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Notes Re: Cadillac Unveils The XTS Platinum Concept

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  • Highlights:

    • A new study re-imagining the luxury sedan, showcasing the progression of the Cadillac Art and Science philosophy
    • Designed from the inside out, featuring a new concept for the interface between the driver and the auto electronics
    • Plug-in hybrid system is matched with a 3.6L V-6 and all-wheel drive for dynamic and efficient performance

My Notes:

  • I am very excited about the possibilities for the 3.6L Hybrid Powerplant. A 350 hp variant of the 3.6L is just what the doctor ordered in fact for several Cadillac tasks.  I have been wanting Cadillac to produce just this powerplant.  Bring this to production Cadillac!
  • All wheel drive with a variable rear wheel drive balance at low additional weight cost is win/win (win/win).
  • I still would prefer a more distinctive hood line, but I’ll defer judgment until I can see the vehicle in person.
  • This is not the longer wheelbase (115″) I was expecting; the concept is 111.7″.
  • Love seeing magnetic ride control on the XTS. It is a terrific suspension system.

2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept.

DETROIT – Cadillac unveiled the XTS Platinum Concept at the 2010 North American International Auto Show, suggesting a new paradigm for the luxury sedan of the future. The concept showcases Cadillac’s emerging top-of-the-line Platinum series of models, emphasizing new expressions of luxury and technological features, including a plug-in hybrid propulsion system.

The XTS Platinum Concept was designed from the inside out, re-imagining the luxury sedan as a personal headquarters, built for efficiency, luxury and connectivity. The concept introduces a new approach to in-car electronics that improves the form and function of the car’s entertainment, navigation and information systems.

“The XTS Platinum concept is the next expression of Cadillac’s Art and Science execution philosophy, reflecting our drive to deliver the latest innovations in the most artful manner,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “We envisioned this concept as an automotive personal headquarters, using advanced technology to enable new levels of connectivity and luxury.”

The XTS Platinum Concept uses Cadillac’s 3.6L V-6 Direct Injection gas engine, paired with a plug-in hybrid system. The plug-in technology enables the battery to fully charge from a standard electrical outlet, enabling pure electric propulsion in many driving situations, especially urban commutes in which fuel efficiency may double that of a conventional hybrid.

Traditional luxury sedans were defined by elegant interiors and Cadillac’s XTS Platinum Concept propels that formula into the future. It delivers new approaches to luxury within a design that combines fine craftsmanship with customer-driven innovation. Like the current Platinum Edition products, such as Escalade Platinum and the STS and DTS Platinum sedans, the interior is based on hand cut-and-sewn materials. The XTS Platinum Concept injects more contemporary forms and themes into the interior design, including the use of Organic Light-Emitting Diode (O-LED) displays in place of traditional gauges and screens.

The concept previews a new integration philosophy guiding the development of future models with respect to in-car electronics. The intent is to progress Cadillac’s intuitive in-car electronics systems, typified by the deployable touch-screen navigation system that has been highly acclaimed in the brand’s CTS and SRX product lines. The XTS Platinum Concept previews this strategy via the minimization of traditional buttons and switches. Designers blended the display screens into a flowing instrument panel. They call it a “dead front” design, because the panels appear black until the car is turned on and the screens illuminate. The instrument panel itself reflects the XTS Platinum’s other focus – uncompromising luxury and attention to detail on the interior.

“The Platinum distinction in Cadillac means the fullest extent of luxury and technology and we’ve tried to reach even further with this concept,” said Clay Dean, Cadillac design director. “Just as the technology pushes the boundaries of what a Cadillac can offer, so do the details that make the XTS Platinum Concept an uncompromising experience.”

2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept front seat tasteful, refined, and stylish

2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept offers many luxury features such as dual rear entertainment systems

The interior takes inspiration from nature, specifically the intricate layers of petals that combine to form an orchid. Cadillac designers translated that into a layered and detailed interior. Light cream is the cabin’s primary color and is contrasted with darker elements, such as the steering wheel and an overhead console motif that runs the length of interior’s roof. The console is made of a richly finished wood and houses lighting features.

Premium leather seats include a new style of automotive suede, with a laser-etched pattern. The patterned material adorns the center sections of the seats and accents the door trim. Thoughtfully detailed stitching is used throughout the interior, including the seats, instrument panel and door panels. Passengers in the spacious rear compartment of the XTS Platinum Concept also have access to the car’s connectivity feature, along with a range of infotainment choices.

“We never lost sight of the fact that a large luxury sedan needs to be spacious and accommodating,” said Dean. “Passengers will find generous headroom, legroom and knee space, along with the technology elements that make the drive more productive.”

20" wheels, dramatically sculpted lines

A new proportion

The XTS Platinum Concept has a distinctive proportion that transcends the traditional aesthetic of luxury sedans and carries the brand’s Art and Science design in a more progressive manner. The unique proportion supports the “inside out” design priority, while creating a sleek profile that complements the car’s advanced technology elements and necessary aerodynamics.

“The XTS Platinum Concept design artfully conveys its focus on functionality through technology,” said Dean. “It is the antithesis of the conventional three-box sedan, suggesting the active evolution of Cadillac’s design language.”

A sweeping profile culminates in a short, high deck lid that meets the XTS Platinum Concept’s aerodynamic needs – including a rear spoiler mounted on the deck lid, incorporating the center high-mounted stop lamp. A high, sloping beltline gestures the vehicle forward, suggesting motion, while the fenders flare outward wrapping tightly around 20-inch wheels and tires. The wheel-to-body proportion was carefully tailored to visually communicate the car’s all-wheel-drive chassis.

Like the interior, the exterior elements are precisely tailored and elegantly detailed. Brushed billet aluminum trim is used selectively and the 20-inch, 11-spoke wheels feature a brushed aluminum face accented with bright inserts within the spokes. The wheels are wrapped with special Bridgestone tires that were created specifically for the XTS Platinum Concept.

Signature elements essential to Cadillac’s Art and Science design language include vertical headlamp and taillamps, with integrated light pipes and richly detailed lighting components. The headlamps feature light-emitting diode technology for bright illumination that requires less energy, as well as Cadillac’s Adaptive Forward Lighting technology, which turns the headlamps with the direction of the front wheels for greater visibility in turns.

Cadillac XTS offers excellent rear seating

Purposeful and efficient performance

The XTS Platinum concept’s plug-in hybrid electric propulsion system (PHEV) builds on the experience Cadillac has gained with the Escalade Hybrid and Escalade Platinum Hybrid flagship models. The plug-in capability boosts the car’s electric-only driving capability, offering additional battery energy capacity and enabling it to recharge from a standard external electrical outlet. The key benefit of external plug-in recharging is that in many situations – such as overnight parking – the battery can fully recharge in roughly five hours while the car is not in use. The plug-in system operates at maximum efficiency when operating on power the battery has drawn from the electric grid. In some conditions, such as urban commutes, drivers can experience efficiency that doubles that of conventional hybrids.

At higher speeds or when conditions demand it, such as brisk acceleration, a combination of engine power and electric power or engine power only, propels the vehicle. The combination of the Direct Injection V-6 engine and the PHEV system featuring fully electric variable drive provides a spirited driving experience. The system provides an estimated 350 horsepower (260 kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400 Nm).

Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) enables the XTS Platinum Concept to deliver superior road-holding performance while maintaining luxury car composure in “regular” driving conditions. It uses shocks controlled by advanced magneto-rheological technology, rather than mechanical valves, to greatly accelerate response time and precision.

MRC uses electronic sensors at all four wheels to literally “read the road” every millisecond, making constant adjustments to damping to create virtually instantaneous and extremely precise control of body motions.

An advanced, specially calibrated all-wheel-drive system ensures optimal traction in wet and slippery conditions, and helps deliver maximum traction while cornering. Four-wheel disc brakes, with four-channel ABS, StabiliTrak stability control and full-function traction control complete the drivetrain details.

“The XTS Platinum Concept was designed to deliver an engaging driving experience without compromising the functional features, space and comfort customers seek in a luxury car,” said Nesbitt. “It is a new vision of luxury that uses advanced technology to deliver functionality efficiently and rewardingly.”

CADILLAC XTS PLATINUM CONCEPT SPECIFICATIONS

Vehicle type: luxury sedan concept
Wheelbase (in / mm): 111.7 / 2837
Length (in / mm): 203.5 / 5170
Width (in / mm): 74.8 / 1900
Height (in / mm): 59.1 / 1500
Track (in / mm): 62.6 / 1589 (front); 62.8 / 1594 (rear)
Powertrain: plug-in hybrid system with 3.6L Direct Injection gas engine (with variable valve timing); lithium ion battery
Suspension: four-wheel independent with Magnetic Ride Control.
Brakes: four-wheel disc with electric park brake system
Wheels: 20-in front / 20-in rear
Estimated power: 350 hp (260 kW) / 295 lb.-ft. (400 Nm)

Styling: Revisiting the Cadillac Sixteen Concept

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In 2003 Cadillac released a concept vehicle called the Sixteen, saying that:

The Cadillac Sixteen is classic automotive seduction with the panache of Cadillac’s ultramodern design.

Recalling the Twelve and Sixteen cylinder ultra-luxury cars that Cadillac released in the late 20s and early 30s, the Sixteen was a long, low, sixteen cylinder powerhouse.  In current and new Cadillac releases we are told that the new models have touches inspired by the Sixteen.  So let’s look again at the Cadillac Sixteen as a reminder of how we got here, and where we are going.  We lost the wonderful Sixteen Cylinder 1000 hp engine, but the Styling touches live on.

[Note: Click on most of these images for larger versions]

The Cadillac Sixteen (right), the 2003 North American International Auto Show Concept Car of the Year. The original Cadillac V-16 (left), the 1931 Dual Windshield Sport Phaeton, was the inspiration for the new Sixteen. (General Motors/Joe Polimeni)

If you examine the front of the Sixteen in this photo from the 2005 Shanghai autoshow, I think you will see similarities to the front corner of the Cadillac XTS concept that will be released tomorrow:

A Chinese model poses next to the Cadillac Sixteen concept vehicle at Auto Shanghai 2005 (General Motors/Natalie Behring)

Side View:

Preview of the XTS Concept:

Cadillac will premiere a new concept car at the 2010 NAIAS in Detroit

Interior:

Cadillac V SIXTEEN Concept Interior

Press Release:

CADILLAC SIXTEEN: A NEW WORLD STANDARD

DETROIT – The Cadillac Sixteen is classic automotive seduction with the panache of Cadillac’s ultramodern design.

In form, power and opulence, the 2003 Cadillac Sixteen embodies the timeless qualities of an exceptionally luxurious super-sedan with its sleek, gemstone appearance. The rear-wheel-drive Cadillac Sixteen brings forth the exclusivity and grandeur of the custom-built Fleetwood coach cars of the 1930s for today’s generation of exceedingly well-heeled customers of discerning taste.

“The Sixteen is a modern interpretation of everything that made Cadillac the standard of the world and can again,” said Robert A. Lutz, GM vice chairman for product development and chairman of GM North America. “It’s a reminder of a glorious past as well as a progressive statement.

“Cadillac’s tradition is rich, but in the next several years it will be introducing vehicles as solid, dynamic and beautifully designed as anything it’s ever done. And Sixteen is a harbinger of this new era.”

Sweet V-16
The name speaks to the car’s powerful 16-cylinder, 1000-horsepower engine and Cadillac’s heritage as a maker of fine luxury automobiles. Cadillac’s reputation grew exponentially during the ’30s in no small part because of the development of the automotive industry’s first V-16. The Cadillac Sixteen’s grand exterior proportions create an unparalleled presence; its splendid interior is meticulously handcrafted and urbane.

“The Cadillac Sixteen proportions were crafted with great attention to detail and homage to classic design,” said Brian Smith, the Cadillac Sixteen’s exterior designer. “The Cadillac Sixteen evokes an era when luxury cars were hand-built.”

General Motors’ designers drew extensively on the traditions of the coachbuilt era in crafting the Cadillac Sixteen, employing the distinctive talents of leading artisans for the upholstery, instrumentation, interior wood and metal elements, and aluminum body panels.

As an exterior statement, the Cadillac Sixteen’s proportional composition is bold. The aluminum hood is long, giving the Cadillac Sixteen tremendous dash-to-axle dimension; the wheel arches were designed to accommodate the beautiful 24-inch polished aluminum wheels. The four-door hardtop incorporates an all-glass roof and is without B-pillars. Crisp-edged lines of the midnight silver aluminum body panels accentuate the Cadillac Sixteen’s striking appearance.

Even the engine compartment, with its sculpted design, has drama. With dual panels hinged about a center spine that runs the length of the expansive hood, it makes an event out of opening the engine bay. The hood panels are power-operated.

“The engine bay really pays tribute to the V-16,” said Wayne Cherry, GM’s vice president of design. “It’s like a setting for a diamond, clean and simple. The under-hood was designed with the same care and attention as the interior.

“The interior is a pure expression of design,” said Cherry.

“Premium materials in luxury refinement are fine woods, precision-cut metals and crystal. They’ve all been combined and balanced in harmony in the Cadillac Sixteen.”

Warm luxury, contemporary style
The interior theme is evocative of the posh accommodations of 1930s-era Cadillacs, but with contemporary style. For instance, the dashboard features a center-mounted Bvlgari clock.

The hand-stitched, Tuscany leather upholstered seats nestle the occupants. The right rear seat features power adjustable slope to recline like a chaise lounge. Warm, hand-woven silk carpets the floor in a light cream color that matches the leather upholstery. The dash, door panels, and front and rear consoles are trimmed with walnut burl veneer inlays.

“The lighting is architectural, enhancing the mood and desirability of the Cadillac Sixteen’s interior space, complementing its shapes and colors,” said Eric Clough, interior designer. “Technique combines with technology for a sophisticated, pampered ambience.”

Meanwhile, the custom-designed crystal on the cluster dials offers subtle cues of the Cadillac Sixteen’s precise engineering, elegance and craftsmanship.

One thousand horses
While GM designers drew inspiration from the ultra-luxury sedan’s ancestry, the Cadillac Sixteen is thoroughly modern in its powerplant and technological content.

The Cadillac Sixteen’s 32-valve V-16 concept engine displaces 13.6 liters and is mated to a four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. The engine features fuel-saving Displacement on Demand technology, debuting in 2004 on some 2005 GM models, which shuts down half of the cylinders during most driving conditions and automatically and seamlessly reactivates them for more demanding conditions, such as brisk acceleration or load hauling cylinders when the driver needs the engine’s full power. The engine produces 1000 horsepower and 1000 lbs.-ft. of torque.

The extensive use of aluminum components and structure provide substantial weight advantages. The aluminum-steel chassis employs high-arm SLA suspension up front and independent semi-trailing arm suspension in the rear. Four-wheel steering enhances the Cadillac Sixteen’s maneuverability. The front and rear brakes are six-piston calipers with 16-inch rotors.

Electronic amenities include a rear-seat DVD information system, Bose sound system, and the fifth-generation OnStar in-vehicle safety and security communication system. The head and tail lamps feature LED technology.

All told, the Cadillac Sixteen is an ultra-luxury automobile of the first order.

“This car offers premier refinement and craftsmanship,” said Cherry. “Its ultra-contemporary technical detailing is evident throughout.

“The Cadillac Sixteen is befitting of the great Cadillac tradition as the standard of the world.”