Gus Sham: Cadillac

Instead of saying what it is that men and women is fast Cadillac of all the things the new 2013 Cadillac XTS not realize that it is not their flagship, it is not a replacement for the DTS and STS, which is not directly (XTS is larger than a 5 Series, but smaller than a 7-series) with the German luxury brands and compete, especially, the car is not ready yet, even on sale in June. I'm going to address all of the above soon, but first it is my duty to tell you what the new Cadillac XTS is. Namely, a surprisingly good, big car, if not a bit of a head scratcher. Through this whole thing bankrupt, the Cadillac XTS is the first new product launch in three years. This is almost brandicide if you are in a highly emotional car segment, to do such as have luxury. At least the people something about the big check once in a while to think. And planned as a result of the XTS originally back in the bad old days of GM, the new Cadillac shares a platform - Epsilon II to be exact - with the Buick LaCrosse and the next Chevrolet Impala. Then the entire project on hold for most of 2009. This means that although the XTS was first invented back in 2006, the car is still a bit of a quick shot that both earlier and later than planned on the market. Worst of all is that XTS is not the big, sexy RWD flagship brand so desperately need.

The car exterior design is strongly inherited, despite some "hard point" the limits of the XTS Buick. So betrayed the great, almost boastful Cadillac 16 concept as a front-end with a dash-to-axle ratio, front-wheel drive only the border. Considering the low amount of metal between the cut front wheel and the door. It is almost identical to an agreement or a Passat. While there are four-wheel drives in three trim levels of the four XTS, the car is clearly based on FWD architecture. And while Audi somehow get away with marketing front-drivers like luxury cars, I do not think it will work for the Caddy. They also like the coming-very-fast ATS, CTS and the ultimate showcase all to go back. Back to the XTS. There are some nice touches outside, as the future-look door mirrors and the fin-like tail, a beautiful tribute to caddies, 62 1958 Fleetwood Series But while the design is good, it does not shout "Standard of the World." This is problematic, because to be managed according to the Caddy, which, where the brand should be. In other words, while fairly well, the XTS, the globular bid is not just so sexy and desirable, as it is needed.

Then you have the interior, and it is almost knocked out. I have not long been criticized for Cadillac as a luxury on the inside as the German and (partly) the Japanese competition. Not any more. Almost every surface is made of high quality, soft-touch materials. Those who do not are either made of wood or metal. And it looks really designed. The cabin width is emphasized, as the sides of the dashboard, the A-pillars seem to push outwards. In fact, the molding, as long as they continue along the door edge. If the $ 60K in XTS Platinum shedding is required, you get complete sets such as a perforated leather dashboard with purple contrast stitching and a roof in the most excellent GM faux-alcantara covered - around the same great quality stuff around the steering wheel and shift knob in the CTS V. It is almost impossible, as it is luxurious, the XTS 'inside overestimated. Case in point: I came, and left the XTS-drive a Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG, and the bowels of the XTS are much finer in general.

But I remember saying that it is almost impossible to exaggerate - there are a few points of concern. Cadillac has a lot on how much legroom is back seat, is about four inches longer than a BMW 5 series, even though the two cars can not compete (says Caddy). What they do not say is that the front seats facata in the way that I could not move my feet under them, almost entirely deny that stretched back seat is mounted. Forgive me for slips, cost-effective in Yiddish, but fail because they are angry. Yes, beautiful friends, after a not so, but long tradition of GM, Cadillac XTS cheaped on the "front seats. How cheap? With a palm tree, I could easily, baking all the way down to the frame. I tried to same trick in the Mercedes only to find that the throne Benz filled with much thicker stuff. Simply put, the chairs are clearly out of place in an otherwise highly refined, high-end car.

Then, CUE, new, much needed in Cadillac, all-in-one iPhone-like radio and navigation system interface. I must say that all the cars I drove were pre-production units and the final vote CUE may change. I give the system a B, and then it is not as good as BMW iDrive or even continuously developed Ford Sync. One problem is the screen very dark, almost black background. Cadillac claims that this is the way, wanted to see how the CUE engineers. I tell people from Detroit and somewhere on a beautiful beach community. If you are looking for a card, it is almost threatening. What is the haptic control is a very small - but seriously annoying - slowdown. Your first reaction is that the touch does not register, so that double-tap, but the screen has been changed and you have something you wanted and now you're selected for a Back button, which may very well have that Search screen moves. If XTS client lived in an iPhone and iPad phone calls and were not for screens that work perfectly to use touch, that would be one thing. But Cadillac has a free iPad with every new XTS. People will know. Moreover, the assertion that, although Cadillac wants the standard of the world, including Apple.

But cue is a good solution to work well in-car tech overload problem and the voice commands. One bright spot: The XTS recognizes someone in the passenger seat (using the existing sensor for the airbag), CUE, you can address while the car is in motion. Hallelujah! And it's a nice, big screen with 8-inch (albeit smaller than the latest BMW). The instruments are also digital and configure several options, but only if the vehicle is stationary. This means you can choose to browse through the six-paragraph Linux end-user license agreement, while 120 hours miles. Safety first! Another weak point before we continue - Cadillac has the knobs and buttons for things like volume and fan speed with haptic, touch-sensitive controls that are eerily similar to Ford's MYFORD touch stuff replaced. I do not like to take the non-key, non-dial control, especially because as the CUE screen there is a slight delay between your touch and the controls, so that you feel they are broken. Like the Ford setup. Hear me now: There's a reason why BMW broke and decided to provide keys and buttons for the permanent use of belongings. They work better.

By the beginning I said that the XTS is not complete. When I why Cadillac put a six-speed manual with every car they have to compete with more-asked program was caddy replied, "Wait." When I, when we have a different engine in addition to the family of direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6 with 304 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque would see bat, I was told: "Wait." Will there be some kind of hybrid version? "Wait." And what about the other body styles, including a long-wheelbase version in China, or maybe even a car? "Wait." And although initially not available, the XTS finally come with a host of active safety features, such as a driver's attention help, radar cruise control, automatic braking and a system that the car is preparing for an impending collision. Why are so immature? Select a villain. The truth lies somewhere between bankruptcy and the same kind of reckless bean-counting that pushed the ATS Coupe and station wagon. A useful feature is the security of a targeted butt buzzer called the Seat Safety Alert. If you go back into a mailbox, instead of beeping at you XTS vibrates the seat on the right side. It is not only a new way to warn the driver and it happens to work well, but I can not suffer from the passengers. I wish Mercedes have had only developed because they would be sold as a magic ass control.

What Cadillac did terminate the suspension? The XTS, such as the CTS-V is GM Magnetic Ride Control. I thought about it, and while I found that the systems have said CTS-V, the Camaro ZL1, several Corvettes, and even the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Range Rover Evoque, I've never seen a car to luxury cars be driven by magnetic dampers. In other words, a non-sports work with Magnetic Ride Control? Oh yes, absolutely! I was pleasantly surprised at how well the XTS rode and handled surprisingly focused on the surprise. I drove the Buick LaCrosse and honestly, it drives like a queen-size mattress. However, the XTS, and especially the AWD versions, wonderful ride. The texture of the surface transmitted to the vehicle. It is not hard in any case, but it is alive, active, committed, and dynamic - dare I say fun? Most impressive, the XTS will shrink if you shared hard drive, a feature of all good, big cars.

Perhaps more importantly, the current STS and DTS-owners, such as the XTS ride? One answer is: "Who cares?" while the other: "I hope not." It is important that the CTS-V owners and BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi (and Lexus) owners want. In fact, go back to these six figures AMG I drove to the event had the XTS Platinum has a much more refined, sporty on the road. Simply put, if you have a car without a magnetic damper, the ride and handling compromise is not where it should be. This is particularly true for Cadillac and GM. Our test director Frank Markus has me in print as a "Notorious Critic Camaro," but the second, the Chevy damper adjusts the magnetic ZL1 I was a supporter. The stuff just works ... Magic.

Where does all the above shows the XTS? In summary we can say that the car is generally good and has a chic interior, cabin challenge inspections, a transfer drive train, and a Magic Carpet Ride (especially in the Haldex AWD versions), thanks to the groundbreaking Magnetic Ride GM control and Send HiPer for canceling torque struts. They even threw air springs at the rear load-leveling reasons. However, the XTS only one type of construction, a motor and a transmission. Even though Cadillac wanted it to compete against what the Germans had to offer, it would Struggling alone on the lack of diversity and large, mechanical options. Do not forget that Porsche has only seven different engines for the Panamera. For a serious player in the global market for luxury goods, must wean itself from the Cadillac bean counters. Let them harass the non-lux brands like Chevrolet, GMC and Buick. Until the large-scale happens, the XTS 2013 is a very good emergency measure by a car.

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General Motors this morning revealed the pricing of the most anticipated next model - the 2013 Cadillac ATS. Prices for the new ATS with a 2.5-liter and the next generation 6-speed manual transmission will start at $ 33,990 - and that includes goal-chargers. "The ATS is a vehicle segment this year, which is one of the most competitive in the marketplace, both from a cost and performance standpoint," said Don Butler, vice president, Cadillac marketing. "ATS has an unmistakable presence and offer a compelling value proposition and quick, nimble, fun-to-drive dynamics that challenge the appeal to the lifestyle of modern luxury segment of buyers and the status quo."

Moving from one level of the 2.0-liter turbocharged version of the 2013 ATS starts at $ 35,795, including destination and offers automatic and manual transmissions and rear-wheel drive. The top-of-the-range 3.6-liter V6 with 320 hp starts at $ 42,090 Cadillac ATS and an automatic transmission and standard content, the CUE infotainment system, leather 8-way power adjustable seats with memory, keyless start and contains much more are included. The all-wheel drive will be optional. Cadillac says it will drop a more detailed price sheet later along the line.

The 2013 Cadillac ATS sedan will go on sale later this year and will come with a choice of three engines units. The assessment model will make a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine with 270 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. A 2.5-liter 4-cylinder atmospheric will also be available so that 200-hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. The top-of-the-line Cadillac ATS is a 3.6-liter V6 makes 318-hp and 267 lb-ft of torque to be driven. The prizes will be given precisely known, to start.

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