2013 Cadillac ATS Engine Lineup: N/A and Turbo Fours, and a V6

We have plenty of spy photos of the upcoming rear-drive 2013 Cadillac ATS, but incognito photography rarely reveals what’s under a car’s hood. Thankfully, Cadillac stepped in and released that very information today. The ATS, which slots below the CTS in Caddy’s sedan lineup, will be available with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four, and a 3.6-liter V-6.


The turbo four and the V-6 were expected, but the naturally aspirated four-cylinder is something of a surprise. Cadillac didn’t come out and say it, but we’re guessing the 2.5-liter is the same unit that will power some versions of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. We expect it will make around 190 hp in the Chevy, though Cadillac could always squeeze a bit more out of it to better differentiate it from its humble roots. As for the turbo, Cadillac says it will produce about 270 hp—the same output as the Buick Regal GS’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four. This is not, however, the same engine. Cadillac tells us it is about 95-percent new—it’s a mirror-image of the GS motor, with the intake and exhaust having switched sides. Like the other 2.0, though, it is all aluminum, and although it uses a different turbocharger (the GS uses a Borg Warner piece, the Caddy a Mitsubishi/Eaton), both cram the same 20 psi down the intake. The V-6 is GM’s latest direct-injected unit; it makes 308 hp in the Cadillac SRX and 318 in the CTS and will likely top the ATS’s engine range. Magnetorheological shocks will be available, as will paddle shifters on automatic models.

The ATS was designed to go up against entry-level luxury players like the BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-class. Both of those cars gained turbocharged four-cylinders as their base engines for 2012, but the Cadillac’s mid-level turbo will handily out-power both of them. (The base 2.5-liter four’s output will even be competitive with Benz’s turbo four.) The 3.6-liter six will trump both the C-class’s 302-hp V-6 and the BMW’s 300-hp turbo six. We’re looking forward to driving Cadillac’s first small sports sedan—especially the twin-turbo V-6–powered V version—after it debuts at the Detroit auto show in January.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2013-ats-sport-sedan-engine-lineup-revealed-two-fours-and-a-six/

Chicago Cadillac

2011 LA Auto Show: Does Cadillac have the right touch in infotainment with CUE?

It’s clear that the designers of Cadillac’s new CUE infotainment system paid a lot of attention to the negative feedback surrounding the much-maligned MyFord Touch. After getting a run-through of CUE in Los Angeles, my initial impressions are that the system is more intuitive and user friendly, although questions remain about the potential for driver distraction.

CUE, which stands for Cadillac User Experience, will debut next spring on the 2013 Cadillac XTS. Like MyFord Touch, CUE relies on a touch-sensitive display and touch-sensitive buttons on the dash. To give you some physical feedback, however, it provides a haptic response—a slight vibration—when you press a button, which helps give it the reassuring familiarity of using hard keys.

The system can also sense the proximity of your hand. So, simply moving your hand to within about four to six inches of the screen can automatically prepare it for a command. When using the navigation system, for example, the display will show a full-screen map while you’re driving. But moving your hand toward the screen will cause nav-function buttons to appear along the top and bottom of the display.

The CUE screen is uncluttered and has relatively large buttons and customizable settings. It’s also multi-touch sensitive, so you can scroll, swipe, and interact with it as you would a smart phone or tablet computer. Since even dead areas of the screen are active, you don’t need to be pinpoint precise when pressing a button, according to a spokesperson. A function will often activate even if you press in the vicinity of the related button.

The digital gauge cluster in front of the driver is also customizable. When using the navigation system, for example, a second route map can be displayed there so the driver doesn’t have to take his or her eyes as far off of the road.

According to Cadillac, CUE’s voice-command system has a conversational interface, so you don’t need to remember specific commands. This is becoming more common with other voice-command systems, as well.

Read More:  http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/11/2011-la-auto-show-does-cadillac-have-the-right-touch-in-infotainment-with-cue.html

2013 Cadillac XTS Leaked Ahead of L.A. Auto Show Debut

Last night, what appeared to be a production 2013 Cadillac XTS sedan appeared on Cadillac’s consumer website before quickly being taken down. A few hours later, Cadillac officially released the same photo and announced that the large sedan would debut at the L.A. auto show next week. We already knew the XTS would land in L.A., but the photo gives us our first look at the production version; until now we’ve seen only the show car, spy photos, and the new Caddy’s interior. Oh, and we tried out its new CUE infotainment system.

It appears as though the production XTS’s styling will deviate remarkably little from the concept’s—the car seen above sports the same chunky, cab-forward stance and heavy front-end styling as the show car, which now looks as though its body panels may have popped from production molds. The XTS is set to replace the slow-selling STS and the long-in-the-tooth DTS at the top of Cadillac’s lineup. The front-drive XTS rides on stretched Buick LaCrosse Epsilon II bones, and we expect it will be powered by the same 3.6-liter, direct-injection V-6 as is found in the CTS. Stay tuned for the XTS’s big reveal next week.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2013-cadillac-xts-leaked-ahead-of-l-a-auto-show-debut/

Car and Driver Review: 2012 Cadillac CTS 3.6 Sedan

What Is It?

It’s the latest CTS, which is a lot like the CTS we already know and like. For 2012, the 3.6-liter version of Cadillac’s only car gets a new cylinder-head design with integrated exhaust manifolds, a composite intake manifold, lighter connecting rods, and upgrades to the fuel system. Power is up by 14 hp to 318, and the torque peak is now 275 lb-ft, an increase of just 2 but available 300 rpm sooner on the tachometer. Incidentally, the 2012 Camaro’s V-6 gets the same upgrades this year and makes 323 hp. Cadillac claims that the changes reduce engine weight by 21 pounds.

The other major change for 2012 is a refreshed grille, which has a new “frame and mesh combination” and sharper colors in the Cadillac logo. We actually had to take that line from the press release because we only noticed the changes after looking at photos of the 2011 and 2012 car side by side. In person, it still looks like a nice grille, but it doesn’t stand out as radically different.

How Does It Drive?

So, about that weight savings. Our test car weighed in 101 pounds heavier than a comparable 2008 CTS equipped with an automatic transmission. Some of those extra pounds can be attributed to larger wheels (the new car rides on 19-inchers; the 2008 rolled on 18s) and differences in optional equipment, but the weight savings from the engine alone is negligible.

The power difference is negligible as well. With a 0-to-60-mph time of 6.2 seconds, the new car is 0.2 second slower than the 2008 version we tested but in the middle of the range of other CTS cars, including those with a manual transmission (which, incidentally, is no longer offered with the 3.6-liter). The 2011 does the quarter-mile in 14.7 seconds at 98 mph, 0.1 second and 1 mph behind the old car. Fuel economy is unchanged at an EPA-rated 18 city, 27 highway, and we averaged 22 mpg during our test.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-cadillac-cts-36-sedan-test-review-car-and-driver

Illinois Cadillac Dealers

Cadillac CUE: Intuitive and Connected Driving in 2012

• Natural voice recognition, fewer buttons, larger icons, greater customization
• Central instrument panel features fully capacitive faceplate, vibrant 8-inch LCD touch screen with proximity sensing, multi-touch hand gestures
• 3.5 times more processing power than current systems

SAN DIEGO – Cadillac CUE, a comprehensive in-vehicle experience that merges intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and entertainment data, will benefit consumers by offering personalized, connected driving beginning in 2012.

“CUE will transform personal transportation by  simply and efficiently integrating luxury design and instinctive technology with unparalleled levels of customized in-vehicle connectivity,” Don Butler, Vice President, Cadillac Marketing, announced at the CTIA Wireless Association’s Enterprise and Applications conference.

CUE will debut in 2012 in the Cadillac XTS and ATS luxury sedans and SRX luxury crossover. CUE is designed to be unique for each consumer, from the “simple user” to the fully connected “super user.”
“For the tech-savvy, it’s everything you want it to be – a full suite of infotainment, navigation and communication tools that keeps you fully connected. For the tech-averse, its power is remarkably simple, intuitive and accessible,” Butler said.

CUE, which stands for Cadillac User Experience, will pair entertainment and information data from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, USBs, SD cards and MP3 players with a vehicle infotainment system that reduces complexity through customized information, natural voice commands and fewer buttons and larger icons

For example, most of today’s luxury cars have around 20 buttons controlling the radio and entertainment functions. CUE reduces that to just four buttons.

“CUE doesn’t replace your smartphone or your iPod™,” said Micky Bly, executive director, Global Electric Systems, Infotainment and Electrification.  “Rather it allows consumers to securely store those mobile devices while channeling the information on those devices, along with your navigation tools, weather maps with Doppler radar, AM/FM and XM radio, instant messages and emails, through a central portal in your Cadillac, keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”

The heart of CUE is the 8-inch LCD touch screen, seamlessly integrated into the top of the central instrument panel and a motorized fully capacitive  faceplate at the bottom concealing a 1.8L storage area.   The vibrant LCD screen displays CUE’s home page, which resembles a smart phone’s screen by using large, easy-to-target icons to execute commands. Capacitive refers to using electrodes to sense the conductive properties of objects, such as a finger.

“CUE is a very elegant in-vehicle hub of all the information and entertainment in your life. All of CUE’s controls use the same design vernac­ular to create a harmony unique to Cadillac,” said Dave Lyon, executive director, Cadillac Interior Design. “Vibrant colors, a piano black face plate, precision-milled buttons, intuitive touch screen placement and sculpted front console provide a spacious, fashion-forward cabin.”

Read More: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Oct/1012cadillac

CTS Coupe Driving Sales and Image Gains

• Top-selling luxury coupe drives brand image, CTS family sales
• CTS lineup and SRX crossover sales rise in September

DETROIT – Through September, and just over a year after its launch, the Cadillac CTS Coupe is America’s best-selling mid-size luxury coupe and vying for first place among all luxury coupes.

The dramatically designed luxury sport coupe is a force in Cadillac’s overall ongoing gains in consumer image in a segment that previously consisted of only well-established European luxury sport models.

Cadillac sold 15,771 CTS Coupes through September, with a take rate of nearly 27 percent with the rest of CTS sales split between Sedan and Sport Wagon models. The industry average for coupe sales is 9 percent among luxury automakers.

“The launch and sales of the CTS Coupe has been an unqualified success and sets the stage for the all-new ATS and XTS models as a critical step in Cadillac’s brand renaissance,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of Cadillac Sales and Service.

Cadillac’s V-Series of high-performance models feature the brand’s Magnetic Ride Control technology and a 556-hp supercharged engine. Nearly 20 percent of CTS Coupe models sold are V-Series editions. The Coupe and V-Series products give Cadillac an expanding reputation for high performance, a necessary element for the top luxury brands.

The CTS Coupe has attracted new buyers to Cadillac in general. Sales of the other CTS models – Sedan and Sport Wagon – have also increased. Total sales of the CTS family are up 24 percent in 2011, with 4,663 units sold in September.

According to Polk vehicle registration data through July, the CTS Coupe has driven more than half of the mid-luxury sales gains for the year. Comparatively through August, the overall luxury segment share of the industry is down 0.8 points over last year.

Meanwhile, the SRX midsize luxury crossover, which saw its share jump from ninth in the segment to second after its redesign a year earlier, is also vying for the top spot in its segment. Cadillac sold 4,901 SRXs in September, just 102 units fewer than the segment leader.

Escalade continues to lead the full-size luxury SUV segment sales in the United States with total sales of 2,414 units in September.

Beyond its products, Cadillac has also made substantial investments in updating its dealership and sales processes, and revamped its customer care programs, such as Cadillac Shield premium care maintenance and roadside assistance. As a result, Cadillac has grown its share of the luxury retail market 1 percentage point over last year while simultaneously reducing incentives.

Read More: http://media.opel.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Oct/1004_cadillac

2013 Cadillac ATS Interior Spied: Center Stack Will Go Touch-Sensitive

Our spy photographers have managed a peek inside the 2013 Cadillac ATS—a smaller rear-drive sports sedan that will slot below the CTS—and we can now confirm that it will get the same touch-sensitive controls as the upcoming STS replacement, the 2012 XTS. The ATS interior our shooters spotted features a piano-black center stack with very few hard buttons.

The XTS we spied a few months back not only had a similar array, but also wore nearly identical detailing. Our judgment on whether Cadillac’s move to a touch-sensitive control interface is a good one will have to wait until we use it ourselves, but Lincoln’s similar system gave us more than its fair share of trouble. The Cadillac ATS is expected to go on sale in early 2012 as a 2013 model, and should make its public debut at the 2012 Detroit auto show.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2013-cadillac-ats-interior-spied-center-stack-will-go-touch-sensitive/

Cadillac Meets New Customers Where They Live and Play

• Laps on exclusive racetracks; culinary and golf tips from the stars
• V-Series Performance Labs: Atlanta Oct. 14-16; Los Angeles Dec. 9-11
• Public V-Series Performance Academy, Las Vegas Oct. 29-31

DETROIT – In the hotly contested battle for luxury car buyers, personal experience matters most. So Cadillac is putting potential customers behind the wheel of a 556-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V on a private racecourse.

It’s an experience few would soon forget, and that’s the point behind Cadillac V-Series Performance Lab events being held across the United States.

Named after their V-Series performance cars, Cadillac is inviting more than 3,000 potential customers – mostly owners of competing luxury/performance cars – to an exclusive, up-close-and-personal demonstration of its luxury performance cars.

The events, also known as “V-Labs,” feature a series of product demonstrations and personalized driver training, along with an opportunity to meet the drivers of Team Cadillac Racing, Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim, and Cadillac performance guru, John Heinricy, who led the V-Series engineering team.

“I am always happy to put my money where my mouth is in terms of putting people behind the wheel and letting the products speak for themselves,” said Cadillac Vice President of Marketing Don Butler. “Regardless of what they buy, I want to connect with them on their level, where they live and play, and when it’s most convenient for them.”

As part of a broader marketing effort, V-Labs function alongside other Cadillac experiential events including the Cadillac Culinary Challenge and Innovation Golf Clinics, which feature top-name chefs, such as Jonathan Waxman, Duff Goldman and Marcus Samuelsson, and golf professionals David Leadbetter, Matt Kuchar and Anthony Kim.

At each event, Cadillac has its latest products on display, and at the culinary events, attendees can test drive competing BMW, Lexus and Mercedes models. The Cadillac Culinary challenge events are open to the public, whereas the V-Series Performance Labs and Innovation Golf events are invitation-only.
James Koller, from Naperville, Ill., owner of a Lotus Elise, was recently invited to a V-Lab event at the Autobahn Country Club racetrack in Joliet, Ill, where he drove a Cadillac CTS-V coupe for the first time.

“I’ve been to similar events here with other manufacturers and I don’t ever recall companies like BMW letting people drive their M-cars for an afternoon,” he said. “I came here specifically to drive the CTS-V and it was probably the most solid car I’ve ever driven on this track. It’s composed, confident.”
Cadillac will hold a day-long V-Series Performance Academy  at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch just outside of Las Vegas on Oct. 29-31 that is open to the public. To further widen the public reach of the V-Series events, Cadillac recently announced a chance to win a CTS-V, along with a High Performance Driving Experience at the Monticello Motor Club in New York.

Read More: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Sep/0907_vlab

Electric Concept Car Comes to Life as Cadillac ELR

DETROIT – The innovative Cadillac Converj Concept, a dramatic luxury coupe with extended-range electric vehicle technology, is moving forward as a production car that will be called the Cadillac ELR.

Development of the ELR is just underway, so details on performance, price and timing will be announced later.

The Cadillac ELR will feature an electric propulsion system made up of a T-shaped lithium ion battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the battery’s energy is low, the ELR seamlessly switches to extended-range mode to enable driving for hundreds of additional miles.

 “The concept generated instant enthusiasm,” said Don Butler, vice president-Cadillac Marketing.
“Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present – the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving.”

Cadillac selected the name ELR to indicate the car’s electric propulsion technology, in keeping with the brand’s 3-letter international model naming convention.

The Converj Concept sparked the idea of combining the desirability of a grand touring coupe with electrification, said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design.

“There’s no mistaking it for anything but a Cadillac, an aggressive, forward-leaning profile and proportion showcases a uniquely shaped, modern vision of a personal luxury 2+2,” Welburn said.

Read More: http://media.opel.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Aug/0817_cadillac

Cadillac Ciel Sedan Rendered: Putting a Top On Caddy’s Stunning Droptop Concept

As far as the public is concerned, the Cadillac Ciel concept has only existed for a few days, but our artist has already begun to imagine what it might look like with a roof and door handles (and conventional rear doors). Might as well: The big convertible doesn’t have much of a chance of making production, but a big sedan resembling it does, and a big sedan needs door handles to let people in.


A flagship such as the Ciel makes perfect sense for Cadillac. In the near future, GM’s luxury arm will introduce the ATS, aimed directly at the BMW 3-series, Mercedes-Benz C-class, and Audi A4; and grow the CTS to more directly compete with the 5-series, E-class, and A6. The segment occupied by the 7-series, S-class, and A8 is an obvious gap. Cadillac insiders have already told us the brand plans to rectify that in 2014. (We’re ignoring the upcoming XTS, as it is a front-driver aimed exclusively at the decrepit and the Chinese.)

We hope Cadillac’s S-class competitor draws on the Ciel for inspiration, but we also hope it keeps the upright, almost Rolls-Royce–esque greenhouse in this rendering. There is still no car that says “stately” as universally as a Phantom, even though the Roller says “ostentatious” quite clearly, too.

When Cadillac’s full-sizer does appear, the convertible concept’s twin-turbo V-6 hybrid powertrain could be on the options sheet, but Cadillac would need something mainstream to challenge the V-8s offered by the competition. Fortunately, GM’s expertise in V-8s is extensive, and the current Cadillac lineup includes, of course, the 556-hp supercharged bent-eight in the CTS-V. As for the Ciel concept’s twin-turbo six, it may live on in nonhybrid form in the V derivative of the ATS, which we’ve learned will use an engine of that description.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/cadillac-ciel-sedan-rendered-putting-a-top-on-caddys-stunning-droptop-concept/

Green Car Reports - Cadillac's Volt-Based Converj Electric Car Gets Green Light: Exclusive

Sometimes, like Lazarus, dead cars rise again.

We've learned from an inside source at General Motors, a person close to the project, that the electric Cadillac Converj luxury coupe is now back in the GM product plan.

The Converj was recently approved for production by GM product executives. It will likely launch in 2013 as a 2014 model, though it may end up with a Cadillac-style three-letter model name.

The production version will feature, says our source, "a Generation 1.5 Voltec" powertrain.

That would be an updated version of the extended-range electric powertrain from the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, possibly with better acceleration to suit the Cadillac image--but not the fully revised second-generation version that will go into production in 2015.

Smash hit in 2009

The Converj concept car was first unveiled in January 2009 at the Detroit Auto Show. The sleek sports coupe received rave reviews, and during 2009, General Motors [NYSE:GM] approved it for production, with then-product chief Bob Lutz saying in January 2010 it had been cleared by management.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1064793_cadillacs-volt-based-converj-electric-car-gets-green-light-exclusive

REVIEWS: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

I've been enamored with the CTS-V for quite some time, but as a long-time wagon guy, the new V Sport Wagon absolutely ticks all the right boxes for me. Power? This car's got it in spades. Handling? It grips, especially in sport mode, unless you turn off Stabilitrak and give the throttle a hard kick with your right foot. Practicality? Well, it seats four adults and offers almost 26 cubic feet of cargo space aft of the second row.

Like every other CTS-V I've driven, this car turns heads when viewed from the front, but necks immediately snap once bystanders get a load of the stretched roofline, angular D-pillars, and huge taillamp assemblies. If style takes a back seat to performance on V-line cars, it's still one magnificent throne. The finished product is brash yet beautiful.

My lone issue is the price. $63,660 isn't wholly unreasonable, considering the new Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon is expected to sticker for nearly $20,000 more. That said, my brain also lumps the new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 into the same category of brawny performance haulers -- and while it's not quite as engaging or enjoyable as the V, it's also nearly $8000 less, capable of towing 5000 pounds, and packs all-wheel-drive. Depending on where you live, the latter may be a key point...

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1108_2011_cadillac_cts_v_wagon/index.html

Cadillac Prices 2012 SRX Crossover With Standard 308-hp, 3.6-Liter V6 at $36,060

For 2012, Cadillac has raised the SRX’s base price to $36,060, while also attempting to rectify the SRX’s powerplant shortcomings by specifying a 308-hp, 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 as the model’s sole engine.

The SRX launched in 2010 with two disappointing six-cylinder engines: a 265-hp 3.0-liter and an optional, Saab-sourced 300-hp turbocharged 2.8-liter. The 2011 SRX started at $35,490, but we think the extra $570 commanded by the 2012 model is likely worth it given the much-needed refinement we expect the 3.6 to deliver. There’s also this: The price of entry for a 300-plus-hp SRX has plummeted by $14,730 from the $50,790 needed for the discontinued turbo model. Side bonus: “3.6 for 36″ is a handy mnemonic.

Granted, the additional $15K didn’t just buy the turbocharged V-6; the turbo model also brought higher levels of equipment. Speaking of equipment, the 2012 SRX now comes standard with Bluetooth and a color LCD driver information screen. The 2012 Cadillac SRX should go on sale in August, and we expect to gather driving impressions of the 3.6-liter model sometime soon.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/cadillac-prices-2012-srx-crossover-with-standard-308-hp-3-6-liter-v6-at-36060/

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon - Long-Term Road Test Update

Date: June 2011
Months in Fleet: 6 months
Current Mileage: 18,334 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 15 mpg
Average Range: 270 miles
Service: $0
Normal Wear: $0
Repair: $120
Damage and Destruction: $566

It’s no surprise that we constantly fight over who gets to drive our long-term CTS-V. After all, a 556-horse punch is incredibly intoxicating, especially when it’s stabled in a station wagon and gallops through a satisfying manual gearbox.

That said, the V’s limited range has continued to be an issue, with only a couple of staffers expanding the car’s sphere of influence beyond state lines. (We’ve nursed a tank to 342 miles on the highway, but when a Lingenfelter-tuned CTS-V coupe showed up on our doorstep, one staffer cracked, “The only modification that car really needs is a bigger gas tank.”) But beyond the frequent stops for fuel, the long-haul reports were glowing. The big supercharged eight lives at the low end of the tach on the highway, which helps prevent aural fatigue, and there’s enough torque on hand that downshifts are optional, even while passing. The optional Recaro seats are firm, but four-way lumbar and adjustable bolsters mean even Inspector Clouseau could find a suitable position. Constant cruising also means no annoyance at the chairs rocking in their mounts under braking and acceleration.

So how is it that with just two out-of-state trips, we’re on pace to cover 40,000 miles in 12 months? The answer lies in how rewarding and easy the CTS-V is to drive, even in everyday situations. Grab a jug of milk? Don’t mind if we do. Picking up the mother-in-law? Glad to. Alterman left his phone at home? Let us go get that for him. Really, we find any excuse to slide behind the V’s sueded steering wheel.

Some Service, Some Damage, All Fun

At 7000 miles, we took the wagon to the dealer for its first service, which involved just an oil change and a minor inspection. There is no maintenance schedule per se, because the car calculates when the oil needs to be changed based on factors such as the number of cold starts, engine speed, and time since the last service.

The service itself cost us nothing—all routine maintenance is covered for the first four years or 50,000 miles—but it was then that we learned that at least one vengeful pothole had deformed the right front wheel. It was bent, big time, and the dealer couldn’t balance it. We ordered a new wheel for $566, a smokin’ deal compared to the almost $1600 we spent to replace one roller on our M56S.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/11q1/2011_cadillac_cts-v_wagon-long-term_road_test_update

Cadillac Illinois

GM to expand Cadillac production outside North America by 2012

DETROIT -- General Motors CEO Dan Akerson said today that the company plans to expand Cadillac production outside of North America by the end of 2012 as part of its plan to make GM's premium brand a true global marque.

Akerson said overseas Cadillac production would reduce the risk of foreign-currency fluctuations and let GM better manage its supply chain.

Cadillac vehicles are sold in China and other international markets. Today, besides North America, GM assembles one of its models, the Cadillac SLS, in China for that market. The SLS is a stretched version of the STS. Akerson did not say where GM would make Cadillacs abroad.

GM plans to accelerate overseas sales of Cadillac, which the automaker increasingly is positioning to take on European rivals such as Mercedes and BMW.

"We're going to try to define a slightly different brand and product strategy by having a global premium brand, Cadillac, and a global value brand, Chevrolet," Akerson said, speaking to reporters before GM's first annual shareholders meeting since its initial public stock offering last fall.

Akerson said that strategy is similar to that of Toyota, with its namesake brand and its global luxury marque, Lexus. He said Chevrolet and Cadillac will continue to be buttressed by regional brands such as Opel in Europe and Buick, which is strong in North America and China.

Akerson, 62, became GM's CEO in September. Since then, he has shuffled GM's executive ranks and pressed lieutenants to shed GM's bureaucratic culture and move faster, such as pulling ahead the launch of the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu mid-sized sedan from summer 2012 to early next year.

GM's stock price has slid since its November IPO. But today GM shares closed higher at $28.78 on the New York Stock Exchange, up 0.8 percent.

It is the first time GM held its annual stockholders meeting in the company's hometown since 1990.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110607/OEM01/110609905/1260#ixzz1PHUYTc3t

Memorial Day Edition: Best new car deals on American cars

While many motorists will be hitting the road on vacation, this Memorial Day weekend, it’s also a great time to buy a new car. There are a number of discounts available, and dealers may be more willing to negotiate since it’s also the end of the month and they want to meet their quotas. In honor of this American holiday and unofficial start of summer, we are listing good deals on recommended vehicles from the U.S.-based automakers.

The models highlighted in the chart have Bottom Line Prices below the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP), when factoring all national incentives. Regional or local offers, as well as bonus incentives that are targeted at specific audiences such as military personnel or college graduates, may further sweeten the deal. The Bottom Line Price gives you a strong starting point for your negotiations, working up from the rock bottom, rather than haggling down from MSRP or even advertised offers.

The models listed are just a few of our Best New Car Deals--notable discounts on models recommended by Consumer Reports. These vehicles scored well in our testing, have average or better predicted reliability, and performed well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if evaluated.

2011 Cadillac DTS Luxury Collection

5/31/2011

51,925

49,069

No

Yes

Get the Bottom Line Price

20%+

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/05/memorial-day-edition-best-new-car-deals-on-american-cars.html

Cadillac ATS-V On the Way, Will Get Twin-Turbocharged V-6 – Car News

With the CTS-V and its awesome, supercharged V-8, GM's finest brand has a vehicle on par with offerings from Audi's Quattro, BMW’s M, and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG. And when the next-generation CTS rolls out, it will share its Alpha platform with a softtop convertible and a smaller sedan, the ATS. Given the success of the CTS-V, Cadillac insiders tell us an ATS-V also is a sure thing.

Theoretically, the CTS-V’s LSA V-8 would fit into an ATS-V, but that could cannibalize sales from the CTS-V. Rather, the ATS-V will be aimed directly at the next-generation BMW M3, which is expected to have a turbocharged inline-six. That, our sources tell us, is why the ATS-V will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that should make around 380 hp.

Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will be offered. We expect outstanding performance, with 0–60 times below five seconds and a top speed in excess of 170 mph. We have to say, though, that we’d be a lot more comfortable with Cadillac using a V-8—the brand’s last experiment with turbocharged sixes didn’t go so well.

Using a six in the ATS-V also opens up another exciting possibility: a small run of über-ATS-Vs with the incredible LSA—think of it as Cadillac’s Black Series. While that seems unlikely, Chevrolet’s fitment of the engine in the Camaro ZL1 proves that forces within GM will still back overpowered, limited-interest, but boundlessly awesome products.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/11q2/cadillac_ats-v_on_the_way_will_get_twin-turbocharged_v-6-car_news

Cadillac to Get Another Three-Row SUV, Keep Escalade

Cadillac’s SUV line is a huge success story. Whether or not we like it, buyers are snatching up the new SRX, and the Escalade remains one of the country’s most recognizable automotive status symbols. It’s not surprising, then, that the company is looking to expand its SUV family. Jim Vurpillat, Cadillac’s global marketing chief, tells us that there is room in the portfolio for another SUV to slot in between the SRX and the Escalade. The SRX got smaller in its second generation, leaving room for another model in the $50–60K range.

This model, according to our industry sources, likely will be based on the GM Lambda platform, which serves as the basis for the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave. Like those vehicles, it will probably offer three rows of seating, but that doesn’t mean it will replace the Escalade. Frankly, it couldn’t: The Lambda platform is front- or all-wheel drive and powered by V-6 engines—even a turbocharged four is possible. The customer base of the current Escalade, on the other hand, is as loyal as it is affluent, which means Cadillac’s big body-on-frame SUV will get a truck-based successor that could be limited to an annual output of a few thousand high-priced and high-powered units.

In the past, the Chevy and GMC Suburbans were referred to as “Texas Cadillacs.” Now that Cadillac has established its own full-size icon, it is smart to stay committed to its evolution. Meanwhile, those who want better fuel economy will be able to choose the Lambda crossover, which could get a three-letter nameplate like the rest of the Cadillac line or could, like the Escalade EXT and ESV, be branded as a member of the Slade family.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/cadillac-to-get-another-three-row-suv-keep-escalade/

2012 Cadillac CTS Sedan / Coupe / Sport Wagon – Auto Shows

That which is great can still be improved upon, and so it is with the 2012 Cadillac CTS, which gets 14 additional horsepower from its top-spec V-6 and some small styling and equipment changes.

The revised direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6 now puts out 318 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, thanks mostly to intake changes, including larger valves, revised ports, and a tweaked camshaft that keeps the intake valves open longer. (The same engine makes 323 hp in the updated 2012 Chevrolet Camaro.) Compared to last year’s 3.6-liter V-6, this year’s iteration is nearly 40 pounds lighter; 13 pounds were saved by integrating the heads and exhaust manifolds, 20.5 pounds from a lighter-weight front accessory-drive cover and new connecting rods, and 5.5 came out from using a plastic intake manifold in place of last year’s aluminum piece. The base 270-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 carries over unchanged, and can still be mated to both a six-speed automatic and six-speed manual. The manual is no longer available with the 3.6-liter, however.

The 2012 CTS’s standard-equipment list sees Bluetooth added to all models and a blind-spot monitoring system to the coupe (good thing, because the two-door’s rakish roofline and wide C-pillars make for huge blind spots). A new Touring package is available with either engine and with any body style, and adds a dark-finish grille, metal pedal covers, dark wood trim, and V-style suede stuff covering the steering wheel, shift knob, and seat inserts. Polished 19-inch wheels and Recaro seats—disliked by most of us for feeling overstuffed and for rocking back and forth under braking and acceleration—come with 3.6-liter Touring models, while 3.0-liter examples get pearl-nickel-finished 18s and the regular seats, albeit now sueded. Sedan and wagon buyers who spec the pack get an extra-special bonus: chrome exterior door handles.

The line-wide cosmetic changes are less extensive. The grille sees new finishes and a revised Caddy wreath with “sharper colors,” and its mesh insert is flusher with the frame. That’s it.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/11q2/2012_cadillac_cts_sedan_coupe_sport_wagon-auto_shows

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DTS Named Most Dependable Large Premium Car

Cadillac’s full-size sedan had fewest problems in its segment in J.D. Power study

DETROIT – J.D. Power and Associates ranked the Cadillac DTS highest among large premium cars in its 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study released today. The DTS had 90 problems per 100 vehicles, the fewest of any vehicle in its class for the second year in a row.

For six straight years, the DTS and its predecessor, the DeVille, have earned a spot in the top three of the large premium car segment in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study. The report measures problems encountered in the past 12 months of 3-year-old vehicles.

“DTS is part of a line of full-size Cadillac luxury automobiles known for their long-term quality and craftsmanship,” said Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac Marketing. “We’re pleased to have this commitment to long-term reliability confirmed by a study that means so much to consumers.”

J.D. Power and Associates’ annual Vehicle Dependability Study is a U.S.-market based study providing insight into long-term reliability as vehicles approach the end of a typical warranty.  This year’s study surveyed more than 43,700 original owners of 2008 model year vehicles after three years of ownership.

Read More: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_cadillac.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Mar/0317_dts

Cadillac U.S. Sales Rise 70 percent in February

• CTS sales increase 124 percent with gains by sedan, wagon and coupe
• SRX posts 19^th straight month of at least a double-digit percentage year-over-year gain
• Escalade total sales rise 6 percent, retail sales up 27 percent

DETROIT – The Cadillac CTS and SRX posted their best results ever for a February as Cadillac reported total U.S. sales for the month of 15,768, a 70 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Cadillac’s retail sales rose 83 percent for the month.
The results represent Cadillac’s best February total since 2006. It also represents the thirteenth consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases for the brand.

Total sales of the CTS family rose 124 percent to 6,033 in February. The CTS Coupe, introduced for the 2011 model year, had its best month since being launched last August. The CTS Sedan and Wagon also posted strong gains for the month.

The CTS family has become one of the most acclaimed lines in the luxury market. Popular Mechanics named the CTS Coupe one of the Top 10 cars for 2011. The high-performance CTS-V Coupe is a finalist for World Performance Car of the Year, and the CTS-V Wagon was named a 2011 Automobile magazine All-Star.

The SRX luxury crossover, dramatically redesigned for the 2010 model year, also continued its growth. SRX sales rose 55 percent to 5,502 in February. SRX has posted a year-over-year increase of at least a double-digit percentage rate for 19 straight months. Escalade sales rose 6 percent to 2,202 in February.

Cadillac has started the year with a strong push to attract new and returning luxury buyers as the market recovers. In January, Cadillac began its new “Red Blooded Luxury” advertising campaign, featuring the CTS Coupe and high-performance CTS-V Sedan.

In February, Cadillac launched the Cadillac Shield program, which ties together the brand’s suite of ownership benefits. Cadillac Shield includes Cadillac’s four-year, 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranties. It also provides maintenance on many frequently required services for four years or 50,000 miles as well as 24-hour roadside assistance and courtesy vehicle transportation during the powertrain warranty period.

Read More: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_cadillac.html/

Hennessey Cadillac CTS-V V700 - Specialty File

Do not confuse Hennessey and Hennessy. Though homonyms, one is a 20-year veteran of the tuner world whose machines require courage—the kind that originates in one’s nether regions—to fully  unwind. The other is a 246-year-old cognac distiller whose hooch builds courage. Hennessey Performance and its founder, John Hennessey, gained notoriety in the ’90s for mixing Dodge Vipers with turbochargers. Hennessy also gained notoriety in the ’90s, when the hip-hop community extolled the spirit’s magical ability  to mix  with everything from cannabis to Coke. Drinking Hennessy while driving a Hennessey is not recommended.

Unlike his other offerings, John Hennessey’s CTS-V–based V700 didn’t trigger our low-courage warning light. That may be because Hennessey told us that this was his personal car used to cart his children around suburban Houston. Or it may be that the sedan, aside from its massive 20-inch billet aluminum wheels (a $5500 option) and blacked-out trim, looks bone stock. More likely, it was because we knew that Hennessey recently lured John Heinricy, one of the GM engineers responsible for the current, very friendly CTS-V, from the cozy nest of retirement to consult with him on changes to the car.

As the V700 nomenclature hints, the modified 6.2-liter LSA underhood makes 707 horsepower at 6300 rpm. To bump output from the stock engine’s 556 horses, Hennessey pushes the redline 300 revs to 6500 and ups the boost to 13.5 psi (from 9.0) by manipulating supercharger-pulley dimensions. So that the highly stressed engine won’t cannibalize its valves, rings, and seals, he replaces the camshaft, the catalytic converters, the intake, the headers, and the middle section of the exhaust. He swaps the heads for high-flow versions, upgrades the intercooler, and reflashes the ECU. The tweaks run $19,950, installed. If getting your V to Hennessey’s shop in Texas is problematic, he offers a 650-horse mail-order kit for $5950. Our test car also came with Brembo two-piece front brake rotors ($1595), Hawk brake pads ($995), a Centerforce clutch ($2350), some “extreme duty” CV joints ($2900) that hold up to the pavement-shifting grip of drag slicks, and a few cosmetic add-ons. Total cost as delivered: $103,625.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/11q1/hennessey_cadillac_cts-v_v700-specialty_file

Details on 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond Edition Paint Job

The current Cadillac CTS-V fleet has just lost that sparkle to your discriminating eye? How about a look at one of the Black Diamond Limited Editions?
 

Available in coupe, sedan, or wagon form, these special CTS-Vs earn the Black Diamond Edition designation by using a special paint pigment called SpectraFlair Bright Silver pigment. Designed by JDSU, the pigment is mixed with the dark tri-coat Dupont paint to enhance the shine of one of the most popular automotive paint colors in the industry. Cadillac will be using the first application of this JDSU pigment.

JDSU, which is not an acronym for a state university but an optical technology firm based in Milpitas, California, uses magnesium fluoride (MgF(subscript 2) to the aspiring chemists out there) to suspend aluminum flakes. The resulting SpectraFlair compound helps give the blended black paint a diamond-like sparkle, hence the name “Black Diamond.” Magnesium fluoride is commonly employed in the optics field.

“The CTS-V Black Diamond Edition is like a finely crafted, tailored tuxedo,” said Michelle Killen, Cadillac exterior paint designer. “The base color may be a simple black, but the details and richness of the material set it apart.”

Shiny paint isn’t the lone distinguishing mark on the Black Diamond Edition. The CTS-V’s Brembo brake calipers are painted yellow and sit behind Satin Graphite 19-inch wheels to give these Caddies an entirely sinister appearance. Inside, the 14-way adjustable Recaro seats incorporate French-stitched leather and microfiber suede inserts, while Midnight Sapele wood trim lines adds darker visual elements to the cabin.

The special paint will be at dealers in March. All three CTS-V models start with the same MSRP of $64,340, including the $875 destination charge. The Black Diamond Edition commands an extra $4850 premium, putting the manual-equipped versions at $69,190 and automatic model at $70,490.

Read More: http://blogs.automotive.com/6716098/exotic-cars/details-on-2011-cadillac-cts-v-black-diamond-edition-paint-job/index.html

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Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Hits the Track

Sebring, Fla. -- The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe race car hit the track for the first time on Jan. 17, driven by Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim, for tests at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla.

Cadillac 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.

Read More: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_cadillac.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Jan/0118_cad_racing_photos

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