Today is the big Super Bowl ad release day for the car companies. Most of the ads we've seen have been pretty standard Super Bowl ads -- over the top and just tangentially related to the product they're selling.
Not Cadillac. This new ATS ad is ALL product with no fancy gimmick or pointless dream sequence. Cadillac just wants to world to know that they have a new sport sedan and that they've done some serious tuning work on the Nurburgring. And if anyone doesn't believe it, Cadillac says you can tell them to go straight to "Green Hell."
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Categories: Cadillac,Videos
At the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Cadillac took the wraps off of the all-new ATS sport sedan. This car, says Cadillac, is a true rival to the BMW 3-Series. On paper it's a draw and in person, well, it's a good thing the 3er stepped up this year because the ATS is CLEAN. Driving the two back-to-back is sure to be a highlight of 2012.
But we won't have an answer to that for a bit now. As for the show itself, what did it take to make that reveal happen? Here's a look behind the stage from this year's show.
Eagle-eyed Inside Line readers will be able to spot cameos by Ed Hellwig and Alistair Weaver.
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Categories: Cadillac,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Sedans
Cadillac pulled the sheet off the new ATS, which has aspirations to challenge BMW in the luxury sedan segment. With 270 hp under the hood and rear-wheel drive, it's certainly starting out with promise.
Check out the video after the jump to see what Alistair Weaver thinks, as well as how to correctly use the word "boffin."
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Categories: Cadillac,Detroit Auto Show,Videos
Cadillac insiders told Inside Line this morning that a two-seat roadster similar to the Mercedes-Benz SLK is being considered for production. It would use the same rear-wheel-drive platform as the new ATS sedan and likely feature many of the same drivetrain configurations.
No other details were discussed, but given Cadillac's clear intent to take on its German competitors head on, a roadster falls right into line with the entries offered by both BMW and Mercedes.
Categories: Cadillac,Convertibles,Detroit Auto Show,Sports Cars
Sounds interesting, no? Well, don't get too excited just yet, as GM President Mark Reuss said at Cadillac's event tonight in Detroit that the ATS would get a diesel engine "at some point in its life cycle."
So yeah, it could be next year. It could also be four years from now. Either way, it's an interesting piece of news about the new Cadillac 3 Series fighter. Looks like Cadillac is definitely looking to hit BMW with everything it has available. Then again, the ATS isn't likely to get something like BMW's twin-turbo diesel-6 and its 425 pound-feet of torque. No, the ATS will most likely get something a bit less aggressive to make it more attractive to European buyers. Could be interesting if Cadillac decided to sell it in the U.S., though.
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Categories: Cadillac,Detroit Auto Show
What do you love about the Cadillac CTS-V? If you answered "the motor, duh" you can probably skip this. If you answered "the sweet Recaro seats, microfiber steering wheel and the giant V-series spoiler" then this is up your alley.
Cadillac has just announced the Touring Package for the Cadillac CTS Sedan and Sport Wagon and the CTS Coupe. "The new Touring Packages give CTS buyers access to some desirable V-Series elements, in a more-approachable format." The CTS Sedan and Sport Wagon come with either a 3.0 or 3.6-liter V6 while the coupe is only available with the 318-horsepower 3.6.
The touring pack on the 3.0 runs $2,065 and includes 18-inch pearl nickel finish wheels; dual exhaust; dark finish grille; HID headlights; V-series spoiler/tail light (not on wagon); suede seat inserts, steering wheel and shifter; midnight Sapele wood trim and metal pedals.
Add it to the 3.6-liter CTS and you're out $2,810 but you get the bitchin' Recaro seats and 19-inch polished wheels with either all season or summer performance tires in addition to everything else.
Starting price for the 2012 CTS is $36,790 for the sedan, $39,590 and $39,890 for the Sport Wagon.
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Categories: Cadillac,Coupes,Sedans,Wagons
Cadillac has just released the third video in its "ATS: The Journey" series and this one trades in the vast expanses of the Autobahn for the tight corners and Flugplatzes and Karussells of the Nurburgring.
We get some good shots of the ATS' interior, some engine noise (is that a rev-matched downshift at the end?) and quite a bit of voiceover from the driver talking about the way the car drives and what the track is actually like. Even if you're not into the ATS, the driver's commentary here is interesting to anyone who's ever driven the Nurburgring in real life or in sims.
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Categories: Cadillac,Future Vehicles,Sedans
GM has released details on a new engine that will power the new 2013 Cadillac ATS sedan. It's a new turbocharged 2.0-liter that tentatively rated at 270-horsepower and 260 pound feet of torque.
Those are huge numbers for an engine of that size. BMW's latest 2.0-liter turbo engine only makes 240 horsepower although its does deliver the same 260 lb-ft of torque. The new Cadillac engine used direct injection, a twin-scroll turbocharger and an air-to-air intercooler to achieve its lofty power numbers.
And now for the bad news. At the same presentation where the new engine was announced, Cadillac also noted that the ATS would also offer a base 2.5-liter four cylinder engine along with the already announced 3.6-liter V8 on the top end. No specifics were given, but the 2.5-liter is probably a variation of the engine slated for use in the Chevrolet Malibu.
It's probably a perfectly good engine, but if Cadillac is going after BMW why not tackle the 3 Series head on with a similar lineup and forget the cheapo base models that do nothing but bring down the image of the brand? Probably because they want to sell more ATSs, but at what cost?
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Categories: Cadillac,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Sedans
The emerging Web-browser standard HTML5 promises to have big implications for the car by making access to information and content quicker and more convenient -- and also potentially safer while behind the wheel. Cadillac's new CUE system that debuted on the XTS at the recent LA Auto Show includes HTML5 capability, and the standard is making inroads elsewhere in the car.
Now TeleNav has announced what it's calling the world's first HTML5-browser based voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation service for mobile devices -- and it could be another nail in the coffin of expensive automotive in-dash nav systems. TeleNav claims that by adding just one line of code, mobile web and app developers for local content will have a way to add free GPS-enabled turn-by-turn directions to their services.
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Categories: Cadillac,Car Tech
Cadillac has pulled the wraps off its all-new 2013 XTS. The brand's new flagship sedan arrives at dealers in the spring as the successor to the DTS and STS.
Find out after the jump if Alistair Weaver was able to levitate the car using only the power of his mind.
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Categories: Cadillac,LA Auto Show,Videos
Hit the jump to see the new 2013 Cadillac XTS Sedan debut at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show.
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Categories: Cadillac,LA Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Sedans
The 2013 Cadillac XTS was officially unveiled this morning. It's got a 3.6-liter, direct-injection V6 and a six-speed automatic paired with either front or all wheel drive, magnetic ride control, standard 19s (20s are available on the Platinum), GM's new CUE infotainment system, standard Brembo brakes and a host of electronic features.
We'll be seeing the car in just a few hours, but until then, check out the photos and watch the Cadillac-provided teaser trailer after the jump. Does seeing it move make it better or worse? I'm on the fence here.
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Categories: Cadillac,LA Auto Show,Sedans
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. It's just the way that kind of thing works. Cadillac wants the ATS to be the best and to do so, they need to take down the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. And to do that, they need to develop and benchmark the car on the same roads as the 3 and CTS, namely, the Nurburgring and the Autobahn.
Part Two of Cadillac's German Journey is live, watch it after the jump to see what goes into a European testing session.
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Categories: Cadillac,Sedans
As they say, you can't unring a bell. So when Cadillac accidentally slipped images of the all-new XTS luxury sedan onto their homepage yesterday, it was only a matter of time before they gave in and provided the world with an official shot.
And here that shot is in all its hi-res glory. Sure, it's the same as the one they had online, except this one's bigger. Click for enlarged version and stay tuned for more pics of the real thing when we see it on Wednesday at Cadillac's press conference at the LA Auto Show.
Categories: Cadillac
During our first drive of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe we said, "Blindingly fast in a straight line, the C63 AMG Coupe is even more impressive when the road truns twisty. A legitimate M3 competitor if there ever was one."
But what fun is that? The M3 is on its way out and its 414 horsepower V8 is nearly outgunned by a stock Ford Mustang GT. The Merc's big 6.2-liter V8 cranks out nearly 70 hp more with its $6,050 AMG Development package. Even with "only" the stock 451 hp, it would be a bloodbath.
Thankfully, Cadillac offers a coupe much more in line with the spirit of "more is better" embodied by the C63 AMG Coupe. The CTS-V Coupe also uses a 6.2-liter V8, but ups the ante with a supercharger that blows horsepower to 556 and torque to 551. It's a monster.
556 vs 481. Six-speed manual vs. seven-speed automated manual. 4,200 pounds vs 3,990. CTS-V Coupe vs Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe: Who takes it?
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Categories: Cadillac,Mercedes-Benz
"Hey, check out Cadillac's webpage http://www.cadillac.com/flash.html. They leaked the new XTS."
Me: "Really? You sure it's not just the concept?"
"Yep. Looks like a production XTS, too and not the concept."
Me: "I don't see it."
"Second slot."
Me: "Nope."
"Wow, they fixed that fast."
This is a direct translation of a Gchat exchange that just happened here. For a very brief period, Cadillac's new full-size, front/AW-drive sedan set for an L.A. show debut was front-and-center on Cadillac.com. It's not anymore, but we managed a screengrab which will have to satisfy you until next week.
Categories: Cadillac,LA Auto Show,Sedans
There's nothing we don't dig about John Hennessey's personal Cadillac CTS-V "HAMMER WAGON." Just last week we had a video of the 707 horsepower wagon running 190 mph in the Texas Mile and now we've got it on the drag strip.
Thanks to some grippy drag radials, the wagon puts down the power just fine en route to a 10.69 second pass at 134. When we tested Hennessey's V700 sedan -- on street tires and without a prepped launch pad -- we ran an 11.6 @ 127.6.
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Categories: Cadillac,Tuners and Modifications,Videos,Wagons
The 2013 Cadillac ATS is on pace to be a serious midsize car. GM is putting a serious amount of time, money and publicity into the new 3-series fighter.
When they teased the first image, GM's Mark Reuss said the ATS is "being developed to be a driver's car on an all-new Cadillac-specific RWD-AWD architecture. We have extensively and exhaustively studied the competitive segment, and we have benchmarked the best. And when this car comes out, that will be readily apparent."
GM has turned the microscope on themselves for the development of the ATS and they're smart enough these days to know that with this kind of early attention, they can't afford to screw it up. And considering the public reaction to the 2012 BMW 3 Series, if the ATS is developed as well as these guys testing on the Nurburgring say it is, Cadillac should be poised for an impressive launch. Watch the second installment of Nurburgring testing after the jump.
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Categories: Cadillac,Future Vehicles,Sedans
There are countless tuning companies out there who claim massive horsepower and then there's Hennessey Performance Engineering. Hennessey 'gets it.' They get that people buying a $30,000 upgrade kit for a $60,000 car want to see what they'll get. They get that the kid commenting on YouTube today is the guy who will, in ten years when he sells off a tech company, remember that bitchin' Hennessey he saw and spend some cash.
They also get that watching a 707 horsepower Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon do 0-189.7 in the Texas is mile is awesome.
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Categories: Cadillac,Tuners and Modifications,Wagons
Cadillac's new 'Cue' infotainment system is the latest in a long line of touch-screen interfaces designed to meet the demands of an ever-connected customer base and also attempt to reduce distracted driving accidents. This is essentially the "I want more power and better fuel economy" for the iPhone generation.
Cue handles this with a large touch screen with large, simple graphics (with pinch-zoom nav!) and "natural speech" voice recognition. No more "Stereo...iPhone...playlists..." As the demo shows, "night out playlist" will work just fine. This is very similar to the iPhone 4S's new Siri function.
Watch the Cadillac-provided demo after the jump.
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Categories: Cadillac,Car Tech
