Americans tend to associate the size of vehicles with safety, which (partially) explains our love for big SUVs and pickup trucks. There is some logic behind this, since physics tells us a larger, heavier object will do more damage in an impact than a smaller and lighter one. Still, mass alone isn’t enough to keep occupants safe, as this video from Speed TV’s Stuntbusters illustrates rather well.

In 1962, automotive crash science was in its infancy. Most cars were years away from coming with seat belts, padded dashboards and collapsible steering columns as standard features, and things like crumple zones, high strength steel passenger compartments and airbags were the stuff of science fiction. When a crash occurred, the force of the impact was transmitted back into the vehicle, usually with devastating results to those inside.

As you watch the video, found on Autoblog, keep in mind that cars have gotten even safer in the decade since the 2002 Cadillac in the video was built. The ultimate goal of automakers is to eliminate crash fatalities, which may not be achievable as long as drivers shun seat belts and turn off features like stability control. If you spent any time on the highway over the Thanksgiving weekend, you know that the roads aren’t getting safer; lucky for us, then, that the cars driving on them are.

Cadillac's teaser image of the ATS. Image: © GM Corp.

Cadillac wants to pitch its upcoming ATS series against the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class. Original plans for the ATS called for a sedan, a coupe, a wagon and a convertible, which would have given Cadillac a counterpoint to every one of BMW’s offerings. It also would have given Cadillac a far broader range than Mercedes-Benz currently offers with the C-Class.

First, the ATS wagon fell victim to cost cutting, since projections didn’t show enough sales to justify design and production costs. Now GM Inside News reports that the ATS convertible has suffered the same fate, also a victim of insufficient demand to warrant production. That leaves a planned ATS sedan (which will appear first) and a planned ATS coupe, although the coupe is probably next on the chopping block.

Plans call for the ATS sedan to hit the market in the summer of 2012, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder or a 3.6-liter V-6. Rear wheel drive will be standard, but all wheel drive is said to be an available option. If the coupe survives to see production, don’t expect it to hit Cadillac showrooms until 2014 or so.

There are still rumors of a V-Series variant for both the ATS sedan and coupe, but details are sketchy. There’s no word on which engine will power an ATS Type V, and it may be 2015 before we see the V-Series badge on any ATS model.

The 2011 Cadillac CTS sedan. Image: © GM Corp.

One of the selling points of Cadillac’s superb CTS coupe and sedan was that even modestly-engined models could be ordered with a row-it-yourself gearbox. Buy a Performance or Premium package CTS with the 3.6-liter V-6 engine, and you could select either a six speed manual or a six speed automatic. Even base, 3.0-liter equipped cars could be ordered with a manual transmission, which gave Cadillac bragging rights and the ability to counter sales of European sport sedans. Competitive products from Audi and BMW gave buyers the option of a stick or a slushbox, and including a manual transmission option was key to Cadillac’s market positioning (even if most buyers opted for the automatic). That’s changed for 2012, and if you’re looking to buy a 3.0-liter or 3.6-liter Cadillac CTS with a manual transmission, you’re out of luck. Insufficient demand for the manual transmission has forced GM to cease production, since it’s simply not cost effective to build cars that customers don’t want to buy. Since there’s no significant difference in other mechanicals between the 2011 and 2012 cars, you may still have luck shopping dealer inventory for a manual-transmission-equipped 2011 CTS coupe or sedan.

The change doesn’t impact Cadillac’s CTS-V models, which continue to be available with either the six speed manual or the six speed automatic transmission. Even the CTS-V Sportwagon can be ordered with a manual transmission, making it the only 556 horsepower, row-it-yourself station wagon on the market today. Ironically, the CTS-V’s record Nürburgring lap time was set in an automatic-equipped car, with the transmission in “Sport” mode. Sure, the automatic is faster, but it’s no where near as satisfying to drive.

Source: InsideLine

The 2011 Black Diamond CTS-V Coupe. Image: © GM Corp.

When it comes to colors, I’ll generally pick black, at least until something darker comes along. Maybe it’s because things just look better in black, or maybe it matches the color of my soul. When it comes to favorite American cars, Cadillac’s CTS-V series is near the very top of my list. Combine the two, and you definitely get my attention; apparently, Cadillac thinks the way I do, because they’ve just announced a special edition of the CTS-V, called the Black Diamond Edition.

The Black Diamond Edition, which will be available in the sedan, coupe and wagon variants, starts with a special multi-layered paint. The black tri-coat paint gets blended with microscopic aluminum flakes, embedded in magnesium fluoride. That’s the science part, but the net result is a finish of unmatched depth and dimension that shines like a diamond in the sunlight. To complete the exterior look, Black Diamond Edition CTS-Vs roll on Satin Graphite 19 inch wheels, and get yellow-painted Brembo calipers.

On the inside, the special edition cars come with the superb Recaro seats and Midnight Sapele wood trim. Coupe buyers can opt for the “Saffron” interior, but I’d pass since even the microfiber suede inserts take away from the inherent blackness of the car. It looks like the suede steering wheel is standard on Black Diamond cars, and that’s a good thing.

If there’s a disappointment, it’s just that Cadillac didn’t do a thing to the motor on these special edition cars. Not that an engine producing 556 horsepower needs much improvement, but still; you’re paying for a “better” car, but it’s just an appearance package. Pricing on the CTS-V Black Diamond Edition, regardless of body style, is $69,190 for the six speed (yes, please) and $70,490 for the (oddly faster) automatic. That’s a premium of $4,850 over a base CTS-V, but it’s less than the sum of all the upgrades it includes. If I hit the lottery, you can rest assured I’ll be in to snap up a Black Diamond Edition CTS-V sedan.

Source: Cadillac

Photo: © GM Corp.

Crossovers have become a staple of the automotive industry, as buyers migrate away from traditional minivans or larger SUVs. Crossover vehicles seem to be the perfect fit for families – enough room to bring the kids, the dog and all the trappings of modern life, yet they’re more car-like to drive and to park. Unlike large SUVs, you don’t need to own an oil company to afford gas for one either. Crossovers can be had in any flavor, from vanilla (like Chevy’s Equinox) to jalapeno with a scotch bonnet pepper sauce reduction (like Infiniti’s FX50); in other words, you can get them with differing amounts of luxury and performance. Cadillac saw this as an opportunity for their revamped SRX; rather than offer a “one size fits all” V6, Caddy opted to give buyers the choice between a 3.0 liter V6 (good for 265 horsepower) and a 2.8 liter turbocharged V6 (good for 300 horsepower).

Thirty five horsepower isn’t a huge difference when you’re moving nearly 4,400 pounds of vehicle, but the Turbo may still have had a chance if it were only a few thousand dollars more than the normally aspirated V6. Instead, the price gap between the V6 and the turbo V6 was staggering: a 3.0 liter V6 SRX Performance stickered at $41,850, while the turbo 2.8 liter V6 SRX Performance stickered at $49,315. That’s a difference of $7,465, or $213.29 per horsepower in case you don’t have a calculator handy. Even the Premium trim level maintained the same additional cost for the turbo, so it’s no wonder that buyers consistently opted for the normally aspirated SRX over its pricey Turbo sibling.

Maybe the Turbo was doomed from the start. It’s first foray into the media spotlight came when a California journalist blew up a press fleet SRX Turbo, after filling it with non-premium fuel and tackling a mountain pass. This prompted a recall of SRX models, presumably to reprogram the ECU with additional knock control. Telling people to use premium fuel is one thing, but telling them their new $50,000 crossover could potentially throw a rod if mistakenly filled with regular unleaded is something else entirely. As crossovers go, the SRX Turbo wasn’t a bad vehicle; I think it was just misunderstood and more than a little overpriced.

Source: 4 Wheels News

It is now official. GM will be selling an all new Cadillac CTS Coupe in 2010. The new 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe will make its away to the Los Angeles Auto Show first and hit showrooms in the spring of 2010.

The first CTS Coupes to arrive will be fitted with GM’s 3.6-liter direct injection V6 good for 304 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The EPA-estimated fuel economy should be around 25mpg city and 27mpg highway. A 6-speed manual transmission will be offered as standard equipment while a 6-speed auto with paddle shifters is optional.

The new 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe will ride on virtually the same chassis as the sedan with the same wheelbase. A higher performance version, V-series, of the CTS Coupe will be making its way to dealerships later next year with the same 556 horsepower V8 found in the CTS-V sedan and CTS-V Sport Wagon.

Read the full press release below for additional details.

[source: General Motors-Cadillac]

PRESS RELEASE

2011 CADILLAC CTS COUPE: NEW SPORTS COUPE IS CADILLAC’S MOST DRAMATIC DESIGN

LOS ANGELES – Cadillac today unveiled the 2011 CTS Coupe, the latest and most dramatic of the brand’s series of new designs to reach production. Slated to arrive in Cadillac showrooms in the spring of 2010, the CTS Coupe is a new luxury sports coupe designed to become the centerpiece of the brand’s revised lineup.

“CTS Coupe is the new focal point of Cadillac, expressing both our design and technical capabilities,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “It is intended to appeal to a new generation of car enthusiasts.”

The Coupe joins the CTS Sport Sedan, the 556-horsepower (415 kW) CTS-V and new CTS Sport Wagon as the foundation of Cadillac’s lineup. A high-performance V-Series edition of the Coupe will also be released in 2010.

The CTS Coupe’s design carries over virtually unchanged from the concept car that was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2008. The Coupe is a classic 2+2 layout bolstered with advanced technology, such as a rear-view camera system and a performance-oriented suspension system coupled to rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Design
CTS Coupe emerged as a proposal inside Cadillac’s design studio, where designers have developed and evolved the brand’s Art and Science design philosophy.

“Cadillac has always been an emotional brand – it’s about delivering art regardless of body style,” said Max Wolff, director of exterior design for Cadillac. “With the CTS Coupe, it was about taking something very strong – the CTS Sport Sedan – and
extending its potential.”

The coupe has the same wheelbase as the CTS, but an overall height that is approximately two inches (51 mm) lower and an overall length that is two inches (51 mm) shorter.

Although it draws from its sport sedan sister, the CTS Coupe shares only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders and grille. Key design features include:

• Classic hardtop styling, with no conventional B-pillar
• Touch-pad operation for the doors removes the need for conventional door handles, creating a technical, clean profile
• A windshield laid at a faster angle (62.3 degrees) and a long, nearly horizontal backglass area combine to create a sleek, aerodynamic look
• Sculpted lower front fascia with unique brake-cooling vents
• Diamond cut-style rear fascia with mesh lower grilles
• Center-outlet exhaust with twin dihedral-shaped tips that pass through the rear fascia
• Signature vertical lighting, highlighted with LED light pipes
• Rear spoiler integrated into the center high-mounted stop lamp
• Sculpted roof-mounted antenna for OnStar and XM Satellite Radio.

At first glance, the shape of CTS Coupe is refreshingly simple, yet amplified with intricately carved details. Distinctive and original Cadillac signature cues combine with hand-sculpted forms, artfully articulating the confidence of the chassis. For example, the rear fenders were purposefully developed by hand in Cadillac design studios to visually acknowledge the RWD powertrain. The gestured profile, coupled with Cadillac’s vertical taillamps and pronounced rear centerline, aim to achieve the most visually confident coupe in the segment.

Performance
The CTS Coupe extends Cadillac’s emerging performance credentials. The CTS Coupe’s standard powertrain consists of a direct injected 3.6L V-6 and six-speed manual transmission. Direct injection technology delivers fuel more precisely to increase the efficiency of combustion, enabling more power while maintaining fuel economy and lowering emissions – including a 25-percent drop in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions.

The 3.6L DI engine is rated at 304 horsepower (227 kW) and offers EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg on the highway. It also runs on less expensive regular unleaded gasoline.

The powertrain’s performance is channeled through a chassis that delivers sports car performance without punishment. The hardware includes an independent short/long arm (SLA) front suspension system, with hydraulic control arm front bushings; and a multi-link rear suspension mounted on a fully isolated subframe. Also included are four-wheel disc performance brakes, premium steering and limited-slip differential.

Two suspension-tuning levels are available: a Performance Package with 18-inch wheels and all-season tires (available in both RWD and AWD,) and the Summer Tire Performance Package, with 19-inch tires and wheels and a higher level of road holding
capability. StabiliTrak, the advanced electronic chassis control system, is standard.

The 304-horsepower (227 kW) 3.6L V-6 Direct Injection engine will be standard, equipped with a six-speed manual, featuring a revised clutch and dual-mass flywheel that offers better clutch pedal feel and improved engine isolation. A 6-speed automatic
transmission with Driver Shift Control (and available steering wheel mounted shift buttons) is optional.

Technology
CTS Coupe blends handcrafted luxury with a contemporary, driver-focused interior that supports the car’s high-performance capabilities. The interior includes hand-sewn accents covering the door, center storage console and instrument panel trim. 14-Way adjustable Recaro sport seats, previously exclusively offered on Cadillac’s V-Series model, will be offered on all CTS Coupe models as an option.

The car offers a host of advanced technologies, including:

• Integrated iPod/MP3 capability
• 40-gig hard drive, including the ability to store music and pause-and-replay live radio
• Pop-up navigation system
• Adaptive forward lighting system
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Standard Keyless Access and Smart Remote Start
• Rear Camera system
• Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround™ audio system

As with other Cadillac models, the CTS Coupe comes standard with OnStar with Turn-by-Turn Navigation, the first factory-installed, fully integrated GPS navigation system from OnStar.

About Cadillac
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by dramatic new designs and global expansion. More information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com.

Up until today, you could not convince me that wagons, or what some of you call ‘station wagons’, are cool. I think they are hideous and plain butt ugly but lately my old-school perception has changed with the introduction and confirmation of the new Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon coming out.

The new Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is pretty bad-assed if you ask me. It has a rear-end that I would want to ahh-cough-cough, open and CLOSE. Not only does the CTS-V Sport Wagon look pleasing to the eye, it should do a number to your back when you press the gas pedal laying down 556 horsepower and 551 ft-lbs of torque. The big 6.2-liter V8 crammed into the CTS-V Sport Wagon is good for a run from 0 to 60mph in 4.1 seconds. Yea, beat that Clark Grisswald, let’s see your station wagon with wood on the side do that. I bet I could get the CTS-V airborne too buddy!

The confirmation of the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon making its away to the production lines and dealerships during the summer of 2010 comes after Bob Lutz basically told Car and Driver, “You’ll be able to get the CTS-V any way you want.” Well, guess what Bob, I want mine with wood on the side!

Celebrating the recent arrival of the Cadillac CTS-V in China, a commemorate event at the F1 circuit in Shanghai was held where stunt drivers put on one of the wildest shows around. In the show was, obviously, Cadillac CTS-V’s being driven by some very good drivers.

Shanghai V-Day Highlights include the following:

• 19,000 fans gathered at the F1 circuit in Shanghai this past Saturday, the hottest May 9 in more than a century there with temperatures around 30° C.  
• A team of professional stunt drivers from Hollywood performed an incredible show for the crowd. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!  These stunt drivers are professionals on a closed course, and they performed these incredible maneuvers (that no one else should ever attempt!) for entertainment purposes only.  There’s your requisite disclaimer. Enjoy the photos.
• John H wowed the crowd with the performance of the CTS-V, piloting it to the fastest lap ever on that circuit for a fully production-spec sedan.
• Kinda restores one’s faith in the excitement and passion of the automobile, eh? 

Images of the show

Exclusive Shanghai V-Day video

[sources: Youtube, GMBlogs]