Category Archives: Cadillac News

Happy Birthday, General Motors 9/16/2008

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The Buick Motor Company was started in 1903 by David Dunbar Buick in Detroit. The company was taken over by James Whiting later that year, and moved to Flint, MI. In 1904 William Crapo (Billy) Durant, a successful manufacturer of horse-drawn vehicles, joined Buick, and became General Manager by 1908. (wikipedia) He formed General Motors either with only Buick or as a holding company then put Buick into it.  Although Billy Durant was a high school drop out, he was an entrepreneur of the first order.

Billy Durant

Billy Durant

The gmnext.com history wiki notes:

Under the guidance and persistence of Billy Durant, a company called General Motors was established on September 16. Its initial holdings included only Durant’s Buick Motor Company and went un-noticed in the news media, with the major business news story that day being the announcement by the White Star Line shipping company that it would begin construction of the world’s largest ocean liner, to be called the Titanic.

Late that year he also bought Oldsmobile. The next year he added Cadillac, Elmore, Oakland, and several other makes. But General Motors marks their birth as 1908. So on Tuesday, 2008 they will officially be 100 years old.

GM is marking the celebration in an appropriate 2008-era way by conducting activities on the internet.
Please check in at GM Next http://www.gmnext.com to participate in the planned celebration, discussion, interaction, and broadcast.

Commemorate the day with a series of forward-looking activities right here on GMnext.com. Join in the first day of GM’s next 100 years. Here’s what we have planned:

* Global Broadcast 8:30 a.m. EDT
* Virtual Chats beginning at 10:30 a.m. EDT
* Future of Transportation Roundtable 1:30 p.m. EDT

Happy 100th Birthday General Motors

Happy 100th Birthday General Motors

The Auto Writer also has coverage of the event. (wave)

Alpha Cadillac to lead the pack of Entry-level Luxury Cars

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Motor Trend has a short update with a Motortrend? graphic artist depiction of what the upcoming, smaller-than-a-CTS Alpha architecture Cadillac might looks like.  The depiction looks great:

Will the new smaller Cadillac look like this?

Will the new smaller Cadillac look like this?

The alpha platform is a larger variant of the kappa RWD architecture used in the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, and Opel GT. The new car will slot below the CTS in price and size. The new car has not been name officially yet. BTS would match as the B-sized Touring Sedan, but we’ll see what Cadillac’s Marketing folks think will suit. I like “Cadillac Alpha”, with maybe the Greek letter for Alpha shown on the car.   I think there is a lot of marketing mileage in that if it is available.  But the platform names are almost never used as vehicle names.

Cadillac has recently debated in the press whether the world is ready for a 4-cylinder Cadillac again. Powerplants under consideration for the new small Cadillac are the 3.6L V6, the newly-on-the-way 3L V6, perhaps the 2.8L V6 or V6 Turbo, and the 2L I4 Turbo from the kappa cars apparently. A diesel variant using the VM Motori sourced 2.9L Turbo diesel may also come along.

Motor Trend notes we may see a coupe or hardtop convertible of the new car. I say WOOT!!

D3 XLR-V +3

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Motor Authority points out that D3 has released stage 1, 2, and 3 kits for the Cadillac XLR-V.  Now, out of the box the XLR-V arrives with 443 elegant horsepower from a 4.4L Supercharged Northstar drivetrain, so it is no slouch.  The D3 packages manage to tweak that 443hp up to 525hp, or 575hp, or 600hp, respectively.  Nice icing on the cake indeed.
 

D3 Cadillacs Stage 1 XLR-V kit installed

D3 Cadillac's Stage 1 XLR-V kit installed

Stage 1 Power Package: $1875.00  Application: 2006-2008 XLR-V
Description – This is our introductory package which includes Stage 1 and 2 Intakes and ECU Box. It is a relatively simple and quick bolt on package that will boost engine power to over 500 bhp. Installation only takes about an hour and can be installed with common hand tools. This is one of the largest performance gains you can obtain for your XLR-V with minimal investment.
Horsepower Increased to = 525+ bhp
Torque Increased to = 470+ ft lbs.
Includes Stage 1 and 2 Intakes and ECU Box

Stage 1.5 Power Package: $3,415.00
Application: 2006-2008 XLR-V
Horsepower Increased to = 545+ bhp
Torque Increased to = 500+ ft lbs.
Includes Exhaust System, Intercooler Lid, Spark Plugs, and ECU Box Tune Update)
Product Description – This upgrade will make your XLR-V accelerate like a true light weight sports car. Power to weight ratio is an astonishing 6.9:1! This is about as far as you can go running factory boost settings.

Stage 2 Power Package: $3140.50
Application: 2006-2008 XLR-V
Includes Intercooler Upgrade and Boost Upgrade.
*Does not include any of Stage 1 items*
Description – For those who are looking for a little bit more of an upgrade, but do not want to get into the motor, we offer our Stage 2 power package. This package includes our Intercooler Upgrade & Boost Upgrade. It will boost engine power up to 575 bhp and over 580 ft lbs of torque. *Does not include any of Stage 1 items* This package requires a PCM reflash to maximize tune and engine potential. Because of the high output of this package it is advised that brake upgrades are also considered at time of purchase.

Stage 3 Power Package: Call for Pricing and Details
Application: 2006-2008 XLR-V
Horsepower Increased to = 600+ bhp
Torque Increased to = 580+ ft lbs.
Description – This is for the enthusiast who wants it all. Each stage 3 package is customized to the individual’s desire. We cover everything from ported cylinder heads to rebuilt bottom ends. Also part of every stage 3 is braking system upgrades, wheels and tires (if big brakes are used) and any other custom modifications desired. This power package is rated at 600+ bhp. The Stage 3 power package is typically only done in house.

The Stage 2 appears to be in addition to the cost of the Stage 1, so to purchase the Stage 2 you would need to add the cost of Stage 1 and Stage 2.

I can’t wait to see what D3 has planned for the CTS and for the CTS-V. I think we may see 700 hp Cadillacs on the boulevard soon.

Motor Trend Magazine has a complete review of the D3 Stage 2 XLR-V HERE.