Notes along the way

I travelled to Monticello, NY today to attend the Cadillac CTS-V Challenge tomorrow at the Monticello Motor Club in Monticello, NY.    Monticello is not in my neighborhood.  To get here I had to drive, fly, take a bus, fly, rent a car, and drive in.  Basically takes all day to go from the Dallas area to here in New York state.  As the Lady at the rental counter asked , “they want you to go THERE?”

Overall seems a lovely area and a good time of year to visit.  Although it is New York  (state), everyone I have spoken with has been very nice.

Foliage from Saturn

Foliage from Saturn

I ended up in the Saturn Outlook SUV because I asked the Lady at the rental counter to find me something from GM, since I was coming to a GM event.    It was this or the Cobalt, so she rented me the Outlook.  It seems nice, although it is having some sort of electronic crisis at the moment.

Rainy weather here, but hopefully the Cadillac CTS-V Challenge will go in some form tomorrow on schedule.  Friday I have reserved for another all-day travel to get back to Texas.

Away office

Away office

More Unsolicited Cadillac Commercials: “If I was Bob Lutz”

My continuing stream of unsolicited ideas for Cadillac commercials:

[group of three auto writers sitting around a table in a booth at a bar/restaurant, autowriter1, autowriter2, autowriter3, talking cars.  Bar is loud.   Beer all around]

autowriter1:  “So I guess we’ll see some new Cadillac commercials soon.”

Autowriter2:  “If I was Bob Lutz”,

[autowriter2 shifts to a deep, gravelly imitation of Bob Lutz’ voice|

Autowriter2: “I’d tell the Branding guys to stop spending all the budget on the talent and the music, and talk about Cadillac performance.  I want to hear in the commercial why these are the finest luxury cars made today.    Tell the true story of how we design new Cadillacs.  Talk about state of the art suspension, suspension tuning, aerodynamics, powerful and economical engines, leading edge styling.”

[autowriter2 bangs the table]

Autowriter2: “If a luxury car buyer is going to stick their butt in a BMW they need to do so knowing they decided NOT to buy the finest performance luxury car made today!”

[autowriter1 and autowriter3 laugh & cheer]

[Waiter brings over a business card with a note handwritten on the back and hands it to Autowriter2.  Zoom in on the Note which reads: “Call me when you get the whole commercial thought out; interesting.  -Bob”.    Autowriter2 flips the card to see it is Bob Lutz’ business card.  He quickly scans the bar and sees Lutz on the way out the door.

Cue Music, Titles;  “Cadillac: We have reinvented the Standard of the World.  Come try one.”]

Expecting THE Sedan: the Cadillac XTS

Cadillac has not released much actual news about the upcoming DTS/STS replacement sedan.  It may or may not be named “XTS”.  The internal designation is probably GM 166.

2003 Cadillac Sixteen Concept

2003 Cadillac Sixteen Concept photo courtesy Marika Buchberger

Logically, let’s look at what is likely:

Engines:

  • Base model 3.6L DOHC DI V6, with 304 hp.  Hybrid model to follow after release.
  • Performance Sedan: L99 6.2L V8 with 390 hp.  The return of Active Fuel Management to Cadillac. AFM Lifters in cylinders 1,4,6, and 7 and the AFM control system enables V4 operation at engine operating conditions where V4 mode is more efficient.

Chassis: Long wheel base Epsilon II w/ 115″ wheelbase, or 3″ more rear leg room than the CTS sedan. FWD or optional AWD, so it should definitely be an all-season selection.  Ultra-high strength steel in a premium chassis for super rigidity.

Interior: Hand stitched leather. Elegant, sweeping interior with infotainment system, and navigation.

Exterior:  Styling hints from the Cadillac Sixteen concept.  Love it or hate it elegance.

Pricing:  US$45-$65K, with later Hybrid and Platinum lines at a premium.