Season Recap: Car We Want in Our Driveway

Now that we’ve tackled the best economy cars, hybrids, SUVs and concept cars, it’s time to decide which car we want in our own driveways. This post is kind of like asking us what we’d do if we won the lottery, but considering we’re a fickle bunch when it comes to cars, there’s a bit more to consider than pure fantasy.

Kelsey Mays: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Energy independence notwithstanding, I’d gladly shell out $4 a gallon for a CTS-V. The regular CTS is one of Lutz & Co.’s finest achievements yet, and the thought of 550 hp underfoot is stupefying enough to make me crave one. Reality bites, but this Caddy bites back: It still has a full backseat, commute-friendly amenities and a trunk that can fit a weekend’s baggage. Naturally, if I had one, most of my weekends would be spent at the track.

Up Close: Cadillac CTS Coupe

The CTS Coupe introduced at the Detroit auto show is technically a concept, but it looks like it's closer to being a prototype. It's based on the sedan and shares its front end, with the exception of the domed hood. I think it looks a bit slab-sided, and I suspect the diamond-cut rear end will be controversial. 

2008 Detroit Auto Show Video: Cadillac Coupe Concept

Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder grabbed a quick video of the Cadillac CTS Coupe concept when it moved from the stage to its final show perch on a rotating pedestal. We'll have more insight from Joe on the CTS Coupe soon.

More info and photos of the CTS Coupe Concept

2008 Detroit Auto Show: Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept

• Looks like: Someone forgot to bolt on the back doors
• Defining characteristics: Radically sloping rear
• Ridiculous features: None — this is one straight-shooting concept
• Chance of being mass-produced: 95% or so; the XLR proved a Cadillac sports car can’t be too expensive

The Cadillac CTS Coupe concept was one of the few real surprises at this year’s show. Held tightly under wraps, the CTS Coupe shows what a production two-door version of the recently redesigned CTS would look like. In fact, it looks so production-ready we’d bet even odds it’ll be at a dealer near you in 2009.

The coupe has the same wheelbase as the sedan but is 2 inches shorter overall, and the height is roughly 2 inches lower as well. There are two seats in the back, but this is clearly a driver’s car. Expect the engines in a production model to be the same as the sedan: 3.6-liter V-6s putting out 258 or 304 hp. We’d even bet on a CTS-V coupe coming along someday down the road, too.

Cadillac is winning over buyers because of its edgy looks and sporty driving nature; the new CTS isn't staying on lots long. The last time Cadillac dipped into the two-door category was with the XLR, which has an $80,000 price of entry. A sub-$40,000 sport coupe like this would definitely broaden appeal.  Check out all that appeal in more photos below.

2008 Cadillac CTS Earns Top Safety Pick

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently completed crash testing the redesigned Cadillac CTS, and the sport sedan earned the group’s top designation as a Top Safety Pick. Only the Volvo S80, Audi A6 and A4, and Saab 9-3 equal that feat in the luxury sedan market. Other cars the CTS competes with directly, like the BMW 3 Series, Lexus ES and Infiniti G35, didn’t receive that honor. So not only does the new CTS presumably “turn on” its drivers, it also keep them safe and secure. 

2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

• Competes with: BMW M and Mercedes AMG sedans, Lexus IS-F
• Looks like: The CTS lost all its well-coiffed pretensions and now just wants to run you over
• Drivetrain: 550-hp (estimated), supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic; rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

Even though the CTS is priced to rub elbows with compact sport sedans like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, Cadillac says its CTS-V competes with those cars’ respective big brothers, the BMW M5 and Mercedes E63 AMG. Maybe that’s because the CTS-V makes an estimated — and just plain stupefying — 550 hp and 550 pounds-feet of torque.

Whatever the competitor, the CTS-V looks ready to rip it a new one. Under the hood, GM’s 6.2-liter V-8 gets an intercooled Eaton supercharger, and all power goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. With the manual, a dual-mass flywheel and dual-disc clutch aim to enhance the left pedal’s smoothness, but we hope the stick shift itself has improved over the regular CTS’ clunky setup. Like in the regular CTS, the automatic has paddle shifters on the steering wheel, and we’re impressed that Cadillac is offering both setups.

The CTS-V adopts the STS’ Magnetic Ride Control, which reads the road and varies suspension settings to match driving conditions. An optional Performance Traction Management system aims to optimize traction with an eye toward maximizing acceleration — as opposed to conventional traction control, which mostly just tries to optimize traction. GM’s electronic stability control system comes standard and includes a competitive mode that dials back its intrusiveness, allowing you to perform stunts you probably shouldn’t try outside a racetrack.

Styling changes from the freshly minted CTS include larger 19-inch wheels, a larger grille and the requisite lower body cladding. The cabin features deeply bolstered Recaro seats with grippier suede-like inserts, as well as dark Obsidian trim and a microfiber-lined steering wheel.

The CTS-V will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2008 with a yet-to-be-determined price tag. With the well-received CTS already selling briskly, don’t expect the V to sit on dealer lots for long.

Recall Alert: 275,000 Cadillac, Pontiac, Saturn Cars and Crossovers

Today, GM announced it would recall 275,936 vehicles in the U.S. due to a faulty seal. The recalled vehicles include:

• 2005-07 Cadillac CTS
• 2005-07 Cadillac STS
• 2005-07 Cadillac SRX
• 2006-07 Pontiac Solstice
• 2007 Saturn Sky

The company said it had received a “higher than normal” number of warranty claims for the faulty seal, which can leak fluid, leading to a loss of control. One crash has been reported, in which the rear wheels locked due to a leak. In another incident, a driver was injured when his vehicle lost control.

The seal will be replaced for free, and the recall will begin in February 2008. Owners can call Cadillac at 800-982-2339, Pontiac at 800-620-7668 and Saturn at 800-972-8876 for more information.

GM Announces Recall (BusinessWeek)

GM Scores Among Award Finalists

Perhaps marking GM’s reemergence from the automobile wilderness, the domestic car giant makes four of the six finalists for the 2008 North American Car and Truck of the Year award. Even better, the automaker now finds itself in a position to score wins in both Car and Truck of the Year a feat no other company has achieved two years in a row, a feat no other company has achieved. 

Truck of the Year finalists include GM’s Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid SUV and Buick Enclave crossover SUV, with Mazda’s CX-9 crossover SUV filling the third spot. As for Car of the Year, the Honda Accord will compete with GM’s Cadillac CTS sport sedan and the highly praised Chevrolet Malibu midsize sedan.

Now if the world’s largest auto manufacturer could only transfer this success to sales. While its vehicles continue to improve, the perception of domestic cars in terms of quality and design still lags behind Japanese and European makes. Earning awards is nice, but earning back car shoppers is obviously GM’s more pressing goal.

Vote is in: GM Rules (Detroit Free Press)

2008 Cadillac CTS Sport Concept

• Looks like: A beefier Cadillac CTS
• Defining characteristics: Hood scoops and a mesh grille
• Ridiculous features: The idea that the new CTS’ grille needed more-radical styling
• Chance of being mass-produced: The Sport itself might not become a model, but it could serve as a precursor to the next CTS-V

Cadillac has added very little to enhance the performance of the new Cadillac CTS in this Sport concept, but interestingly enough it could be an early look at the next seriously beefed-up CTS-V. Since the V line came to the new generation of Caddies, they’ve brought bright grillwork. That’s definitely the trademark styling here, as well.

The Sport concept also gets 20-inch polished wheels, stronger brakes and a Corsa cat-back exhaust with modified tips that integrate into the rear bumper, which is a look we actually like. That can’t be said for the hood scoops, which get decked out in wire mesh as well. That’s just too much mesh for our mesh-meter. A few more photos are below.   

Sales of Redesigned Cars Soar

It sounds like a no-brainer, but guess what? New and redesigned models sell, especially if they get good reviews. Sales figures for September — widely projected to be a slow month for automakers — are in, and redesigned models like the Honda Accord, Cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are selling well. Really well.

Unfortunately, the automakers don’t break out how many of the cars sold are 2007s versus 2008s, but we were able to glean a few tidbits from the numbers. The Cadillac CTS did the best of the three in terms of percentage increase, showing a 73.5% sales increase over September 2007. If you look at the CTS’ sales in August, they were down 9.1%.