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About bwnunnally

Bruce Nunnally is an independent Blogger who writes Cadillac Conversations on all things Cadillac. Connect with Bruce on Google+

Cue the Possibilities in your Cadillac

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Cadillac introduced their new Cue Technology this week, or Cadillac User Experience.  More info and a video at the full release.

What if the entire dash board becomes a touch sensitive electronic display?  In the short term it means visually better and more entertaining instruments.

But what can it mean in the long term?  More customization of the instruments available.  I like to know a great deal about what is going on in the Cadillac.   What if I could choose which instruments are displayed, and which information is included — design my own dash display?  I may choose to have a very busy, information intensive dash display.

You may only want to know speed and gas remaining.  What if you could opt for only those pieces of information?  Suddenly use of an electronic display gives many options that were not available before — if Cadillac chooses to empower Buyers to select them.

More displays — bring back onboard diagnostics on all models.  What about 2-way video with OnStar, so I can see the operator as we talk about my destination?  Possibilities; the new CUE technologies bring more possibilities.

Don’t under-estimate the value of beauty and functionality rolled together.  It is these touches that make Cadillac a luxury marque.  But when the new technology opens the way to more control, more easy user-customizations and personalization, and opens our imaginations to what could be, I know Cadillac is on the right path.

Why is the Cadillac CTS Coupe important?

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Cadillac pointed out earlier this month that the Cadillac CTS Coupe is selling well.  It has a 27% take rate in the CTS Family, which is well above the industry average of 9% for a coupe model.

A Cadillac is a luxury vehicle, but it is also used by people who have practical needs in their choice of transportation.  One might expect that the Cadillac Buyer has a bit more latitude in choices available to them.   I agree however that the higher take rate for the CTS Coupe is remarkable, if not unexpected.  The CTS Coupe is literally rolling art.  If there are compromises in the design, they were taken in the function, not the form.  The dual central rear exhaust is beautiful.  I am sure it is functional as well, but certainly probably not ideal for exhaust flow.  The rear seating comfort suffers dramatically for the Coupe over the CTS Sedan.

But the CTS Coupe is an important vehicle for Cadillac.

The Cadillac CTS Coupe reminds Team Cadillac and we the Cadillac buying public what Cadillac is supposed to be about — what the core values for Cadillac are:  Beauty, Performance, Advanced Technology.    Cadillac models should take your breath away when you see them on the street.   They are premium models carefully engineered to be aspirational and achieve a luxury performance contact and contract with that young entrepreneur, artist, or business person who can afford one.

 

Cadillac ATS-2T4 or ATS-2T6?

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The powerplant rumor mill for the upcoming Cadillac ATS is now in full swing.  The original favorite was the 3L V6 for around 270hp.  This engine was mostly dropped from the Cadillac line, being supplanted by a variant of the 3.6L V6 in the SRX where it makes 304 hp.  The 3L is still the ‘standard’ engine in the CTS.

The export version of the ATS will likely have the new 2.5L Ecotec 4 cylinder for 190 hp.  The base engine for the US market Cadillac ATS may be a 2L Turbo 4-cylinder making 270-290 hp (2-T4 for twin-turbo 4 cylinder?)  An upcoming twin-turbo 3L or 3.6L V6 perhaps making around 400-425 hp may be the either the Premium ATS engine, or perhaps reserved to the ATS-V, (2T-6 for Twin Turbo 6 cylinder?)

I would still like to see an LSX V-8 variant of the ATS as the ATS-V, with 450+ hp.  So I am hoping that the twin-turbo V6 is the premium powerplant.  A lot will depend on the shipping weight for the ATS as to what engine at what power output works well for the new Sports Sedan.  The target is BMW 3-Series performance, so unless the weight comes in at the same point as the 3-Series then the engines will need to rev up to compensate.

The price point will also be interesting; the standard Cadillac ATS needs to arrive as a beautiful, athletic package at under $30K if it is going to be successful in hitting 3-Series sales levels.