AutoPacific, the automotive research firm, has just published their latest Vehicle Satisfaction Awards list. This study is based on the opinions of actual owners of 2008 model year examples.

Cadillac took top honors in the respective segments of the Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, CTS, and DTS. This resulted in Cadillac, as a brand, being named the overall winner.

Way to go Cadillac!

Read all about it at:

VehicleVoice: AutoPacific Announces 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

Categories: Awards, CTS, DTS, Escalade, News
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Rumors have swirled for several months about the new, Theta premium-based crossover that Cadillac has been working on (and previewed with their Provoq concept earlier this year). The least known part is what the vehicle will be called.

MotorTrend started out calling the vehicle the BRX. A spied trademark filing by GM suggested that BTX might be the real name. Now, Edmunds InsideLine has found sources that suggest a name has been selected…SRX.

Given that this was to, in essence replace the SRX in the crossover space (while the new CTS wagon replaced the SRX in the sporty hauler arena) this makes a bit of sense. Conjecture that the name would change was based in the fact that the SRX has never set the sales charts on fire…though the name does have some equity, which Cadillac will capitalize on with the new truck-let.

Expect the new SRX to debut in 2009 as a 2010 model.

Categories: BRX / BTX, News, SRX
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Recently, Cadillac set the sedan lap record of the Nurburgring in a 2009 CTS-V.

Edmunds.com’s Inside Line has several fascinating details about the run:

The record running car (the car in the video) is the new 6-speed automatic! The 6-speed manual, while being much more involving, is actually slower around the track.

The CTS-V that broke the record was running the same tires that will be on the car when it goes on sale later this year – Michelin Pilot Sport 2′s

The car was airborne 3 times during the run.

And, as if a nod to people who have had issues with wheel-hop in hard launches in the current V, the development team has let slip that you can do epic burnouts in both the manual and automatic car if you like…while certainly fun, this also suggests that the wheel-hop has been corrected in the new car.

Read the entire list over at:

InsideLine: Details on the Cadillac CTS-V’s Run Around the ‘Ring

Categories: CTS, News, V-Series
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It seems we just got used to the idea of a CTS coupe (still not officially announced). This and the upcoming wagon have shown Cadillac’s seriousness about competing head-to-head with the likes of the BMW 3-Series.

The coupe has fueled speculation that Cadillac might go all the way and lop the top off the coupe and enter the one remaining segment with a sporty convertible.

The latest rumor, though, has Cadillac shelving any plans for now.

We’re hoping they’ll have a change of heart.

Categories: CTS, News, Rumored Models
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Five days ago we brought word to you all about the sub-8 minute lap of the Nurburgring that Cadillac recorded in a factory-spec CTS-V sedan.

This was the fastest recorded lap ever by a stock 4-door sedan.

Now, check out the video of that fabled lap below.

Enjoy.

Categories: CTS, News, V-Series, Video
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There are few feats that a performance car can attain that really get people to sit-up and take notice.

One is a sub-8 minute lap of the fabled Nurburgring. Few road cars have hit this mark and all are insanely impressive performance machines. Add one more to the list as of today…

The 2009 CTS-V

Doing the deed with a 7 minute 59.32 second lap, the CTS-V matches the time of the C6 Corvette Z51, beats some other legendary cars, and is bested only by modifieds or exotics.

Way to go, Cadillac.

See Cadillac’s press release below:

Show me more… »

Categories: CTS, News, V-Series
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One of the oddities of GM’s platform strategy is that they have two large rear-drive architectures that are similar in size. Sigma and Zeta.

Sigma is Cadillac’s dedicated rear-drive chassis that debuted in 2003 on the original CTS and has seen duty under the SRX, STS, and the new 2nd generation CTS. It’s two downsides are that it is relatively expensive and can’t be shared with other, higher volume models (some would call this a benefit) and that the chassis can’t be expanded much beyond the size of the current STS.

Zeta is GM’s latest rear-drive architecture that was developed primarily by GM’s Holden division and is aimed at the lower costs needed by volume brands such as Holden, Pontiac, Chevrolet, etc.

According to MotorTrend.com, GM has decided to merge the development of these two chassis.

By planning the merged architecture for both luxury and volume models, they will be able to cut costs of all models without giving up the premium features that Cadillac customers expect.

MT is expecting 6 different versions of the new chassis:

Coupe – short version that will see duty in volume models like the Holden Monaro, Chevy Camaro, and possibly a Pontiac G8 coupe
Coupe Premium – Next generation CTS coupe, differs from the standard coupe version with premium construction and suspension tuning
Midsize – Holden Commodore, Pontiac G8, Chevy sedan
Midsize Premium – Next generation CTS, same premium suspension as the premium coupe
Large – Holden Statesman, Buick Park Avenue in China, Holden Ute, Pontiac G8 Sport Truck, Large Buick sedan
Large Premium – STS/DTS replacement again with upscale upgrades and suspension changes

Additionally, GM is still expected to be working on the Alpha chassis in standard and premium versions for the Cadillac 3-Series competitor and also smaller rear-drive models for Holden, Pontiac, and Chevy.

Read all about it at:

MotorTrend.com: GM’s latest rear wheel drive vehicle plans

Categories: News
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