Cadillac Conversation 2015-04-22

[Bruce Nunnally]

Topic ideas for Thursday's Chat:

2016 ATS gets 335 hp LGX 3.6L V6 with start/stop and (finally) 8-speed automatic transmission

NEW! Engine, 3.6L V6, SIDI, DOHC, VVT (335 hp [250 kW] @ 6800 rpm, 285 lb-ft of torque [386 N-m] @ 5300 rpm)

Deletions

Exterior color (G7U) Majestic Plum Metallic

Exterior color (GLK) Black Diamond Tricoat

Exterior color (GTR) Opulent Blue Metallic

SD card slot removed from Cadillac CUE

(LFX) 3.6L V6 engine

(MYA) 6-speed automatic transmission

New Features

Exterior color (G1F) Cocoa Bronze Metallic (available at extra charge)

Exterior color (GA6) Moonstone Metallic (available at extra charge)

Exterior color (GB8) Stellar Black Metallic (available at extra charge)

(N08) Remote locking fuel filler door

(LGX) 3.6L V6, SIDI, DOHC, VVT engine (3.6L RWD and AWD)

(KL9) Engine control, start/stop system

(M5T) 8-speed automatic transmission (2.5L RWD)

(M5N) 8-speed automatic transmission (2.0L Turbo RWD and AWD and 3.6L RWD and AWD)Changes Cadillac CUE upgrades include improved system speed and performance, faster, more accurate map loading and voice command execution, faster service reprogramming, redesigned navigation interfaces, single press mute navigation voice/cancel route, expanded cities with 3D maps, route information and next maneuver and BT Media browsing

(PCW) Safety and Security Package now includes Lane Change Alert, (N08) remote locking fuel filler door, (UKC) Side Blind Zone Alert and (UFG) Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (Luxury Collection only)

(Y61) Advanced Security Package now includes (N08) remote locking fuel filler door (Performance and Premium Collections)

(Y65) Driver Awareness Package now includes Lane Change Alert, (UKC) Side Blind Zone Alert and (UFG) Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (Performance and Premium Collections)

(Y66) Driver Assist Package no longer includes Lane Change Alert, (UKC) Side Blind Zone Alert and (UFG) Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (Performance and Premium Collections)

[Bruce Nunnally]

2016 ELR: $10K more Cadillac for your Money: now $65,995 before $7,500 tax break.

• Revised electric drive system increases power and torque by more than 25 percent
• Enhanced handling, steering and braking
• OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot

DETROIT – Cadillac today announced the ELR electrified luxury coupe will offer a host of upgrades for the 2016 model year, including boosts in acceleration, driving performance and connectivity.

Major product upgrades include a more than 25 percent boost in power and torque, faster acceleration that improves 0-60 mph by 1.5 seconds, higher top speed, retuned chassis and steering for better handling, more responsive brakes and a new Performance equipment package.

“ELR’s combination of leading technology with stunningly attractive design is unlike any other coupe in the luxury segment,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. "The upgraded ELR offers enhanced driving performance for buyers seeking uncompromising luxury and exquisite craftsmanship with electrification technology. It is unique in the luxury category, in that it completely eliminates conventional concerns over driving range, which has been the Achilles’ heel of other competitors in the luxury segment.”

Distinguished by a new grille and Cadillac’s new crest, the 2016 ELR, which features the first application of extended-range electric vehicle technology by a full-line luxury automotive brand, will start at $58,495 net pricing after U.S. federal tax credits.

The 2016 ELR’s steering and suspension upgrades include:

• Revised calibration of the HiPer Strut front suspension
• Increased front spring rates and a stiffer rear axle
• Stiffer bushings for the front lower control arms, cradle mounts and Watts link in the rear suspension, for more precise control with no loss of ride quality
• Revised calibrations for the Continuous Damping Control system
• Front Damper Rebound Spring added
• New steering calibration tuned to complement the revised chassis and suspension systems
• Revised brake hardware and system calibration for improved application feel.

A new optional Performance Package elevates the ELR’s driving experience further with greater handling and braking capability – and a more direct, linear feel for the driver. The ELR Performance Package includes:

• New 20-inch summer-only performance tires – mounted on new sport wheels – that improve lateral grip by nearly 10 percent
• Front Brembo four-piston brake calipers (with the Cadillac script), with 13.6-inch-diameter vented front rotors and 12.4-inch vented rear rotors that improve 60-to-0 mph stopping distance by nearly 12 percent
• Specific calibrations for the Continuous Damping Control and electric power steering systems
• Sport steering wheel with a thicker rim for a sportier feel.

ELR propulsion and drive technology

All 2016 ELRs contain software upgrades to the battery system improving power and acceleration, with EV range growing on the base model.

Additionally, the 2016 ELR has a modified Sport mode that enables the propulsion system to combine engine and electric motor power to take the ELR from 0-60 in 6.4 seconds, a 1.5 second improvement from the current model.

ELR continues to offer Regen on Demand, recipient of Green Car Journal’s 2014 Green Car Technology Award. Slightly enhanced for the 2016 model to improve deceleration, Regen on Demand allows the driver to temporarily regenerate energy from the ELR’s momentum into electricity and store in the battery pack for later use.

Regen on Demand supports a more engaging driving experience by slowing the vehicle when entering a turn to better position it on the exit, much like downshifting with a manual transmission. Regen on Demand is engaged via steering-wheel paddles adapted from traditional performance cars.

The ELR offers a full driving range of up to 330 miles (530 km), combining pure electric driving and an efficient, range-extending 1.4L gasoline-powered engine-generator. It’s a combination that means most daily commutes will require zero gasoline with zero tailpipe emissions. Longer trips are free from electric-vehicle range anxiety because the ELR’s technology enables the long-distance travel similar to vehicles powered only by gasoline.

The T-shaped battery pack is located along the centerline of the vehicle, between the front and rear wheels for optimal weight distribution. The 5.5-foot-long (1.6 m), 435-pound (198 kg) pack supplies energy to an advanced electric drive unit capable of 373 lb-ft of instant torque (506 Nm) to propel the vehicle.

Using only the energy stored in the battery, the ELR will deliver an estimated range of about 39 miles (60 km) of pure electric driving, depending on terrain, driving techniques and temperature. The optional Performance Package reduces EV range by about four miles as a result of the enhanced grip of the 20-inch summer-only tires.

ELR’s battery can be charged using either a 120- or 240-volt charger. The vehicle can be completely recharged in about five hours using 240V charging, depending on the outside temperature.

The ELR’s battery is covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty or 10 years/150,000 miles in states following Air Resource Board guidelines.

Personal technology

The 2016 ELR will be one of the industry’s most-connected vehicles, with new and enhanced features designed to extend technologies woven into nearly every facet of customers’ lives.

OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial, whichever comes first.

4G LTE is the most current and fastest mobile data network and the Wi-Fi hotspot supports up to seven connected devices.

ELR drivers and passengers can also recharge their enabled phones wirelessly with a new magnetic inductive charge spot on the instrument panel. There is no need to plug the phone in for charging, leaving the ELR’s USB ports free for other devices.

Interior luxury and technology

For 2016, the Driver Assistance active safety systems, optional on the current ELR, are standard and include side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert and Intellibeam headlamps. Lane change alert and a new vehicle security system are also standard. Adaptive cruise control is available.

Additional interior features include:

• Cut-and-sew interior
• Available Semi-Aniline full leather seating
• Sueded microfiber headliner and supporting trim
• Eight-inch configurable instrument and driver information displays, offering four configurations ranging from elegantly simple to technologically detailed information
• Three USB ports
• Power-assist covered storage/cup holder in the center console
• Fold-down rear seatbacks to accommodate longer items such as skis and golf clubs

Editors’ note: Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Includes dealer freight charges and option package discounts.

[cdgrinci]

Good news that ELR gets a second iteration; more feature, more range, more quick and cheaper too. Maybe it'll have a chance (this time).

[Bruce Nunnally]

Sorry, no quorum this week. Check back next Thursday for more Cadillac discussion.

[Bruce Nunnally]

DETROIT – The first new retail production 2016 Cadillac CT6 sold for $200,000 Friday evening at the 13th Annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction in Palm Beach, Fla. All proceeds from the sale to dealer David Flynn from Columbiana, Ohio, will benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

The auction extends General Motors’ long-standing support of the Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country.

All proceeds from the CT6 auction will support the expansion of Karmanos’ Intensive Care Unit and develop a 24-hour Acute Care Clinic to support the continuum of specialized care for Karmanos patients.

GM Senior Vice President of Global Public Policy Bob Ferguson and his wife, Debra, will chair the Annual Dinner on Saturday, April 25, at the GM Design Dome in Warren, Mich. This is the fifth consecutive year that a member of GM senior leadership has chaired the event.

The 2016 Cadillac CT6 is an entirely new approach to the prestige luxury sedan. Thanks to advances in vehicle construction, the CT6 offers the luxury, stature, and spaciousness appropriate for a top-of-the-range sedan, combined with the driving dynamics and efficiency of a car a class smaller. The 2016 Cadillac CT6 will come with three power-dense engines, all mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions.

“General Motors has a long history of giving back to the communities in which we live and work,” said Ferguson. “We are thrilled to continue that tradition by donating our time, funds and assets to support the Karmanos Cancer Institute’s world renowned patient care and research.”

Earlier this year, the GM Foundation donated $500,000 to directly support cancer research at Karmanos. To recognize the combined philanthropic contributions of GM and the GM Foundation over the years, the Karmanos Cancer Institute named one of its laboratory floors the GM Foundation Cancer Research Floor.

“We are extremely grateful for our long-standing partnership with GM and the GM Foundation whose philanthropic contributions continue to support our mission to do all we can to end cancer,” said Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. “GM is constantly perfecting and advancing its vehicle engineering, as shown in the exciting Cadillac CT6. So too is our team of expert oncologists and researchers relentless in their commitment to advance discoveries that can lead to new treatments for those battling cancer.

“Together, our two Detroit-based institutions’ innovations are improving lives for the better, right here in our hometown and across the globe.”

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in mid-town Detroit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, a subsidiary of McLaren Health Care, is one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Karmanos is among the nation’s best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute’s president and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org.

[Bruce Nunnally]

The American automaker has been spied testing its latest high-performance sedan at the Nürburgring, but the CTS-V isn’t looking as stunning as it should. Though it’s unclear exactly what happened, it appears that the CTS-V hit the wall and had its left side crumpled, damaging everything from the headlight to the tail light. That didn’t stop Cadillac from resuming its lap around the ‘Ring as spy photographers reported that it managed to go around the track again.

read more: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2015/04/2016-cadillac-cts-v-smashed-up-during-n

[Bruce Nunnally]

Event page:

https://plus.google.com/events/chh3blf6h4fqdplm5ksrf3g04mo

 

[Bruce Nunnally]

Test drive of 2013 XTS VSport Platinum:

http://caddyinfo.com/wordpress/test-drive-review-2014-cadillac-xts-4-vsport-platinum/

[Bruce Nunnally]

Airmike's first night on AIR! Welcome and glad you got the hangout sorted out; see you next time.