GM launched this days in China the 2011 SLS luxury sedan at the Guangzhou Auto Show. It will be offered in four different version, with prices ranging from 448,000 RMB to 698,000 RMB.
The new 2011 Cadillac SLS will be offered with a choice of two new engines: a 3.0-liter SIDI engine that delivers 272 hp with 300 Nm of torque, and a 3.6-liter SIDI engine with 310 hp and 374 Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic-manual transmission.
The list of technologies featured in the new SLS includes: MagneRide, an electromagnetic active suspension system, and Air Quality Control. It will be offered with a choice of five body colors: Black, Titanium Silver, Golden, Space Gray and Platinum Gray combined with two interior colors: Champagne and Ebony.
The luxury arm of General Motors, Cadillac has added a sportier new model to their CTS lineup of midsize vehicles. Cadillac showed off the CTS Coupe Concept back in 2008 at the Detroit Auto Show and following much of the same lines, the new model is set to go on sale in the spring of 2010, with a more powerful V-Series version later on in the year.
The Cadillac CTS Coupe is powered by a direct injected 3.6 Liter V6 gas burning engine and is mated to a six speed manual transmission standard with a Driver Shift Control automatic as an option. The combination is good for a total of 304 HP sent either directly to the rear wheel or routed through an all wheel drive system. Depending on how you want your CTS Coupe Cadillac is offering first the Performance Package that comes complete with a set of 18 inch wheels wrapped in all season tires and is available for both the RWD and AWD versions as well as the all out Summer Tire Performance Package that upgrades your rollers to a set of 19 inch units as well as stickier rubber for a higher level of road holding. No matter which you choose, you are sure to have BMW 3 Series drivers gawking at you wherever you go.
Now we here at top speed have a bit of a thing for the Cadillac CTS-V ever since we had the chance to get well acquainted with the supercharged four door sport sedan. Now when we first saw the CTS Coupe concept we couldn’t help but dream that one day General Motor’s luxury brand would incorporate all of the same high performance stuff you don’t see that makes the V Series car so great into the two door version. Well Cadillac made our dreams come true when they confirmed the future CTS-V Coupe and things are looking up even more because they have just announced when we will see the 556 HP M3 obliterator. There is no better venue to show off Detroit’s finest than at the North American International Auto Show, and that is exactly where the CTS-V Coupe will make its debut.
Cadillac prepared the VSR Sports Rod Concept specifically for the 2009 SEMA Show and anyone who might have overlooked this retro hot rod really missed out. Just like any proper hot rod the VSR is powered by a roaring V8, in this case a 6.0 Liter GM version pumping out a total of 400 HP. The modern day street rod is a one off custom creation that combines meticulous metal work with hand laid carbon fiber to create a true 21st century stylish speed machine. At all four corners are custom oversized five spoke rims from Alcoa wrapped in sticky Toyo rubber. From any angle the exposed rollers give the VSR a unique appearance and when combined with the rear diffuser and laser cut Cadillac emblem give the Sports Rod Concept a look that is all its own.
General Motors is heading in a new direction with the scheduled production version of the Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle that is set to come out sometime in the near future, however it was the luxury version of this economical EV, the Cadillac Converj, that most recently stole the spotlight at the 2009 Miami Auto Show, taking home the Concept Vehicle of the Show award. The Converj is set to be built upon the same platform as the Chevrolet Volt, and it was back in January at the 2009 North American International Auto Show where the Converj made its debut, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said if the luxury EV was approved, that the production model would resemble the concept, much like the Camaro did.
The Converj concept is a strict four seater, and although it has a swept back coupe like profile which is used to give this car a sportier image, the seating arrangement is also necessary because a large part of the car’s center section is taken up by the "T" shaped battery used to power the car. The battery pack contains more than 220 lithium ion cells that can power the car for up to 40 miles. After the battery runs out, the electric will be replenished by a gas powered engine that exclusively charges the battery. Just like the Volt, the car is designed to be fully charged after plugged in for eight hours on a normal household 120 volt outlet, or in as little as three hours if you have a high capacity 240 volt socket.
As expected, the Cadillac CTS-V dominated the challenge that bears its own name after seven of the top 12 fastest laps recorded came from the CTS-V.
Guess that means GM boss Bob Lutz will have to eat crow at another day.
The CTS-V’s dominance was apparent from start to finish. Six of the top seven cars were CTS-Vs, with the notable exception being a BMW M3 Sedan owned by one Michael Cooper, which placed fourth in the overall standings. Bagging the top spot was former GM Performance Division Executive, John Henricy after posting a lap time of 2m and 46.56s.
As for Bob Lutz, his lap time earned him a seventh place finish with a fastest lap time of 2m and 56.231 seconds, although it’s worth mentioning that out of all the CTVs that finished in the top 12, his finished second to last, beating the CTS-V driven by Chris Fairman (10th overall) with a fastest lap time of 3m 14.292s
Well Bob Lutz laid down his V-Series Challenge and Cadillac seems to have retained their title of the world’s fastest sport sedan, with a little help from their friends of course. Owners of factory tuned fast four doors were invited to the Monticello Motor Club just outside of New York City and take on the CTS-V in a fast lap competition against the General Motors Vice Chairman, Bob Lutz, as well as a few seasoned racers and friends of GM like Brian Redman, Aaron Link and John Heinricy. Throwing a wrench into Cadillac’s plans was Skip Barber graduate Michael Cooper and his four door BMW M3, although the New York native is no professional, he did manage to finish right behind GM’s trio of road course ringers. Either way Cadillac did prove that the CTS-V can go fast, even with Bob Lutz behind the wheel, and everyone in attendance had more than they can seem to remember. In a time where consumers are more concerned with efficiency than outright lap times, it is nice to see that there are still automaker’s that are giving high performance driving enthusiasts exactly what they are asking for. Even more importantly, it shows that they still know how to have fun.
One of the most-eagerly anticipated races today is one that doesn’t involve sponsorships, championship points, trophies – just bragging rights.
We’re talking about the Cadillac CTS-V Challenge, the brainchild of GM head honcho Bob Lutz. For this particular event, Lutz challenged a group of auto journalists and rivate owners to bring their production cars to go up against his Cadillac CTS-V at the Monticello Motor Club in New York.
Apart from the so-called ‘bragging rights’, we really don’t know what Lutz will get out of this, especially if his car – the CTS-V – loses out to rival vehicles.
Then again, it does make for a pretty interesting race. The rules are still murky but we’re hoping that bumping and grinding are perfectly legal.
In any case, GM gave us a quick tour of the Monticello track, the site of what promises to be a wildly entertaining race.
Resting in the shadows of the award winning Converj concept car, Cadillac was showing off a piece of their production car finest, another award winner, the Cadillac CTS-V. The dark grey super sedan took Top Speed’s car of the year award last year thanks to its practical four door layout and ability to take up to five from 0 to 60 MPH in 3.9 seconds because of the 556 HP 6.2 Liter supercharged V8 sitting under the power bulge in the hood. The mid size sport sedan will be defending the honor of General Motors later on this week at New York state’s Monticello Motor Club as GM’s knight in shining armor because of King Lutz’s challenge.
Just last week we reported about how the satellite service Onstar stopped its first car jacking by disabling a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe only 16 minutes after it was taken thanks to their Stolen Vehicle Slowdown system. Well this time the little blue button was still on alert, except that there was no cause for concern. The American tuning house Hennessey was testing their 700 HP Cadillac CTS-V at the drag strip when a hard launch measuring as much as .99 G of longitudinal force triggered one of Onstar’s safety parameters and caused an operator to contact the driver mid run down the 1320. Luckily no one was actually in need of assistance at the time, but this is just more reassuring proof that Onstar has you covered.
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