Cadillac Rolls Out New Design for its Dealerships

While the bigwigs at General Motors are mulling to expand production of Cadillacs outside of North America before the end of 2012, here in the States, the focus is on improving the customer experience at the brand’s dealerships. Today, the Detroit automaker rolled out a new design for Cadillac showrooms that will become the standard across the country.

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GM Wants to Start Building Cadillacs Abroad by the End of 2012

While speaking to the media, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson revealed plans to expand Cadillac production outside of North America by the end of 2012 as part of the Detroit firm’s efforts to make its premium brand a “true global marque”. According to Akerson, building Cadillacs in other areas of the world would safeguard the company from foreign-currency fluctuations and allow GM to better handle its supply chain.

Currently, the only Cadillac model assembled outside of North America is the China-market SLS, which is a stretched version of the STS sold in the States. Akerson did not reveal where GM plans to build the Cadillac models.

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London Mayor to Whack President Obama’s Motorcade with the Congestion Charge

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past week or so, you’d have seen that hi-larious [sic] video of one of the Barack-mobiles getting stuck on a ramp outside the U.S. Embassy in Ireland. The U.S. President’s eight ton, “Beasts” are monsters of cars, built to withstand bullets, bombs and probably reporters’ shoes (yes, I went there).

In a cute footnote to this story, notorious car-hater environmentally-conscious London Mayor Boris Johnson is considering levying a congestion charge on each car in President Obama’s motorcade, the cost of which would be £10 (US$16) per vehicle. A spokeswoman has stated that they will not be paying the charges if billed.

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Last Cadillac DTS Heads to Bulgari Collection

It may not be anywhere close to being a historic model for Cadillac, but for some, the outgoing DTS has a special place in their wish list. In fact so special that Nicola Bulgari of the renowned Italian jewelry, perfume and more recently hotel chain family, decided to add the last DTS to roll off the production line to his personal car collection.

“Is it important?” Nicola Bulgari asked. “Is it the number or the quality that matters? It’s the quality. I like the DTS because it’s a great sedan,” said Bulgari. “It’s the last of an era. I thought it would be wonderful to own the last Northstar in a DTS. It’s one of the best engines ever designed – reliable and a performer.”

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President Obama’s Cadillac gets Trapped on a Ramp in Ireland

The heavily armored Cadillac that U.S. President Obama relies on for short-distance travel caused an embarrassing moment during his trip in Dublin, Ireland, today when it got jammed on a ramp after exiting the U.S. Embassy's complex. The first cars from the presidential motorcade passed without problems through the gates of the Embassy, but a BMW 7-Series preceding the Cadillac slightly touched the asphalt.

The Presidential Cadillac, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, came next and hit the ground much harder and was immobilized. "There was a loud kind of bang, metal-on-metal, grinding, crunching noise and the car was stuck," an RTE reporter told the AFP.

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FAB Design's Cadillac Escalade Proves Money Can't Buy Taste

Swiss-based tuning firm Fab Design will no doubt raise a few eyebrows with its most recent work on the Cadillac Escalade. Roland Rysanek, the owner of the aftermarket company, which specializes on Mercedes-Benz models, found himself in front of a dilemma when asked by a North African client to modify the heavyweight American SUV.

Rysanek eventually accepted the job, as the eccentric owner was a loyal client with plenty of Fab Design Mercedes models parked in his garage. Anything for a devoted customer, right? Well, this particular client wanted the car to look like no other Escalade and to have an interior lined with genuine snake leather and crocodile-imitating leather – lots of it.

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unrestored 1932 Cadillac 7 passenger Imperial sedan

The current owner kept tabs on this car for a loooonnnng time. His college roommate's dad bought it in 1938 for his wife, and in the late 1970's moved it to Oregon, and 30 some years later this owner bought the car he'd been keeping track of since 1970









The little white button above the armrest is to call the driver

BMW 3-Series Still Top Dog despite Strong Competition

In the ingloriously named, “small premium car segment”, the BMW 3-Series is king. A good all-rounder with sporting pretensions and cred, a nice assortment of engine and equipment options, and perhaps most importantly, a variety of body styles including a coupe and station wagon derivative that have ensured its market supremacy.

All 3-Series models are doing their bit to keep sales high. According to a study released by R.L. Polk & Co., from 2008 through this past February, the 3-Series sedan covered around 60 percent of the model's retail registrations, with the coupe, convertible and station wagon versions accounting for the rest of the sales.

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1961 Cadillac Brougham Jacqueline coupe, body by Pinin Farina

full story from Hemmings at http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2009/05/01/hmn_feature9.html

One just sold at Bonhams Auctions, it went for $289,000

The Jacqueline was named for the wife of the American President at the time, it debuted at the 1961 paris Auto Show. In the 1990's the head of Cartier, Alain Perrin had the concept (no powertrain) grafted to a 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

Black Diamond Cadillacs

There’s currently a growing trend for matte black finishes on cars. Cadillac, however, has gone in totally the opposite direction for its CTS-V Black Diamond Edition.

Available in Sedan, Coupe and Wagon guises, this special edition’s distinctive feature is its tri-coat black paint which is embedded with a silver pigment called SpectraFlair. Uniquely, SpectraFlair contains aluminium flakes encased in magnesium fluoride that give a more glitzy appearance than ordinary metallic paints would.

As standard, the CTS-V comes with a 6.2 litre supercharged V8 that produces 556 bhp (414 kW / 563 PS). To complement that engine, the Black Diamond Edition also includes additional performance-orientated specification.



On the inside, there are leather Recaro seats with micro-fibre suede inserts, while the dashboard gets Midnight Sapele wood trim. Externally, 19” Satin Graphite wheels are fitted, behind which are yellow Brembo brake calipers.



Available in the US from March onwards, the CTS-V Black Diamond Edition has an MSRP (including destination charges) of $69,190 for the six-speed manual, or $70,490 if automatic transmission is chosen.



Images © GM Corp.

World Car Awards finalists

Sixty-six jurors from across the world have completed a first round of voting to determine the 2011 World Car Awards finalists.



With four different awards up for grabs, the shortlist models - in alphabetical order - are:





2011 World Car of the Year

• Audi A1


• Audi A8


• BMW 5 Series


• BMW X3


• Jaguar XJ


• Jeep Grand Cherokee


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Nissan Leaf


• Porsche Cayenne


• Volvo S60 / V60

Obviously, this is the big prize. Each of the finalists will be judged on ‘overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal and significance’, a combination that has lead to some previous winners being very worthy but also just a bit dull.



What’s striking is that 2011’s entire crop is from premium or, in the case of the Volvo and Jeep, semi-premium manufacturers. Even the Nissan isn’t exactly mainstream, given its relatively high price.

The Leaf could well repeat its 2011 European Car of the Year victory, but it does tend to divide opinion. There are those who believe it almost makes petrol or diesel cars obsolete, while others won’t back an all-electric car until both battery range and the recharging infrastructure improve.







It’s hard to see either the SLS AMG or Cayenne winning, given their comparative lack of environmental responsibility. The BMW 5 Series has to be a contender given its all-round ability, but it would be good to see the Jaguar XJ clinch it, simply because it represents such a brave departure from previous generation XJ models.



Audi’s A1 probably ticks all the boxes. However, it’d be a shame for it to win because it’s essentially a tarted-up version of last year’s World Car of the Year, the Volkswagen Polo.





2011 World Performance Car

• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi RS 5 Coupe


• Cadillac CTS-V Coupe


• Ferrari 458 Italia


• Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera


• Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG / CL 63 AMG


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Porsche 911 GT2 RS


• Porsche 911 Turbo


• Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250

This category is wide open, as it includes everything from a compact hot hatch to numerous supercars for the jurors to choose from. Audi has won the performance car award three times in the past five years, but it’ll be a surprise if the feat is repeated with the RS 5.









2011 World Car Design of the Year

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta


• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi A7


• Citroën DS3


• Ferrari 458


• Honda CR-Z


• Kia Sportage


• Nissan Juke

There were originally fifty-one candidates in this category, which is expected to ‘highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries’ - a demanding set of criteria.

On that basis, the Aston Martin would seem to be a strong challenger, but arguably it’s the Nissan Juke that truly stands out as a unique design.



The shortlist was decided by a panel of five design experts but, as with all of the other awards, it’s now solely up to the jurors to arrive at a winner.







2011 World Green Car

• BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition


• Chevrolet Volt


• Hyundai Sonata Hybrid


• Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell


• Nissan Leaf


• Smart electric drive

Three environmental experts were asked to draw up the finalists for this award based on emissions, fuel consumption and the power plant technology employed.

Perhaps the Leaf stands a stronger chance of winning this category, but it may be the case that more jurors consider the Volt’s range extender concept as being more practical for everyday use.







But with its 109 g/km and combined cycle 68.9 mpg (4.0 l/100km), the 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition proves that cars with a traditional internal combustion engine can still be impressively green.







The next stage is that during February the jurors will vote again, but this time just on the finalists.



Following that ballot, the top three cars in each category will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on 1st March.



Then, bringing the process to a close, the 2011 World Car Awards winners will be declared during the New York International Auto Show in April.

Cadillac drops turbo SRX

Cadillac is discontinuing the turbo versions of its SRX crossover, due to low demand.

Dropping the 300 bhp (223 kW / 304 PS) 2.8 litre V6 turbo motor means that the only engine now available for the SRX is a normally aspirated 3.0 litre V6, which produces 265 bhp (197 kW / 268 PS).



The reason for dropping the more powerful option can’t be because buyers are put off by its fuel consumption. Indeed, the EPA Highway rating of 22 mpg US (26.4 mpg UK / 10.6 l/100km) for the SRX turbo is barely any worse than the 23 mpg US (27.6 mpg UK / 10.2 l/100km) recorded by the 3.0 litre V6 with all-wheel drive.

Rather, it seems that Cadillac got the pricing wrong. Whereas the base non-turbo version with front-wheel drive has a price tag of $34,705 (including destination charges), the cheapest turbo SRX costs $50,790 - almost 50% more.



It’s unclear how this move will affect the forthcoming Saab 9-4X. Due to be launched in North America during May 2011, the 9-4X is based on the SRX and was going to share its engine line-up.



Images © GM Corp.



Related post:

Saab 9-4X unveiled

2010 Cadillac SRX Price

The 2010 SRX will begin production in Summer 2009 to be sold as a 2010 model, and will have a starting price of $34,155.at the 2010 Cadillac SRX 2010 Cadillac SRX 2010 Cadillac SRX front angle 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8T: First 2010 Cadillac SRX Photo Sales of the 2010

2010 Cadillac SRX Price

The 2010 SRX will begin production in Summer 2009 to be sold as a 2010 model, and will have a starting price of $34,155.at the 2010 Cadillac SRX 2010 Cadillac SRX 2010 Cadillac SRX front angle 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8T: First 2010 Cadillac SRX Photo Sales of the 2010

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Marketing

The success of the CTS has been attributed in part to the car's placement in the 2003 sci-fi action thriller The Matrix Reloaded. The producers of the film were seeking a car to use for a chase scene in the film, and sought a car that would complement the film's atmosphere.2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon 2010

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Marketing

The success of the CTS has been attributed in part to the car's placement in the 2003 sci-fi action thriller The Matrix Reloaded. The producers of the film were seeking a car to use for a chase scene in the film, and sought a car that would complement the film's atmosphere.2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon 2010

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Awards

In its first year of production, the CTS received the 2002 North American Car of the Year award.The 2008 CTS won the Motor Trend Car of the Year award, and was selected to Car and Driver's 10Best Cars list.In 2009, the CTS became the first Cadillac to be named to the Car and Driver 10 Best list for a second consecutive year.The 2010 CTS was named to the Car and Driver 10 best list for a third

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Awards

In its first year of production, the CTS received the 2002 North American Car of the Year award.The 2008 CTS won the Motor Trend Car of the Year award, and was selected to Car and Driver's 10Best Cars list.In 2009, the CTS became the first Cadillac to be named to the Car and Driver 10 Best list for a second consecutive year.The 2010 CTS was named to the Car and Driver 10 best list for a third

Cadillac SRX Engines

Model Years Type Power, torque@rpmV6 VVT 2009–present 3.0L V6 265 bhp (198 kW)@6950, 223 lb·ft (302 N·m)@5100V6 Turbo 2009–present 2.8L V6 turbo 300 bhp (220 kW)@5500, 295 lb·ft (400 N·m)@18502008 Cadillac SRX photosSEE ALSO: Cadillac Prices and2010 Cadillac SRX Grows Up2010 Cadillac SRX2010 Cadillac SRX CrossoverCadillac SRX Owners Manualcadillac-srx-2010-leaked-of the 2010 Cadillac

Cadillac SRX Engines

Model Years Type Power, torque@rpmV6 VVT 2009–present 3.0L V6 265 bhp (198 kW)@6950, 223 lb·ft (302 N·m)@5100V6 Turbo 2009–present 2.8L V6 turbo 300 bhp (220 kW)@5500, 295 lb·ft (400 N·m)@18502008 Cadillac SRX photosSEE ALSO: Cadillac Prices and2010 Cadillac SRX Grows Up2010 Cadillac SRX2010 Cadillac SRX CrossoverCadillac SRX Owners Manualcadillac-srx-2010-leaked-of the 2010 Cadillac