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Showing posts with label Cadillac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cadillac. Show all posts
Monday, August 9, 2010
Thursday, March 5, 2009
President of Cadillac-Hummer-Saab Channel Wants More Cadillac Derivatives
The critical acclaim of its newest sedan, the Cadillac CTS, prompted GM to spawn both wagon and coupe derivatives off the platform. If Mark McNabb, the president of the Cadillac-Hummer-Saab channel gets his way, Cadillac will get more models based on that scenario.
"Look at a CTS and I think you can start understanding where we are going. Look at a CTS [sedan], CTS wagon, CTS coupe - obviously, derivatives off a platform make a lot of sense from a financial perspective," McNabb said at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.
Cadillac's plan mimics the business model of one of Europe's biggest luxury players, Mercedes-Benz, which offers several niche models based on similar platforms. BMW has been following the trend as well, debuting an X6 "sports activity coupe" last year, which is based on the X5 platform, and unveiling a 5-Series GT hatchback built on the underpinnings of the new 7-Series.
"I compete today in about 65 to 68 percent of the market," McNabb said. In addition to the CTS, Cadillac sells the STS and DTS sedans, the XLR roadster on schedule to be discontinued after the 2009 model year, the SRX crossover which is redesigned for the 2010 model year, and the Escalade SUV. The CTS wagon will arrive in showrooms this year as a 2010 model, while the coupe will be available next year as a 2011.
GM Delays 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe
Production of the Cadillac CTS Coupe, which debuted as a well-received concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, has been postponed until next summer, according to GM spokeswoman Joanne Krell.
The CTS coupe was originally one of three vehicles scheduled to debut this summer, in a sort of Cadillac advent. The other two vehicles, which are still scheduled to go into production this year, are the 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon and 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover.
"We made a few changes to the overall portfolio," Krell said. "Obviously we are in a challenging economic time, and one of the changes is to move the coupe back a year. Instead of coming out this summer, it will come out next summer."
The coupe was initially scheduled to make its production debut at the Los Angeles auto show last November, along with the redesigned 2010 Buick LaCrosse. Although the LaCrosse was delayed until the 2009 NAIAS, the CTS coupe failed to make an appearance in Detroit.
Krell said GM doesn't know if the CTS coupe will be a 2010 or 2011 model due to the delay.
Cadillac E-Flex Concept pops up at Detroit Auto Show as the Converj
The rumored Cadillac E-Flex concept was confirmed this morning at General Motor's 2009 Detroit Auto Show press conference. The concept's official name will be the Cadillac Converj and, as anticipated, it is based on the Chevy Volt platform.
The Converj concept is the latest rolling showcase for GM's extended-range electric propulsion system, which the company is now calling Voltec. The Converj features the same 16-kWh, T-shaped battery, electric drive unit, and four-cylinder engine-generator as the Volt. Thus, like the volt, the Converj will go 40 miles on emissions-free electric power. It then switches to the four cylinder engine to provide power to the motor and charge the lithium-ion battery.
Although the Converj is based on the Volt, the design, from GM's U.K. advanced design studio under the direction of Simon Cox, is pure Cadillac. Unlike the Volt sedan, it sports a coupe body style with seats for four passengers in a 2+2 layout. A small trunk is accessed through an even smaller opening. The overall shape resembles the CTS coupe concept that debuted at last year's show with a bit of the Cien show car mixed in. The design emphasizes aerodynamics, with minimal grille openings, a fully covered underbody, and slim cameras in place of rearview mirrors. The smallest Cadillac ever made, the Converj is some 10 inches shorter than the CTS coupe. The Converj is about the same length as the Volt but it's wider, due to the Cadillac's larger wheels and tires (21-inches up front and 22 inches at the rear).
Inside, the Converj is trimmed with white suede and black leather and there is a blue ambient glow throughout the cabin. The instrument cluster is illuminated with LEDs and touch-screens are used for navigation, climate, center-stack controls and audio systems. A screen placed high on the instrument panel displays surrounding images provided by cameras.
Although no production plans have been announced at this time, the Converj is intended to show the flexibility of the Voltec propulsion technology. It's also a window into GM's thinking as to where to take the Cadillac brand.
2009 Cadillac CTS-V Prices
Though we knew the official performance stats and its official Nurburgring lap time, there was one aspect of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V that we didn't know until now: its price.
According to a new release from Cadillac, the new CTS-V carries a base price of $59,995. Not only does that undercut the BMW M5 (which starts at $83,900), but it also provides some in-house competition to the more expensive (and less powerful) STS-V.
That $59,995 figure yields buyers a 'base' CTS-V, which, in addition to the monstrous 556-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, includes a six-speed manual transmission, Bose surround sound system, and a stitched leather interior. A six-speed automatic will be offered as an option, as will Recaro performance seats and a panoramic sunroof.
If the performance and the price seem too hard to pass up, plan a visit to your local Caddy dealer in November, when the first production examples arrive from the factory.
Friday, January 23, 2009
New Cadillac Limousine Prepared for Obama Administration
In 1919, Woodrow Wilson was the first American President to be seen in a Cadillac limousine. Ninety years later, President Barack Obama will continue the tradition.
With Obama’s inauguration approaching, GM has released photos and information on the new Presidential Limo President Obama will ride in. The new Presidential Limo has been updated to reflect Cadillac’s current design theme and reflect styling seen on the STS and DTS sedans. In addition to adding visual depth to the car, the design updates give the car a more upright profile to help with outward visibility.
While most aspects of the car are confidential, Cadillac has pointed out how to identify if the president is in the vehicle and where the presidential seals are located. If the president is in the vehicle, an onlooker can see the presidential flag (or standard) flown on the left front fender – assuming, of course, the onlooker can see past the president’s motor convoy. The presidential seals are affixed to the exterior rear doors on each door panel trim piece, and one in the center of the rear seat back panel.
Details are thin on anything else related to the Presidential Limo, but we’re told the passenger compartment is equipped with all the luxury and communication features one could ever need. We also believe the car to use a large gasoline V-8 engine: with the Caddy packing on tremendous weight from extensive armor plating (we’re told the doors are almost eight inches thick), it’ll need all the power the engine can muster.
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