2009 Cadillac CTS-V Comparison Tests – Car and Driver

Car & Driver tested a Cadillac CTS-V vs a Jaguar XFR vs a Mercedes E63; they pick the Mercedes 1st, the Cadillac 2nd, and the Jaguar 3rd:

All other things being equal, if the CTS-V had been equipped with an [available] automatic transmission like the two other cars here it might have tied the Benz in overall points. How, you ask? A six-speed automatic V we tested in April for CARand DRIVER.com managed the quarter-mile in 12.2 seconds, 0.4 second quicker than both the manual in this comparo and the one from our November 2008 road test. The difference would have tipped the quarter-mile-acceleration score in the Caddy’s favor.

Read more: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V Comparison Tests – Car and Driver.

This probably is the best summary:

Even with the muted soundtrack, our usually home-team-loyal German correspondent quickly deemed the Cadillac to be the sportiest-feeling car of our trio and one that, at $67,345, undercuts the test’s second-priciest Jaguar by more than $12,500. It will cost you about $8000 more than the Jag to start looking at the Mercedes…

Despite the disparate window stickers, everything else—horsepower, weight, terrible fuel economy, even tire width—is nearly identical in this group. Even the acceleration to 100 mph ended up in a three-way tie.

The three cars are very close in mission, performance, and luxury.  The Cadillac manages to achieve it all for $12K – 20K less cash.

Congrats Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon!

Congrats to the excellent Engineers and Suppliers at Cadillac who were recognized by an Engineering Society for innovation (39th Society of Plastics Engineers’ Automotive Innovation Awards Competition):

Body Exterior: Exterior spoiler with integrated stop light assembly is used on the  Cadillac® CTS® Sport Wagon.

Highly dimensionally stable, this thermoplastic Class A horizontal body panel meets stringent gap requirements by managing a low coefficient of thermal expansion (3.9) while also maintaining heat, impact, and surface quality for a highly aesthetic application.  The center-high-mounted stop light is also integrated in this part.

Read more: Injection-Molded Breakthroughs Highlight SPE Winners – 2009-11-17 16:49:29 EST | Design News.

Another example of a part that one might take for granted as part of the CTS Sport Wagon design that the experts recognize as an innovation.

cadillac_2010_ctsSport-trans

Mary Kay Pink Cadillac factory pickup

Nice article about a Mary Kay Director who was set to get her Mary Kay Cadillac DTS.  Planning ahead, she made contact with the Hamtramck factory and was there as ‘her’ DTS was being made:

Faces of GM

It is so much fun to drive my “trophy on wheels” on road trips across the country!  People honk and wave, they give double thumbs up- men stare without hiding it! Many times you will see someone look and then do a double take~ some people even ask “is your car really pink?” I don’t think that the fun of driving this car will ever go away! I have logged quite a few miles on my brand new pink Cadillac- it is easy to want to drive a car that is so luxurious —  and she gets really good mileage for a luxury car, too!

Can't wait to get my baby on the road!

People are frequently surprised when they see pink Cadillacs on the road.  The Mary Kay pink is a custom color done each year.  The cars are put into service for use by Mary Kay independent representative.  After their service is done, they are taken back and repainted to a factory color.

The original article got lost but here it is:

Kathe: drives a pink Cadillac

It's mine!It’s mine!

They say a true native to Michigan refers to themselves as a Michigander. Well that’s me. Born and raised- I was actually born in Detroit and almost everyone in my family has been employed by one of the original “Big 3”. I have worked my Mary Kay business since 1980 and it has always been a dream to drive one of the famous PINK Cadillacs.  As a Mary Kay beauty consultant, it is the “ultimate” achievement to earn the use of a Cadillac. In fact, within Mary Kay, driving a Pink Cadillac is like winning the Stanley Cup.

My husband George joined me at the Detroit Hamtramck PlantMy husband George joined me at the Detroit Hamtramck Plant

When I realized that my team and I had completed the requirements, I asked around to see if anyone knew someone who worked at the D’Ham plant because I knew my DTS would be built there. I really wanted to see the process and I was so very excited to be able to watch my “pink baby” as she was assembled and moved down the line! It was so much fun to meet the men and women who were building my car, and to meet the fellow from the paint company who explained the unique process that creates the special Mary Kay Pink paint.  One of the ladies on the assembly line even had on a hot pink t-shirt in honor of my visit! It truly was a very special day and one of the highlights of my career!

Wearing pink to welcome Kathe!Wearing pink to welcome me!

It is so much fun to drive my “trophy on wheels” on road trips across the country!  People honk and wave, they give double thumbs up- men stare without hiding it! Many times you will see someone look and then do a double take~ some people even ask “is your car really pink?” I don’t think that the fun of driving this car will ever go away! I have logged quite a few miles on my brand new pink Cadillac- it is easy to want to drive a car that is so luxurious —  and she gets really good mileage for a luxury car, too!

Can't wait to get my baby on the road!Can’t wait to get my baby on the road!

I am so very proud to drive a car that was built right here in my home town, to support men and women who live in our state and work for General Motors. – Kathe Cameron, Mary Kay Independent Sales Director, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.