Filed under: Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Safety, Acura, Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Rumormill

Episode #169 of the Autoblog Podcast has arrived, and it’s Chris, Sam, Alex, and Dan again this week. As usual, the Autoblog Garage starts us off, this time with a couple Suzuki Kizashis, a Ford Transit Connect, and the Cadillac SRX. The first topic for discussion are the latest developments in the ongoing Toyota Recall issue. The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon catches our fancy next, and we stay on the wagon tip to talk about the Acura TSX Wagon, which will debut at the New York International Auto Show. Honda’s CR-Z is next, before we go big and talk about the 2011 Ford SuperDuty. Wrapping up on a sporting note, we offer totally uninformed commentary on the Carl Edwards NASCAR wreck before taking a few listener questions and calling this turkey done. Thanks for listening!

Direct fanmail to Podcast at Autoblog dot com, review the show in iTunes, fill out our survey or even leave us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Until next week, hit up Joystiq and Engadget when podcast loneliness sets in. Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #169: Wagons and SuperDuty and NASCAR, Oh My!

Autoblog Podcast #169: Wagons and SuperDuty and NASCAR, Oh My! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted on March 9th, 2010 by Dan Roth
Filed under: Cadillac | Comments Off

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Spy Photos, Performance, Wagon, Cadillac, GM

Well, it sure looks like it. All credit for this one goes to one Aaron P., who emailed the following to us:

So I was walking down Grand Avenue in Downtown LA, and they were shooting a Caddy commercial. There was a covered car, which I thought was the CTS Coupe, but the wind blew off the cover and there was a CTS-V Wagon. I only had time to snag this pic before they put the cover back on but you can see the wagon lines. I hope that means its coming cause that would be an amazing car.

Hmm. Seems like Aaron got awfully close for this pic, a curiously *perfect* upskirt teaser, but regardless of the circumstances behind it, reports of the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon being given the green light date back to September of last year. It’s basically been a guessing game of which show will provide the backdrop for its formal unveiling.

With New York the sole remaining major show on the U.S. circuit this year, and Bob Lutz’s retirement scheduled to begin exactly one month after that, we’ll bet our whole chip stack that El Generalissimo Roberto Maximo goes out with a bang, introducing the CTS-V Sport Wagon at the Javits Center, because the car in the above photo is most definitely a wagon, that is most definitely the “V” badge, and those are the correct wheels. Very badass, indeed.

Thanks to Aaron for the photo!

Peekaboo: Cadillac CTS-V Wagon spied in L.A.? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted on March 6th, 2010 by Alex Nunez
Filed under: Cadillac | Comments Off

Today’s photo comes from taglane.
Be sure to look at all of taglane’s photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with “gmfyi.”

Posted on March 5th, 2010 by Will Stewart
Filed under: Cadillac, GM, General Motors | Comments Off

Filed under: Podcasts, Geneva Motor Show, Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Kia, Lamborghini, Lexus, Porsche, Suzuki, Volkswagen

The Shunk, Nunez, Abuelsamid and Roth quartet reconvene for Episode #168 of the Autoblog Podcast with the Geneva Motor Show now underway. Our first order of business is a stop at the Autoblog Garage, occupied this week by the Suzuki Kizashi, Kia Sorento, BMW 750Li, and Cadillac SRX. Anticipating the massive auto show that’s just about to start, we dive right in. Starting us off is the awesome electric-green Lamborghini 570-4 Superleggera. Jumping from Italian exotics to the ultimate SUV, we talk about the 2011 Porsche Cayenne before segueing cleanly into a discussion of the crack-pipe pricing for the Volkswagen Touareg hybrid. Before we leave the VW/Porsche sphere, we talk about how insanely cool the Porsche 918 Spyder concept car is. The Ford Focus station wagon is one of those things we’ll see in Geneva, but likely not in the U.S., while the Lexus CT200h is making its way to the shores of North America. BMW’s 5 Series Active Hybrid Concept keeps up the cavalcade of alternative propulsion by the big Swiss lake, and it’s our last topic before calling it a night. Thanks for listening!

Direct fanmail to Podcast at Autoblog dot com, review the show in iTunes, fill out our survey or even leave us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Until next week, hit up Joystiq and Engadget when podcast loneliness sets in. Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #168 - Geneva Eve

Autoblog Podcast #168 - Geneva Eve originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted on March 2nd, 2010 by Dan Roth
Filed under: Cadillac | Comments Off

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Cadillac, Electric, Luxury

Just when it seemed like the gorgeous Cadillac Converj extended-range electric vehicle (ER-EV) was going to make it to production, it now appears that the program might be dead. Strictly speaking, although General Motors executives had indicated that the Volt-based coupe would be produced, it had never officially been announced as a production program.

Nonetheless, Bloomberg is reporting that the program has been canceled for business reasons. Apparently, Cadillac came to the conclusion that even as a Cadillac, the car couldn’t be profitable with the level of amenities that customers would expect. The extra equipment would apparently have cut the electric range to only 20 miles, defeating some of the purpose of an ER-EV and its ability to cover most driver’s needs without using gas. Given the slow sales high-end hybrids like the Escalade and Lexus LS600h, this may be the right move for GM.

According to Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell, there is “Nothing to be announced” and the program was “not to a point in which development would be occurring in earnest in any case.” Caldwell goes on to say “There can naturally be a lot of careful review over an idea as big and ambitious as this. And that can go back-and-forth. Vehicle plans can be revised numerous times before reaching production, or being declined.“

Instead of the Converj, Cadillac will reportedly focus on less expensive plug-in hybrids like the XTS concept that was shown in Detroit.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Cadillac Converj production program killed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted on March 2nd, 2010 by Sam Abuelsamid
Filed under: Cadillac | Comments Off

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Cadillac, GM

Most agree that the majority of General Motors’ recent products are easily on par with the competition in terms of design, quality and performance. And having shed much of its legacy costs in bankruptcy last year, GM should be making money on those products. However, sales of many of its newest, greatest products have languished and the blame seems to have fallen - according to Jim Hall and Peter Delorenzo - on marketing.

After bankruptcy, the general managers for each division were primarily left with the responsibility for sales and marketing, and while Chevrolet and GMC have made progress in recent months, Cadillac has not. Last summer GM promoted Bryan Nesbitt from the design department where he led North American styling to be Cadillac’s general manager. As of this morning, not any more.

Following its monthly sales conference call this morning, GM is planning to announce executive level changes in its sales and marketing staffs including the possible release of Nesbitt. It also appears that GM president Mark Reuss is consolidating more of the sales and marketing responsibilities and reporting to himself. Marketing boss Susan Docherty still reports to Reuss, but several people who formerly reported to Docherty will apparently now directly report to the president.

Cadillac communications manager Nick Twork declined comment on the whole matter. We’ll know more later in the day.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: Bryan Nesbitt out as Cadillac boss, Mark Ruess consolidates originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted on March 2nd, 2010 by Sam Abuelsamid
Filed under: Cadillac, GM, General Motors | Comments Off

The Cadillac Converj was a stunning extended range concept car GM first unveiled an the January 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The luxurious stylish vehicle was to utilize the same Voltec propulsion system as the Volt though specifically tuned for increased performance and luxury.
GM vice chairman Bob Lutz has long […]

Posted on March 2nd, 2010 by Lyle
Filed under: Cadillac | Comments Off

Filed under: Etc., Buick, Cadillac, Hummer, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Mazda, Saturn, Suzuki

Lexus and Hummer took top honors in their respective categories in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Consumer Service Index (CSI) Study. Released this time each year, the CSI rankings (based on a 1,000-point scale) measure satisfaction among vehicle owners who visit a brand service department for maintenance or repair work during the first three years of ownership - that wonderful honeymoon phase when factory warranties are still in full effect. The study is designed to focus on five measurements: service quality, service initiation, service advisor, service facility and vehicle pick-up. The results are tabulated, and then presented as a score on a 1,000-point scale. Unlike previous years, where all brands were lumped into one single category and only three made it to the podium, JDPA broke things into two segments: luxury brands and mass market brands.

Lexus, with a score of 837, was at the top of the luxury brands, again - the automaker won last year as well. It was followed by Cadillac (827), who showed a big improvement over the previous year, and Jaguar (822). If you recall, Jaguar was at the top of the list in 2008 and finished second in 2009 (this is more indicative of a bar that continues to be raised rather than a decrease in service). Hummer (815) was top dog among mass market brands, followed by the now-discontinued brand of Saturn (808) and Buick (805). General Motors holds six of the top seven spots on the mass market category. At the bottom of the list are Suzuki (693), Mazda (717) and Jeep (720).

Overall, the industry is showing improvement as customers have expressed satisfaction with the ease of driving in and out of dealership facilities, parking convenience, thoroughness of work performed, the speed of repairs and flexibility of accommodating schedules. While that sounds like great news, experts say it most of those improvements may be attributed to the lower volumes of service bay traffic as sales slump in the new car showroom. Full release after the jump.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading Lexus and Hummer top 2010 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study

Lexus and Hummer top 2010 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted on February 24th, 2010 by Michael Harley
Filed under: Cadillac | Comments Off

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Cadillac, Luxury

Thinking about taking home a new Cadillac CTS Coupe and ready to start mixin’ ‘n’ matchin’? Cadillac has put the coupe’s order guides online, which means it’s time to start playing with packages. You might be in for a little disappointment, though, when you discover that things like that the pane of glass isn’t a proper sunroof - it only tilts - kind of like the unit on Audi’s A5. Nor can you have the new Evolution Green Metallic exterior with the Ebony interior and Saffron seat inserts. But that’s probably a good thing…

Otherwise, there aren’t too many surprises, just details to know, like which package you’ll need in order to get the rearview camera on the nav screen and not on the mirror. Or you could just get the CTS-V Coupe and make sure you drive home with everything standard.

[Source: General Motors via GM Inside News]

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe ordering guide plops onto the Interwebz originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted on February 22nd, 2010 by Jonathon Ramsey
Filed under: Cadillac | Comments Off

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, SUV, Wagon, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Cadillac, Luxury

Amidst all the turmoil at General Motors last year, Cadillac lost a large chunk of its European distribution with the collapse of its partner, the Kroymans Group. General Motors has now decided to make a renewed push into the continent with its premium brand and is setting up its own distribution network to handle sales and service.

Cadillac Europe will handle the task of marketing the CTS and SRX in all of their various incarnations. The CTS Sportwagon and Coupe will join the sedan following the coupe’s European debut in Geneva next week. Europe was actually intended to be the primary market for the Sportwagon since drivers there don’t seem to have the aversion to that body style that Americans do. Later this year, the SRX joins the party and Cadillac will continue to offer the big Escalade hybrid to the three of four people that are interested.

Unfortunately, according to Cadillac spokesman Nick Twork, the much-anticipated 2.9-liter turbodiesel V6 that was announced three years ago at the Geneva Motor Show is no longer part of the plan. The oil burner that likely would have done much to help expand Cadillac’s appeal in that market. Instead, Twork tells Autoblog that Cadillac will “be a niche brand.”

Continue reading Cadillac to set up new distribution network in Europe, diesel dead

Cadillac to set up new distribution network in Europe, diesel dead originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted on February 22nd, 2010 by Sam Abuelsamid
Filed under: Cadillac | Comments Off