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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
Rap lovers won’t be pouring any Olde English out over the Cadillac Escalade just yet because the brand has decided to keep it alive.
Tucked away behind the list of new cars in Cadillac’s lineup like the upcoming XTS seen above, the Omega platform that could underpin a new rear-wheel drive flagship for the American luxury marque seems to be gathering steam.
The One Lap of America race event looks to pit race teams against each other in a variety of automotive challenges, one of which saw this Cadillac CTS-V Wagon end up on its roof.
The Cadillac XTS may be hitting showrooms soon as the American luxury automaker’s flagship luxury sedan, but a rear-wheel drive successor is already on the drawing board for a possible 2015 debut.
Cadillac is doing everything it can to prepare customers for the launch of its upcoming CUE (Cadillac User Experience) infotainment system. That includes throwing in an iPad with every 2013 Cadillac XTS.
Have an appetite for Cadillac’s CTS-V Racecar? Now might be your chance to satisfy that hunger, with the cars official series in the iRacing.com online video game.
Cadillac is releasing its new XTS sedan to market soon, and to preview the car to the public the company has released a new commercial.
Welfare, food stamps and a revolving door of sex scandals are among the many things the U.S. government provides its citizens on a regular basis, but you might be pleased to know they have a hand in used exotic car sales too.
Cadillac is prepping a new member to its stable. No, it’s not the Nurburgring-tested ATS we’ve heard oh-so much about. It’s also not the XTS flagship sedan that Cadillac has desperately needed these past few years. In fact, it’s not a car at all.
It’s called “Super Cruise” and is essentially a semi-autonomous technology that enables a vehicle to incorporate fully automatic steering, braking and lane centering under certain driving conditions. Furthermore, Cadillac says this technology could be ready for production by mid-decade.
Some of the fundamentals of this Super Cruise technology can already be found in existing Cadillac models, notably the 2013 XTS and ATS, as part of the Driver Assist Package. Notable features within this umbrella include adaptive cruise control at all speed ranges, lane departure warning, intelligent brake assist, automatic rear braking, automatic collision preparation and rear vision camera with dynamic guidelines.
D3 Cadillac has always impressed us with its Cadillac builds. Most recently, they captured our attention with a 1,000-hp CTS-V at the 2011 SEMA Show and now they’ve taken to the streets of Southern California to show off what that what the company builds is “not your grandpas Cadillac.”
With the Long Beach Grand Prix in town, the guys at D3 Cadillac grabbed IndyCar driver J.R. Hildebrand and Formula Drift driver Tyler McQuarrie and armed them with two of its creations, a 750+ hp ‘Legionnaire’ and a more street-friendly 560-hp or so CTS-V. Both vehicles featured in the video are 2012 CTS-V coupe models and shows off just how much fun a Cadillac can truly be.
Watch the video below.
Originally marketing its CTS cars in 2003, Cadillac stepped away from styling that said “sunset years” and “Florida” in favor of a more modern luxury look.
The move helped America’s poster boy luxury brand resurge into a market otherwise overtaken by German and Japanese alternatives, but a decade later that success will either dwindle or grow. Cadillac is well aware of that fact and is taking steps to counteract is smoldering fire by introducing the entry-level ATS and making the CTS bigger to better compete with BMW‘s 5 Series.
Until recently, that left questions about the coupe and wagon’s continuation in the product line, but according to Car and Driver both variants will remain in the lineup.
What isn’t totally clear is where those versions will fit in. Making a larger CTS two-door almost seems like a return to the automaker’s previous image, which is still alive and well, but no longer the market mainstay. Instead, a smaller ATS coupe might seem like a reasonable option, especially because that would position the car to work well with a smaller engine while still feeling powerful.
The wagon, on the other hand, is a little more of an enigma. Downsizing the relatively successful vehicle might alienate American customers who want space, but a larger version might actually slot in nicely with Europeans next to the BMW 5 Series wagon. Older North American luxury customers are also likely to find the extra space useful, or at least unlikely to complain about it.
[Source: Car and Driver]
Rounding off the American luxury brand’s lineup, the Cadillac SRX debuted yesterday at the unfolding New York Auto Show featuring a restyled front end and refreshed interior.
While the same host of luxury appointments you might expect from the brand like leather and wood trim are present, the upcoming model’s most interesting feature is its new infotainment system, called “CUE.”
Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing explained the system during a press conference today. Butler referred to the system as “intuitive technology” which might be hard to take at face value, but the brand is doing everything in its power to make that true.
The new 2013 Cadillac XTS is Cadillac’s new flagship luxury sedan, and when it hits dealers in the spring it will start at a base price of $44, 995.
There will be three trim levels available on the XTS: Luxury, Premium and Platinum. The platinum model will be the top of the line XTS and come with standard unique wheels, interior trim and unique materials to set itself apart from the other two options packages.
Cadillac’s new CUE infotainment system will also be included in the XTS, and promises to offer users an intuitive control experience. “CUE is intuitive, in part because its control and command structure aims to be consistent with popular devices millions of people already use,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing.
The XTS will premiere Cadillac’s new “directional tactile sensation,” system, which is essentially a setup that warns the driver of potential collisions by vibrating the bottom of the seat.
The XTS will be competing with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, Lexus GS, BMW 5-Series and Infiniti M37.
Today at the 2012 New York Auto Show, Cadillac was recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as being the most improved luxury brand in the business.
This award is based on the rate of improvement over the last three years in J.D. Powers five core quality studies. The five studies are: Initial Quality Study (IQS); Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS); Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study; Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study; and Customer Service Index (CSI) Study.
Cadillac has been pitching its reinvention for some time now, and with the advent of new cars like the ATS, it seems that all the talk is not without substance. This J.D. power study backs up everything that Cadillac has claimed it is trying to be.
“Our mission has been to re-think and upgrade every element of the customer experience,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of Cadillac Sales and Service. “This is a meaningful milestone in our journey.”
For what seems like forever, North America has been left behind when it comes to diesel cars. Sure there are a few options, but nowhere near as many as our friends in Europe. In fact, according to the Automotive Industry Data Newsletter, 52% of all new car sales last year in Western Europe were diesel powered.
Diesel engines offer unique advantages, with plenty of torque making tiny power plants more useable in small cars, while making modest size engines a functional alternative to much larger gasoline ones in SUVs. Towing, after all, is not something hybrids are known for. Additionally, diesel engines can provide fuel economy closer to that of a hybrid, without any of the worries surrounding new technology; plus, there’s no battery pack compromising passenger or storage space.
With those advantages, not to mention a push by automakers to meet increasingly strict corporate average fuel economy standards, a slew of diesel models are set to arrive on our shores in the near future. If you’re considering the switch to diesel power, here are a few options you’ll soon be able to consider.
General Motors, among every automaker this year, is revamping its lineup to remain competitive. The 2014 Chevrolet Impala, which will officially debut later today at the New York Auto Show, is the final instance of the marque’s efforts in that regard.
“The 2014 Impala re-establishes this iconic Chevrolet nameplate as a design leader, with bold styling that will turn heads for years to come,” said Mark Reuss, president, GM North America. “The team has also delivered the comfort, safety, fuel efficiency and technology that will strengthen Impala’s leadership in the highly competitive full-size sedan market.”
While it is nothing if not an American car icon, the Impala needs a complete refresh to distinguish itself from the police and taxi fleet vehicle it has become. While it sold more than 171,000 units in 2011 to become the best-selling full-size sedan in the U.S., GM intends to maintain the Impala’s competitive sales edge with the model we saw today – drawing in eager consumers and not just bargain hungry commercial fleets.
Among the style updates mentioned above by Reuss, the rethought car features LED lights that have come to be a standard on most new cars. A new body with sculpted sides helps to abolish the old wedge-shaped paneling that made previous models recognizable for reasons good and bad. A stunning new Camaro-styled fascia can’t be missed while wheel options deliver a choice between 18- 19- and 20-inch sizes.
A visit to the automotive nip/tuck department, all-encompassing as it may be, isn’t always enough to sway consumers, but GM didn’t stop at the skin.
Three new engine options will also be available, all with direct injection to slightly boost power and fuel economy. Among them, a 3.6-liter V6, 2.5-liter inline four cylinder and 2.4-liter four cylinder with eAssist offer a host of power and consumption options to fit a broader preference range than the old model’s solo 3.6-liter V6 option. The V6 gets a teensy boost to 303 hp while the two inline four cylinders rate in at 195- and 182 hp respectively.
Inside, the 2014 Impala is also redesigned with a new interior with an available 8-inch touch screen display in the center stack. Comfort also gets a boost from improved interior materials, according to GM. Better sound dampening should also decrease road noise to make driving an Impala an easier experience. (We certainly noted the vault-like silence in the all-new 2013 Malibu).
Finally, the safety technology that is quickly becoming commonplace in new cars also makes an appearance. Lane departure warning, collision alert, braking assistance, adaptive cruise control and more are available options while 10 standard airbags and OnStar try to go beyond the current model.
Still, the Impala hasn’t carried a “wow” factor in a long time and was outpaced by its competition in the full-size sedan segment, so Chevrolet has a long way to go before actually distinguishing a car that often sports ad banners or red and blue lights. We’ll give a full verdict after our first drive, but for now you can look through the pictures and decide.
GALLERY: 2014 Chevrolet Impala
It wasn’t long ago when the best-selling General Motors models greedily guzzled gas, but times have changed due to a large part to rising gas prices.
Now, GM’s fuel-effiicient models rule the roads and in March they have reached a milestone. Last month, GM sold more than 100,000 vehicles that achieve 30 mpg or better.
“GM’s strategic investments in four-cylinder and turbocharged engines, advanced transmissions and vehicle electrification have been very well timed,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. “Three years ago, about 16 percent of the vehicles GM sold achieved at least 30 mpg on the highway. Today, that number is about 40 percent, and we have more new fuel-economy leaders on the way, including the Chevrolet Spark, Cadillac ATS and the Buick Encore.”
This is a huge shift and shows where the market is heading. The cars that make up this new sales record include the Chevrolet Sonic, Cruze, Volt, Malibu, Impala, Equinox and even the V6 Camaro.
Buick‘s Verano, Regal, LaCrosse, and GMC‘s Terrain round out the field.
In future, GM will be offering more fuel efficient models, like the new Cadillac ATS, which will also offer four-cylinder engines.
The popular Xbox racing simulator Forza Motorsport 4 has had monthly add-ons ever since it came out in October 2011. For April though they’ve released another car-pack featuring 10 very different and very interesting cars to play with.
The Aplinestars Pack features a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, fully decked out in racing livery. Gamers should be happy to note that 9 other interesting vehicles are included in the pack. For 560 Microsoft Points (about $7) you’ll get access to the 2011 Mercedes-Benz #35 Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3, 2011 Aston Martin #009 Aston Martin Racing AMR One, 2012 Jaguar XKR-S, 1995 BMW M5, 2011 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S, 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE, 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3, 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible, 2012 Scion tC and 1997 Volvo 850 R.
Turn10 studio, the company behind Forza Motorsport 4 has provided a cool trailer for the upcoming add-on, which will be available April 3. Check it out below.
The all-new Cadillac XTS will start production this spring and when it finally hits dealerships, it will be the industry’s first car to feature directional tactile sensation to warn drivers of potential crash threats.
While the “directional tactile sensation” name might sound fancy, in laymen’s terms it’s simply vibrations of the driver’s seat bottom. That’s right, if you’re in danger of crashing your new XTS luxury sedan, the seat will buzz your bum. The vibrating pulse patterns will emit from the lower bolster of the seat, and will be directional (left or right) depending on where the potential threat is emanating. If the potential crash is in the front or rear of the vehicle, the Cadillac Safety Alert Seat will kick in on both sides of the seat.
Cadillac’s announcement to use haptic feedback in the seat comes coincidentally after we reported AT&T Labs researching the use of vibrations in the steering wheel to help make in-car navigation less distracting.
“It’s akin to someone tapping on your shoulder in a crowd to get your attention,” said, General Motors active safety technical fellow Raymond Kiefer. “Using the tactile sense to communicate crash threat direction provides an effective and intuitive way to cut through the clutter of visual and auditory sensory information that drivers routinely experience.”
The vibrating seats will be part of the Cadillac Driver Awareness and Driver Assist packages and also includes Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert in the Driver Awareness Package, available in spring for the launch of the XTS. The Driver Assist Package on the other hand, will be available in fall and also uses the Safety Alert Seat and features Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Collision Preparation, and Front and Rear Automatic Braking Systems.
Both packages will also be made available to the Cadillac ATS and SRX models.
Watch a couple videos of the new 2013 Cadillac XTS safety features after the break.
GALLERY: 2013 Cadillac XTS Safety Features
Chevrolet released a single teaser image of its all-new Impala today, which will debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show.
”The momentum at Chevrolet continues to build with the debut of the 10th generation of the Impala, one of the brand’s most enduring and cherished nameplates,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “The new Impala further strengthens Chevrolet’s passenger car lineup by giving consumers a full-size sedan that balances the desire for distinction with engaging driving dynamics.”
Introduced in 1958, the Impala has been one of Chevrolet’s best-selling cars, going through a series of changes that carried its nameplate from the massive ’58 sport coupe to the front-wheel drive car often seen as a fleet vehicle.
There wasn’t much additional information, but we’ve previously reported that the upcoming Impala will share the Cadillac XTS platform. Hopefully that means a more refined car in the coming generation.
Weighing one model against another can be a hassle for people mulling over a new car purchase. As if it wasn’t difficult enough, those shopping for luxury cars also have to weigh the incentives being offered.
“What we see with the beginning of the fourth quarter is that the pressure on the pricing front has increased. When it will end is, at the moment, not clear,” BMW CFO Friedrich Eichiner said in reference to the array of incentives luxury car makers are offering customers. The list of enticements, sweet as they may be, can be a little overwhelming.
Audi for example, is offering current owners a $3,000 loyalty incentive or will extend a $2,500 discount to anyone trading in a luxury car towards a 2012 A8. Mercedes-Benz is offering an extra $2,000 discount on buying a 2012 E-Class if you’re already financing or leasing another Mercedes through its financing division. Fina;;y, BMW is offering a $1,000 rebate on a 2012 BMW M3 coupe or convertible, or a $2,500 manufacturer-to-dealer incentive on a 2011 335i or 328i. It’s worth mentioning that the $2,500 manufacturer-to-dealer incentive might not even come up if you don’t ask the dealer.
It isn’t just the German automakers jumping into the discount battle, Infiniti and Lexus are both offering incentives. Current Jaguar or Land Rover owners can also save up to $5,500 in total rebates on a 2011 Range Rover. Both Cadillac and Lincoln are offering rebates and discounts, with Cadillac offering a ridiculous $7,000 in manufacturer-to-dealer rebates on any left over 2011 DTS models.
[Source: Left Lane News]