2009 Cadillac CTS-V offers supercar performance, everyday drivability

2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Despite recent products to the contrary, when much of America thinks "Cadillac," a lot of people still recall the land yachts of the '70s and '80s. Hoods and decks marginally shorter than your average aircraft carrier, and Sedan de Villes and Fleetwoods serving as hearses or transportation for those awaiting a ride in one. But something happened to Cadillac a few years back. After several failed attempts to compete with the Germans (Seville STS, Allante and Catera), General Motors began crafting a strategy to take on the luxury marques abroad. At the forefront of that movement is the Cadillac CTS and the pinnacle of their efforts is this, the CTS-V. To paraphrase and co-opt the grizzled Oldsmobile tag-line: "The 2009 CTS-V is not your grandfather's Cadillac." Not by a long shot.

2010 Cadillac SRX pricing starts at $34,155

As GM heads towards an inevitable bankruptcy by the end of the month, it announced today that Cadillac will see two important launches later this summer. Production of the new 2010 Cadillac SRX and the CTS Sport Wagon will start this summer.

Pricing for the 2010 Cadillac SRX will start at $34,155. The 2010 SRX will be offered with two engine choices including GM’s new 3.0L V6 direct-injection unit making 260-hp with a peak torque of 221 lb-ft. The range-topper will be powered by a 2.8L turbocharged V6 making 300-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Fuel-economy is estimated to come in the mid-20s on the highway.

The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon will be offered with a 263-hp 3.6L VVT or a 304-hp 3.6L V6. Highway fuel economy is estimated to reach 28 mpg. Pricing for the 2010 CTS Sport Wagon will be announced at a later date.

Press Release:

Cadillac Launches Two New Vehicles This Summer

* All-new SRX Crossover starts at $34,155
* CTS Sport Wagon strengthens CTS model lineup

DETROIT - Cadillac’s model lineup expands with two dramatically-designed new luxury vehicles that also bring new dimensions of versatility and efficiency to the marketplace. Cadillac announced today that the 2010 SRX Crossover, scheduled to begin production this summer, will be priced aggressively starting at $34,155.

Later this summer, the acclaimed CTS family will expand again with the arrival of the CTS Sport Wagon. Together with the all-new SRX, these two dynamic new Cadillac models are in sync with the changing priorities of today’s luxury consumers.

“In a tough market the new SRX and CTS Sport Wagon are the right products at the right time, says Steve Shannon,” executive director of marketing for Cadillac. “They offer new dimensions of versatility and fuel efficiency, along with Cadillac’s signature design and technical features.”

The all-new SRX launches into the strong luxury crossover vehicle segment, a category that now accounts for nearly one-fourth of all luxury vehicles sold in the U.S. market. The SRX features new downsized and fuel efficient engines in a completely redesigned vehicle that delivers a dynamic alternative in terms of visual appeal and driving character.

“We believe the Cadillac SRX offers emotional appeal to a segment previously devoid of much of that,” says Shannon. “At the same time, it also has very practical new features such as advanced All-Wheel-Drive, and an efficient standard 3.0-liter Direct Injection V6 engine. And with an entry price of $34,155 the new SRX presents an attractive offer to consumers, while taking on the traditional segment leader aggressively.”

The new CTS Sport Wagon offers the same design and technical features of Cadillac’s centerpiece model, the CTS sport sedan - but in a wagon body style that effectively doubles the car’s cargo space. The new Sport Wagon includes the same 3.0-liter Direct Injection engine that serves as the standard engine in the new SRX. In the Sport Wagon, highway fuel economy is estimated to reach 28 mpg.

Both the new SRX and CTS Sport Wagon will be presented in a special video webcast from one of Cadillac’s design studios. Visit www.cadillacstudiolive.com for an inside look at the highlights of both new models.

Cadillac Launches Two New Vehicles This Summer

Cadillac’s model lineup expands with two dramatically-designed new luxury vehicles that also bring new dimensions of versatility and efficiency to the marketplace. Cadillac announced today that the 2010 SRX Crossover, scheduled to begin production this summer, will be priced aggressively starting at $34,155. Later this summer, the acclaimed CTS family will expand again with the arrival [...]

Cadillac’s chief resigns his position, leaving on June 1

The head of General Motors’ Cadillac brand has resigned according to spokesman Klaus-Peter Martin.

McNabb joined General Motors just 13 months ago and will leave on June 1 to pursue other opportunities Martin told Automotive News. McNabb previously worked for Nissan. Stephen J. Hill will take his place as Cadillac’s chief.

GM faces a June 1 government-imposed deadline to restructure or face Chapter 11 bankruptcy like its rival Chrysler.

Shanghai’s V-Day - Cadillac CTS-Vs Put on Stunt Show

Celebrating the recent arrival of the Cadillac CTS-V in China, a commemorate event at the F1 circuit in Shanghai was held where stunt drivers put on one of the wildest shows around. In the show was, obviously, Cadillac CTS-V’s being driven by some very good drivers.

Shanghai V-Day Highlights include the following:

• 19,000 fans gathered at the F1 circuit in Shanghai this past Saturday, the hottest May 9 in more than a century there with temperatures around 30° C. 
• A team of professional stunt drivers from Hollywood performed an incredible show for the crowd. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!  These stunt drivers are professionals on a closed course, and they performed these incredible maneuvers (that no one else should ever attempt!) for entertainment purposes only.  There’s your requisite disclaimer. Enjoy the photos.
• John H wowed the crowd with the performance of the CTS-V, piloting it to the fastest lap ever on that circuit for a fully production-spec sedan.
• Kinda restores one’s faith in the excitement and passion of the automobile, eh?

GM hosts ‘V-Day’ in Shanghai with crazy stunts in a bunch of Cadillac CTS-Vs

Celebrating the launch of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V in China, GM held a big event called V-Day in Shanghai where chief engineer John Heinricy once again set a production sedan lap record, this time on the F1 circuit in Shanghai.

Around 19,000 fans gathered at the F1 circuit for the launch of the CTS-V in China while a team of professional stunt drivers from Hollywood put on an incredible show to ‘wow’ the crowd.

You can check out all the photos from the event after the jump along with a video of the stunt driving.

2009 Cadillac CTS-V V-Day in Shanghai:

2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe with almost no camo!

A new round of spy photos show Cadillac’s forthcoming CTS Coupe undergoing some final testing. Less than two weeks ago, photographers spotted a prototype with less disguise than ever before. These latest images show a car with slightly more black tape on its rear end, but with production taillights rather than the placeholders seen on the last tester.
Codenamed GMX226, the stylish couple will debut at the LA show, and will be built alongside the CTS sedan at the Lansing Grand River Plant. Production will start in May of 2009. The coupe will feature a backup camera which is not currently found on the sedan.
Thankfully, it appears that the majority of the concept’s lines have been faithfully duplicated on this production model. Some feared that the concept’s radical fastback design might be watered down, revealing the Coupe’s sedan roots, but our profile view proves these fears as unfounded. It appears that the production version may have a slightly more pronounced rear deck, but if that’s so, it’s not enough to significantly alter the concept’s silhouette.
The CTS Coupe prototype further separates itself from its sedan donor thanks to the elimination of a conventional door handle, adopting instead the concept’s Corvette-style design which hides the door trigger behind the door’s aft cut-line. The concept and production similarities continue with the Coupe’s revised lower side sill, and the distinctively sculpted waistline, which begins at the A-pillar/fender vent, and narrows as it stretches rearward. The camouflage hides whether or not the line terminates into the concept’s razor-sharp point at the C-pillar, but it looks likely that that’s another design convergence between the show- and production cars. Earlier photos also confirmed that the concept’s bold central exhaust will also reach showrooms.
There are some visible differences between the Detroit Show Standout and the production model. Cost and feasibility studies have killed the concept’s glass-to-glass side windows, in favor of a visible B-pillar on the production model. The rest of the changes are found in front of the A-pillar. The concept coupe’s large, CTS-V-style hood bulge is gone on this prototype (although we’d love to see it return on the “V” coupe). And the show car’s reshaped front fenders — which sweep more voluptuously to a revised front bumper, tweaked front ground-effects, and more dynamic headlight and fog-light clusters — appear to have been replaced with stock items from the CTS sedan. It looks to us like the CTS Coupe and sedan will share identical front fenders and front fascia designs. From there back, however, the cars could scarcely be more different. The drama of the CTS Coupe concept is alive and well, and on its way to Cadillac showrooms.
Although the CTS Coupe will bow at November’s show, it remains unclear when GM will take the wraps off the CTS-V Coupe. GM has promised the “V” coupe will hit the market at the same time (May 2009) as the regular two-door.