Cadillac’s beautiful plug-in hybrid concept car will remain a great idea, but nothing more. According to a report by Automotive News, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz wrote in a text message that the Converj, first shown at the Detroit Auto Show in 2009 and well-received by the media, won’t be headed for production.

Lutz wrote that, “priorities and the conviction that the Volt and Ampera will use all available capacity for years to come,” mean that the Converj project has been canceled. This comes as somewhat of a surprise, as it was thought that a higher output version of the Volt’s motor, fitted into a Cadillac, would not only be appealing to consumers, but would also make for a profitable business case. The higher profit margins and higher dollar value of a Cadillac would help cover the cost of the expensive high-technology powertrain.

Instead, Chevy and Opel will mark forward with the Volt and Ampera, while the Cadillac brand seems poised to tackle the lower end of the market, with plenty of resources being poured into the brand’s upcoming rear-drive BMW 3 Series competitor.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

Years ago Cadillac was strictly geared towards an “older” generation and market. Nowadays though, the American luxury car manufacturer has set their sights on capturing a market mostly dominated by European sport sedans. The Cadillac CTS-V has been GM’s entry into the luxury sport-sedan market competing against BMW’s M5 and Mercedes-Benz’s E63 AMG. From the factory it pumps out 556-hp and 551 ft-lbs of torque from its 6.2L LSA CTS-V supercharged engine. But given that it’s a supercharged power plant, it’s no surprise that the aftermarket has embraced it with open arms. Lingenfelter Performance Engineering is a name that has become world-renowned and legendary in the world of domestic tuning. It would be a disappointment if Lingenfelter didn’t get their hands dirty with the new Cadillac CTS-V.

And dirty they have gotten, with hours and hours of research and design into a new Supercharger Pulley Upgrade Package for the new Cadillac CTS-V. More power means more fun, and this pulley upgrade offers an impressive increase. Lingenfelter’s CTS-V has tested to 630 brake horsepower and 630 ft-lbs of torque. An increase any performance enthusiast would be crazy over. Boost level is increased to 12-13 psi, still relatively safe numbers for the 6.2L. Best of all, the price tag on Lingenfelter’s pulley upgrade is attractive too, especially considering the Cadillac CTS-V tips in at over $60,000. One can be hand for as low as $589.95 retail, labor excluded. For those that just want to drop it off along with a check book, Lingenfelter will do a complete in-house installation, taking possession of the vehicle, testing and a full dyno report before and after the install.

The full press release is available after the jump.

Several spy photos that popped up on the net over the weekend have revealed what appears to be a production ready Cadillac CTS-V SportWagon. We shouldn’t be too surprised to see the car (caught during filming of a commercial in downtown LA) as Bob Lutz has confirmed it for production. But after Lutz’ G8 promise, it’s best to see it to believe it.

The wagon is likely to contain no surprises, but is sure to be plenty awesome with Caddy’s 556-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under the hood. It’s also likely to debut at the New York Auto Show, just before Lutz is set to retire.

Still, as cool as it is, we’re not exactly sure this vehicle makes great business sense. Wagons aren’t very popular in North America and Cadillacs aren’t very popular in Europe – where such a high-powered wagon might find a home. That being said, we hope the V version isn’t overly expensive to make as the CTS-V SportWagon might only be popular with internet bloggers like us who don’t have the cash for all that, well, you know…

Cadillac has announced that it will re-launch itself as a brand in Europe under the new Cadillac Europe division name. The new Cadillac sees Europe as an important market (as suggested by the CTS SportWagon) and so the new models and brand will be announced at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show.

Joining Cadillac’s current small offering in Europe will be the CTS SportWagon, SRX crossover and the CTS Coupe. The 556-hp CTS-V Coupe will also prepare to hit the German autobahn and Italian autostrada.

In addition to these models, Cadillac will also show the rest of its lineup including the CTS and CTS V sedans as well as the Escalade Hybrid.

We’ll be sure to bring you full coverage of the Geneva Auto Show starting March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

Official release after the jump:

Chevy’s next generation Camaro is going to shrink in size from its current behemoth underpinnings and share a new global Alpha platform with the third-generation Cadillac CTS and the all-new ATS. With the next Camaro due out in 2015, the CTS is destined to bow in 2013 as a 2014 model, while the 3-Series fighting ATS is scheduled to arrive just afterwards.

The news comes from a report by Motor Trend after a presentation by consultancy firm Grant Thornton LLP at the Automotive Press Association on Thursday.

Other details revealed include plans to discontinue the CTS Coupe and SportWagon, likely because both a coupe, convertible and wagon version of the ATS are in the works. The CTS will then grow slightly (by roughly 6-inches) to be more in line with the 5 Series and E-Class.

To make this plan cost effective its likely that the new Alpha platform will use different amounts of aluminum and steel depending on whether it is being used for a Cadillac or a Chevy, with the Caddy getting a higher percentage of lighter, but more expensive, aluminum.

In addition to this new MT also suggests, the 2015 Camaro SS is likely to get a supercharged or turbocharged V6, rather than a V8.

[Source: Motor Trend]

With the Cadillac CTS having grown in size considerably since its inception, a true entry-level rear drive luxury sports sedan has been an on-again/off-again project for General Motors. Since emerging from bankruptcy, GM reconfirmed its commitment to the vehicle, likely to be called the ATS.

Now a recent report suggests an ATS concept will debut some time this year, with a possible launch at the Paris Auto Show in the Fall. A more likely debut, however, will be at the LA Auto Show in December, where a new Cadillac model will get the most media coverage.

According to Inside Line, Cadillac will not only introduce a sedan, but also a coupe, convertible and wagon model. The luxury division is currently undecided on if a retractable hard-top will be used or a weight-saving soft top.

The ATS will arrive, in concept form, before the year is out, with a production model to debut in 2011 and sales to follow shortly thereafter as a 2012 model.

[Source: InsideLine]

Cadillac has decided to cut the price of the CTS SportWagon as it currently sits too close to the brand’s new SRX crossover. Cadillac didn’t see the two as competitors (how could they not?) but apparently consumers did. And with the SRX already a more “normal” platform in the market, selling a much pricier wagon made an already difficult task for dealerships next to impossible.

With the SRX priced from $34,155 and a loaded AWD model close to the $50,000 mark, the SportWagon was situated at $40,485 to start. Caddy now lists an entry-level 3.0-liter V6 rear-wheel drive SportWagon at $39,150, down from $40,485. A larger difference can be seen at the top where a 3.6-liter V6 AWD model with all the goodies now retails for $51,390, down $3,055 from $54,445.

The difference between the two models, considering the shared engines and focus on cargo capacity is certainly confusion consumers, however, closer inspection will show a noticably higher level of trim in the CTS wagon.

[Source: USAToday]

Cadillac reps won’t say as much, but General Motors Vice Chairman and product boss Bob Lutz has said that the Cadillac Converj will see production. Similar in many ways to the Cadillac CTS Coupe, the Converj gets more futuristic styling and is powered by a similar drivetrain to the Chevy Volt.

According to a report by InsideLine, however, Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell said no production plans have yet been made. “It’s a concept we’re excited about and is under consideration,” he said. “Nothing has been changed in terms of the way we’re working on that project. It’s still in the same realm. It’s not as if the status of that project has reached a different level.”

Cadillac and GM as a whole will have to think long and hard about its strategy for Voltec powered vehicles, although offering the expensive engines in premium priced Cadillac models would make absorbing the cost easier. It is possible, as Lutz seems to indicate, that the Voltec strategy is already decided upon, with the Converj just the first of two Cadillac concepts to feature a version of the Volt’s high-tech electric engine setup.

Most recently Cadillac unveiled the XTS Platinum Concept, which uses a 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 and an electric motor to make 350-hp. It’s possible that a similar powerplant could be used for a production version of the Converj.

If what Lutz is to be believed (remember he erroneously said the G8 would stick around as a Chevy) the Converj wouldn’t arrive for at least two years, with the Volt still not due out until the end of this year.

[Source: InsideLine]

The coupe variant of the high-powered Cadillac CTS-V has just launched at the Detroit Auto Show, with an incredible 556-hp at 6100 rpm and 551 ft-lbs of torque at 3800 rpm. That’s enough to propel the 2+2 seater to 60 mph in an incredible 3.9 seconds.

But the CTS-V Coupe is so much more than a straight line performer, following in the Michelin PS2 tire marks of the V sedan – the first production four-door to run a sub eight minute lap time at Germany’s famed Nürburgring. In fact, the V Coupe should lop off a few more seconds thanks to a rear track that is one-inch wider than the sedan. With the same wheelbase as the four-door, the V Coupe also gets a lower center of gravity thanks to an overall height that is roughly 2-inches (51mm to be precise) lower. The front and rear overhangs are even shortened, with an overall length that is also reduced by 51mm.

Other performance highlights include 19-inch wheels and some massive brakes with high-performance Brembo six-piston front calipers with 15-inch rotors and four-piston rear calipers with 14.7-inch rotors. And helping out in terms of delivering a performance oriented (or comfort oriented) ride are GM’s amazing Magnetic Ride Control shocks, which monitor the road every millisecond and adjust shock pressure. First used on Corvettes, this technology is now used by the likes of Ferrari. For the CTS-V Coupe, Cadillac offers the shocks with two pre-sets, Tour and Sport, so a driver can set the car for their preferred driving mode.

As for how the car looks, well, Cadillac certainly didn’t disappoint. The CTS Coupe’s sleek profile gets a very masculine V treatment including some impressive big grilles up front, as well as a massive bulge in the hood to make room for all that engine. The overall look of the car is undeniably like the CTS, however, Caddy designers only carried over the headlights, front fenders and grille from the sedan, along with the instrument panel and center console on the inside.

And speaking of the inside, this was our first chance to get a look at the V Coupe’s interior. Along with some expected items like an Alcantara coated steering wheel and shifter, some extra details were added including light colored Alcantara inserts for the highly-bolstered seats (Recaros optional), with the same color used for stitching on the dash.

The new 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe will to go on sale in early Summer.

GALLERY: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Designed to give a glimpse at what an upcoming Cadillac flagship model could look like the XTS Platinum Concept is also a showcase for the luxury brand’s premium Platinum series of vehicles.

Close in size to a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it measures 203.5-inches (3.5-inches longer than an S-Class), however, the wheelbase is considerably less at 111.7-inches (about 8-inches less than an S-Class). It is also roughly one inch wider than an S-Class.

Sadly, the XTS isn’t rear drive, however, it does feature an all-wheel drive setup. Added handling and agility are provided thanks to 20-inch wheels, and GM’s Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) shocks that measure the road every millisecond and adjust just as fast.

The XTS Platinum Concept is also a plug-in hybrid system, using an electric motor, lithium-ion battery and a 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 gasoline engine to make 350-hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque. Capable of operating as a conventional hybrid, thanks to the plug-in capability, Cadillac claims it can achieve up to twice the efficiency of a conventional hybrid in city driving. The lithium-ion battery can be charged fully in just five hours using a conventional household outlet.

With an imposing look and a powerful and efficient engine, we’re possibly most impressed by the car’s interior. As a concept, it takes Caddy’s “Platinum” line philosophy to the extreme, using ultra high-grade materials and keeping with the Platinum mantra to hand cut and sew the interior leather. There’s also plenty of suede and we even have to admit the wood trim (which we typically hate) looks stunning.

The Cadillac XTS is scheduled to go into production in the near future and we’ll be sure to keep you updated on how close to the concept the production model will be.

At the press conference, Cadillac announced that it would expand its Platinum lineup with the more premium trim editions being offered for every vehicle model it sells.

GALLERY: Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

GALLERY: Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept Official Photos