Cars Model 2013 2014 2015

Thursday 28 February 2013

Why Cadillac thinks it needs to succeed in Europe to sell cars elsewhere

Why Cadillac thinks it needs to succeed in Europe to sell cars elsewhere Ward's Auto has taken an interesting look at the renewed focus General Motors is showing towards Cadillac in Europe. Susan Docherty, president and managing director of Chevrolet and Cadillac in Europe (pictured), says in order for the luxury brand to thrive in China, it first needs to succeed in the old country. The reason? Chinese buyers look to Europe for cues as to what's deemed worthy of the term "luxury." There are hurdles to the plan, however. In addition to the fact that the EU is flooded with high-end nameplates, GM doesn't necessarily have the distribution network in place to put buyers behind the wheel.

Why Cadillac thinks it needs to succeed in Europe to sell cars elsewhere

Combine that with persistent economic woes and Cadillac's checkered past marred by a lack of diesel engine options and a bankrupt distributor, and the road ahead for the brand looks like less of an uphill climb and more like a straight-up cliff face. But Docherty is optimistic and says she has a plan for the brand. We recommend heading over to Ward's for a closer look at the full read.

Why Cadillac thinks it needs to succeed in Europe to sell cars elsewhere

Cadillac ELR meets snow and ice in northern Michigan winter testing

Cadillac ELR meets snow and ice in northern Michigan winter testing Right after being displayed and winning an award at the cozy confines of the Detroit Auto Show, the Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid went into the snow for some real-world extreme driving conditions. Cadillac engineers recently completed chassis testing on pre-production ELR models, evaluating the car's handling in winter weather conditions.

Cadillac ELR meets snow and ice in northern Michigan winter testing

GM's goal is to bring the Voltec-powered plug-in architecture from the Chevrolet Volt to the Cadillac brand in the ELR in early 2014. As you can see in the video below, Cadillac ELR chief engineer Chris Thomason lead the engineering team as they tested four systems – ABS, traction control, electronic stability control and Continuous Damping Control suspension. The suspension control system adjusts damping every two milliseconds to maintain optimal control over varying road conditions. If it looks freezing cold, that's because it is. They're working in the middle of the upper peninsula of Michigan in the dead of winter, plowing around in four inches of fresh snow.

Cadillac ELR meets snow and ice in northern Michigan winter testing

Despite the snow and ice, tire performance, stopping distance and brake performance are excellent, said Joshua Auden, Cadillac ELR vehicle performance engineer. The goal has been to balance making a car that's both safe and stable for the customer and fun to drive in all situations, he said.

Cadillac ELR meets snow and ice in northern Michigan winter testing

Cadillac CTS-V gets Stealth Blue and Silver Frost limited edition models

Cadillac CTS-V gets Stealth Blue and Silver Frost limited edition models A little more than a year and a half ago, former weekend editor Alex Nunez and I were talking about how cool it would be for Cadillac to offer a CTS-V in the Corvette's Supersonic Blue paint, and as if General Motors eavesdropped on our conversation, this showed up. And while the Stealth Blue car you see here isn't an exact duplicate of the hot-looking sedan GM showed off in prototype form, it's really close. And really sweet.

Cadillac CTS-V gets Stealth Blue and Silver Frost limited edition models

Cadillac CTS-V gets Stealth Blue and Silver Frost limited edition models

Cadillac CTS-V gets Stealth Blue and Silver Frost limited edition models

Cadillac CTS-V gets Stealth Blue and Silver Frost limited edition models interior

New for 2013, the Cadillac CTS range gets two new colorful editions, starting with the Stealth Blue package available on the CTS-V (in sedan, coupe and wagon bodystyles) as well as the naturally aspirated CTS coupe. In addition to the unique paint, blacked-out grille and dark satin wheels, Stealth Blue cars can also be done up with an optional Twilight Blue leather interior. (And you thought blue-on-blue color schemes died in the '90s.)

Cadillac CTS-V gets Stealth Blue and Silver Frost limited edition models

Cadillac is also offering a new Silver Frost package, but it's a bit more exclusive. Only 100 examples will be built, all in CTS-V Coupe form. The Silver Frost paint is a low-gloss matte finish, in that while it technically has a clearcoat covering, it's reduced in a way that the surface still appears flatter than standard paint. Even so, Cadillac states that the car should be hand-washed only.

Both of these new color packages will be available starting in March. Scroll down for GM's official press blast.Cadillac CTS-V gets Stealth Blue and Silver Frost limited edition models

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014 If VIN tags recently posted online prove accurate, the 2014 Buick Verano may be getting a new base engine. Presently the Verano makes use of GM's 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine in non-turbo trim; 2014 documentation appears to indicate that GM's entry-level luxury compact will instead feature a 1.6-liter turbocharged mill.

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014 badge

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014

If this is the same engine seen in Europe, GM Inside News suggests it may offer 192 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque – useful improvements over the larger naturally aspirated mill's 180 hp and 171 lb-ft. More importantly, the downsized engine would likely improve on the Verano's current fuel mileage estimates of 21 city and 31 highway.

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014

We like the Verano in both of its current iterations, but the 1.6 turbo engine sounds like a worthwhile upgrade if this reports turns out to be true. Plus, if more performance is your bag, baby, there's always the Verano's optional 2.0 turbo engine with an impressive 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft from just 2.0 liters of displacement.

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014

GM recalling nearly 4,000 vehicles over airbag concerns

GM recalling nearly 4,000 vehicles over airbag concerns Four different General Motors vehicles from the 2012 model year are being recalled over a potential airbag issue. The driver's side airbag shorting bar in the 2012 Buick Verano and 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic might make contact with the airbag terminals, even during a crash. If so, the airbag won't deploy when it should, possibly increasing injury to the driver.

GM recalling nearly 4,000 vehicles over airbag concerns

2012 Chevrolet Sonic front 3/4 view

2012 Chevrolet Sonic rear 3/4 view

2012 Chevrolet Sonic side view

2012 Chevrolet Sonic front 3/4 view 1

2012 Chevrolet Sonic front view

2012 Chevrolet Sonic rear view

2012 Chevrolet Sonic headlight

The recall is expected to begin on February 13 for the 3,896 units that might be affected. GM will notify owners who can then take their vehicles to dealers to have the airbag coil replaced. A bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration below has more info.

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles As we continue to put together all the data for the year-end edition of By The Numbers, General Motors has announced that it sold more than a million vehicles in the US last year that achieved at least 30 miles per gallon on the highway. More impressively, GM managed this feat using multiple strategies including small vehicle size, turbocharged engines and hybrid or plug-in technologies across four brands (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC) accounting for 13 separate models. This number will grow even more in 2013 thanks to cars like the all-electric Spark, the diesel Cruze, the range-extended Cadillac ELR and the Buick Encore compact CUV.

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles rear view

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles rear view

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles gas

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles front view

GM's small car sales were up 39 percent last year helping to attain this million-sales mark for 30-mpg models, and almost 40 percent of all GM sales consisted of cars with fuel-efficient I4 engines. In regards to more advanced means of improving fuel economy, GM says that it plans on having 500,000 vehicles with "some form of electrification" on the road by 2017.

GM claims it's first to sell million 30+ mpg vehicles

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories As inventory of the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse continues to pile up, General Motors will be idling its Fairfax Assembly Plant for two weeks, according to Automotive News. This move comes about a month after the plant was shut down for three weeks in late December and early January for the same reason. As of January 31, the GM had a 94-day supply of Malibu stock while the LaCrosse was a little worse with a 117-day supply.

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories

2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5 front 3/4 view

2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5 rear 34 view

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories front

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories rear view

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories headlight

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories rear view

GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories headlight

Just last week, GM announced that it would be investing $600 million in upgrading this plant, but it's unclear what future plans the company has in store for Fairfax considering slow sales of both the plant's models. We do expect a refreshed and more luxurious GM throttles back Chevy Malibu, Buick LaCrosse production over swollen inventories LaCrosse shortly and an early design update for the Malibu to be announced at some point this year, although we have had no official word as to when either will happen.