Re: Next-Gen CTS to Join #Cadillac ATS on Alpha RWD platform – @motor_trend

Motor Trend has an interesting Cadillac ATS article up: Next-Gen Camaro, CTS to Join Small Cadillac ATS on New Rear-Drive Platform – Wide Open Throttle – Motor Trend Magazine

Fun Cadillac ATS Details from the article:

  1. ATS is in fact on a new RWD Alpha platform
  2. ATS is due in calendar year 2014 (as a 2015 model?)
  3. Next Generation CTS will also move to the Alpha platform and grow 6 inches in 2013 as a 2014 model
  4. CTS Coupe and CTS Wagon will be discontinued in favor of ATS Coupe and ATS Wagon
  5. Platform will be lighter than the current Cadillac CTS Sigma platform
  6. Next generation Chevrolet Camaro will share the same Alpha platform
  7. Supercharged or turbocharged version of the gas direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6 should be available (!)
  8. Cars will be more fuel efficient than the current models

See our other Cadillac ATS coverage

All good news except for the 2014 arrival date; I was hoping for 2012 as a 2013 model.  Love that Cadillac recognizes they need to get some weight out, and bring a bit more power to the sport sedan mix.  Putting the CTS on Alpha makes a lot of sense if it is flexible enough to support the range of wheelbases needed.

Searching for Cadillacs

I enjoy driving my 2005 Cadillac CTS.  It has the Corsa cat-back exhaust, which gives some additional performance, and has a really sweet sound to it.  With the 3.6L V6 engine it is peppy, and handles well in traffic.

However, I also enjoy window-shopping for ‘new’ Cadillacs — new or old models are welcome for consideration.  I use a number of different pre-set searches to scan for used Cadillacs.

I live near Dallas, Texas, so an obvious search is the Dallas Observer newspaper.  Here is their Cadillac classified ads.

A second quick and easy search is the Dallas city list for Craig’s List; Here is their Cadillac used car ads.  A more general way to search Craig’s List ads is Hank’s Helper, which will let you search any nearby regional Craig’s List by keyword.  Also Search Tempest is an interesting way to search Craig’s list for Cadillacs.

Of course EBay can be a good source of used Cadillacs.  My Ebay search link searches for Cadillacs that also have “V” in their title — so is a search for V-Series Cadillacs, although occasionally some other models creep in.

For Cadillac accessories on Ebay, I try Direct Performance. For Cadillac Escalade Chrome accessories or for Cadillac SRX Chrome accessories, I use a direct link here.  CaddyInfo is an affiliate of the Auto Accessory Super Store, so I know we’ll get a good deal there.

2005 Cadillac STS copyright GM

Back on Cadillac cars, I use two search setups for Cars.com.  This one looks for the Cadillac STS-V, and this one for the Cadillac CTS-V ; both are set to a range of 250 miles from my zip 75023.

Finally, Carmax can be a good source of used Cadillacs, which you can find here.

Once you find the perfect-sounding used Cadillac, it is a good idea to have it completely checked out by a local mechanic or service.  Some Cadillac dealers will do a pre-purchase evaluation for you as well.  I have also seen members of our CaddyInfo Cadillac Forum Community be willing to do a hands-on check of a vehicle near them for someone who was shopping from a distance.

Jan 2010: Cadillac Sales saved by SRX

GM released a fairly upbeat sales report for January:

DETROIT – U.S. dealers for GM’s brands – Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac – reported retail sales of 102,420, up 3 percent compared to January 2009, and 145,098 total sales (up 30 percent).  These results were driven by the continued strong growth of new GM crossovers and passenger cars. For the month, GM dealers reported 146,825 total sales (including other brands), representing a total sales increase of 14 percent from the previous year.

However, the news at Cadillac seems much more serious.

Per selling day Cadillac sales overall are up 7.6% for Jan 2010 compared with Jan 2009.  However, car sales and truck sales continue to be much lower than last year.  Only the exceptional sales of the Crossover Cadillac SRX saved the month, and even the SRX was off from December.

Cadillac has to figure out how to move some cars even before the new CTS Coupes arrive this summer.

On a bright note, Buick outsold Cadillac for January on the strength of the Buick cars, Lacrosse and Lucerne.

Here are the Cadillac and Buick Sales figures in total:

*S/D Curr: 24 January (Calendar Year-to-Date)
January – January
*S/D Prev: 26 2010 2009 % Chg Volume %Chg per S/D 2010 2009 %Chg Volume
Buick Total 10,061 6,969 44.4 56.4 10,061 6,969 44.4
Cadillac Total 8,440 8,499 -0.7 7.6 8,440 8,499 -0.7
GM Car Deliveries by Marketing Division
2010 2009 %Chg Volume %Chg per S/D 2010 2009 %Chg Volume
Buick Total 5,986 4,248 40.9 52.7 5,986 4,248 40.9
Cadillac Total 3,452 5,251 -34.3 -28.8 3,452 5,251 -34.3
GM Light Truck Deliveries by Marketing Division
2010 2009 %Chg Volume %Chg per S/D 2010 2009 %Chg Volume
Buick Total 0 9 ***.* ***.* 0 9 ***.*
Cadillac Total 1,754 2,360 -25.7 -19.5 1,754 2,360 -25.7
GM Crossover Deliveries by Marketing Division
2010 2009 %Chg Volume %Chg per S/D 2010 2009 %Chg Volume
Buick Total 4,075 2,712 50.3 62.8 4,075 2,712 50.3
Cadillac Total 3,234 888 264.2 294.5 3,234 888 264.2
* Twenty-four selling days (S/D) for the January period this year and twenty-six for last year.

Broken out by model:

January (Calendar Year-to-Date)
January – January
2010 2009 % Chg Volume %Chg per S/D 2010 2009 %Chg Volume
Selling Days (S/D) 24 26
LaCrosse 4,246 1,489 185.2 208.9 4,246 1,489 185.2
Lucerne 1,740 2,759 -36.9 -31.7 1,740 2,759 -36.9
Buick Total 5,986 4,248 40.9 52.7 5,986 4,248 40.9
CTS 2,565 3,418 -25.0 -18.7 2,565 3,418 -25.0
DTS 618 1,362 -54.6 -50.8 618 1,362 -54.6
STS 233 413 -43.6 -38.9 233 413 -43.6
XLR 36 58 -37.9 -32.8 36 58 -37.9
Cadillac Total 3,452 5,251 -34.3 -28.8 3,452 5,251 -34.3
January (Calendar Year-to-Date)
January – January
2010 2009 % Chg Volume %Chg per S/D 2010 2009 %Chg Volume
Selling Days (S/D) 24 26
Rainier 0 3 ***.* ***.* 0 3 ***.*
Terraza 0 6 ***.* ***.* 0 6 ***.*
Buick Total 0 9 ***.* ***.* 0 9 ***.*
Escalade 1,237 1,353 -8.6 -1.0 1,237 1,353 -8.6
Escalade ESV 396 672 -41.1 -36.2 396 672 -41.1
Escalade EXT 121 335 -63.9 -60.9 121 335 -63.9
Cadillac Total 1,754 2,360 -25.7 -19.5 1,754 2,360 -25.7
January (Calendar Year-to-Date)
January – January
2010 2009 % Chg Volume %Chg per S/D 2010 2009 %Chg Volume
Selling Days (S/D) 24 26
Enclave 4,075 2,712 50.3 62.8 4,075 2,712 50.3
Rendezvous 0 0 ***.* ***.* 0 0 ***.*
Buick Total 4,075 2,712 50.3 62.8 4,075 2,712 50.3
SRX 3,234 888 264.2 294.5 3,234 888 264.2
Cadillac Total 3,234 888 264.2 294.5 3,234 888 264.2

BMW Jan sales chart:

BMW sales for Jan 2010 were also up 7.6% compared to 2009, with support from the sedans and SUVs.