AutoPacific, an automotive consulting firm, has announced the 2006 winners of their Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.

AutoPacific’s VSA establishes numerical satisfaction ratings for virtually every car and light truck in the United States. Owner satisfaction is calculated across 45 specific areas related to a vehicle’s operation, comfort, safety and the overall purchase/lease experience. – AutoPacific

Cadillac unseated Lexus this year to take the top spot in Premium/Luxury Brand segment. CTS took top honors in the Entry Luxury segment with all other Cadillac models also scoring highly.

Read the AutoPacific announcement at:

AutoPacific – 2006 Brand Satisfaction Awards

Categories: News, CTS, Awards
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GM announced on Tuesday (May 30, 2006) a significant investment in their Ypsilanti transmission plant in order to prepare for the new 6L50 6-speed automatic.

This transmission will be used in a wide range of rear and all-wheel drive models including some 2007 STS and SRX models (note, the 6L80 – in the picture above – is the current transmission used in the STS-V)...current STS and SRX models use the 5L40 (V-6) and 5L50 (V-8) transmission.

This likely marks a move within Cadillac to standard 6-speed transmissions across the board. This should help Cadillac stay in competition with moves from Mercedes and Lexus to go to ever increasing numbers of gear ratios in their models as well.

Expect the 6L50 to be the transmission of choice in the 2007/2008 CTS when it debuts within the next year.

Read the entire press release at:

GM Media Online – General Motors Invests $170 Million To Expand Six-Speed Transmission Production In Ypsilanti

Categories: News, CTS, STS / SLS, SRX
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It appears from a report in ‘The Peninsula’ that the very first 2007 Escalades have completed their trip to the Middle East. 90% of this first shipment is already sold.

Mannai Trading Co, the official dealer for Cadillac in Qatar even held a reception to celebrate the arrival of the new model to Qatar and the Middle East.

Read all about it at:

The Peninsula – Qatar first in Mideast to get Cadillac’s 2007 model

Categories: News, Escalade
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Automobile Magazine has a short write-up on the new, 7-passenger, Mercedes GL SUV.

Interestingly, while quiet and refined, Automobile’s author is less than impressed…

Quotes:
“Under hard acceleration or braking, however, the GL pitches forward and back like a headbanging teenager.”

”...the GL feels slow-and it certainly won’t get any livelier when you ask it to pull 7500 pounds, its maximum tow rating.”

”...a worthy entry in its segment, but it has none of the charisma of the Cadillac Escalade…”

Just thought you Escalade fans would like a smile today.

Read the whole review at:

Automobile Magazine – 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450

Categories: Escalade, Reviews
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Cadillac is expected to announce a deal they have reached with Microsoft to feature the V-Series in the new XBox 360 game Project Gotham Racing 3.

In addition to adding the CTS-V, STS-V, and XLR-V to the game, players can also compete for ‘Cadillac Elite’ status on a virtual version of the Nürburgring.

Read more about it at:

New York Times – Cadillac Models to Join the Action in Xbox 360 Game

Categories: News, CTS, STS / SLS, XLR, V-Series
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