This is the new 2014 Cadillac CTS that will have its world debut at the upcoming 2013 New York Auto Show, official pics leaked by USA Today. The CTS is Cadillac’s midsize luxury sedan that challenges German stalwarts 5-Series, E-Class and A6, as well as the Lexus GS.

This CTS will come with a new twin-turbo V6 engine that serves up 420 hp and 582 Nm of torque. There’s also talk of a new Vsport model with the twin-turbo engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Full details soon, but for now, check out America’s take on the luxury car. It’s different, that’s for sure.

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Cadillac unveiled the 2014 ELR at the 2013 NAIAS in Detroit. The production coupe, which is a faithful reproduction of the Converj Concept from 2009, features the first application of Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) tech by a full-line luxury brand, GM says. EREV is the same tech used in the Chevy Volt.

EREV combines pure electric drive and a range-extending 1.4L petrol-powered electric generator capable of 207 hp of total system power, with 400 Nm on tap. Full driving range exceeds 300 miles, or 480 km.

The ELR’s battery is a T-shaped, 16.5 kWh lithium-ion pack, located along the centerline of the vehicle, between the front and rear wheels for optimal weight distribution. Using only the energy stored in the battery, the Cadillac ELR will deliver a GM-estimated range of about 56 km of pure electric driving, depending on terrain, driving techniques and temperature.

A driver-selectable Hold mode directs when the Cadillac ELR uses its electric generator. This feature helps optimise the electric-driving experience, allowing owners who mix city and highway driving to save the battery charge for city travel, where the ELR EV mode operates most efficiently.

Charging the Cadillac ELR’s battery can be done with a 120V electrical outlet or a dedicated 240V charging station. The vehicle can be completely recharged in about 4.5 hours using a 240V outlet, depending on the outside temperature.

Once the vehicle is plugged in, owners can schedule either immediate or delayed charges, even coordinating charging according to departure time or when electricity rates are lower. Owners also can manage and monitor the ELR online or with their smartphone and RemoteLink, a mobile app powered by OnStar.

Cadillac ELR production begins in the USA in late 2013, with sales starting in early 2014 in North America and expanding to global markets including China and Europe.

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Cadillac is set to debut its ELR extended-range electric luxury two-door coupe at the NAIAS in Detroit in January, and has teased the upcoming car via a silhouette sketch. Not that there’s much to hide, really – the vehicle is the production version of the Converj concept revealed at the 2009 edition of the show.

The ELR will advance the design theme of the Converj, and will feature a Voltec electric propulsion system as seen on the Volt, with core components being a T-shaped lithium-ion battery, an electric drive motor and a four-cylinder engine-generator.

No details on the GM Delta II platform-based vehicle, but that on the Converj (seen in the second pix above), which touts an all-electric range of 64 km and a 160 km/h top speed as well as a recharge time of three hours (via a 240-volt outlet), should be a good indicator.

Production is scheduled to begin in late 2013 at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant. The ELR will be the first two-door car built at the plant since the 1999 Eldorado.

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We don’t usually feature American cars all that often. But we had to look at this one, you understand. Texas-based tuning company Hennessey Performance bears no relation whatsoever to the cognac (that’s spelt ‘Hennessy’) but we do wonder what these guys put in their drink. In 2010, they released the Hennessey Venom GT – essentially a 6.2 litre twin-turbo LS9 V8 in a Lotus Exige chassis, whacking out 1,200 hp and 1,564 Nm of torque.

As if that wasn’t enough, here comes the VR1200 Twin Turbo Coupe, based on the two-door Cadillac CTS-V. Limited to just 12 vehicles, this monster packs a 7.0 litre twin-turbo aluminium V8 with three adjustable boost levels that allow 800, 1,000 and the magical 1,226 hp (of which 1,066 goes to the rear wheels). Torque is an equally mental 1,501 Nm. As a result, 0-100 km/h is dealt with in a blistering 2.9 seconds and the car will go on to a theoretical top speed of 387 km/h.

The engine features forged pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft, as well as high-flow cylinder heads and air induction. The twin-ball bearing, billet wheel precision turbochargers have dual wastegates and an air-to-water intercooler. Watch the car strut its stuff on the dyno in the video below:

Other noteworthy upgrades are to the suspension (lowered and tuned), brakes (we certainly hope so!) and transmission. The CarbonAero wide-body kit, made mostly of carbon fibre, widens the rear of the car by 178 mm and the front by 76 mm.

How much? Including the price of the base car and excluding shipping costs, US$295k (RM915k). If you want, they’ll do up the CTS sedan and wagon to this spec too. Whatever it is, this Caddy sure has come a long way from this one…

Recently the state of Texas raised the speed limit on a stretch of road between Austin and San Antonio to 85 mph (136 km/h), making it the highest in the States. Still not high enough, apparently, for some Texans.

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This is the new Cadillac ATS, the GM luxury brand’s compact premium sedan challenger to the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class. To debut at the Detroit motor show, it will go on sale this summer in the US.

Targeting “spirited drivers”, the rear wheel drive ATS had Nürburgring as one of its key testing grounds, along with additional roads, racetracks and laboratories around the globe. “Designed with quick, nimble and fun-to-drive dynamics, ATS expands Cadillac’s portfolio into a crucial global segment. More than just another new entry, the ATS aims to change the status quo of the European-dominated segment,” said Don Butler, VP of marketing for Cadillac.

In the driving department, Caddy dangles nearly 50/50 weight balance, its first five-link independent rear suspension, multi-link double-pivot MacPherson-strut front suspension with direct-acting stabiliser bar, driver-adjustable FE3 sport suspension with Magnetic Ride Control, underbody aerodynamic shields, electric variable-effort steering gear from ZF, four-channel ABS with available Brembo brakes and AWD as an option.

Engine wise, there are two four-cylinders and a V6, including an all-new 2.0L turbo four-pot rated at 270 hp/353 Nm and Cadillac’s 3.6L V6 with 318 hp/362 Nm. A diesel is in the works. The ATS will offer both six-speed manual and automatic transmission options. An aluminum hood, magnesium engine mount brackets and even lightweight, natural-fiber door trim panels, are among the weight saving measures.

ATS comes with CUE, which stands for Cadillac User Experience. CUE pairs 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 customised info, voice commands and fewer buttons and larger icons. Caddy says that most of today’s luxury cars have around 20 buttons controlling the radio and entertainment functions. CUE has only four.

Cadillac has been using this Art & Science design language for quite awhile now, and while it’s a new model, the ATS doesn’t appear very fresh, for me at least. The sporty slant sounds good, though.

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Flamboyant, full blown concept cars have been decreasing in numbers these days, with more carmakers coming up with ‘concepts’ that are almost production ready. Here’s a wow inducing, jaw dropping one from Cadillac, called the Ciel Concept. Pronounced “C-L,” the French translation for sky, the Ciel is a big four-seat open top car, fittingly unveiled at Pebble Beach.

Ciel is powered by a twin-turbocharged version of Cadillac’s 3.6-litre direct Injection V6 engine, paired with a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology, and is stopped by carbon ceramic brakes. But who cares, just look at it!

Described as a new expression of Cadillac’s historical grandeur, as well as a celebration of open-air motoring, the Ciel is the carmaker’s attempt at exploring range-topping flagship luxury.

“Large, expressive luxury is innate to Cadillac and the Ciel recalls that heritage, while suggesting where the brand can go in the future. Authentic luxury is driven by experiences, not just products, and Ciel is about the experience of the journey,” said global design director Clay Dean.

“The Ciel is about the romance of the drive. It emulates the great touring cars seen on the greens at Pebble Beach, but with a modern flair that projects Cadillac’s vision for the future,” he added. By the way, they were thinking of driving along the California coastline in the sunset when designing the Ciel.

The Ciel’s long exterior (3,175 mm wheelbase) flows into the cabin, with the body colour (Cabernet, inspired by a glass of red wine held up to the sunlight) rolling over on top of the interior door panels.

Like the exterior, the passenger space is accented with nickel-plated trim. It divides the body-colour upper from a beige lower color. Italian Olive wood, machined aluminum and hand-tipped leather are the other elements that provide the warm, rich feel.

More warmth comes in the form of a cashmere blanket that stretches (rear occupants pull a leather tab to access) across the seating area to ward off a chill (it may be California, but the sun still goes down!). The wood trim in the rear center console opens to reveal a small humidor, stocked with cigars.

The good life indeed. Gallery after the jump.

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Cadillac will be unveiling its new CTS-V Coupe race car – which is set to take part in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT racing series this season – in Detroit at the 2010 North American International Auto Show next Monday.

The company will field two teams in the upcoming SCCA World Challenge, and this move heralds a return to the series it competed in from 2004 to 2007, in the GT class. Then, with the 500 hp 5.7 litre V8 CTS-V Sport Sedan, Cadillac captured the manufacturer’s championship in 2005 and 2007 and bagged the driver’s title in 2005.

The CTS-V Coupe race car was developed together with Michigan-based motorsports engineering firm Pratt & Miller. A lot of the car is standard, since the racecars in this series are production based, though of course some of the production CTS-V components are modified to meet both the demands of racing and SCCA technical rules.

Johnny O’Connell, a three-time GT1 champion in the America Le Mans Series, and Andy Pilgrim, who won the 2005 SCCA World Challenge GT class in a Cadillac, will be behind the wheel of the CTS-V racecars in the series.

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It’s not exactly the type of Caddy you’d be familar with, especially size-wise, but the design hints at what may be to come from the iconic brand. Cadillac showcased its Urban Luxury Concept, a design study exploring a new type of vehicle that offers luxury in a diminutive size, ahead of the start of the LA show.

The ULC was conceived and designed for the urban environment, where metropolitan needs should mean a car with as much usable space sans the bulk. The car seats four, with easy access to all seats available via a pair of scissor-type doors that extend outward and rotate forward when opened. The 3.85m-long design has virtually no overhangs, with the 19-inch wheels it sits pushed to the edges.

It’s powered by a concept hybrid propulsion system based around a turbocharged 1.0 litre three-cylinder engine employing electric assist technology, engine start-stop function, brake energy regeneration and a dry dual-clutch transmission. Cadillac says a combination of these technologies could offer projected fuel economy of 56 mpg in the city and 65 mpg on the highway.

The minimalist interior is finished with carbon-coloured wood inlays, brushed aluminum accents and ceramic materials, as well as blue and grey leather and contrasting fabric selected for its high-tech look and feel. There’s plenty of next-generation interactive technology too – touch-pad screens and projected readouts take the place of most traditional gauges and serve as the audio and climate system controls.

The conventional center stack is replaced by a divided interface that creates more space at the forward section of the interior. A pair of projected readouts flanks a large, prominent analogue speedometer, assisted by a high-def head-up display.

The technology behind the unique touch pad controls is ergonomically tucked around the steering wheel to deliver real-time feedback for an efficient commute. The right-hand touch pad is hidden until deployed or detached by the passenger, who can interact online without compromising the driver’s control.

Gallery after the jump.

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The US President said that security reasons was why his presidential limousine could not be a hybrid vehicle. “I asked can we make these cars hybrids,” Obama said at a town hall in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Secret Service said no. Now, the reason is not because Secret Service are bad guys. It’s because the cars that I’m in are like tanks.”

Obama explained that his Cadillac, nicknamed “the beast” for being big and black, is reinforced with armour plating and a host of protection gear, causing it weighs over two times the normal weight of cars. “They just couldn’t get the performance in terms of acceleration using a hybrid engine.”

The US Government recently announced that they have purchased more than 5,000 hybrid cars and trucks. “We are using our purchasing power to help encourage the clean car industry,” the Commander-in-Chief said.

Source

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Anyhow, the CTS-V Sport Wagon has seen the green light and production starts later this year. It will be powered by the same potent engine as the saloon – a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 with 556 bhp and massive torque of 747 Nm. That “Boeing figure” is more than what German rivals from quattro, AMG and M produce. Drive is channeled through six-speed transmissions (choose between manual or auto) to a rear axle that features a limited-slip differential within a cast iron housing for greater thermal management and “asymmetrical half-shafts” to smoothly manage the big torque.

Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control is also standard. Claimed to be the “world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology” MRC uses shocks controlled by advanced magneto-rheological technology (rather than mechanical valves) to accelerate response time and precision. Electronic sensors at all four wheels “read the road” every millisecond, making constant adjustments to damping. Brembo brakes are at all four corners and include powerful, six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear.

The Brembo brake rotors use “dual-cast” technology (cast iron and aluminium) for weight reduction and better performance. The CTS-V rides on specially tailored Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres.

More images after the jump.

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Other than the XTS concept, the usual fare of Cadillacs were there including the CTS Coupe, which has just had its CTS-V debut. Alot of North American media seem to like how the CTS Coupe looks like but I don’t know, blame regional tastebuds but despite the sharp clean lines it still just looks like a boxy hunk of metal with doors cut into the sides to me. Too much chrome and too much blank sheetmetal. Look for a live gallery after the jump or read more about the CTS-V.

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Cadillac has of late been quite successful in ditching its old man’s car image, spearheaded by hip-hop’s favourite SUV, the Escalade, and the sharply styled CTS sports sedan. But some remnants of its conservative past remains in the range, such as the DTS, which looks stuck in the 90s and totally out of sync with Caddy’s new image.

For Detroit, GM’s luxury brand shows off the XTS Platinum concept, a big car application of Cadillac’s “Art & Science” design language which would complete the brand transformation should it replace the STS/DTS. It’s pretty much the big brother of the CTS – carrying the same sharp, angular lines, but with more restraint.

The XTS is powered by a 3.6-litre direct injection V6 paired with a plug-in hybrid system, which is estimated to produce 350 bhp and 400 Nm. The concept uses an AWD chassis. The XTS’ Magnetic Ride Control uses shocks controlled by magneto-rheological tech, rather than mechanical valves, to govern body control and ride comfort.

Like current Platinum Edition Caddys, the concept’s interior is full of hand cut-and-sewn materials. The XTS injects more contemporary forms and themes into the cabin, including the use of Organic LED displays in place of traditional gauges and screens, which contrasts the warm wood trim. “We envisioned this concept as an automotive personal headquarters, using advanced technology to enable new levels of connectivity and luxury,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac’s GM.

More pictures after the jump.

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Following the trend of releasing images of a car before its motor show debut, Cadillac shows us the CTS-V Coupe ahead of the 2010 Detroit Motor Show, which starts in five days time. We will bring you live coverage from the first major motor show of 2010, but for now let’s turn our attention to this sharp looking Caddy.

As its name suggests, the CTS-V Coupe is a two-door version of America’s BMW M5 fighter. It shares the sedan’s 6.2-litre supercharged V8 with 556 bhp and 747 Nm of torque, which propels it from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds – the sort of figure that was reserved purely for high-end exotica not too long ago. Choose between a manual or automatic with paddle shifters, both with six speeds. Power goes to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential

The CTS-V Coupe has a Magnetic Ride Control system with two modes (Tour and Sport) and big Brembos (6-pistons up front and 4-pistons at the back). Inside, desirable options include 14-way adjustable Recaro seats fitted with pneumatic bolster controls. More information to come when we see it in the metal at Motor City!

Full gallery after the jump.

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Cadillac has updated its SRX crossover SUV and it is now in its second generation since first introduced in 2004. The mid-sized Caddy SUV now looks more dynamic and in tune with current design trends, unlike the first gen which had a slightly boxy look that reminds you of a Dodge.

Two engines are available – a normally aspirated direct injected V6 and a more powerful turbocharged 2.8 litre V6. No SRX-V yet, but looking at how BMW is rushing to make M versions of their SUVs, I won’t be surprised if we see the introduction of a SRX-V, perhaps with the CTS-V’s 550+ hp LS V8 engine under the hood?

The 3.0 litre V6 is a downsized version of the 3.6 litre unit in the Cadillac CTS, which was named one of the world’s 10 best engines for 2009 according to Ward’s Auto. It’s equipped with the latest fuel-sipping technology such as variable valve timing and direct injection, and is paired to a 6-speed Hydra-Matic 6T70 6-speed automatic transmission. The more powerful engine is the 2.8 litre turbocharged V6 that puts out 300 horsepower and 400Nm of torque, similiar figures to BMW’s turbo inline-6.

To help with fuel economy, all-wheel drive is not a standard feature so customers who do not want or need it can opt for a two wheel drive version that sheds the AWD system’s heavy equipment. But for those who opt for all-wheel drive power, it is also equipped with an eLSD at the rear, which helps with torque distribution for maximum traction. There is also a real-time adjustable damping system which can vary the suspension’s parameters on the fly in response to road conditions.

Please check out a full high res gallery after the jump. Personally to me this is just another SUV from an American company, but I’m glad this article is coming to an end because the vehicle’s name is pretty hard to type, considering how R and E are next to each other on the keyboard! :P

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Video: GM explains the Cadillac SRX

Video: Cadillac SRX Beauty Shots

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Thanks to its 6.2 litre supercharged V8 engine, the Cadillac CTS-V clocks in at just under 556 horsepower on the power scale, placing it right under the 580hp Audi RS6 in the race for the most powerful factory D-segment sedan. That’s of course if you discount the Brabus E V12 based on the W211 E-Class, producing 640 horsepower from its S-Class-sourced V12 engine.

You may wonder how Cadillac ended up with names like the CTS and DTS when it used to have proper wordy names such as the DeVille, Seville and Eldorado. Well, those names are still alive today actually. DTS stands for DeVille Touring Sedan while the CTS you see here actually replaces the Catera, so CTS actually stands for Catera Touring Sedan. The STS is the Seville Touring Sedan.

This is based off the second generation CTS, and the V at the end of its name denotes it belongs to the V-Series of high performance Cadillacs, which also include the STS-V sedan and the XLR-V hard top convertible.

0 to 100km/h only takes 3.9 seconds with this car, and Cadillac claims a sub-8 minute lap time around the Nurburgring circuit. Manual shifting via steering wheel shift buttons is available via a hardy 6-speed automatic transmission that has to handle 748Nm of torque, but for the full manual experience complete with clutch and all a 6-speed manual is also available.

The CTS-V also features what it calls the world’s fastest reacting suspension – Magnetic Ride Control shocks sourced from Delphi, who also supplies its MagnaRide adjustable magnetic suspensions to Audi.

Look after the jump for more hi-res images.

PHOTO GALLERY: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo

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Some of you may have seen this huge pink monster of a coupe with large 4 inch fins around town. This is a 1959 Cadillac Coupe deVille with a Cadillac 390cui pushrod V8 engine. That’s 6.4 litres of displacement and 325 horsepower driving the rear wheels for you, mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission.

This particular car is owned by Peter Klement, an Austrian businessman living in Malaysia. He has restored the car 3 times in total, and to get to its current form the car was scraped down and then marine sandblasting, treated and painted. I could not believe when I heard the amount of money spent on this monster but looking at it and hearing how it sounds, I know the owner feels it was probably worth every penny.

Despite being a car from the late 50s it has features sometimes not found in modern cars, which surprised me. It has a power steering, working power windows for all 4 windows (the rear quarter glass goes down as well), and an air conditioning system that runs perfectly. The owner says its just like driving any other modern car – you have all the creature comforts you could ever need.

Look after the jump for a hi-res photo gallery of the 1959 Coupe deVille.

PHOTO GALLERY: 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo

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The 2008 Cadillac BLS Wagon is the first ever Cadillac Wagon, and its on sale in UK now priced from £21,495.

“Launching the first-ever Wagon in Cadillacs history gave us the opportunity to revise the 2008 BLS Saloon model line-up to enhance our presence in the premium UK market. We looked again at what the current UK market and consumers would expect from a Cadillac and then added all the equipment to match those expectations – as standard. This enabled us to rationalise the specification levels from three down to just one. We wanted to make the BLS line-up simple for us to communicate and for customers to understand,” said Jonathan Nash, Direct in Charge of Cadillac UK.

There are six engine choices which range between 150 PS to 255 PS, including a new 180 PS turbodiesel engine and a 200 PS Flexpower bio-ethanol engine.

Two more photos after the jump.


Click to enlarge

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General Motors is seriously looking into oil burners, with it’s latest move to buy 50% of Italian diesel engine maker VM Motori.

VM Motori and GM have jointly developed a 2.9 litre V6 turbodiesel engine for the upcoming European market 2009 Cadillac CTS (shown above). The engine will be designed, developed, tested, and built at VM Motori’s plant in Cento, Italy.

This 2,935cc DOHC 60-degree V6 turbodiesel engine makes 250 horsepower and a nice 550Nm of torque from 2,000rpm, and is flexible in it’s possible applications – both longitudinal or transverse layouts are possible, as well installed in both two wheel drive or four wheel drive cars.

Fuel economy is boosted using high-speed, piezo-resistive cylinder pressure sensors that are integrated within the engine glow plugs which read combustion data in real time and enables instantaneous fine-tuning of the fuel injection process.

Fuel injection is via a high pressure common-rail system with piezo injectors that can do up to 2,000 bar injection pressure. The turbocharger is mounted smack in the middle of the two cylinder banks, ensuring turbo piping is kept to a minimum length.

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