In addition to the previously discovered transmission changes for the 2012 model year (dropping the manual/3.6 combo) we now have GM’s planned alterations to the CTS family as a whole.
Highlights include a newly enhanced 3.6 with 318hp (a 14hp boost), standard Bluetooth connectivity, new style for the standard grill as well as a new grill for the Touring Package (that also includes metal pedals, dark Sapele wood interior trim and sueded seat inserts, steering wheel and shift knob).
Reports out of Cadillac are that the 6-speed manual option, currently available on all powertrains of the CTS (except the AWD models) will be dropped from the 3.6l V-6.
It will continue to be offered with the base 3.0 as well as the V-Series models.
This was the best bargain performance offering of the CTS line and we are sad to see it go.
As expected, Cadillac announced today an option of 3.6l v6 power on the 2012 SRX crossover. The 3.6 will be the only engine offered in US SRXes, with the smaller 3.0 continuing to be offered in ‘export’ markets.
Not getting the 330hp we were expecting from a revised 3.6, the SRX will get 300hp from the current direct injected version of the 3.6. Also debuting during the late summer freshening will be standard Bluetooth, a new 20″ wheel design, as well as an available heated steering wheel and redundant door lock controls on the door panels (currently, the SRX lock/unlock buttons reside in the center stack only.)
Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
GM has announced that they will be retiring the use of R134a refrigerant in 2013 for a new product, HFO-1234yf, supplied by Honeywell.
The new refrigerant breaks down in the atmosphere in 11 days, significantly better than the 13 years of R134a. This reduces the global warming index of lost/released refrigerant by 99.7%.
R134a has been in wide use in automobiles since 1994 when use of Freon (R12) was banned.
Hennessey has put their v650 tuned CTS-V Sport Wagon up against a stock 911 Turbo (both with automatic transmissions). The v650 is on racing tires, but still, at 1000 lbs heavier than the Porsche and with rear vs. all-wheel drive, beating the Porsche with an 11.7 (vs 11.8) second time is damn impressive.
Autoblog has managed to score more photos of the upcoming XTS sedan.
Of note is a picture through the side glass that shows that the interior is heavily similar to the interior Cadillac showed in their XTS Platinum show car.
Differences appear to be mainly in material selection (note the lack of the tortoise shell accents on the steering wheel, for example).
This appears to be in keeping with Cadillac’s interior design theme that started back with the CTS and has continued through the SRX – but also evolves the design language into a larger, more luxurious car.
This should be the first Cadillac to also dispense with the lacking electronics package that the current slate of Cadillacs is carrying – expect this to be a Cadillac flavor of the MyLink system that will debut in the 2012 Chevy Volt and bring similar features and media device/smartphone integration to those Ford has with their MyFord Touch.
AutoBild Allrad, a German car magazine, has selected the all-wheel drive CTS Coupe as their Import Car of the Year in the sports car/coupe/convertible category.
This is a huge win for Cadillac that has had several less than successful attempts to crack into the European market. While this certainly doesn’t mean Cadillac is successful in the market – it does mean that buyers are starting to recognize that the brand is at least a player.
The next sign of success would be significant sales.
