CTS Coupe revealed and CTS-V Coupe confirmed

Update: See our full CTS Coupe image gallery hereCTS CoupeHere comes the sexiest Cadillac in decades... The CTS Coupe and it's V-Series brother are scheduled for introduction in 2010 as 2011 models. The base coupe - if you can call a car with standard 304hp DI V-6, available Recaro seats (previously exclusive to the CTS-V sedan but available on all coupes), as well as rear or all-wheel drive could be called 'base'. 2 suspension setups are available, 1 with 18" all-season tires and rear or all-wheel drive, the other with summer tires in 19" and a performance suspension (rear-drive only). The CTS Coupe concept's look and features have come over intact to the production model (as spy photos have shown). Notably present are the electronic door handles as well as the unique lower fascia that echos that of the concept and is more agressive than that of the sedan. 2" lower and 2" shorter than the sedan on the same wheelbase with a more raked windshield and incredibly flat rear glass, the production model drips with style that GM of years past would not and could not have built. Expect the coupe to come in with a base price mid-way into the sedan's range as there appears to be no 3.0l DI engine option (yet) as there is with the less-sporty CTS models. So, pricing should be in the mid-40's to start. Also, fully expect all-wheel drive to be available with the automatic only - sorry to those of you who like to row your own and live anywhere that gets snow. The line starts here, boys and girls. 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
CTS, News, V-SeriesScott Kissinger1 Comment