The very notion of souping up a Cadillac Escalade seems a little odd in the
first place, but that is exactly what New Jersey-based radical tuner SLP has
done. The work includes a body kit that brings a composite hood with chrome
finishers and a polycarbonate window that allows passersby to admire what lies
beneath. It also counts Cadillacs Platinum Edition upper and lower front
grilles as well as body-colour side skirts. All this serves to let the world
know this is not your grandpas Escalade.
But, its what hides beneath the brightwork that really makes the biggest
difference.
In this instance, SLP takes the monster SUV and breathes new life into it.
Gone is the 6.2-litre engine and its 403 horsepower in favour of a supercharged
version of the V8 that earns a Blackwing cold air intake and an axle-back
big-bore exhaust system. The combination increases the Escalades output to no
less than 525 stallions, which imbues the 2,600-kilogram SUV with a serious dose
of attitude.
Big, soft, comfortable and yacht-like are all good descriptors for
the Cadillac DTS. The largest sedan in the brands product lineup, the stately
DTS takes a place above the CTS and STS in Cadillacs portfolio.
Its popular with mafia types and delegates in black, and moreover, with
drivers after a machine devoid of much stimulation or effort while theyre at
the wheel. If youre after a giant sedan with room for up to six, as well as a
quiet ride, ultra-comfortable suspension and a driving feel thatll leave you
wondering if youre in your living room or your car, the DTS might be for you.
Look for plenty of room, standard leather seating, easy-reading gauges, a
cavernous trunk (bodies not included), remote access, OnStar and plenty more.
Navigation, Bose audio and heated and cooled seats were available on higher-end
models. All DTS models got a 4.6L V8 with a four-speed automatic and front-wheel
drive.
The luxury midsize sedan scene got a definite injection of heat this year
with the introduction of new BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class models. At
the Detroit Auto Show this week, Cadillac added its own dash of sauce with the
2013 ATS.
While the styling is definitely right down the middle of the brand's Art &
Science theme, we think its proportions are smart and the details are sharp.
With a trio of engine options, including a 270-horsepower turbocharged
four-cylinder, available all-wheel drive, and six-speed manual transmissions for
the ordering, it looks to be a very strong competitor to the heavier Germans.
The ATS rides on an all-new rear-wheel-drive platform, and the end result is
car that's about eight inches shorter in length than the larger CTS sedan.
Cadillac's Art & Science design language has been updated for the smaller sedan,
with angular lines and flat surfaces found throughout the four-door's styling.
Sure, Cadillac is quite proud of the way the ATS looks, but what's most
important about this car is its performance. After all, the ATS will go
head-to-head with the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, so on the road, it
has to be good.
A key factor to the ATS' development was lightness, and GM's North American
President, Mark Reuss, stated that the new sedan will be "the most
mass-efficient car in the segment." Weighing in at less than 3,400 pounds, the
ATS is around 100 pounds lighter than a comparable Audi A4, while packing a more
powerful engine lineup. The base engine is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated
inline-four, putting out 200 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, which
should be good for over 30 miles per gallon on the highway. The real points of
interest are the new turbocharged 2.0-liter four and 3.6-liter V6. The up-level
turbo four should be good for around 270 horsepower, and the larger
direct-injected V6 will send 318 hp to the ground. Transmission choices include
a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, and both rear- and all-wheel drive will
be available.
During the presentation, Reuss also confirmed that the ATS will get a diesel
engine in its first life-cycle, though specific details are unavailable as of
this writing. We know that GM is already working on a small diesel mill for the
Cruze sedan, so the new oil-burning ATS could use a version of this engine, if
not the same exact one
We designed the CTS Sport Sedan with near-perfect weight balance to give you
exceptional control. Watch Cadillac's unbelievable demonstration of what
exceptional control really looks like.
Cadillac feels our pain, which is why the automaker is introducing a Touring
Package option for the 3.0-liter V-6 and 3.6-liter V-6 Cadillac CTS
models. While the packages wont make the CTS any faster, it will enhance the
driving experience by borrowing interior bits from the CTS-V.
Opting for the $2,065 Touring Package on 3.0-liter V-6 CTS sedans or wagons
will get you 18-inch pearl nickel finish wheels, dual exhausts, a dark finish
grille, HID headlamps and fog lamps, suede seat inserts, a suede steering wheel
and shifter, midnight Sapele wood trim and metal pedals.
If you choose a CTS sedan, coupe or wagon with the 3.6-liter V-6, the Touring
Package jumps to $2,810 in price but includes more content. You get the Recaro
sport seats (which cost $3,400 on their own in the CTS-V), plus the suede
steering wheel and shifter, midnight Sapele wood trim, dark finish grille, metal
pedals and polished 19-inch wheels.
Sedan and Coupe buyers opting for the Touring Package will also get the
wing-shaped high-center brake light from the CTS-V, which isn't available on
Sport Wagon models.
For those who want improved handling, Cadillac is also offering the FE3
performance suspension, which nets you steering-wheel-mounted mounted paddle
shifters for the six-speed automatic as well as stiffer springs and dampers.
On Wednesday, Cadillac introduced a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
for its 2013 ATS compact luxury sedan, which is scheduled to have its debut at
the Detroit auto show in January. A 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and 3.6-liter
6-cylinder will also be offered.
The 2-liter unit generates 270 horsepower, or 135 horsepower per liter a
number that, according to Cadillac, edges the highest-performing engines from
Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Complementing the horsepower figure is a wide torque
curve that peaks at 260 pound-feet, and at least 90 percent of that grunt is
available constantly from 1,500 to 5,800 r.p.m.
Although Cadillac speaks of the 2-liter engine in singular terms, it wont
elude casual followers of the brand that General Motors, the corporate parent,
offers a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder in the Buick Regal GS sports sedan. But
while it may generate the same horsepower as the Buick unit, the ATS engine is
no mere derivative, G.M. says.
The ATS engine is absolutely all new, said Mike Anderson, G.M.s global
chief engineer and program manager for 4-cylinder engines, in a telephone
interview Thursday. Its a mirrored version of the engine used in the Regal GS.
The exhaust and intake are on opposite sides. You cant do that without changing
everything.
He may be one of the biggest stars on the planet, with a personal fortune of
millions, but even Justin Bieber isn't above the law. The 17-year-old star was
pulled over by a Los Angeles Police Officer earlier today for a suspected
traffic offence. The Baby singer was spotted with his hands over his face as he
spoke to the officer through the driver's window.
Police told TMZ that Bieber made an 'unsafe left turn' at a Los Angeles
intersection. However, the star was let off with a warning after 'promising to
be more careful in the future', reports the website.
His car features Batman symbols on the front and back along with his initials
on the side panel.
Buyers who wanted something more than a Yukon with sniff-happy leather were
delighted to see a new V-8 on the Escalade's menu. Where the truncated (two
model-year) first gen had the same powerplants as the GMC equivalent, the 2002
Escalade received a high-output version of the 6.0-liter Vortec 6000 engine also
used in GM's larger pickups and SUVs. Pounding 345 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque
through a four-speed automatic (sorry, no manuals), the big Vortec motivated the
Escalade righteously. Zero-to-60 times of 7.5 seconds (from a Motor Trend test
of the 2002 model) put the big Caddy at the top of the heap.
Santa Claus is preparing for this years job and, as usual, there are many
who are trying to help him by providing various means of transportation that
would cater to his transportation needs better than his sled.
The latest proposal comes from US tuning company Bullet Motorsports. They
offered Santa a Cadillac CTS-V with a custom Rudolph theme. He might be old, but,
as you can see in the adjacent video, he really knows his way around a
rear-wheel-drive car.
If youve ever wanted to see Santa drift around the parking lot, be sure to
hit the play button. We have to say that we wouldve gone for the wagon
version, but maybe hes likes the car so much he just wants to make multiple
trips, not just one.
General Motors will be introducing four vehicles, including an all-new
Cadillac, at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in
January, according to the automakers product chief.
GM's Senior Vice President of Global Product Development, Mary Barra,
confirms that the much-anticipated Cadillac ATS, seen only in a teaser
image to date, will make its debut at the show. The compact, rear-wheel-drive
sports sedan has been designed to take on the likes of the BMW 3-Series and
Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Details on the ATS are still under wraps, but it is expected to be powered by
a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing in excess of 250 hp and feature
Cadillacs recently introduced
CUE
infotainment system, as seen on the XTS sedan unveiled at the 2011 Los
Angeles Auto Show in November. A high performance version is also rumored to be
under development.
Frame has a 1975 Cadillac Eldorado. The body is by Fisher and the interior is
by Fleetwood. It has crimson exterior paint and cream-colored bench seats front
and back. At over 18 feet, his Cadillac is so long it wont fit in the garages
of many modern homes.
It just barely fits in mine, Frame said. The car weighs more than 5000
pounds and is powered by a beastly enormous 500 cubic inch V-8 engine. Its
Cadillacs eighth generation of a model that was at or near the top of the line
for more than 20 years going back to 1953. The last Eldorado assembled was in
2002.
Frame acquired his Caddy from a relative by marriage whod only driven the
car 180 miles in seven years of ownership.
It appealed to me because I love old cars, he said. Id rather have an old
car than a new one. Frame showed me a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air behind his house
that hes preparing to drop an overhauled engine into. I can work on old ones
but cant work on these new automobiles, he explained. When I was growing up
in Waveland, Arkansas my daddy had about 38 old cars.
The Cadillac ELR is a luxurious, dramatic 2+2 coupe, based on the highly
acclaimed Cadillac Converj Concept. Using electricity as its primary propulsion
source and a range-extending four-cylinder engine, the ELR will be as
exhilarating as it is responsible. The future is just around the corner.
Ive said it before and Ill say it again: there isnt anything in GMs
portfolio that brings together such a combination of performance, creature
comforts and design that is displayed in the Cadillac CTS-V. Now if youll
excuse me, I have to go listen to the Team America theme song.
Check out a sneak peek of Cadillac's newest commercial. Direct injection. 265
lb.-ft. of torque. The 308 HP Cadillac SRX. The most powerful standard engine in
any luxury crossover.
The 2011 Los Angeles auto show hosted debuts from Buick and Cadillac, each
using essentially the same version of GMs Epsilon II platform for the LaCrosse
GL concept and XTS Platinum, respectively. The Cadillac XTS and Buick
LaCrosse may use the same platform and will soon roll in the parking lots of the
same country clubs, but the large luxury sedans take a very different approach
when it comes to shaping the sheetmetal. Is this a simple rebadge for Cadillac?
Not even close. Head to the gallery below to see the changes for yourself.
The United States is still the largest market for GMs luxury brand, Cadillac.
Even optimistic projections dont show international sales surpassing domestic
sales until the end of the decade, according to Cadillacs VP of marketing, Don
Butler.
According to Automotive News Cadillac will sell some 150,000 new vehicles in
the United States this year, but only 50,000 to the rest of the world. Despite
extensive development and testing in Germany, Cadillac expects to see its
biggest growth in China, far from the European market.
Is that a sign that Cadillac has an image problem in Europe? Actually, its a
content issue, and as GM CEO Dan Akerson explained to Automotive News, To go to
Europe without having right-hand drive or diesel is, in my estimation, premature.
Conceding that Cadillac had work to do before it could successfully grow its
presence in Europe, Akerson justified the push into the Chinese market as a
matter of numbers. By 2020, China is expected to account for 40 percent of the
worlds luxury vehicle sales, and more shoppers equal more potential unit sales.
General Motors is recalling 674 2012 Cadillac CTS vehicles because a pushrod
could separate from the brake pedal, according to the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration.
"These vehicles may have a condition in which the power vacuum brake boost
pushrod retention nut may not be torqued to the proper specification," said
NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. "If the nut is not torqued to the
proper specification, the nut could loosen and allow the pushrod to separate
from the brake pedal. This could result in a loss of ability to brake and a
vehicle crash without prior warning."
GM also issued a stop-sale order on the 2012 Cadillac CTS, effective on
October 29, according to federal documentation.
Its part of Cadillacs search for a new mantra to refocus the company around,
thats what. All our competition plays to a single strength, says Cadillac
Global Design Director, Clay Dean. BMW has the Ultimate Driving Machine; Audi
has Vorsprung durch Technik. Everything they do goes back to reinforcing that
goal. So we said, What is Cadillacs single strength? What made Cadillac
desirable in its day? We were the king of large luxury and of flamboyant,
progressive styling. Thats what we were.
The 2013 Cadillac XTS production version has leaked on the internet, after
the North American based automaker has placed a single image into a slideshow on
its official website, in what can be named as a risky PR move with the
automotive media, or even a simple mistake which wont remain unpunished.
The 2013 model year of the Cadillac XTS is expected to be officially unveiled
next week, at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, so the leaked image which is
showing us the production version of the vehicle might also be Cadillacs way
into attracting all the attention onto the new model.
Power to the 2013 Cadillac XTS is rumored to come from a 3.6 liter V6 engine
which will be developing a total output of 318 horsepower and will have a peak
torque of 275 lb-ft (372 Nm), with front-wheel drive offered as standard and
all-wheel drive as an option.
Cadillac is set to showcase the award-winning collection of 2012 vehicles
including the 2012 CTS Coupe and Escalade with new sport package at the 2011
Dubai International Motor Show in November.
"The CTS Sport Coupe and Escalade Sport continue to offer Cadillac's advanced
features and luxury experience. Cadillac's 2012 range delivers the power and
refinement of the brand, setting the standard of the world in the automotive
industry, paving the way for innovative features and designs while maintaining
the highest level of quality and safety," said Adrian Enciso, regional brand
manager for Cadillac in the Middle East. The 2012 CTS Coupe with the sport
package is available on all rear-wheel drive models.
The package offers a sport grille and V-Series center brake light, midnight
Sapele wood trim package, recaro performance seats and available microfiber
suede seat inserts in Ebony or Light Titanium. In addition, it features a
19-inch polished aluminum wheels, microfiber suede-trimmed steering wheel rim
and shift knob and sport alloy pedals.
Cadillac is also premiering the new Sport Collection for the Escalade series
of luxury SUVs, including numerous luxury, performance and technology features
inherent to the lineup. Features include Magnetic Ride Control, power operated
sunroof, Intellibeam headlamps and a Side Blind Zone Alert safety alert system
as well as a rear seat entertainment and power-assist steps that deploy
automatically as the doors open and close.
Lift the powertrain from the shattering Corvette ZR1 and wedge it neatly into
Cadillac's CTS, and what do you get? If you're like us, you get a huge, goofy
grin and a stupendously quick, sharp version of the best small Caddy ever, in
either coupe, sedan or wagon form.
Cadillac's "V" formula is like the M, AMG, S and RS treatment applied to
other hot irons in the entry-luxury fire. With the 2012 CTS-V, whips up
excitement against the likes of the Benz E63 AMG, BMW M5 and Audi S6, with a
pricetag that's closer to the smaller C63, M3 and S4. For now, it's the leader
of that pack, and a fitting benchmark for GM's luxury and performance brand,
too.
Did you ever think that enough is enough? That less is more, or that
sometimes, its just better and safer to stop? Did you ever think that an 1 000
horsepower engine is impossible? Well, appearently, enough is never enough and
less is absolutely never more when it comes to engines, and appearently, an 1
000 horsepower engine really exists. And its Cadillacs.
The Cadillac CTS-V Le Monstre is preparing for the SEMA unveiling, and
as well for the looks of our faces being absolutely mesmerised by its
awesomeness.
This Frankenstein of The D3 Group should manage to impress from every
little being in there to even the Mustang fans, with its stock 564 hp 6.2-liter
LSA V8 that all Cadillac cars boast, increased up to 7.0-liter (427 cubic-inches)
and featuring upgraded components, the end result being a staggering 1,0001 hp
and 1,000 lb. ft. of torque.
Producer and actor Mark Wahlberg takes care of his business from the backseat.
For added convenience, Wahlberg had a new Cadillac Escalade transformed into a
mobile office by California-based aftermarket specialists West Coast Customs.
The customization process was captured for an episode of Inside West Coast
Customs, which debuts Sun. Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. on Velocity, billed as a new
upscale male lifestyle network by Discovery.
John Hennessey takes his daily driver 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon to the Texas Mile and sets a world record. Then fills up with pump gas and drives his "Hammer Wagon" 175 miles to get home in time for dinner.
General Motors plans to introduce the production version of the new 2013 Cadillac XTS in November at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
GM said it planned to show the production XTS sedan with its new CUE infotainment system. CUE bundles a suite of infotainment, navigation and communication tools with an intuitive user interface, and debuts next year on Cadillac's new ATS and XTS sedans and the SRX crossover.
The XTS was previewed at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, when GM unveiled the all-wheel-drive XTS Platinum Concept.
General Motors is hoping to snag buyers who'd otherwise be driving an Audi
A6, BMW 5 Series or Mercedes-Benz E-Class when it launches the new Cadillac
XTS next year. That may prove a tall order, but the General is going about
it in an interesting way.
Rather than (or in addition to) marketing the new XTS directly to prospective
buyers, Cadillac is reportedly planning on selling its new flagship sedan (potentially
stretched by approved third-party coachbuilders) to what are commonly known as
Town Car drivers known in the industry as Black Cars. We're not talking about
the retiree down the street who refuses to drive anything but a full-size
Lincoln we're talking about car service operators who shuttle those with the
means around cities like New York. Like taxis, only booked in advance and
slightly more upscale, they're the preferred mode of transportation for affluent
professionals and executives in Manhattan.
Although Cadillac purists likely ask why you would ever want to put a loud and smelly truck engine in a 1960 Cadillac, we can only celebrate the kind of thinking that leads to creations like these. What better way to make your not quite perfect finned Cadillac stand out from a crowd than installing a 5.9 liter Cummins diesel where a 390 V8 once lived? That's what sits beneath the hood of this black beast and it's attached to a five speed manual transmission.
Cadillac's Art and Science design ethos is easily one of the most ambitious
in the industry. But Cadillac hasn't kept pace with its competition in a number
of areas, including the realm of infotainment. That's set to change when the XTS
arrives next year and Cadillac introduces CUE the Cadillac User Experience.
The all-new navigation, information and multimedia system is making its world
debut at the CTIA Wireless show this week, but we've been given a sneak peak
ahead of its coming out party in San Diego, CA. From what we've seen, Cadillac
hasn't just made a competitive system to battle the likes of BMW's iDrive,
Audi's MMI and the (aging) COMAND setup from Mercedes-Benz CUE portends
another shift in how we interact with our cars, how we access information on the
go and how we can adapt vehicles to suit our individual needs and tastes. But is
it the right direction? Let's take a look.
No automaker in the history of our country could ever define the American
Dream like Cadillac. For years, the brand has been the status ideal for many
hardworking Americans, and their designs, quality, and comfort have made them
the forerunner in luxury travel. One such model that exemplifies the Cadillac
standard is the Cadillac Fleetwood, which began its long-running legacy in 1947.
It was labeled the flagship design and became the most popular Cadillac model
for decades. Its that kind of bloodline that thirty-two year old Scott Buras of
Kenner, Louisiana fell in love with. Owning four straight Cadillac vehicles on
his roster, Scott found a stock 1995 Cadillac Fleetwood and immediately began
work on customizing it.
Ever since the 2011 CTS Coupe went on sale at US dealerships in mid-2010, the
car has won laurels after laurels. And now, to top it all off, the company has
made it official that the CTS has become Americas best-selling mid-size luxury
coupe. In September alone, GM has sold 15,771 Cadillac CTS Coupe units. This has
accounted for a whopping 27 percent of overall sales.
"This car rivals Bentley and Rolls. That is our intention," Ciel designer
Niki Smart told me at the Ciel unveiling. Smart says the Ciel was inspired by
California's open roads and has several California-specific design elements,
which is not surprising when you find out that the convertible was designed at
the Cadillac studio in North Hollywood.
The special burgundy/plum exterior color evokes Napa and Sonoma's merlots and
cabernets. The sand leather interior represents California beaches, using
naturally sourced leathers. The dashboard, console and door accents are machined
from a 300-year-old California olivewood tree that had fallen over.
Smart declined to put a price on all this top-down luxury, just smiling and
nodding his head in a "maybe" gesture when I asked $100,000 - $150,000? "This
will push the upper price range," is all he would say.
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