It’s official! Sort of! The long rumored CTS-V Sport Wagon has arrived, even though Cadillac could have easily found a reason not bring this car to light. It’s technically a concept, but the car is almost certain to be heading to production later this year. Spy shots of the car were making their rounds around the web last week, and now it can be seen in all of its glory at the New York Auto Show. Those of you who are wondering what all the hype is around a four-door wagon (technically a five-door… it’s a wagon after all) might understand what folks like me are feeling once they find out that the drivetrain of the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V will be identical to what powers Cadillac’s V-Series CTS  sedan and coupe. Those who still don’t have a clue after learning this may not realize that these V-Series models are rear wheel drive and feature 6.2-liter supercharged V-8s that put out 556 horses. These are not your granddaddy’s Cadillacs! If you still don’t appreciate the CTS-V Sport Wagon, I’ll assume you have no love for wagons of any type. This is an understandable sentiment, but for all those who love to see form meet function and not leave performance by the curb, the CTS-V Sport Wagon is praise worthy. Especially for Americans who generally would expect to see the Europeans produce similar cars. Wagons, though historically considered fairly unattractive, were once very popular stateside. Then came the minivan (not too good looking either) followed by the crossover (much easier on the eyes). With stylish models appearing like the 2011 CTS-V Sport Wagon, American’s might begin to take station wagons seriously again. Until then Cadillac will be producing a limited number of these vehicles, but has the capacity to produce more if the demand is there.

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The Cadillac XTS Platinum concept is wowing folks at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, and may be turning heads on roads as early as 2012. It’s a full size luxury car that seems designed with chaufered CEOs in mind. This probably makes sense considering GM has stated their vision of this concept being an “automotive personal headquarters.”
Built on an Epsilon platform variation (that may also underpin a future Chevy Impala), the XTS is an All Wheel Drive sedan combining a gas-buring V-6 with plug-in hybrid technology. As with any true luxury car built nowadays, connectivity is a major focus. With this concept, Cadillac aims to herald “a new approach to in-car electronics that improves the form and function of the car’s entertainment, navigation and information systems.” Details are lacking, but you can definitely expect touch screen controls to replace hard buttons and switches and Organic-LED displays in place of standard instrumentation.
It looks very fresh compared to the DTS and STS models that it reportedly will replace, but does keep the main design elements of Cadillac’s Art and Science repertoire, including those vertical headlights and taillights. Speaking as someone with only so much love for the Cadillac boats of yesteryear, this big caddy looks good enough to put in the same sentence as the CTS-V coupe – the newest sexy CTS rolling into dealerships this summer.
More Cadillac XTS info.

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Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

Wagons don’t sit high like SUVs. They handle and perform like cars, but can also haul more stuff. So why don’t Americans like wagons? Despite the unappealing characterization and rather than opting for more exciting names such as Touring or Estate, Cadillac still decided to name the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon just that.

Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

Very practical, and handling and driving like the CTS sedan, the only disadvantage of the Sport Wagon comes with the extra 241 pounds. However, this is somewhat offset by the better weight distribution. The optional 3.6-liter 24-valve direct-injection V-6 producing 304 hp gets the Sport Wagon from 0-60 in 7.0 seconds, which is 1 second slower than the sedan.

Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

Still, the wagon retains the CTS’s excellent handling, brakes, and steering. It also gains a Mercedes-like cargo compartment with 25 cubic feet of space in the trunk and 53 with the rear seats folded. Sportier than the comparable German competition, and at a lower starting price of $40,655, the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon will be a surprising underdog.

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Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

Cadillac has reborn the second-generation SRX to make it more like the segment’s best-selling Lexus RX350. Replacing the rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive platform is a front-drive-based architecture with a transversely mounted engine. A direct-injected 3.0-liter V-6 with 265 hp and 223 lb-ft of torque in the base engine SRX 3.0 gets the crossover to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds.

Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

However, the real story here is the optional 300 hp, 2.8-liter turbo V-6 SRX 2.8T. With a much improved low rev acceleration allowing a predicted 0-60 time of 7.6 seconds, the more powerful SRX 2.8T achieves peak torque at just 2000 rpm. Fuel economy is a 16/23 mpg city/highway rating, with premium fuel being recommended by Cadillac for the turbo-charged V-6. Coming standard are all-wheel drive, FE3 suspension, 20-inch wheels, and luxury items including heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, navigation, and a giant moon-roof. With a combination of superior suspension tuning, quiet ride, long list of standard equipment, and attractive interior, the new SRX will really give the Lexus RX some strong competition.

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Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

Although financial troubles have hindered Cadillac and resulted in the discontinuation of the XLR roadster, as well as a year delay for the rollout of the two-door CTS (scheduled for 2010), new spy images reveal great progress in the development of the 2011 CTS-V Coupe. Aside from the same 556-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 found in the 4-door, this new vehicle is equipped with bigger brakes, larger wheels, a wire mesh grill, and dual center-exiting exhaust pipes that go along with the bulging bodywork. Available in six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, and with improved interior features, the 2011 CTS-V Coupe will have a sticker price of around $65k.

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Car and Driver is planning to re-launch its site. This new and improved site promises to be much more interactive and user-friendly. With increased functionality, it will be even easier to navigate. There is much more information and links on the new homepage, allowing for quicker, more efficient search.

In addition, one of the best features of the new site is the increased functionality of the buyer’s guide, which allows you to more easily search for vehicles specifically tailored to your needs. For example, if you choose a make such as Cadillac, the new site instantly provides you with several links to the latest reviews, comparison tests, news, and advice on different models.

Then, selecting a model, such as the SRX allows you to view all of its top competitors in that class. With the ability to drill down on specifications and view tons of interior and exterior images, the new Car and Driver site is definitely more interactive and user-friendly, and will enhance your Cadillac shopping experience. Check out a screen-shot of this below, and feel free to email any feedback to caranddriver@hfnm.com.

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Converj Exterior

In the aftermath of the GM bankrupty, one question that’s been keeping us up at night is “What’s the future of the Cadillac Converj?”

The Converj is one of the most exciting electric car concepts that we’ve ever seen. Essentially a souped-up Chevy Volt, the Converj can drive 40 miles on batteries and can be recharged from a wall outlet. But it’s the styling of the Converj that sets it ahead of the pack. With a sleek body and futuristic interior, we’d think long and hard if given a choice between this Caddy concept and a shiny new Tesla.

Converj Interior

Now that GM is officially Government Motors, we have a lingering sense of dread. We can only hope that a restructured GM can continue with some much-needed innovation, while finding profitability along the way.

Photos by: Car and Driver

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2009 Chevrolet Corvette LT4

2009 Cadillac XLR Platinum

With summer approaching, we’ve decided to put two of our favorite convertibles head-to-head. Presenting the 2009 Cadillac XLR Platinum vs 2009 Chevrolet Corvette LT4:

Price:

No contest here. The Corvette, at $63,270 is over $20K cheaper than the $86,215 priced Cadillac.

Fuel Economy:

We’re calling it a wash. The Caddy, rated at 15/24mpg  falls just shy of the Chevy’s 16/26mpg – in real life, the difference is negligible.

Engine:

Dang, this is starting to seem one sided. The Cadillac XLR’s 4.6L V8 produces a solid 320hp@6400rpm, alas, it’s no match for the Chevy’s 6.2L V8 producing 430hp@5900rpm.

Creature Comforts:

The Chevy lacks a navigation system, electronic parking aid, power lumbar support, and other features we’ve grown accustomed to in +$50K cars. The Cadillac has a noticeable edge here.

Performance:

As much as we’d like to say the XLR was on par, we cannot tell a lie. The Corvette is a beast, packed with raw power and far superior handling.

Conclusion:

It pains us to say it, but the Corvette LT4 is the better choice in almost every regard. But we’ve got a challenger in mind that might make the Corvette LT4 go home and cry to mama. Stay tuned for a LT4 vs CTS-V showdown.

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2010 Cadillac XLR-V

The 2010 Cadillac XLR-V gets an incredible 525Hp power boost with D3 tuning. The D3 Cadillac designers incorporated a new engine management strategy for the XLR-V. A spark plug, ECU reflash, a new air-intake and the high flow Corsa exhaust system are combined to optimize the fuel consumption of its 4.4L V8 powertrain and produce extra thrust.

For the adventurous lot, the D3 offers a choice of second and third level gears producing 575Hp and 600Hp respectively. An improved Magnetic Ride Control, dual overhead cameras, and a heated steering wheel make the job easier for the driver.

In addition to improved performance and handling, D3’s new styling elements including a chrome grille on the front façade with Corsa muffler tips and 19-inch alloy wheels. The 2010 Caddy XLR-V is fast establishing itself as a world-class status car.

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Great news for geeks – now you can access the Internet in your car. General Motors is set to unveil its first Internet-enabled Cadillac CTS Sports Sedan in April 2009.

The Cadillac Wi-Fi system uses a small device, Autonet Mobile, that allows laptops and netbooks users to access the web via a wireless LAN connection. The easy-to-use Autonet system requires no additional software, and reaches speeds up to 800Kbps. The device costs about $499, not including a monthly service charge of $29.

As the first company to offer wireless Internet in a production car, Cadillac has its eye on more advanced 3G and 4G cellular-enabled technologies.

Peek inside of the 2009 Cadillac CTS Sedan:

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