Black Diamond Cadillacs

There’s currently a growing trend for matte black finishes on cars. Cadillac, however, has gone in totally the opposite direction for its CTS-V Black Diamond Edition.

Available in Sedan, Coupe and Wagon guises, this special edition’s distinctive feature is its tri-coat black paint which is embedded with a silver pigment called SpectraFlair. Uniquely, SpectraFlair contains aluminium flakes encased in magnesium fluoride that give a more glitzy appearance than ordinary metallic paints would.

As standard, the CTS-V comes with a 6.2 litre supercharged V8 that produces 556 bhp (414 kW / 563 PS). To complement that engine, the Black Diamond Edition also includes additional performance-orientated specification.



On the inside, there are leather Recaro seats with micro-fibre suede inserts, while the dashboard gets Midnight Sapele wood trim. Externally, 19” Satin Graphite wheels are fitted, behind which are yellow Brembo brake calipers.



Available in the US from March onwards, the CTS-V Black Diamond Edition has an MSRP (including destination charges) of $69,190 for the six-speed manual, or $70,490 if automatic transmission is chosen.



Images © GM Corp.

World Car Awards finalists

Sixty-six jurors from across the world have completed a first round of voting to determine the 2011 World Car Awards finalists.



With four different awards up for grabs, the shortlist models - in alphabetical order - are:





2011 World Car of the Year

• Audi A1


• Audi A8


• BMW 5 Series


• BMW X3


• Jaguar XJ


• Jeep Grand Cherokee


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Nissan Leaf


• Porsche Cayenne


• Volvo S60 / V60

Obviously, this is the big prize. Each of the finalists will be judged on ‘overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal and significance’, a combination that has lead to some previous winners being very worthy but also just a bit dull.



What’s striking is that 2011’s entire crop is from premium or, in the case of the Volvo and Jeep, semi-premium manufacturers. Even the Nissan isn’t exactly mainstream, given its relatively high price.

The Leaf could well repeat its 2011 European Car of the Year victory, but it does tend to divide opinion. There are those who believe it almost makes petrol or diesel cars obsolete, while others won’t back an all-electric car until both battery range and the recharging infrastructure improve.







It’s hard to see either the SLS AMG or Cayenne winning, given their comparative lack of environmental responsibility. The BMW 5 Series has to be a contender given its all-round ability, but it would be good to see the Jaguar XJ clinch it, simply because it represents such a brave departure from previous generation XJ models.



Audi’s A1 probably ticks all the boxes. However, it’d be a shame for it to win because it’s essentially a tarted-up version of last year’s World Car of the Year, the Volkswagen Polo.





2011 World Performance Car

• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi RS 5 Coupe


• Cadillac CTS-V Coupe


• Ferrari 458 Italia


• Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera


• Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG / CL 63 AMG


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Porsche 911 GT2 RS


• Porsche 911 Turbo


• Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250

This category is wide open, as it includes everything from a compact hot hatch to numerous supercars for the jurors to choose from. Audi has won the performance car award three times in the past five years, but it’ll be a surprise if the feat is repeated with the RS 5.









2011 World Car Design of the Year

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta


• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi A7


• Citroën DS3


• Ferrari 458


• Honda CR-Z


• Kia Sportage


• Nissan Juke

There were originally fifty-one candidates in this category, which is expected to ‘highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries’ - a demanding set of criteria.

On that basis, the Aston Martin would seem to be a strong challenger, but arguably it’s the Nissan Juke that truly stands out as a unique design.



The shortlist was decided by a panel of five design experts but, as with all of the other awards, it’s now solely up to the jurors to arrive at a winner.







2011 World Green Car

• BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition


• Chevrolet Volt


• Hyundai Sonata Hybrid


• Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell


• Nissan Leaf


• Smart electric drive

Three environmental experts were asked to draw up the finalists for this award based on emissions, fuel consumption and the power plant technology employed.

Perhaps the Leaf stands a stronger chance of winning this category, but it may be the case that more jurors consider the Volt’s range extender concept as being more practical for everyday use.







But with its 109 g/km and combined cycle 68.9 mpg (4.0 l/100km), the 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition proves that cars with a traditional internal combustion engine can still be impressively green.







The next stage is that during February the jurors will vote again, but this time just on the finalists.



Following that ballot, the top three cars in each category will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on 1st March.



Then, bringing the process to a close, the 2011 World Car Awards winners will be declared during the New York International Auto Show in April.

Cadillac CTS-V by Cam Shaft

German tuner Cam Shaft has unveiled their new styling (barely) and performance package for the Cadillac CTS-V.

To give the car a European flair, the CTS has been outfitted with a matte-white wrap (€2,250) and matte-black painted accents (€3,250). According to the company, these changes give the car a more "selective" appearance that mimics a stealth bomber (if it were white).

Under the hood, the 6.2-liter V8 features a larger air intake, a revised ECU, and a Wait4Me supercharger kit (€3,250). Thanks to these tweaks, output climbs from 564 PS (415 kW / 556 hp) to 630 PS (463 kW / 621 hp).

Cadillac drops turbo SRX

Cadillac is discontinuing the turbo versions of its SRX crossover, due to low demand.

Dropping the 300 bhp (223 kW / 304 PS) 2.8 litre V6 turbo motor means that the only engine now available for the SRX is a normally aspirated 3.0 litre V6, which produces 265 bhp (197 kW / 268 PS).



The reason for dropping the more powerful option can’t be because buyers are put off by its fuel consumption. Indeed, the EPA Highway rating of 22 mpg US (26.4 mpg UK / 10.6 l/100km) for the SRX turbo is barely any worse than the 23 mpg US (27.6 mpg UK / 10.2 l/100km) recorded by the 3.0 litre V6 with all-wheel drive.

Rather, it seems that Cadillac got the pricing wrong. Whereas the base non-turbo version with front-wheel drive has a price tag of $34,705 (including destination charges), the cheapest turbo SRX costs $50,790 - almost 50% more.



It’s unclear how this move will affect the forthcoming Saab 9-4X. Due to be launched in North America during May 2011, the 9-4X is based on the SRX and was going to share its engine line-up.



Images © GM Corp.



Related post:

Saab 9-4X unveiled

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

This is the Cadillac Aera (Aero + Era) launches Cadillac's philosophy of "Art and Science" into new territory by taking an innovative and stylistic approach to ultra-light weight vehicle design. LOS ANGELES – The Cadillac Aera concept vehicle won the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, tying with Smart and besting entries from seven other automakers including Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Maybach. GM Advanced Design has now won the honor more times than any other design team.

General Motors advanced design California has come up with a concept cars zero-emission vehicle as part of this year’s LA Auto Show Design Challenge. Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car is a 1000 lb, 2+2 touring coupe, with a range of 1000 miles before refueling; attributes achieved without compromising size, capacity and safety. With an ability to seat four, the vehicle uses a body structure made from mono-formed 3D lattice that is extremely sturdy.

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

This marks the third time that the group from General Motors has won this challenge, giving them the most wins out of all automakers that enter. The Cadillac Aera Concept hit on all areas that the judges were looking for and, despite the futuristic styling, still carries some recognizable lines from Cadillacs of today.

Jussi Timonen, lead designer for the project shared: „The Cadillac Sports Cars Aera concept was designed to continue the forward-thinking imagination of Cadillac’s ‘art and science’ philosophy. It’s designed as a small city urban vehicle, but we approached this 2+2 touring coupe very much from the brand’s luxury perspective. Every detail of the Aera was conceived to minimize the vehicle’s environmental impact without sacrificing the style, comfort and attention to detail that are hallmarks of the Cadillac cars brand.”

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

The Aera is powered by compressed air via a highly efficient Pneumatic Drive System that has a 10,000-psi composite air storage tank with capacity for a 1,000-mile range. Flexible, pressurized air cells in the exterior skin, similar to material developed for the NASA Mars Rover airbags, enhance passive safety and interior comfort. The flexible polymer skin optimizes aerodynamics and functions as an ultra-lightweight alternative to conventional body panels and glass.

Additional technologies include an All-In-One (AIO) wheel system, combining rotary actuator propulsion, steering and suspension functions. A drive by wireless system decreases the mass of electrical components. Vehicle to vehicle communication (V2V) promotes active safety. The Cadillac Aera embodies a stylistic, lightweight, minimalist approach to long distance luxury touring.

Cadillac Sports Cars Aera lightweight Concept Car

The Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers’ conference and has evolved into an integral element of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Design Los Angeles connects those working in the design industry with well-known automotive design industry leaders. Los Angeles is home to the world’s largest concentration of manufacturer design studios, representing automakers from North America, Europe and Asia. It is also the home of Art Center College of Design, one of the world’s foremost transportation design institutions where many of today’s leading automotive designers began their careers.

2010 Cadillac Sports Cars Concept SRV Concept Cars

This is the concept of next Cadillac. This concept is an idea from its Wayne Cherry who is responsible in making design concept. After a distinguished career at General Motors that culminated in his being appointed only the fifth vice president of design in the company’s history, he decided to build a concept car of his own.

2010 Cadillac Sports Cars SRV Concept

Wayne Cherry has always loved concept cars. Then you take a close look at Cherry’s VSR street rod, at the hardware, the workmanship, and, most of all, the design, and you realize it could easily take center stage as a concept car on the GM stand at the next international auto show.

"You just can't stop designing, you just can't stop being involved with cars," Cherry explains. "You start to do something like this, and it turns into a concept vehicle." He makes it sound like a winter garage project that got a little out of control, which at a basic level perhaps isn't a million miles from the truth. 

Then you take a close look at Cherry's VSR street rod, at the hardware, the workmanship, and, most of all, the design, and you realize it could easily take center stage as a concept car on the GM stand at the next international auto show.

He joined GM in 1962, straight out of California’s Art Center design school, and was assigned to the advanced design studio at the Tech Center, where, among his first assignments, he assisted on a project that became the first Oldsmobile Toronado, one of the high watermarks of Bill Mitchell’s stint as GM design chief.

At Vauxhall, he worked on the gullwing XVR, the brand's first-ever concept car, which was unveiled at the 1966 Geneva show. His wild, mid-engine SRV, shown at the 1970 Earls Court Motor Show in London, was a four-door, four-seater that stood just 41 inches tall. 

The Equus, one of the star concepts of 1978, was a crisp, state-of-the-moment roadster that rivaled the best from Bertone and Pininfarina. "That's the most uncompromised design I've ever worked on," Cherry said at the time.

Cadillac back in Europe

Cadillac is planning a return to Europe, after previous Dutch-based importer Kroymans got into financial difficulties following a collapse in demand for new and used cars.



GM Europe is doing it in-house this time around, though.  A new organisation, Cadillac Europe, has just been set up to take care of importation, distribution and marketing.  It will operate only in key markets, but those markets have yet to be revealed.



The range is to be presented at March’s Geneva International Motor Show.  The striking CTS Sport Sedan, familiar from the Kroymans era, will be the core model.

It will be joined by the distinctive CTS Coupe.  This brand new model is due to begin sales in North America this summer, with a European on-sale date scheduled for the autumn.  Both Sedan and Coupe will be available in high performance CTS-V specification, powered by a 556 bhp 6.2 litre V8.

The third member of the CTS family is the Sport Wagon, which is expected to cross the Atlantic in time for the 2011 model year.

Environmentalists will be delighted that the Escalade Hybrid is to also make it to Geneva.  Powered by an electric motor as well as its 6.0 litre petrol V8, Cadillac is claiming its Two-Mode Hybrid System reduces fuel consumption by 40%.



Sounds great, although the standard vehicle’s thirst for fuel should mean that even after such a big improvement economy will still be relatively terrible.  It’s doubtful that G-Wiz owners will rush to trade-in.

So what are Cadillac’s chances of success in Europe?  Stating the obvious, its big challenge is to persuade buyers out of the established competition.  For instance, how readily are drivers going to swap their Jaguar XF, BMW 5 Series or Lexus GS for a CTS?



Some will certainly value the exclusivity that comes with a low volume brand.  The driving experience of the CTS shouldn’t be too bad, helped by it having either rear or all-wheel drive, and equipment levels will doubtless continue to be attractively generous.



But three key issues could mean Cadillac struggles.

 

The first concern is how to avoid catastrophic depreciation.  Unchecked, residual-based leasing costs will be totally uncompetitive, putting most business users off pronto.  During its earlier forays, Cadillac’s resale values didn’t have the best reputation in the UK market.  This is ably demonstrated by a UK franchised dealer currently trying to offload a CTS 2.8 V6 Sport Luxury with only 25 miles on its odometer.  The asking price?  Just under £20,000.



The second problem is the lack of a diesel CTS, a critical omission in the European market.



The third matter is more subjective: image.  Cadillac has always been a bit of a mystery for Europeans, with perceptions of a typical owner usually focussed on two extremes - the octogenarian retiree bumbling about in Florida, and the pimp using his car for business purposes.  Neither is particularly appealing.



All hurdles that mean it’s somewhat ironic that GM is now trying to establish a luxury brand in Europe, given it is still in the throes of disposing of Saab.  At least it’ll have plenty of mistakes to learn from.

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force Powered By A Supercharged 6.2 liters V8 Engine

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

GeigerCars.de, a German tuner specialized in North American cars, has launched an upgrade program for the Cadillac CTS-V. Despite its German location, Geiger Cars shows a great passion for tuning American cars. Instead of getting even more power and torque out of neighbouring brands like the Audi RS 6, the BMW M5, or the Mercedes-Benz E 63, Geiger chose to cross the Atlantic and create a monster out of a beast.

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

The performance saloon segment has for years been the exclusive domain of German manufacturers, for vehicles like the Audi RS6, the BMW M5 or the new Mercedes E63 AMG set the bar so high that most others don't even try to compete. So it's all the more surprising that the American Cadillac of all brands has suddenly hit back with the CTS-V, a lighting ride which has left a good many journalists pale-faced and shaken after test drives. 564 series HP and a massive maximum torque of 747 Nm are a clear challenge to Munich, Ingolstadt and Stuttgart.

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

What is more, Cadillac is now marketing the CTS-V in Europe for 74,400.00 euros - which needless to say leaves its German competitors trailing on the price-performance front.

Tradition, as everyone knows, is an obligation to deliver. That is why GeigerCars.de is offering special performance tuning for the Cadillac CTS-V, timed to coincide with the American performance saloon's European launch.

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

The four-door Cadillac with the tapered bonnet, The Cadillac CTS-V already comes packed to the hilt with a supercharged 6.2-litre LSA V8 based on the LS9 V8 from the Corvette ZR1. In its raw form it makes 415kW (564hp) at 5900rpm and 747Nm of torque. Not content, Geiger engineers upped the charge pressure releasing 455kW (619hp) and 850Nm of torque - a level few sports cars can match, and called it Brute Force. Drive is still thrusted upon the 6-speed gearbox and the rear wheels, although fifth and sixth gears are shortened. Top speed is rated at over 330km/h (205mph).

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

One thing is for sure: the Geiger Cadillac CTS-V shoots into action in all situations and keeps a joyful grin on its driver's face in every one of its manual gears. Not only that, but its optimised chassis means the CTS-V offers the perfect balance between long-distance comfort and an uncompromising hunger for curves and speed. In the face of such American sports perfection, we can only say "hats off"!". Geiger gives assurances that the car is a good compromise between a long-distance cruiser and a sharp, agile cornering machine. It can be had for €84,900, just €10,500 more than what Cadillac charges for the standard vehicle in Europe

2010 The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V Brute Force

Technical data, Geiger Cadillac CTS-V :
Engine: 6.2 liters V8 with compressor, increased charge pressure
Power: 619 HP at 5900 rpm
Max. torque: 850 Nm at 4000 rpm Bore x stroke: 103.2 x 92.0mm
Drive: rear-wheel drive
Gears: 6-gear transmission; 5th and 6th gear shortened
Brakes: ventilated disc brakes at front and rear
Top speed: 330km/h
Price: 84,900.00 euros

Cadillac has shown in Los Angeles youth CTS Coupe

Company Cadillac stand on a motor show in Los Angeles — one of the most popular, and to that is the explanation: the motor-car manufacturer has brought to California new CTS Coupe.

New Cadillac CTS Coupe

The serial version of a coupe which will go on sale in the spring of next year, is not too far cunning from the conceptual car shown in last year on the international motor show in Detroit. The model with the landing formula 2+2 has identical wheel base with sedan CTS, but the total length of a coupe is less on 51 mm. From the four-door car the novelty has borrowed only design of the instrument panel, the central console, head optics, a forward bumper and a radiator lattice.

The model calculated on a young audience, begins to be completed with the 3,6-l petrol engine with system of direct injection of fuel. Power of 304HP will join the motor with a six-step mechanical transmission, and in the list of options the buyer will find out a 6-high-speed automatic check point.

Sports brakes, the electronic monitoring system of chassis StabiliTrak, sports seats Recaro, satellite navigation have entered into standard equipment, Bluetooth, a rear-view camera, system of access to salon without a key. In the end of following to year Cadillac will show the "charged" version of a coupe under name CTS-V with the 6,2-l engine power of 556HP.

Youth version Cadillac CTS

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe: the prepremier test

The economic crisis which has painfully struck on the automobile industry, has forced many world concerns to refuse workings out of new models but as soon as the situation was more or less stabilised, the companies have reanimated the frozen projects.

Testings super-power coupe

So, company Cadillac has started a finishing stage of testing of super-power coupe CTS-V Coupe which should appear on roads to next year. In comparison with a last year's prototype the present copy has considerably changed and is ready to a batch production.

The design of model is executed in uniform stylistics of family CTS. It is possible to name distinctive lines of the car special emblems with the letter V, two massive branch pipes of the exhaust system, located on the centre of a back part of model, sports disks with wide rubber, huge a support.

Under a car cowl has taken places engine V-8 in volume of 6.2 l, power of 556HP.

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Novelty manufacture will begin next year, and it means, that debut Cadillac CTS-V Coupe can take place on the international motor show in Detroit.

Tata Motors it's full determination to get well-known studio Pininfarina

Family Pininfarina owning well-known design company Pininfarina SpA, has employed Italian Banca Leonardo for sale of a control package of the firm, has informed a source in the company. As informs Reuters, sale of a package of the developer of design for various models Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Cadillac, Jaguar, Volvo, Alfa Romeo and Lancia is a transaction part on settlement of debts Pininfarina before banks.

Company Pincar which supervises family actives, at the same time, a family completely does not leave completely with Pininfarina SpA, and reserves the right to itself the full participant of board of directors. As the future investors are called French financier Vincent Bollore and Indian Tata Motors Ltd. In a consortium with Fiat SpA.

The studio of autodesign Pininfarina is created in the thirtieth years of last century and is since then family business. In the company work about 3 thousand persons. The company has started to experience financial difficulties still couple of years back. So, in April, 2008 Pininfarina has officially informed on the intention to sell 25% of actives. The Italian company planned to direct a part of this money to firm Bollore for payment of creation of an electromobile.

Related Posts: Ferrari

• Brand Ferrari has presented the fastest supercar
• Studio Edo Competition has presented superpenalties Ferrari Enzo XX
• Ferrari has officially presented supercar F430 successor
• Tuners INDEN-Design modernised Ferrari 430 Spider
• Ferrari prepares sport package Handling GTE for 599 GTB Fiorano
• Edo Competition Ferrari 599 GTB: to gangsters it's devoted

Cadillac CTS by D3 Research

The self-proclaimed leader in Cadillac Tuning, D3 Research, introduces an exterior styling package for the 2008 Cadillac CTS. With a side order of good ol' American bling bling, D3 focused on creating a look which projects style and performance while integrating into the natural design of the CTS. Starting with the stainless steel wire mesh grilles, front bumper fascia with additional cooling brake ducts, side skirts, rear deck lid spoiler, roof spoiler and rear lower diffuser.
Press release:

008 Cadillac CTS – D3 Performance Exterior Package

D3 Cadillac, the leader in Cadillac tuning, introduces the new 2008 Cadillac CTS Performance Exterior Package. The exterior enhancements are not only exquisitely designed styling cues integrated seamlessly, they are functional as well. The front grill has a unique jewel like cut on the stainless steel wire mesh that signifies performance & class. The additional openings in the front allow for a larger surface area to induce adequate cooling for the engine compartment. This is important when you start squeezing more performance out of this engine, as heat is a byproduct of making more power. Not only were the factory brake ducts maintained, but the front fascia also introduces double the cooling by adding an additional brake duct pick ups on each side. Notice the angled lip towards the lower edge of the front fascia. This angled edge has been designed and measured for just the right amount of down force without creating too much drag. The side skirts offer a much more complete look and help transfer the styling from the front of the vehicle to the rear without loosing the theme of the design. The rear deck lid spoiler and rear roof spoiler help introduce down force at high speed while keeping the air stable coming off the backside of the vehicle. The rear lower diffuser helps keep the air uniform while passing the underside of the vehicle. While at speed the air is kept moving uniform rather than curling up behind the vehicle, often promoting rear end lift at high speeds.