Category Archives: GM News

Bird’s Eye View: Cadillac at Lansing, Grand River

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Bit of fun with Google Earth: here are shots of the General Motors plant at Lansing, Grand River which produces the current Cadillac CTS, SRX, and STS:

GM LGR

GM Lansing, Grand River (LGR) bird's eye view aerial shot

GM LGR street level shot of entrance

GM LGR street level shot of entrance

The factory at Lansing Grand River (LGR) has around 1,600 employees, and makes the Cadillac CTS, SRX, and STS models. The XLR is made at Bowling Green, Kentuky at the Corvette Plant. The Escalade is made at Arlington, Texas and in Silao, Mexico (ESV, EXT).  The DTS is made at Hamtramck, Michigan.

The GM factory at Lansing Grand River (LGR) opened in 2001 and was at that time the first new GM assembly plant since the Saturn factory opened in Springhill, TN.  The new factory was built on the site of a former Oldsmobile plant.  LGR has been very successful, and the new CTS, SRX, and STS produced there have been in the top 5 in the world automobile market in initial and four year quality scores as measured by independent surveys.  LGR has been a terrific success compared to the somewhat more storied Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly (wikipedia) plant.

Apparently LGR does offer tours 2 days a week, so good idea to check ahead if you plan to be in Lansing.  GMblog’s FYI covered Lansing in 2006:

On the tour, visitors see examples of the plant’s flexibility to build very different products at one time on the same line. They see parts being delivered “just in time” to team members by a very automated system. Visitors also see safety as the plant’s first priority; bright lights, polished floors, musical Andon boards, team members in common clothing and warm welcomes. Throughout the plant they see examples of how teams are engaged in the business, working to eliminate waste, and focused on quality.

Here is the official plant photo for LGR:

GMs Lansing Grand River plant

GM's Lansing Grand River plant

I was hoping to be able to zoom in on rows of new Cadillac waiting to head to Dealers for sale, but here’s a stock image of one on the test track:

2009 Cadillac CTS

2009 Cadillac CTS

C&D test shows 2009 Cadillac CTS-V Outraces the Competition

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Car & Driver via Autoblog — Car & Driver runs an annual event called the Lightning Lap.  They get the fastest cars in the world together, and run them all on the same track under similar conditions and publish the results.

This year they included the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V in the mix.  How did the new high performance Cadillac do?  Amazing.  Check the details.  The new Corvette Z51 won for under $60K; but the CTS-V posted the 2nd highest times in the event for vehicles under $60K, and 6th highest overall of 22 performance cars!  Go Cadillac!

Remarkable thrust from the LSA [The Cadillac CTS-V has an LSA engine] with no hint of the angry bull bellow that afflicted the previous CTS-V. Remarkable, too, is its six-speed manual gearbox, providing precise shifts and crisp engagements. Remarkable balance, allowing the driver to drift and pivot this big sedan with ease. Remarkable brakes, offering formidable stopping power without a hint of fade, lap after lap.

The BMW M3 came in just behind the new CTS-V, followed by the Mercedes C63 AMG.  Not sure why the new Corvette ZR1 was not in the test.

The Cadillac did 0.92g’s in the first section; have to love that.

2009 Cadillac CTS-V Supercharged Performance

2009 Cadillac CTS-V Supercharged Performance

I know, 6th. But the first five were the Mosler MT900s, Dodge Viper SRT10, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Nissan GT-R, and Corvette Z51. Very fast company, and none of them have four door, four seats, and Cadillac luxury.

Cadillac CTS Arrives Down Under

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Car Advice in Australia notes that Cadillac will begin sales of the current Cadillac CTS with next month’s Australian International Automobile Show.   With a great direct injected variant of the familiar Holden Alloytech engine and Cadillac luxury appointments and performance tuning, the CTS should run well in Australia.

The Australians like hot cars.  The CTS brings sharp acceleration, quick and precise handling, and a good top speed.    Hopefully if the CTS sells well then the new 556hp (415 kW) CTS-V will also be available soon.

 

3.6L VVT LY7 V6

3.6L VVT LY7 V6

 

 

Holden in Melbourne helped mark GM’s 100th birthday last week.  In 1926 General Motors Australia was formed which merged with Holden Motor Body Builders in 1931 to become General Motors-Holden’s Limited (GMH).  Leading celebrations at Fishermans Bend, GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss, said Holden and Australia had played a key part in the development of General Motors.

“Australians can feel a real sense of pride in the contribution this country has made to GM’s 100 year history,” Reuss said.

“Before Holden Motor Body Builders merged with GM Australia back in 1931, the Holden name was already synonymous with building car bodies for General Motors brands such as Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet.

“That significant role in General Motors’ worldwide operations continues today. The G8 sedan was designed, engineered and is built here in Australia for Pontiac and we led design and engineering for the new Chevrolet Camaro.

Mark Reuss’ 25 year stint with GM has seen him responsible for GM’s production studios, Executive Director, Architecture Engineering and GM Performance Division, and Executive Director, North American Vehicle Systems and Architecture.  So Australia has a great point-man to bring in the best GM vehicles from around the world, like the Cadillac CTS.    And Holden has a good voice at the table as they continue to team within GM to produce increasingly exciting vehicles for the World market.