Thursday, July 30, 2009
2012 Cadillac BTS Review and Prices
Cadillac will bring a redesigned version of its European-market BLS sedan, shown here, to the U.S. as the 2012 Cadillac BTS.General Motors has a rough road ahead, but it still wants a new Cadillac priced below the CTS. The timing is right, but will the “Good GM” be able to do it?
What We Know About the 2012 Cadillac BTS
A new “junior Cadillac” sedan has been rumored for quite a while. Now Motor Trend reports that a redesigned version of the Europe-only Cadillac BLS is planned for U.S. sale as a lower-priced companion to the premium-midsize CTS. The magazine expects the new sedan to arrive in calendar 2011 as a 2012 model. That assumes, of course, that the government succeeds in salvaging a viable, debt-free “Good GM” from the rubble of what used to be the world’s largest automaker.
The BLS is built on GM’s global Epsilon platform as basically a restyled Saab 9-3; this pair is the smallest of several related midsize cars that include the latest Chevrolet Malibu. MT says the 2012 Cadillac BTS--our name, not theirs, and maybe not GM’s either--will use the Epsilon 2 architecture that premieres with the redesigned 2010 Buick LaCrosse. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive will be available.
According to MT, the 2012 Cadillac BTS is being developed as project GM 166, which lends credence to the reporting. It’s an apparent substitution for a compact Cadillac sedan on GM’s rear-drive Alpha platform. That program came to light two years ago, but sources say it’s now likely been shelved as too expensive, given the automaker’s dire financial straits. Another Cadillac casualty of GM’s many current woes is the so-called “DT7” large sedan that was intended to replace the current STS and DTS models.
Motor Trend believes the 2012 Cadillac BTS, if it materializes, will be larger than the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. That means it will also be larger than the current CTS despite the lower targeted price point. MT forecasts a larger, redesigned 2013 CTS to correct this apparent anomaly, again assuming all goes well. By that point, if not before, the CTS will be Cadillac’s flagship passenger car in size as well as price.
We’ve used 2010 LaCrosse dimensions to guesstimate 2012 Cadillac BTS measurements. Because Epsilon 2 is a modern “scalable” architecture that can be varied for length and width, we imagine the Caddy will best the Buick by about 2 inches in wheelbase and overall length and by a bit more than 1 inch in overall width. Styling should mark the next step for Cadillac’s now-familiar edgy-wedgy look. We hope it’s something with the elegant dynamism of the recent Converj Concept coupe, a visual knockout in our opinion. Interestingly, Motor Trend quotes GM insiders as saying early BTS design proposals are “spectacular,” but we’ll have to wait and see if the finished product lives up to that billing.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
General Motors India To Launch Cadillac
Recession or no recession, India has always been an intriguing market for the auto companies. Luxury cars have been huge here and their makers have shared a special relationship with the country. The last few months have seen Rolls-Royce open a showroom and announce a car. Bentley too introduced the Continental Flying Spur a few weeks ago.
So if these car makers are betting big on the rich consumers in India, would General Motors be left behind? Indian business daily, The Economic Times, is reporting that GM India is apparently planning to launch their Cadillac brand of luxury vehicles in the country. But they have put their plans to get the Hummer in India on hold.
Karl Slym is the president and managing director of General Motors India. He explains, “We are now vying for the luxury space. The company was planning to launch SUV Hummer earlier but its entry now seems distant as consumer sentiment has changed. So, we have zeroed in on the Cadillac CTS sedan, which was showcased in the Auto Expo last year.”
The Cruse sedan by General Motors is expected to hit India in mid-2009. But the car that would really set the luxury car market in India on fire would be Cadillac CTS, which is expected to give tough competition to the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedez Benz. A few months ago, Lamborghini
Monday, July 27, 2009
Cadillac's Escalade Hybrid sips instead of gulps fuel
Cadillac claims a 50 percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving and 25 percent gain overall with their hybrid powertrain.
The Escalade Hybrid obtains these gains by using GM’s “Two-Mode” system that combines a gasoline engine with a 300V electric motor. Further increasing economy is that the system shuts down half of the V8 engine’s cylinders during cruise, and all of them during traffic stops.
When stopped at a traffic signal, it’s necessary to feather the throttle to maintain electric power and high fuel economy. At that time, a slight whirring sound can be heard from the electric motor. In itself, the motor has excellent power to propel this hefty vehicle.
Powered by a 6.0L 332-hp V8 producing an impressive 367 lb/ft of torque at 5100 rpm, energy is sent to the wheels through a Continuously Variable Transmission that combines to allow a tow rating of 5,800 pounds. The 6.0L moves Escalade with zest although its bulk can be felt.
As such, Escalade garners a 20 city, 21 highway mpg rating. Not bad for a hefty SUV weighing in at 5,727 pounds. In fact Cadillac advertises Escalade’s EPA city rating as better than an ’08 Mini Cooper S Convertible (19 mpg), ’09 Mercedes C-Class sedan (18 mpg), BMW X3 (17 mpg) and a Volvo XC-90 (14 mpg).
As an upscale version of Chevy’s Tahoe (still the best value for a full-size SUV) and GMC Yukon, Escalade is posh and polite. The ride is compliant with good shock absorption as all Cadillac’s are noted for. Compared to a conventional Tahoe or Yukon, Escalade’s ride is softer, quieter and could be even better were it not for huge 22-inch tires. Regardless, this would be the vehicle to take on long trips to Orlando as it makes the drive less tiring. It comes standard with Magnetic Ride Control, Automatic Rear Leveling Control and HD trailering package.
Handling is stable and assuring. Escalade is planted in sharp turns with only a tad of body lean in moderate curves. Because of its bulk, Escalade is not easy to park but the rear view camera system (with tilt screen) offers a valuable assist.
Upon entering Escalade’s spacious cabin, the interior is pure upscale and pampering. The latter starts with powered running boards that slide out and retract when any door is opened/closed. This makes the 22-inch step-in an easy 11.5-inch chore.
Cushy, comfy leather bucket seats coddle occupants except for the removable (but heavy) third row, which are mainly for kids. Fold the third and second rows and there’s six feet of cargo load length. With the third row up, there’s space for a gaggle of grocery bags (10 inches deep, 49 inches wide).
My major gripe with the Escalade was with its EFF gauges that don’t completely show when electric or economy power is being used. However, the tachometer shows “Auto Stop” and “Off” indications.
Escalade is offered in front-drive or 4WD that consists of 2WD, Auto, 4Hi and 4Lo positions selectable via a rotary switch.
With every possible option and amenity one could want, Escalade bottom-lines at a whopping $75,330 after a base of $73,285. The only extra cost options were the retractable steps ($1,095) and delivery ($950).
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Spyker D12 SSUV to get Cadillac CTS-V supercharged V8?
It's been two-and-a-half years since the Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris SSUV debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, and although the recent spate of spy shots indicate work is well underway, Spyker won't make its self-imposed release date this year.
Instead, the high-speed luxo-'ute will likely appear at next year's Geneva expo and when it does, it will like drop its "D12" moniker for "D8" thanks to the supercharged V8 lying under its sculpted hood.
Coinciding with earlier reports, Spyker plans to utilize an American-sourced V8 to power the D8 SSUV, and if Autoblog.nl's sleuthing abilities are to be believed, it's none other than General Motor's supercharged 6.2-liter LSA – the mill that powers the Cadillac CTS-V.
The Dutch site caught the same Land Rover mule we saw earlier this year, and after investigating the prototype's license plate, discovered the engine met the same specifications as the LSA. That would mean at least 550 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque, which should allow the SSUV to hit 60 mph in around five seconds and max out around 174 mph. If all goes according to plan, we'll see the production version in Geneva this March with sales beginning later in 2010.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Upcoming Spyker D8 SSUV will carry the V8 engine from Cadillac CTS-V
Today we found out that the upcoming vehicle from the Dutch manufacturer will use the 6.2-liter V8 engine found also on the Cadillac CTS-V to power the spectacular SUV. It appears that the vehicle will carry over 564 hp so expect an impressive vehicle capable to leave the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S in the dust!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
2010 Cadillac SRX: First Drive
As part of GM’s rebirth, a number of its brands have fresh new product hitting dealerships relatively soon. For Cadillac, the redesign of the SRX is vital to its future. While sales of its big sedans and Escalade SUV are flailing, the luxury crossover market is booming. Enter the new SRX, which is an SRX in name only. It’s smaller than the long, wagon-esque SRX of the past five years, and it’s ready to do battle with crossovers from Lexus, BMW, Volvo, Audi, Mercedes and Land Rover. But will it beat them? Any of them?
That’s what I wanted to find out.
Before heading out for an afternoon of SRX driving, I sat down to lunch with executives from Cadillac. I felt pretty good in my knowledge of the segment and the SRX’s competitors. I’ve recently driven the Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Land Rover LR2 and BMW X3. The only model in the segment I haven’t thoroughly tested is the redesigned Lexus RX 350, which outsells everything. So when the GM folk said the model they directly targeted with the SRX was the RX, my stomach lurched.
Still, I understand what they’re saying. They’re trying to offer near-luxury comfort at a good price with attractive styling. And the SRX is a looker. Somehow, it’s bold without being over-the-top, and it even features a grille that’s smaller than what you’d find on almost every other Caddy. Wise move there. The rear is also quite handsome, with taillights that form fins sticking out from the body of the car.
On the performance side, the SRX certainly doesn’t lean toward the sporty nature of the Audi or BMW; it’s much more aligned to cushy comfort, which is the RX’s place in the segment. Even riding on its optional 20-inch wheels, the SRX soaks up rough roads — like the stimulus-spurred construction zones of northern Illinois/southern Wisconsin on which we drove.
The afternoon was spent in quiet isolation from the road, as both my passenger and I noted the near absence of road and wind noise. However, that was pretty much the only standout performance attribute. Steering, handling and power were all just about adequate, which isn’t what you’d expect from the makers of the CTS sport sedan. I don’t think 90% of people who test-drive the SRX will note the somewhat dull steering and handling, but even the most passive driver probably won’t like how slow the heavy SRX feels with its base V-6 engine which gets 18/25 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive and 17/23 mpg city/highway with all-wheel drive. When accelerating from 35 mph to 50 mph in the all-wheel drive model, there was a noticeable hunting of gears coming from the six-speed automatic. It wasn’t confidence-inspiring and really got me down on the model as a whole. While most of the competition’s base engines aren’t exactly thoroughbreds, the X3, Q5 and XC60 all feel significantly faster. An optional turbocharged V-6 will go on sale later this fall, while the V-6 I tested hits dealerships in a few weeks.
The SRX’s interior was also hit-or-miss. If your eyes stick to the top of the dash, with its hand-stitched appearance; the gauge cluster, with its dazzling LCD display; or the center stack infotainment center, you’ll feel like you’re in the nicest crossover ever made. Let your gaze fall to the lower dash and its chunky gray plastic, or the doors and their two tiers of plastic pockets, and the luxury atmosphere quickly dissolves.
Because the SRX ($33,330) starts a few thousand dollars less than the RX and others in this segment, a lower level of luxury is acceptable, but I think the SRX is hovering close to the edge here — especially when the Lexus has upped its game in terms of luxury accoutrements, and even Volvo’s new XC60 outdoes the Cadillac in terms of high-end feel for nearly identical dough.
What about the good? There’s plenty to praise Cadillac for in the new SRX. Chief among them is a very usable, flexible rear cargo area. There’s a rail system that allows for a cargo separator to slide around, blocking off a variety of areas depending on how much cargo needs to be corralled. A large under-floor bin can hold a propane tank in place, according to company representatives. Otherwise, it’ll simply hold a lot of grocery bags.
The optional pop-up infotainment system features new software, but it mimics what you find in the CTS sedan. Navigation and other graphics are a tad sharper, and all in all it’s one of the most comprehensive systems you’ll find from any automaker.
Cadillac also gets a win for its terrific-looking gauges. In the center of the speedometer is an LCD screen that offers a ton of information about the car, from trip-computer settings to whether rear passengers have unbuckled their seat belts.
On a personal note, my favorite part of the SRX’s interior is a pair of faux crystals that reside on either side of the speedometer. They light up when the corresponding right or left turn signal is activated. It looks like you’re driving Superman’s SUV, and I almost bought one right then and there just for that.
Perhaps — like those light-up crystals — the gauges, cargo area, soft ride, exterior design or infotainment system will persuade a large number of shoppers in this segment to pony up for the SRX. Otherwise, I think it’s going to get tired of staring at competitors’ taillights.
Additional Photos
2010|Cadillac|SRX
