers.

Cadillac unveils powerful 556-horsepower CTS-V Coupe

2010-01-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

The 2011 CTS-V Coupe begins production in the summer of 2010 as Cadillac's most dramatic statement of design and performance.

CAPTION

By GM, Wieck

Cadillac unveiled the hot-rod version of its new coupe, the CTS-V, that raises the question of how much horsepower is enough. In the CTS-V Coupe's case, the answer is 556 and we're sure buyers would take more if they could get it.

Despite all the hoopla about gas mileage, the CTS-V coupe, arriving next week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, underscores how automakers are still using their new engine technology to make cars faster, even though speed limits haven't changed, rather than more gas thrifty. How powerful?

The CTS-V coupe employs the LSA 6.2-liter V-8 engine also found on the CTS-V sport sedan. It is most powerful engine offered in Cadillac's history and propels the CTS-V coupe from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

The LSA engine features an intercooled Eaton supercharger system, premium aluminum-alloy cylinder heads. The supercharger has a unique, four-lobe rotor design that enhances quietness.

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Set for Detroit

2010-01-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

The 556-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V Coupe will be unveiled to the press at the Detroit auto show next Monday.

With the Detroit auto show just around the corner, General Motors released photos of the forthcoming Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, a supercharged version of the luxury coupe introduced a few weeks ago at the Los Angeles auto show.

The announcement may not be the greatest of timing. Oil rose to above $81 on Monday. And in India, Toyota and Honda unveiled subcompact concepts at the New Dehli auto expo. The release of a new gas-swilling muscle sedan will not warm the hearts of Americans who feel that G.M. is living off borrowed money (and time).

Of course, the CTS-V Coupe has been in the works for a while. It is a natural derivative of the CTS brand, which already includes the highly rated V-Series sedan. The coupe version features the same 556-horsepower supercharged V-8 engine and a choice of two 6-speed transmissions: a dual-disc clutch Tremec TR6060 manual and a Hydra-Matic 6L90 automatic with paddle shifters. The coupe also comes with Magnetic Ride Control suspension and Brembo brakes.

The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe.

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

2009-12-27T22:45:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-27T22:43:00.000-08:00

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.

2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe

2009-12-26T07:49:00.000-08:00

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.”

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

2009-12-23T01:09:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-23T01:00:00.000-08:00

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Cadillac 2011 CTS Coupe revs up LA Auto Show

2009-12-23T00:50:00.000-08:00

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.

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

2009-12-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

The 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

2009-12-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of General Motors Co.

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.

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

2009-12-17T21:53:00.000-08:00

2010 Cadillac SRX

2009-12-17T21:51:00.000-08:00

The 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.

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.

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.

The Wagon of Cadillacs

2009-12-16T20:25:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

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

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.

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

2009-12-16T20:23:00.000-08:00

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.

Reviews the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

2009-12-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

2010 Cadillac CTS

2009-12-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

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.

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe: Up Close

2009-12-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

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.

Cadillac CTS Coupe Revealed at L.A. Auto Show

2009-12-04T20:40:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

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.

Cadillac Previews CTS Coupe Ahead of Los Angeles Auto Show

2009-11-29T19:50:00.001-08:00

Cadillac CTS Coupe will come with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine, rated at 304 horsepower. A higher horsepower V-Series will is also planned.

The on-again, off-again Cadillac CTS Coupe is back on again. Cadillac officially announced the 2011 model Monday morning, promising to show the car publicly — for sure, this time — next week at the Los Angeles auto show.

The two-door version of the popular CTS sedan was to have been unveiled at last year’s Los Angeles show, but a high-power coupe was deemed politically incorrect, as well as economically questionable as General Motors edged toward financial collapse. The introduction was rescheduled for the Detroit auto show last January, but it didn’t surface there either.

The concept version of the coupe was first shown at the 2008 Detroit auto show, and green-lighted for production soon after in response to positive public reaction to its sharp-edged, origami-like styling.

Cadillac says the coupe will now arrive in dealerships next spring and a high-performance, 550-plus horsepower V-Series edition of the coupe is also expected.

The coupe will come in rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive versions. A 6-speed manual transmission will come standard, but only available with the rear-wheel-drive configuration. The base engine is a 3.6-liter V-6, rated at 304 horsepower. Cadillac says the CTS Coupe will be capable of 27 miles per gallon on the highway, using regular unleaded.

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

2009-11-29T19:49:00.001-08:00

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.

According to a previous announcement from GM, the CTS Coupe V6 will be joined in the near future by a range topping “V” model boasting the same 556-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8 found on the CTS-V Sedan.

The Wagon of Cadillacs

2009-11-29T19:48:00.000-08:00

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

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.

Even if you knew nothing about European wagons, one look at the CTS Sport Wagon would dispel any notion that this is the second coming of the Country Squire. There’s nothing retro to it. Even more so than the CTS sedan, the wagon is a showcase for Cadillac’s faceted, angular design.

Cadillac unveils much anticipated CTS Coupe

2009-11-25T00:54:00.000-08:00

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

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.

The brand is aiming to attract a younger demographic of buyers through its “May the best car win” campaign, and it is having some success.

Most if not all of the challengers were under 50 and the majority of the non-journalist entrants heard about the race through blogs and YouTube.

And Lutz and Cadillac need something, with GM sales down 36 per cent year-to-date over the first three-quarters of 2009.

Cadillac unveils 2011 CTS coupe

2009-11-25T00:53:00.000-08:00

The CTS coupe comes with a standard V-6 engine and an available V-8.

CAPTION

By GM

Cadillac today unveiled the 2011 CTS coupe, due to arrive in showrooms in spring.

The coupe joins the CTS sport sedan, the muscle-bound 556-horsepower CTS-V and new CTS Sport Wagon as the foundation of Cadillac's lineup.

The CTS coupe joins the sedan and the wagon in the lineup.

CAPTION

By GM

The CTS coupe's design carries over virtually unchanged from the concept car that was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2008. It's a classic 2+2 with goodies like a rear-view camera and a performance-oriented suspension system coupled to rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.

"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." And it's different than the sedan:

It has the same footprint as a CTS sedan but is two inches lower. The windshield is raked at a steeper angle. A touch pad replaces the need for standard door handles.

The CTS coupe's standard powertrain consists of a direct injected 3.6-liter V-6 and six-speed manual transmission. Among other things, direct injection helps the engine cut hydrocarbon emissions by 25% when its cold on startup. The 304-horsepower engine will offer EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27 miles per gallon on the highway. It also runs on less expensive regular unleaded gasoline.

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Confirmed

2009-11-19T04:28:00.002-08:00

Up until today, you could not convince me that wagons, or what some of you call ‘station wagons’, are cool. I think they are hideous and plain butt ugly but lately my old-school perception has changes with the introduction and conformation of the new Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon coming out.

The new Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is pretty bad-assed if you ask me. It has a rear-end that I would want to ahh-cough-cough, open and CLOSE. Not only does the CTS-V Sport Wagon look pleasing to the eye, it should do a number to your back when you press the gas pedal laying down 556 horsepower and 551 ft-lbs of torque. The big 6.2-liter V8 crammed into the CTS-V Sport Wagon is good for a run from 0 to 60mph in 4.1 seconds. Yea, beat that Clark Grisswald, let’s see your station wagon with wood on the side do that. I bet I could get the CTS-V airborne too buddy!

Cadillac Narrows Contenders List to Three

2009-11-19T04:28:00.001-08:00

General Motors Co.'s Cadillac has cut the list of semi-finalists vying for the brand's national creative account in half.

The shops moving to the next round are two Publicis Groupe shops: Bartle Bogle Hegarty, New York, and Publicis, New York; along with Interpublic Group of Cos.' Martin Agency, Richmond, Va. Eliminated are Omnicom Group's DDB, Chicago; Interpublic's Gotham and independent McKinney, Durham, N.C. Cadillac confirmed that list.

The holidays will be a frenetic time for the finalists to put together their presentations, as the marketer has said it will hear pitches in January. A decision is expected soon afterward.

Prior experience
The three finalists have experience dealing with car brands.

Bartle Bogle was a finalist in Audi of America's review in 2006. The agency's London office handles Audi in the U.K., which created this TV spot for the Q5 early this year. In the Audi of America review, the agency pitched against incumbent McKinney, which had held the account from 1993 to 2006. The account is now with Venables, Bell & Partners.

Bob Lutz Says Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is a Go

2009-11-19T04:27:00.001-08:00

556hp Cadillac CTS-V wagon will go into production. The wagon will be the third member of the CTS-V line-up.

“You know what’s really going to get you guys is the CTS-V wagon”, said Lutz. The journalist responded “Oh, has the wagon been confirmed?” “Yes,” he replied, “You’ll be able to get the CTS-V anyway you want.” Great news if you are in favor of sporty wagon build by a US manufacturer.

The CTS-V Sport Wagon accompanies the CTS-V Sedan and the upcoming CTS-V Coupe which will drive and appear next year. Lutz didn’t provide any time frame for this arrival, but we think that GM made a nice decision to put this model into production and expand the line-up. Still Europe is the only region where power stations like the M5 Touring and RS6 Avant are surrounded by a large amount of enthusiasts.

We still have to wait and see what the vehicle holds when it hits the roads and can be compared to the existing group of sporty wagons.

General Motors will build hot-rod Cadillac CTS-V sport wagon

2009-11-19T04:25:00.000-08:00

Entering the market for hot-rod station wagons, General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has confirmed to Car and Driver that it's going to build a 556-horsepower CTS-V version of the new Cadillac luxury hauler.

Interesting move. Doesn't cost GM much since it's a simple matter to drop the big engine into the new CTS sport wagon. It could claim some of the market still smarting over the demise of Chrysler's Dodge Magnum, which Drive On thinks history may judge as one of the coolest cars of all time. But a CTS-V wagon certainly won't add to GM's corporate fuel-economy luster:

C&D says the CTS-V sedan is a hot little performer, with a zero to 60 mile-per-hour burst in less than four seconds. And the wagon version of the CTS is a real head-turner. Developed from a European version, it first appeared at last year's Pebble Beach show. It could be a worthy design successor to Magnum. Now, Caddy's high-powered competition will be imports, starting with 580-hp Audi RS6 Avant.

The Next Volt Gets a Cadillac Badge

2009-11-11T08:37:00.000-08:00

It’s official. Sort of. Cadillac is getting a Volt of its own. Word has it the stunning Converj concept car is slated for production as a series hybrid.

We’ve been hounding General Motors about this car ever since Vice Chairman Bob Lutz revealed it at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, and there have been rumors afoot about its impending production for awhile now. Now, according to the Detroit News, the concept’s been greenlighted. We have to wonder if Lutz wasn’t bending a few arms behind the scenes to make it happen.

The Converj uses the same technology and drivetrain layout as the Chevrolet Volt. The extended-range electric car not only will offer consumers some serious green cred and great mileage in an all-American brand but also put them miles beyond the Toyota Prius when it comes to style.

C’mon - just look at that car.

Maximum Bob with the Converj in Detroit.

The News, citing unnamed sources familiar with the General’s inner workings, says the Converj is as real as a heart attack. Cadillac officials are said to have presented the production plan to GM’s board of directors last week.

It’s no secret “Maxium” Bob Lutz has been a big supporter of the Converj, nor is it any secret that what Lutz wants, Lutz pretty much gets. He’s said the production model would look similar to the concept pictured above. The show car was bold and striking, like something from Giorgetto Giugiaro, not Detroit. It’s as sexy as the Volt is mainstream. Sultry sheet metal aside, though, the two cars probably will be essentially the same.

“The car still is slated to share much of its drivetrain with the upcoming Chevrolet Volt,” according to the perennially perky Motor Trend. Others, including unnamed GM insiders, echo that claim. If so, look for a 1.4-liter four-banger up front and a big honkin’ lithium-ion battery pack providing juice to an electric motor. It should have the same 40 mile range before the gasoline engine kicks in to drive a generator that will keep the electric motor turning.

Still, we’re talking about Cadillac, so look for some upscale touches.

Slapping a Cadillac badge on a Chevrolet Volt is a smart move because it will help the General recoup some of the money it’s spent developing the innovative drivetrain — when we drove a Volt mule, GM told us it’s sunk close to a billion dollars into the Volt. The margins are, after all, much higher on a premium marque than a Chevy.

Cadillac Converj Smart Extension of Vol

2009-11-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

Cadillac Converj It stole the show at last year's auto show. Now the Cadillac Converj is getting the green light from General Motors. This is not only a smart move that could pay off over time for GM, but it also shows how far the auto maker has come in moving quicker when it comes to taking new models from concept to production. This does not mean the Converj will be a slam-dunk, guaranteed winner. Still, I like the move.

First, the Converj will leverage the technology that will go into the extended range electric Chevy Volt. This accomplishes two things. First, it gives GM another model line to make money off the Volt tech. GM has spent more than $1 Billion researching and developing the electric car technology. It needs to recoup that investment and it will do that quicker selling an electric Caddy. GM will be able to charge more for an electric Caddy than it will be able to with an electric Chevy. Enough said.

Second, the Converj has the look and appeal that should attract buyers, especially if the production model winds up being anywhere close to the concept we saw at the Detroit Auto Show (See below). The exterior is aggressive, sleek and a solid design extension of where GM wants to take Cadillac. The interior, with an instrument panel that looks like something out of a jet cockpit, generated immense buzz with auto critics. And for good reason.

But with all that said, you should temper your enthusiasm for the Converj. It won't be in showrooms until 2013 and between now and then a lot could and likely will change. Remember how much the Volt changed between concept and production model? Much of that was because tests in the wind tunnel showed the original Volt design was not aero dynamic enough to help it hit fuel efficiency targets. I fully expect the production Converj to be far different than what we've seen so far.

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

2009-11-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

Sport wagons combine nearly all the velocity and road-grabbing craftiness of a proper sport sedan with the family-friendly utility of a SUV/crossover. The Cadillac CTS Wagon provides about 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats (double the trunk space of the sedan version). With the seats down, the interior space expands to a generous 57 cubic feet. (General Motors)

Cadillac SRX offers the creature comforts

2009-11-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

Cadillac's redesigned 2010 SRX crossover arrived recently at American Chevrolet Cadillac of Muncie. Numerous high-tech features, as well as a comfortable and aesthetically-appealing interior, make the new SRX a luxurious and versatile vehicle, according to Jama Pippin, assistant sales manager at the dealership. Complete specifications and pricing information for the SRX and all other Cadillac models is available at driveamerican.com and at Cars.com. (Ken Wickliffe / The Star Press)

2010 Cadillac SRX

Base price range: $33,330 -- $47,540

Warranty: Five years/100,000 miles (powertrain, roadside assistance, courtesy transportation); four years/50,000 miles (bumper-to-bumper)

Fuel economy: 18 city/25 highway (front-drive); 17 city/23 highway (all-wheel drive)

Engines: Three-liter V6 with 265 horsepower; 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 with 300 horsepower

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Safety features: Driver and passenger front airbags, thorax frontal side-impact airbags, front and rear head-curtain airbags, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, tire pressure monitoring system, traction control, StabiliTrak stability control, OnStar (standard)

"The interior of the SRX is exceptionally appealing, with attractive colors and many creature comforts," said Jama Pippin, assistant sales manager at American Chevrolet Cadillac. "It's geared toward individuals and families who want a crossover that's both practical and luxurious."

High-tech electronics are behind many of the SRX's features, she said, citing adaptive forward headlamps that swivel to illuminate the road ahead in a curve and a navigation system with a pop-up screen and three-dimensional imaging. A hard disk drive linked to the Bose audio system can offer onboard storage of a music library, Pippin added, and the video display for the SRX's available rearview camera draws an onscreen diagram to illustrate the vehicle's expected path of travel while backing up.

Seats in the SRX adjust to fit people of all sizes, and optional power-adjustable pedals move forward or backward to let shorter drivers get comfortable without sitting too close to the steering wheel, Pippin said.

"As a short-legged person myself, I like the adjustable pedals because they allow me to sit back a safe distance from the airbag," she explained. "At the same time, taller people, like my husband, can have plenty of room to stretch their legs."

The SRX's design theme, which Cadillac calls "Art and Science," resembles that of other vehicles in the lineup, according to Clay Dean, global design director for Cadillac.

"As with the 2008 CTS, we advanced our Art and Science design to create a crossover for style-conscious customers," he said in a press release. "The exterior features a dramatic diving gesture on the body side to impart the feeling of movement, even at rest."

VSR concept the Cadillac

2009-11-05T09:56:00.001-08:00

Take a huge engine and drop it in a basic chassis. The VSR follows the classic hot rod formula to a tee.

(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)

Cadillac and General Motors have unveiled the VSR Cadillac V-Series Powered Sports Rod Concept, or VSR for short, at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. What's the VSR concept, you ask? Well, according to GM:

"This concept features a contemporary hand-sculpted body and unique blend of Cadillac styling cues, with proportions and form that evoke images of earlier days of race cars/sports cars and 'Hot Rodding.' Race car engineering, state-of-the-art electronics and technology express the modern supercar era."

That means that GM had taken a lightweight and stripped-down aluminum hot rod chassis and slapped a thoroughly modern 6-liter, 400-horsepower Cadillac V-8 engine under its clamshell hood. This engine is probably a close relative to the 6.2-liter mill that powers the CTS-V. It transmits its power and torque through an automatic transmission to a pair of meaty, 22-inch rear wheels shod in TOYO Proxes S/T tires.

Cadillac Downunder

2009-10-31T10:08:00.001-07:00

The Cadillac brand was officially launched back into the Australian market this week after a 70 year hiatus, meaning that Aussie motorists will soon be able to lay their hands on Caddy’s attractive ‘n angular CTS luxury sports sedan.

The CTS will go on sale here in early 2009, however performance enthusiasts with a taste for bling may want to hold off for a few months - the even more stunning CTS Coupe (which was previewed at the Sydney Motor Show earlier this month) is set to hit Caddy showrooms late next year, effectively replacing the Monaro as GM’s only RWD coupe in Australia.

There’s no word yet on whether the hi-po CTS-V or the more practical CTS Sport Wagon will find their way across the Pacific, however here are some US-market Caddys that we Australians can definitely do without: the front-wheel-drive DTS limo, the SRX crossover and that most-bloated of SUVS, the Escalade. Given Jeremy Clarkson’s distate for the XLR Roadster, we can safely say that we don’t want that one either. In fact, just give us the CTS, Caddy. As many as you can spare.

Pricing for the CTS sedan should be announced soon, so stay tuned folks.

PS. If you’re wondering who the lady in the photo is, it’s Laura Csortan - a ‘lifestyle journalist’ from the Nine Network who’s apparently Cadillac’s new “Brand Ambassador” for Australia. Whatever. Who needs a Brand Ambassador when you’ve got products that look as ‘bad-arse’ as this?

009 Cadillac CTS-V Modified

2009-10-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

2009 Cadillac CTS-V modified car

The 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

2009-10-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

This is about as over-the-top as one can get in an SUV and not be in a Porsche or a Land Rover. And with the hybrid powertrain, it also seems like the ultimate oxymoron--a land crusher of the highest order, with acres of leather and yards of sheetmetal, yet powered by an earth-friendly gas-electric drivetrain that gets a real-world 20 mpg. That’s enough to salve the soul of the even the most blatant consumer.

Ahh, to hell with all of that though. What this really is a super-luxury ute in the finest of General Motors tradition, with hauling capacity to spare, comfort and convenience that knows no boundaries (heated and cooled seats and heated and cooled cupholders, anyone?), and superb driving quality to top it off. The regenerative brakes can be a tad touchy, and the whir of the electrics from start can sometimes feel otherworldly (and the clunk of the power running boards retracting sometimes sounds like you’ve run something over). The steering, while a little clunky and underpowered at low speeds, is spot on and steady on the highway. And all in all, everything works together quite well to keep this electrified ’Sclade purring along pleasantly. I like that while Cadillac hasn’t stripped all of the hybrid badging, it at least has toned it down to some rear and side-vent badging.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20091026/CARREVIEWS/910269995#ixzz0V3hJ6GGK