When Cadillac announced the CTS Coupe concept at the Detroit Auto Show, everyone expected a coupe-convertible any-time soon. But sources inside GM told Inside Line this will never happen.
The CTS coupe was rumored to be getting a retractable hardtop, an engineering accomplishment already offered on the 3 Series and Volvo C70, and Infiniti and Lexus have already settled on retractable hardtops for the G37 and IS as well.
When queried about the possibility of a CTS convertible, or its early demise, Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell said, "We’re pleased to be the subject of speculation. Maybe that’s a sign that the CTS has struck a chord with some folks. This issue of a convertible is one of the very rare times where we decline the offer to comment."
The new 2009 Cadillac CTS-V lays down a blistering time at Germany’s Nurburgring. Driver John Heinricy completed a lap of the legendary Nordschleife in 7:59.32 which could possibly be the fastest recorded time for a production sedan on factory-spec street tires.
In testing this morning at Germany’s Nurburgring, Cadillac’s upcoming new 2009 CTS-V completed a lap of the legendary Nordschleife in 7:59.32. This blistering time appears to be the fastest ever publicly documented for a production sedan.
Cadillac is nearing the completion of testing of the highly anticipated CTS-V, the limited-edition high-performance model based on the award-winning CTS sport sedan. John Heinricy, GM Performance Division executive and an acclaimed racing driver, piloted the CTS-V through its sub-8 minute lap today. The car itself was equipped exactly as planned for consumer production, which is scheduled to begin this fall.
Estimated at 550-hp, the CTS-V is at the moment going through the final stages of intensive testing and development. One of the realistic objectives of the Cadillac team is to make the CTS-V the world’s fastest production sedan, as a part of the overall goal to make the V-Series Cadillac’s ultimate expression of performance and technology. More updates will be released in the coming weeks as testing is finalized, including the car’s certified SAE power ratings, acceleration specifications and U.S.-market pricing.
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When Cadillac unveiled the CTS Coupe Concept at the Detroit Auto Show they announced a production version will also follow. And like the sedan version, there will also be a CTS-V Coupe version. And here are the first renderings!
Cadillac announced the the coupe will be powered by the current CTS engines as well as the 2.9-liter diesel V6 intended for use in Europe, so dropping in the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from the CTS-V sedan shouldn’t be much of a stretch.
The CTS-V Coupe will make its debut in fall of 2009.
No, not the entire car, just the conversion! As there is no news about a convertible version for the newly Cadillac CTS, the guys from the Coach Builders Ltd. have come with the idea of creating a convertible version of their own. The company is now taking orders and the conversion is $19.000.
The drop-top conversion consists of a full open convertible without a roll bar. The acrylic polyester cloth hydraulic tops come in a variety of colors including tan, gray, blue, brown and black, and employ General Motors-style manual latches at the front corners. The roof is padded between the structure and the exterior fabric for sound and temperature insulation. A heated glass rear window and fabric headliner complete the look.
You will need to wait around eight weeks for the conversion, so hurry up if you want to have it ready for the summer.
We present you the brand new 2008 Cadillac CTS Performance Exterior Package which was just shown by D3 Cadillac, a leader in Cadillac tuning. The new package is not only stylish and good looking but also very functional. The engine compartment is now better cooled due to the additional openings included in the front spoiler. And this is a very important aspect when squeezing more performance out of the engine.
You can also find an angled edge designed and measured for the amount of downforce of the vehicles. The complete look is offered by the side skirts and it helps to transfer the style from the front to the rear of the vehicle without losing the theme of the design.
With the help of the rear deck lid spoiler and rear roof spoiler downforce is introduced at high speeds, in the same time keeping the air stable coming off the backside of the vehicle. The new package features a rear lower diffuser which helps to keep the air uniform while passing the underside of it. So, at high speeds the air is kept moving uniform and not curling up behind the car.
After launching the CTS-V Sedan and confirming the launch of the CTS Coupe, the logical next step was the CTS-V Coupe.
The production version of the CTS Coupe Concept will come in 2009 as a 2010 model year. The production model won’t be too far off from the concept we saw in Detroit, but will be a little toned down to meet production standards. Basically on the production model, all the metal ahead of the A-pillar will be identical to the CTS sedan.
Engine spec wise, we were told that the Cadillac CT Coupe Concept was designed to accommodate a range of engines including Cadillac’s popular 3.6L Direct Injection V6 and the new 2.9L turbo-diesel currently in development. The car is currently under development under the code-name GMX226 and will be rolling down the assembly line at GM’s Lansing Grand River plant in 2009.
The CTS-V version will be powered by a 6.2L LSA supercharged V8 engine that will deliver 500 hp. This will be a serious competitior for the BMW M3 Coupe.
Cadillac announced that a production version of the CTS Coupe Concept unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show will be put into production in the near future, but did not indicate a date. The decision was made in an attempt to boost brand sales. Cadillac wants to have 210,000 units sold by year end. With the new CTS and the Escalade SUV this could be possible.
"They talked about the CTS coupe coming, which is just awesome," Lynn Thompson, owner of Thompson Sales Co. said. "We will do really well with that. It’s for the person who doesn’t have any kids and wants something stylish."
To continue the brand’s image boost, Cadillac pushed dealers to emphasize the Platinum series. Cadillac will offer a Platinum series this spring on the Escalade similar to the one it has on the DTS sedan.
In the latest Consumer Reports’ Tests of Sports Sedans, the 2008 Cadillac CTS was ranked above the BMW 328i and the redesigned Mercedes-Benz C300.
The CTS achieved an "Excellent" overall score, surpassing both the 328i and C300, which received "Very Good" overall scores. The CTS is also ranked above some previously-tested sports sedans including the Lexus IS250, the Acura TSX, and the Audi A4.
"The Cadillac CTS now competes toe-to-toe with some of the best German and Japanese sport sedans," said David Champion, senior director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports. "There are more safety features and interior amenities in the new model. Fit and finish is greatly improved, and the interior is much more pleasant than in the previous generation."
More after the jump.
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