Monthly Archives: September 2008

Cadillac SRX unmasked in LeftLaneNews, if you squint

Posted on by
Reply

Leftlane News has new spy photographs of the Saab 9-4x Crossover SUV with very little camouflage.  The Saab 9-4x is a platform cousin to the upcoming Cadillac SRX replacement.  Previously the new SRX, which is now a mid-size Crossover, was originally foreshadowed by the Provoq show car.

Provoq show car

2010 Cadillac SRX Crossover

Later this model was referred to by the press (and me) as a BRX.  It is built on a new Epsilon/Theta platform and is somewhat smaller in appearance than the current model SRX.   It will not arrive with the cool Hydrogen fuelcell powertrain of the Provoq, although we do not have a clear announcement on exactly what powertrains will be available.

Provoq Concept

2008 Cadillac Provoq Concept

Both the Swedish Saab 9-4x and the US Cadillac SRX will be manufactured in Ramos, Mexico.

2009 Cadillac CTS Rear

Cadillac SRX Rear

The new model is likely to borrow heavily from the successfully remodelled current CTS interior, as shown.

Autoblog would buy a Cadillac CTS-V before a Cadillac XLR-V

Posted on by
Reply

In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Cadillac XLR-V offers an interesting summary of the 2009 Cadillac XLR-V Experimental Luxury Roadster, V-Series. The blog has a nice selection of great images of the XLR-V.

A reasonable question that Autoblog asks is why would an enthusiast pay $100K for an XLR-V with a 443hp Supercharged Northstar 4.4L engine instead of roughly $60-65K (prices STILL not announced) for a new CTS-V with a 556hp Supercharged OHC V8?

S/C Northstar Engine

S/C Northstar Engine

I know at least from my personal perspective there are advantages and disadvantages of each vehicle. The XLR cars of course are 2-seat roadsters, with folding hard top convertibles. The CTS cars are full size sports sedans. I like to joke that the XLR is a Corvette chassis with a Cadillac engine, while the CTS-V is a Corvette Engine in a Cadillac chassis. Actually the LSA engine in the CTS-V is unique to the CTS-V (so far), but it makes a nice summary.

Engine Sketch

Engine Sketch

I agree that it would be fun if Cadillac had retooled and put the 556hp LSA engine in the XLR-V this year, but the 4.4L Supercharged Northstar is a jewel of an engine. Since both cars are faster than they have to be anyway, XLR-V owners may legitimately want the smoother power delivery of the DOHC VVT Direct Injected Northstar engine.

GM’s Rick Wagoner explains Government Technology Investments

Posted on by
1

GMBlogs has this video from Rick Wagoner who explains the recent Government decision to make $25B in  loans available to automakers to help develop new technologies:

The Energy Security Bill of 2007 which established the new fuel economy requirements that the Automakers are responding to had built in financial support to assist Automakers in meeting the aggressive new requirements. The funding support passed this weekend is the funding promised by Congress.