Autoblog

Cadillac still planning for big things in China

Chris Paukert — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: China, Cadillac, GM, Earnings/Financials, Shanghai Motor Show, Luxury

Despite some hiccups, China remains the auto industry's great hope for new vehicle sales, with significant sales gains and a huge upside. Nowhere is that hope more fervent than at General Motors, which offers eight different marques in the Asian nation. China has been GM's single biggest market the last three years running, and is unlikely to give up that title anytime soon. Yet its premiere brand, Cadillac, has remained essentially stagnant, selling just 30,000 units in China last year. That's in a segment where sales of luxury vehicles has outpaced that of the larger Chinese market. So what gives?

According to Cadillac officials Autoblog spoke with in China this week at the Shanghai Motor Show, it's been a problem of product - they haven't had the right ones. Displacement taxation issues, import tariffs and currency fluctuations have all conspired to make the brand's products less appealing than they might otherwise have been. But GM is stepping on the gas with Cadillac, and executives are eyeballing 100,000 sales by 2016 - more than triple the Wreath and Crest's current volume. And the expectations for the brand only get more ambitious from there - they're shooting for 10 percent of the luxury market by 2020. Bob Socia, President of GM China, promises that there will be a new Caddy launched in the market each year from now through 2016 and most will be built in China. Characterizing the company's efforts to revive the brand's fortunes as a "relaunch" of sorts, Cadillac also figures to gain dealers as GM expands its sales outlet footprint westward.

New products like a made-in-China XTS sedan (with a market-specific 2.0-liter four-cylinder to avoid heavy displacement taxes) will help, and Socia hinted that the ATS sport sedan could be next in line for in-country production. The SRX crossover - currently the brand's best-selling model in China - will also likely get a long look for future local production when the next-generation model is introduced. In the meantime, Cadillac unveiled the Escalade ESV Hybrid (shown above) as its latest model addition to capitalize on the market's white-hot luxury SUV segment.

In addition to new products, GM China is also investing in developing market-specific technology at its facilities in Shanghai. Much of that will come in the form of apps for its infotainment systems like Cadillac's CUE, including connectivity for popular social media utilities like Weibo, which executives described as China's Twitter.

Cadillac still planning for big things in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is this the 2014-15 Cadillac Escalade?

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Cadillac, GM, Luxury

Following the introduction of the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, we're expecting General Motors won't wait too much longer to show off the next-generation fullsize SUVs that share this platform - including the Cadillac Escalade. It's still not clear if the next Escalade will debut for the 2014 or 2015 model years, but Carscoops has what it claims to an exclusive first look of the new Cadillac, revealing a portion of the headlight, front fascia and wheel.

Judging from this small picture, it looks like the Escalade could incorporate styling cues that we've seen on new Cadillac models like the ELR and the 2014 CTS, but that article says that other design details could include tall, vertical taillights similar to the CTS Wagon, staggered-width wheels and a narrower daylight opening for the side windows. The last time we saw the fourth-generation 'Slade back in October in spy shots, the heavy camouflage prevented us from getting an idea of the luxury SUV's appearance, but this image and description gives us something to look forward to. Head on over to Carscoops for more potential information as well as a full rendering from back in January.

Is this the 2014-15 Cadillac Escalade? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac Escalade EXT gets the bad Chinese knock-off treatment

Zach Bowman — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Truck, China, Cadillac, Design/Style

Chinese automakers are once again hard at work copying other automakers' designs. CarNewsChina.com recently spotted these renderings of the Shaanxi Victory S102, and it doesn't take a student of design to recognize the four-door pickup truck's front fascia as heavily influenced by the Cadillac Escalade EXT.

CarNewsChina.com reports Shaanxi Victory is a state-owned conglomerate with its hands in a range of manufacturing and mining industries. While the company had cranked out a few anonymous trucks and minivans in the past, the S102 appears to be the first to blatantly borrow design from another manufacturer.

So far, Shaanxi Victory has only served up these renderings, though the company's website makes the model seem real enough. The site lists plenty of specifications, including engine options. Buyers looking to sink their teeth into the EXT knock-off will be able to outfit their rig with one of two four-cylinder gasoline engines with either 91 or 100 horsepower. Both are paired to a five-speed manual transmission. We desperately want to drive one of these.

Cadillac Escalade EXT gets the bad Chinese knock-off treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infographic: Car thievery gets broken down

Zach Bowman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Lexus, Volkswagen

The Highway Loss Data Institute has rolled out its latest figures on vehicle theft, and the crew from CarBuzz have taken the time to compile a list of the 10 models most and least likely to be stolen based on the number of claims per 1,000 vehicles. It should come as no surprise to hear that the Cadillac Escalade once again takes the honor of the most stolen of them all, followed quickly by a bevy of full-size pickup trucks, including the Ford F-250 Crew 4x4 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew. In fact, the only two cars to break the top 10 most stolen vehicles are the Chrysler 300 at number six and the Chrysler 300 Hemi at number 10.

Meanwhile, the Audi A6 has managed to rank as the least-stolen vehicle, followed by the Mercury Mariner and the Chevrolet Equinox. Surprisingly enough, the Volkswagen CC, Lexus RX 350 and Mini Cooper Clubman all got a nod as grand theft auto untouchables. Hit the jump for a look at the full infographic.

Continue reading Infographic: Car thievery gets broken down

Infographic: Car thievery gets broken down originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac Escalade still thieves' favorite target

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Government/Legal, Cadillac

If you own a Cadillac Escalade, you better keep one eye on it at all times. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), the Escalade is still the apple of a car thief's eye. The large luxury SUV is six times more likely to be plucked away by thieves than average. If you happen to have the truck-like EXT Escalade, you're in even worse shape since 14 out of every 1,000 vehicles insured wind up with a theft claim.

On the flipside, if you're the proud owner of an Audi A6 then you can rest easy. Car thieves aren't hunting for your particular mid-size luxury sedan. Want to know what vehicles round out the top and bottom ten from the perspective of a car thief? Well, at least according to the HLDI. Click past the jump for the full press release.

Interestingly, General Motors decided to respond to the HLDI's findings, and you can find the press release from Cadillac after the break as well.

Continue reading Cadillac Escalade still thieves' favorite target

Cadillac Escalade still thieves' favorite target originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ben "The Stig" Collins names the five worst cars he's ever driven

Noah Joseph — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

The five worst cars Ben Collins has ever driven - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the course of his years donning the white suit and helmet for Top Gear, pro driver Ben Collins has had the chance to drive an enviably wide array of cars. Their track times all went up on the power lap board, but there are better ways of evaluating how a car handles under pressure - like asking the guy who drove them. That's what Australian car site Drive did, and got the former Stig to jot down some notes. They weren't in Morse Code, but while his list of the worst five cars he'd ever driven includes some obvious choices, a couple may surprise.

First up on Ben's hit list: the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. When we drove it, we found its dynamics were lightyears behind its looks, and His (deposed) Stiginess apparently agrees. At the end of Collins' list is another supercar - the TVR Sagaris - which he feels was horribly emblematic of the company that produced it, while pointing to the fact that Jeremy Clarkson loved it as evidence enough of its dubious distinction.

In between these two European supercars on Collins' list comes the Fiat Multipla, whose horrid styling was surpassed only by its dismal performance, and the Cadillac Escalade, which the Englishman found to be all show and no go - particularly off road. Finally, the previous-generation Dodge Charger drew the Stig's ire for its gross weight and lamentable slushbox. If for America's sake alone, we can only hope that, heavier still though it is, Collins might take a crack at the new model.

Gallery: Ben Collin's Five Worst Cars

Ben "The Stig" Collins names the five worst cars he's ever driven originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey beats 2011 Nissan GT-R again, this time with twin-turbo Escalade

Zach Bowman — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, SUV, Videos, Cadillac, Nissan, Luxury

Hennessey HPE1000 Cadillac Escalade vs. 2011 Nissan GT-R - Click above to watch video after the jump

The problem with being the standard-bearer for world-class performance is that you're saddled with the burden of defending your crown at every turn. Take the 2011 Nissan GT-R, for example. This vehicle has the proud distinction of offering one of the highest performance-per-dollar ratios of any car on the planet, and as such, it's the go-to challenger for any high-horsepower machine looking to make a name for itself.

Those would-be stars are typically low-slung tuner creations, but the team from Hennessey chose to line the big-bad Nissan up against something a little less traditional: its HPE1000 Cadillac Escalade. Whereas the 485-horsepower 2011 GT-R can dash to 60 mph in as little as 3.4 seconds, the big SUV packs two turbos, over 1,000 horsepower and 0-60 sprint of 3.3 seconds.

To be fair, the Godzilla in the video after the jump isn't the new-and-improved 2012 model (stop us if you've heard this one before...), and the Caddy gets a massive jump on the Nissan, but the fact that a 6,000-pound SUV can manage to keep up with anything from the GT-R bloodline is an impressive enough feat. Click past the jump to check it out for yourself, and remember to keep your fender-to-fender shenanigans off the street.

[Source: Hennessey via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey beats 2011 Nissan GT-R again, this time with twin-turbo Escalade

Video: Hennessey beats 2011 Nissan GT-R again, this time with twin-turbo Escalade originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next-Gen Cadillac Escalade spotted on the wall? *UPDATE

Zach Bowman — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, SUV, Cadillac, Design/Style, Luxury

General Motors was busy celebrating the 10th anniversary of the company's North Hollywood Advanced Design Center last night, even going so far as to unveil the Cadillac Urban Concept to mark the occasion. While the futuristic-looking concept is interesting enough in its own right, our curiosity has been piqued by what was on the wall behind the design study. Look close, and you'll see one big, hulking SUV the likes of which we've never seen before. Could this be our first look at the next-generation Cadillac Escalade? It's entirely possible. The big, body-on-frame beast hasn't received a significant update since 2007.

With its over-sized grille, fender arches and C-pillar, it's apparent that this this is little more than a design concept, though it could give us a peak into where Cadillac envisions its big-money SUV heading in the near future. Head over to the GM Inside News forum for another look. Thanks for the tip, Ed!

UPDATE: We're told that this is in no way the next Escalade. Instead, the vehicle you see above is just one of many designs that the Advanced Design Center showed off as part of its portfolio of recent work. That means that we won't be seeing this machine on the road any time soon.

[Source: GM Inside News]

Next-Gen Cadillac Escalade spotted on the wall? *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Why the Cadillac Escalade is a particularly easy target for thieves

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Safety, Videos, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Luxury

Stolen Cadillac Escalade - Click above to watch the video after the break

Sadly, it's simply not possible to build an automobile that's impossible to steal. But what we all hope for is that an automaker does all it can to make the unscrupulous thief's job as difficult as possible. According to a report from WXYZ Action News in Detroit, General Motors full-size SUVs aren't particularly hard to grab. In fact, the Cadillac Escalade is the insurance industry's most hated vehicle with $146 in theft loss payments per insured vehicle, per year. On average, insurance companies pay out around $11,934 per theft claim when it comes to the Escalade with 10.8 of the SUVs stolen per 1,000 vehicles.

Gone in 60 14 seconds, says the news station, citing a security flaw in the design of the vehicles' steering column (sounds familiar, no?). Specifically, it seems that the little locking metal pin that is supposed to keep the aforementioned Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon locked firmly in 'park' (which is supposed to be a safety feature, not necessarily a theft deterrent) is rather easy to defeat by giving the column-mounted shift stalk a hard yank down.

Also cited as a contributing factor is the lack of a steering wheel lock that inhibits directional movement of the vehicle when not running. It seems that GM decided to leave off this well-known feature for a period after the introduction of ignition keys with computer chips that make it difficult to start the machines without the properly coded chip.

Combine these flaws and you end up with a vehicle that isn't all that difficult to steal. Here's the process outlined in the video after the break: Smash the driver-side window (which apparently doesn't set off an alarm) and force the column-mounted shift lever into 'neutral.' Step two requires some help: Have a buddy with a mutually lax sense of right and wrong push you and your confiscated SUV to a deserted area and strip it of all its pricey bits and pieces. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy, assuming you don't have a bothersome conscience.

According to a spokesperson for Cadillac, The General is aware of these issues and has introduced laminated glass for the side windows along with a beefed-up locking pin for the shift lever. Also, these full-size SUVs were re-equipped with locking steering wheels to make them more difficult to push without the proper ignition key. In any case, we'd suggest you keep a close eye on your blinged-out sport 'ute... and get used to paying higher-than-average insurance premiums.

Click past the break to watch a video of the full report.

[Source: WXYZ Action News]

Continue reading Video: Why the Cadillac Escalade is a particularly easy target for thieves

Video: Why the Cadillac Escalade is a particularly easy target for thieves originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HDLI: Cadillac Escalade top target for thieves

Zach Bowman — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, SUV, Truck, Cadillac, Ford, Infiniti, Luxury

The Highway Data Loss Institute has churned out its official list of vehicles with the highest and lowest insurance claims for theft. The study combines the rate of insurance claims per vehicle as well as the cost of those claims, helping companies that supply coverage determine exactly how much to charge us poor saps. The Cadillac Escalade took top honors this year with $146 in theft loss payments per insured vehicle, per year. On average, insurance companies pay out around $11,934 per theft claim when it comes to the Escalade with 10.8 of the SUVs stolen per 1,000 vehicles. That's more than 10 times the theft rate of the vehicle with the lowest theft losses - the Volvo S80.

In fact, of the top 10 vehicles on the Highway Data Loss Institute's list, six were of General Motors origin. How do the thieves get around the bad-guy battling OnStar vehicle immobilization? Easy. They load the coveted SUVs onto a flat bed and drive away.

The 2008-2009 Ford F-250 crew cab four-wheel drive took the silver when it came to vehicles with the highest theft loss, followed by the 2008-2009 Infiniti G37 coupe. Hit the jump to see if your vehicle's on the list.

[Source: Highway Data Loss Institute]

Continue reading HDLI: Cadillac Escalade top target for thieves

HDLI: Cadillac Escalade top target for thieves originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Surprise: GM's next-generation of large SUVs reportedly due by 2013

Dan Roth — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

75th Anniversary Diamond Edition Chevrolet Suburban - Click above for high-res image gallery

Listen to enough of the bloviation, and you'll start to believe that full-size, traditional SUVs are the root of all evil. While the hue and cry has gone up far and wide branding these truck-based vehicles as four-wheeled carcinogens, there are enough legitimate reasons to purchase a Chevrolet Suburban or Cadillac Escalade that General Motors is going ahead with the next generation.

SUVs have traditionally been healthy profit-earners for General Motors. Though sales dropped by 25 percent in 2009, sales are picking up once again and exports remain strong, all making a good case for the revamping and keeping the truck chassis. Work had been idled on the GMT900 architecture's replacement while GM went through its bout with Chapter 11 and fuel prices spiked. Moving the Tahoe, Escalade, Yukon, and Suburban to a version of the unibody Lambda platform had also reportedly been considered. In the end, buyers opting for the big SUVs really want and need what they do; from three rows of seats to truck-strong towing and heavy-duty four-wheel-drive systems, so General Motors is apparently keeping the basic formula, confirming to Automotive News that all current versions of GMT900 have a future. The fact that GM SUVs are practically ubiquitous as congressional transporters probably doesn't hurt the case for revamping the full-size SUV line, either. After all, Capitol Hill has a massive stake in GM, and they might as well get some new armored Escalades for politicians publicly stumping for small, fuel-efficient cars, right?

Gallery: Chevrolet Suburban 75th Anniversary Diamond Edition

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

No Surprise: GM's next-generation of large SUVs reportedly due by 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Cadillac and Corvette to go back on sale in Europe

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, SUV, Wagon, Europe, Crossover, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Luxury

2009 Cadillac CTS-V - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been nearly a year since a large number of Europeans have been able to drive home in a brand new Cadillac or Corvette. Up until March of 2009, Dutch-based firm Kroymans Import Europe was employed by General Motors as a third-party to distribute Caddys and Corvettes in nearly half of the 25 European markets (not including the U.K. or Russia). After that company went bankrupt, GM was forced to pull its wares out of these important markets.

In order to rectify that nasty little situation, GM has reportedly been in talks with 30 different dealerships all over Europe with the goal of bringing the Cadillac and Corvette lines back to the market. All variants of the Corvette will be made available, while the Cadillac lineup will consist of the CTS (sedan, coupe and wagon), CTS-V, Escalade and SRX. No details as of yet on what the cars will cost in Europe or when they'll officially be available for purchase.

Gallery: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

[Source: Autohaus (translated) via The Truth About Cars]

Report: Cadillac and Corvette to go back on sale in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: General Motors no longer provides Tiger Woods with free cars

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Buick, Cadillac, Celebrities, Luxury

Tiger Woods GM-owned Cadillac Escalade, post crash - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a report from USA Today, Tiger Woods no longer gets free cars from General Motors. No worries, we're pretty sure Tiger can afford to pay for his own ride anyway.

The news, attributed to Buick spokesperson Dayna Hart, comes as a number of companies like Tag Heuer and Accenture have canceled advertising contracts with the star golfer. GM, though, indicates that the free car agreement was scheduled to end on December 31st and therefore isn't necessarily a result of Woods' November 27 accident outside his Florida home that led to his admission of marital infidelity.

Woods hasn't been a spokesperson for GM since the golfer's contract ended in 2008, but the automaker had reportedly agreed to let Woods keep his Buick and Cadillac vehicles for an additional year. As previously reported, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Woods was driving will be repaired and sold.

Gallery: Tiger Woods GM-owned Cadillac Escalade

[Source: USA Today via San Francisco Chronicle]

Report: General Motors no longer provides Tiger Woods with free cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiger Woods' Escalade owned by GM, will be fixed and eventually sold

Michael Harley — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:54:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Cadillac, Celebrities

Tiger Woods GM-owned Cadillac Escalade, post crash - Click above for high-res image gallery

The world's most infamous 2009 Cadillac Escalade, the one Tiger Woods drove into a hydrant and then a tree early in the morning of November 27, is heading to the body shop for repairs. Interestingly enough, the Escalade isn't owned by Tiger Woods - it's part of GM's promotional fleet. After the golfer's deal with Buick ended last year, Tiger made a deal with the automaker to keep a few cars for his personal use. His choices included a Buick Enclave and Cadillac Escalade... the black SUV that is now sporting a mangled front end and missing a couple rear windows.

As it's a promotional/marketing vehicle, the SUV goes back to GM for the automaker to decide its fate. Depending on the severity of the repairs, it may head back into the loaner fleet... or it may be replaced by a new vehicle. If it is replaced, the now-repaired Escalade will be pulled from rotation and sent to auction where it goes to the highest bidder. Of course, we can only imagine what the Cadillac would bring on eBay in its current shattered state.

Gallery: Tiger Woods GM-owned Cadillac Escalade

[Source: Drive On, Photos: Florida Highway Patrol]

Tiger Woods' Escalade owned by GM, will be fixed and eventually sold originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: GM's next-gen SUVs to be body-on-frame (otherwise they'd be crossovers)

Chris Shunk — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum - Click above for high-res image gallery

The GMT900 platform is by far the highest volume chassis General Motors has here in the States, as it underpins the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Avalanche and Suburban, the Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV, and the GMC Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL. We never had any doubt that GM would continue to build body-on-frame trucks in the future, but with demand for SUVs shrinking quickly, some thought the body-on-frame SUV would soon be a thing of the past. Maybe not.

Our friends over at Pickuptrucks.com are reporting that the next generation of the GMT platform will be produced by Magna International's Cosma in Canada and Mexico - and that new platform will underpin the next-generation of GM SUVs along with the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. Pickuptrucks quotes Magna spokesperson Scott Worden as confirming that the next generation of GM's large SUVs will come with the body-on-frame architecture. This sort of chassis tends to add weight versus a unibody platform, but it also adds capability for towing and payload at lower cost.

We're not really all the surprised that GM will continue to build BOF SUVs, especially when considering that the General sold a combined 200,000 copies of the Suburban, Yukon, Tahoe and Escalade last month alone. And last we checked, these are still relatively expensive vehicles that bring in quite a bit of desperately needed profit. And if customers are interested in a family hauler with better interior packaging and fuel economy, we're sure GM dealers will be happy to get them into a Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse or GMC Acadia.

Gallery: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

REPORT: GM's next-gen SUVs to be body-on-frame (otherwise they'd be crossovers) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking for $10k off on a Lexus or Caddy? High-priced hybrids reportedly getting hefty incentives

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, SUV, Cadillac, Lexus, Luxury

2009 Lexus LS 600h L Pebble Beach Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

Surprise! Lexus and its parent company, Toyota, are apparently finding that it's not as easy selling $106,000 hybrids as it is for $25,000. The Lexus LS 600h L is certainly an excellent piece of automotive engineering, delivering gobs of horsepower and torque with at least a modicum of efficiency thrown in for good measure.

Still, sales of the LS range are down over 50%, leading the the Japanese auto giant to place a whopping $10,000 cash incentive on its range-topping hybrid model. Moving down the Lexus lineup a notch will net you a $3,000 incentive on the GS 450h. What's more, Edmunds' Auto Observer reports that the company is throwing another $1,000 at any Lexus sales associate that manages to sell one of its pricey hybrids.

Not into expensive hybrid sedans? How 'bout we move to the opposite end of the fuel-saving market and into the driver's seat of a 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. Signing on the dotted line for General Motors' top-of-the-line 2Mode hybrid 'ute will cost you from about $73,000 to over $87,000... minus a five-digit discount, of course. Such a deal!

Gallery: 2009 Pebble Beach Edition LS 600h L

[Source: Auto Observer]

Looking for $10k off on a Lexus or Caddy? High-priced hybrids reportedly getting hefty incentives originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ay Dios Mio! 2011 Lincoln Mark LT spotted south of the border

Jonny Lieberman — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Lincoln, Luxury

The Lincoln Mark LT never really worked out according to plan. The thinking was that trucks and SUVs were so hot, all you had to do was rebadge 'em and then roll around in all the easy money. And while that worked wonders for Cadillac via the Las Vegas-a-riffic Escalade EXT, Lincolns with beds just never got any play. In fairness to the LT, the stage for failure was set by the Blackwood, a truck only intended to appeal to polo players (the bed was carpeted). The LT, on the other hand, was essentially a fully-dressed F-150 with Lincoln badges. Lincoln Mark LT production stopped in late 2008 and no one cared. Except, apparently, Mexicans.

Despite all that, last March brought us some spy shots of a 2011 Lincoln Mark LT running around the Detroit metro area. Huh? Well here's the thing: These trucks are headed down south -- way down south. Turns out that the Lincoln brand still has a certain cachet in Mexico, and our neighbors to the south see no problem in shelling out a little extra for the honor of the badge. Don't laugh, there are plenty Americans who routinely shell out around $50,000 for the same truck with a Ford badge (the Lincoln Mark LT is essentially the Ford F-150 Platinum).

Anyhow, here's a pre-production 2011 Lincoln Mark LT running wild somewhere in Mexico. We thought maybe we'd be able to tell from the license plate, but that's definitely a 2002-2007 Distrito Federal plate. Frankly, this truck could be anywhere. But seeing as how most of us don't know our Aguascalientes from our Hidalgo, what's it matter where? The larger point is that in a few years time if someone asks you to bring them the head of Alfredo Garcia Jr. and you want to do so in high style, has Lincoln got the lux-truck for you.

[Source: Auto Cosmos]

Ay Dios Mio! 2011 Lincoln Mark LT spotted south of the border originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade not being replaced

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

The full-size SUV's future is on shaky legs and now, reports have surfaced that General Motors has killed the next generation Tahoe and Yukon 'utes, just weeks after announcing it would shutter its SUV plant in Janesville, Wisconsin. Of course, if that pair is buried, the Suburban and the Cadillac Escalade that use the same platform must also come to an end, at least in their current form.

Past reports indicate that the ultra-lux ride from Caddy will move to the Lambda platform for its next generation. The Tahukon pair had been slated for a redesign in 2011, and since that's reportedly not going to happen, the duo's future is definitely in question. GM will probably keep churning out the current version until it's no longer profitable to do so.

These days, any story about the General would be incomplete without some mention of Chrysler, and this one's no different. America's number three automaker just announced just last week that it would be phasing out its full-sized 'utes as well. Therefore, any possible merger of the two companies would carry on without a new large SUV platform at all. How the times have changed.

[Source: The New York Times via Inside Line]

Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade not being replaced originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac prices Escalade Hybrid from $71,685

Michael Harley — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Green, Cadillac

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

If you are in the market for American excess and feeling a bit green at the same time, Cadillac has your next vehicle. It's the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, and it goes on sale this month with an MSRP of $71,685 (a mere $3,600 premium over a comparably-equipped Escalade, GM boasts). The "first-ever hybrid on a large luxury SUV" features GM's advanced Two-Mode Hybrid technology allowing it to run on just battery power during idling (do electric cars idle?) or low-speed driving conditions. Like the gas-only model, the Hybrid also incorporates Active Fuel Management meaning it can run on as few as four cylinders to save fuel. The 2009 Cadillac Escape Hybrid earns EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 city/21 highway (the non-hybrid Escalade is rated 12/19), so there is some gas to be saved here.

Gallery: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Cadillac prices Escalade Hybrid from $71,685

Cadillac prices Escalade Hybrid from $71,685 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California man tries surfing with Cadillac Escalade

Merritt Johnson — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Safety, Cadillac

Photo by Mike Erickson, San Clemente Marine Safety

Memorial Day has passed and beach season is upon us. With the long summer days and cool ocean breezes, it may be tempting to take your new SUV out for a spin on the sand. If you are dumping that much money into a vehicle, why not share a special moment with your ride? Perhaps a close up view of the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean is in order. That was exactly the idea shared recently by a man in San Clemente, California. He decided to drive his 2008 Cadillac Escalade out to the ocean's edge to watch dawn break. However, the man must not have been one of California's avid wave riders, as he displayed an extreme lack of tide awareness and little concern for sand consistency. The eager sun watcher apparently ventured too far off of dry shore. Water saturated sand is the recipe for quicksand, so it was no surprise that the massive SUV sunk into the ground, trapping its driver in the raising surf. Even with waves reaching up to the rear view mirrors, the Escalade pilot refused to abandon ship, at least until authorities noted it was highly possible for the vehicle to flip over.

In the end, the Escalade adventurer was cited for driving on the beach, as typically only service vehicles such as those of the police or lifeguards are permitted to roam freely on beaches. There are some places, like Daytona Beach, Florida, that have general automotive admission, however. In that case, sand conditions are closely monitored, but even then it is not uncommon for folks to get stuck. This summer, we suggest beach goers keep all four tires on the pavement. All that sand is hard to clean up anyway, plus saltwater is rather corrosive. Thanks for the tip Keith!

[Source: OC Register]

California man tries surfing with Cadillac Escalade originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 May 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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