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Cadillac returning to SCCA World Challenge with CTS-V Coupe

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Cadillac, Racing

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Race Car

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Race Car – Click above for high-res image gallery

Sure enough, The Crest is headed back to the race track, this time with its menacing CTS-V Coupe. Cadillac last took to the field of battle in 2007, when it campaigned in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge, and according to General Motors, the company will once again race in that series with a two-car team next season. Pratt & Miller, the shop responsible for the wicked American Le Mans Series Chevrolet Corvettes we all know and love, has been tasked with developing the racier version of the CTS-V Coupe. While the cars are largely production-based in the World Challenge GT class, some of the vehicle’s systems will need to be upgraded to meet SCCA specifications.

The two CTS-V Coupe race cars will compete for the first time on March 25 in St. Petersburg, Florida with Johnny O’Connel and Andy Pilgram behind the wheel. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait that long to see these machine in the metal. Cadillac is planning to show the vehicle off at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe SCCA Race Car

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe SCCA Race Car

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Cadillac returning to SCCA World Challenge with CTS-V Coupe

Cadillac returning to SCCA World Challenge with CTS-V Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac CTS-V, Jeep Grand Cherokee named 2011 Internet Car and Truck of the Year

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Crossover, Cadillac, Jeep, Off-Road

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2011 Cadillac CTS-V and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee – Click above for high-res image galleries

The Internet Car and Truck of the Year voting jury has just announced its pair of winners for 2011, and top honors go to both the Cadillac CTS-V and Jeep Grand Cherokee. For 2011, the CTS-V is offered in a trio of body styles, all of which boast a 556-horsepower supercharged V8 and seriously good driving dynamics. Likewise, the 2011 Grand Cherokee remains one of the best off-road vehicles in its class, and points the way forward for the “new Chrysler.”

In addition to the vehicles picked by the Internet Car and Truck of the Year jurors, the motoring public was able to cast its vote for the “Average Joe” awards. Unlike the professional jury, the public voters named the 2011 Ford Mustang GT as Car of the Year, its new 5.0-liter V8 and reworked suspension geometry making it more of a true sports car than a stereotypical muscle car. However, both the “Internet Pros” and “Average Joes” saw eye to eye on the Truck of the Year award, with the Grand Cherokee taking the cake from both segments of voters.

Vehicles aside, the ICTOY jury also honored recently deceased and legendary automotive journalist Jerry Flint with the 2010 Journalist of the Year award. Flint, who died on August 7th of this year, covered the automotive beat for over 50 years, and was once named one of the 100 most prominent business reporters of the 20th century.

For the full details on all of the awards, follow the jump to read the Internet Car and Truck of the Year press release.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Gallery: Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Source: Internet Car and Truck of the Year]

Continue reading Cadillac CTS-V, Jeep Grand Cherokee named 2011 Internet Car and Truck of the Year

Cadillac CTS-V, Jeep Grand Cherokee named 2011 Internet Car and Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Lexus expects to sell 1,000 CTs a month despite HS flop

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Hatchback, Lexus

2011 Lexus CT 200h driving

2011 Lexus CT 200h – Click above for high-res image gallery

Lexus is pinning rather high the expectations on its new CT 200h, billed as “The Dark Side of Green.” According to Brian Bolain, the automaker’s national advertising and marketing manager, Lexus expects to sell about 1,000 CTs here in the U.S. each month. We wish them the best of luck, but have some serious reservations.

Consider that the combined sales of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 (which represent the vehicles most likely to be cross-shopped with the CT) tally up about 1,500 sales per month, according to Ward’s Automotive. For what it’s worth, the 1 Series, which is the only non-dedicated hatchback and easily the sportiest of the bunch, makes up the vast majority of the segment’s sales.

As you’re surely aware, the CT 200h is indeed a dedicated hatchback and it offers up a comparatively paltry 98 horsepower from its Prius-derived Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter four-cylinder, aided by another 36 ponies from its two electric motors and 28 NiMH batteries. As we said in our First Drive of the CT, that power level, particularly when coupled to a continuously variable automatic transmission, doesn’t exactly incite driving excitement.

Also factor in the sales flop that is the dedicated-hybrid Lexus HS 250h, a model whose yearly sales will struggle to hit half the 20,000 units Lexus had counted on, and you can see why we’re a tad skeptical that Toyota’s luxury division will manage to move a thousand CTs per calendar flip. In any case, we figure the CT is at least as attractive as the HS, and we look forward to spending some quality time with the hybrid hatchback in day-to-day driving scenarios where it should become much more clear how the machine stacks up against its competitors.

What do you think, will the CT 200h be a hit in America? Have your say in Comments.

Gallery: 2011 Lexus CT 200h: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

[Source: Ward’s Automotive]

Report: Lexus expects to sell 1,000 CTs a month despite HS flop originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Cadillac, First Drive

Clark Griswold should have waited

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon – Click above for high-res image gallery

Instead of getting suckered into the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, a pea green calamity with excessive wood paneling and eight sealed-beam headlamps, a wiser move for Clark Griswold would have been to hold off until the first wave of high-performance station wagons rolled into showrooms. As it happened, just a few years after Clark traded in his Oldsmobile, sedans like the Volvo 740 and BMW E34 spawned the enthusiast-targeted Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon and BMW M5 Touring. Both five-doors would have given Christy Brinkley a serious run in her red Ferrari 308 GTSi.Those early gussied-up family haulers were the predecessors to the Audi RS6 Avant, Dodge SRT8 Wagon, BMW M5 Touring and Mercedes-Benz E63 Sport Wagon. None were intended to be volume models (in fact, two never made it to the States). Instead, each was fabricated to act as a flagship ambassador, a proof-of-concept to the performance capability of the five-door chassis and to deliver unchallenged bragging rights. Automakers didn’t build fast wagons because they had to – they built them because they could.

Cadillac, a company no longer content with letting others lead segments it once dominated, wanted to get into the frothy action. The luxury automaker felt an obligation to do “the right thing” and push for its own very unique five-door. The vision was clear – Cadillac wanted to build a CTS-V Wagon – and the concept was simple, making it difficult for management to contest (at the time, the organization was functioning inside circled-wagons). Since the platform and powertrain were already in existence, the ceremonial mating would be accomplished at minimal cost and everything could be completed at breakneck speed. Less than one year later, the all-new CTS-V Wagon is here.

Continue reading…

Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon: First Drive

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

First Drive: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Cadillac CTS-V drifts its wheels off at Monticello

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari, Luxury

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe drift

Cadillac CTS-V is the new smoke monster – Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe is a lot of things. It’s a luxury two-door that’s also a muscle car. It’s a supercharged beast with a fire-breathing LSA mounted under the hood. And it’s also a smoke machine. Monticello Motor Club invited a slew of vehicles out for its first annual Drift with the Supercars event, and while a few dedicated drift cars showed up, a handful of other lust-worthy rides arrived to ruin their rubber. The CTS-V Coupe was on hand, sharing the track with a Ferrari 575 Maranello, C6 Corvette, 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS and a Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series.

The Cadillac fared exceptionally well against the rest of the competition and took home the title of Best Drift in New Car. Check out the tire-shredding, sideways action in the beautifully shot video after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing and Chris Shunk / AOL

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Cadillac CTS-V drifts its wheels off at Monticello

Video: Cadillac CTS-V drifts its wheels off at Monticello originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon priced from $62,990

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Wagon, Cadillac, GM

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon – Click above for high-res image gallery

This is sort of like a dream come true. We’re already madly in love with the Cadillac CTS-V in both its sedan and sexy coupe forms, and in just a few months, we’ll have a five-door station wagon version that still packs the V’s 556-horsepower supercharged V8, rear-wheel drive and a proper manual transmission. It’s like General Motors made this one just for us (we aren’t complaining). Want one? $62,990, including destination charges.

So, what does $63K get you other than some family haulin’ lunacy on wheels? Leather, heated seats, navigation, HID headlamps, a premium Bose sound system and Cadillac’s premium care maintenance service for four years or 50,000 miles. Optional goodies include the $3,400 Recaro heated and ventilated front chairs (you want these – trust us), $800 19-inch polished aluminum alloys, $600 for slightly fancier wood trim and $300 for suede on the steering wheel and shifter.

Realistically, you can get a perfect CTS-V Wagon with a six-speed manual and the Recaro seats for $66,390. That, folks, is one heck of a bargain. As great as it is, we’re thinking that GM won’t manage to sell a whole bunch of this very niche product, so we’re thinking it’s an easy pick for a future collectible. Hit the jump to read GM’s official press blast.

Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon priced from $62,990

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon priced from $62,990 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac recalling CTS and CTS-V over risk to passenger knees

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Recalls, Cadillac, Event Alert, Luxury

2009 Cadillac CTS-V sedan

2009 Cadillac CTS-V – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has issued a recall notice for 2009-2010 all-wheel drive Cadillac CTS’ and CTS-Vs due to an issue with the front passenger-side knee airbag.

In a collision, the front passenger’s knees are at risk of being hit – however, this risk is only for passengers not wearing their seat belts. Dealers are instructed to replace the glove box assembly and, if necessary, modify the instrument panel structure. Per usual, these services are free of charge and the recall is scheduled to begin on or before October 20th, 2010.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Max Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: NHTSA]

Cadillac recalling CTS and CTS-V over risk to passenger knees originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Cadillac CTS-V “Competition” commercial

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Cadillac

Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac CTS-V “Competition” commercial – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Recently, we showed you a behind-the-scenes look at Cadillac’s newest commercial featuring the CTS-V sedan out on Germany’s hallowed-be-thy-name Nürburgring. Now, after all of the editing and post-production work has been completed, we’re left with a brand new television ad spot simply dubbed “The Competition,” showing viewers that one of the world’s fastest sport sedans will strive to be better and better. How can you improve on 0-60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and a ‘Ring run in just 7:59.32? We’re eager to find out.

Aside from the gloriousness of watching a CTS-V do what it does best out on one of the world’s greatest road courses, we like this video because it makes mention of the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG – two vehicles that inspired Cadillac to raise the bar for its own sport sedan. Give credit where credit is due, after all. Still, we like stiff competition, and you can watch Cadillac’s latest ad spot for yourself after the jump.

[Source: Cadillac via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Cadillac CTS-V “Competition” commercial

Video: Cadillac CTS-V “Competition” commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Cadillac brings us behind the scenes of CTS-V Competition commercial

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Cadillac, Luxury

Behind Cadillac’s “The Competition” commercial for the CTS-V – Click above to watch video after the jump

Once upon a time – May 9, 2008 to be precise – the Cadillac CTS-V ran the ‘Ring in 7:59.32, and just five days later we had video proof of the event. Now that over two years have passed, the feat will leave the geek-o-riffic world of ‘Ring time watchers and be shared with the rest of America in a commercial called The Competition.

What that commercial will say or how it will be used to promote this particular bit of rather old and arcane news is to be determined, but we do know what’s behind the scenes. If you want to find out, you’ll hop on after the jump and check out the three-minute vid with director Jeff Zwart. Yes, that Jeff Zwart…

[Source: Inside Line]

Continue reading Video: Cadillac brings us behind the scenes of CTS-V Competition commercial

Video: Cadillac brings us behind the scenes of CTS-V Competition commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drop Top Customs to unveil convertible Cadillac CTS at SEMA

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Convertible, Coupe, Cadillac, Luxury

DTC Convertible Cadillac CTS – Click above for image gallery

The shop behind the beautiful convertible Dodge Challenger that stole the spotlight at last year’s SEMA show is at it again. Drop Top Customs has announced that it will set about creating a topless version of the ever-sexy Cadillac CTS Coupe for this year’s aftermarket shindig. We’re not entirely sold on the thought of hacking the razor-sharp roof line from the coupe and replacing it with a folding soft top, but we’ll reserve judgment until after we see the final product in the flesh, er, sheetmetal.

DTC has been cranking out convertible versions of production hardtops for around 30 years, so the company knows what it’s doing when it sets to taking the plasma cutter to an otherwise unsullied vehicle. Last year, that infamous convertible Challenger actually walked away from SEMA with a design award from Chrysler itself, so chances are the new drophead CTS will have the fit and finish of a factory effort. Still, we’ve got to wonder just how many people are clamoring for a convertible Caddy these days. After all, there didn’t seem to be much pent-up demand for the XLR…

Gallery: DTC Convertible Cadillac CTS

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

Drop Top Customs to unveil convertible Cadillac CTS at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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