Autoblog

Watch GM engineer's Cadillac CTS-V wagon blow its airbag during autocross run

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Videos, Cadillac, Luxury

So many things can go wrong before a wedding that a entire movie and reality television genres have been created because of it. An unintentionally exploding side-curtain airbag is probably low on the list, put that's the unlikely snafu that caught out driver Brad Doerr.

Doerr was, though, doing an unlikely thing just a couple hours in advance of his wedding: autocrossing his Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. Doerr was also an unlikely victim: he's a General Motors engineer, who, with his now wife, was crossing the country in the Cadillac with the Hot Rod Power Tour. The inadvertent deployment happened at the end of the run when Doerr said he was doing about ~~1.9 G~~ 0.92 G, but having not suffered an accident, he still has no idea why it happened. The deployment even triggered an OnStar emergency call. We're guessing it has something to do with the stability control

A local dealer loaned the now-married Doerrs a Chevrolet Impala to continue their trip. He'll probably think twice before autocrossing it. Scroll down to check out the video.

Continue reading Watch GM engineer's Cadillac CTS-V wagon blow its airbag during autocross run

Watch GM engineer's Cadillac CTS-V wagon blow its airbag during autocross run originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend pits Cadillac CTS-V vs Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG in wagon-off

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Videos, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Station wagons, as pointed out by ex-Autoblogger Jonny Lieberman, are boring. "It's the penalty you pay for falling in love and having children," he says.

Sure, just so long as your children like to go fast, at least when the chosen conveyance to move those booster seats from Point A to Point B is either the wagon version of the Cadillac CTS-V or Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, as tested by Motor Trend in the video you'll see after the break.

Without spoiling any of the salient details, we'll say that one car was a wee bit quicker, crossing the finish line a scant 79 feet ahead of its rival after a half-mile of acceleration to speeds surpassing 150 miles per hour, while the other was deemed the overall better car for enthusiast drivers.

Which was which? See the video below for all the answers you crave, along with some brilliant exhaust notes from these two rare wagon-shaped beasts.

Continue reading Motor Trend pits Cadillac CTS-V vs Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG in wagon-off

Motor Trend pits Cadillac CTS-V vs Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG in wagon-off originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Should Cadillac make the CTS-V go "Supersonic"?

Alex Nunez — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Wagon, Cadillac, Design/Style, Luxury

Cadillac CTS-V "Supersonic Blue" prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

Last month, following an IM conversation between myself and Autoblog's Test Fleet Manager, Steve Ewing, I tweeted this. I love the Supersonic Blue paint GM offers on the Chevrolet Corvette, you see, and I think it'd look killer on the Cadillac CTS-V. I hadn't given it much thought until yesterday, when I attended a Cadillac event at the Monticello Motor Club. Parked outside the clubhouse next to the pit road, was the car you see above, a new CTS-V sedan finished in Supersonic Blue with satin graphite wheels. Inside, the Recaro seats and door trim matched the exterior. It's wicked.

I immediately asked Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell if this was a new paint color for the 2012 model. It's not. Not yet, at least. Caddy prepped the car and brought it out to Monticello to gauge reaction to the color before a final decision is made. If it winds up happening, it'll likely be a new special edition, in the vein of this year's Black Diamond package. Personally, I think this is a no-brainer, and said as much to the Caddy reps on hand. Maybe you think differently, though, so here's your shot to weigh in.

Use the poll below to tell Cadillac if you think they should have the CTS-V go Supersonic. Before you vote, just imagine the Sport Wagon done up like this. Got that mental image? Good. Now go vote.

View Poll

Should Cadillac make the CTS-V go "Supersonic"? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #236

Dan Roth — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Podcasts, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Cadillac, Hyundai, Jeep, Lamborghini, Nissan

Hillclimb Records, Lambo SUV Or Sedan, Nissan Power88, Wrangler Demand

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #236 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, one day later than usual. Chris, Zach and Dan start with a chat about the hillclimb records that were smashed at Pikes Peak and Mt. Washington and then we move on to consider whether Lamborghini should create an SUV or sedan. Nissan and its exceptionally ambitious Power88 plan is our next topic before we discuss the intense worldwide demand for the Jeep Wrangler and lament the reported shelving of a pickup derivative. Your questions and comments finish us up, and it's a tidy hour and twenty-three minutes this week. Live podcasts will be back soon at our UStream channel, but we went with the legacy format this week because of schedules. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #236:

Pike's Peak and Mount Washington Hillclimb time records fall
Should Lamborghini go with an SUV or a sedan?
Nissan's Power88 plan - possible lunacy?
I nternational Jeep Wrangler demand high, pickup shelved?

In the Autoblog Garage
2011 Hyundai Elantra
2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman
Runtime: 01:23:50

Get the podcast
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #236 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac CTS-V Wagon has its top speed probed by The Smoking Tire

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Luxury

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon after a top-speed run - Click above to watch the video after the break

The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, an extremely capable family hauler and performance car. By anyone's standards, it's out-of-this-world quick, but when you consider it weighs nearly 4,400 pounds, its supercar-embarrassing acceleration and grip are that much more amazing.

So, it feels fast and will haul a load of groceries with the best of them, but how does it stack up in the pantheon of performance? The Smoking Tire decided to find out, taking a CTS-V Wagon and a Chevrolet Corvette to El Mirage. The big Caddy got put to the test, running to its top end (or at least very close to it) along a three-mile course, and going head-to-head with the 'Vette in a dead sprint. To see how the long roof luxury barge fared, check out the video after the jump.

Continue reading Cadillac CTS-V Wagon has its top speed probed by The Smoking Tire

Cadillac CTS-V Wagon has its top speed probed by The Smoking Tire originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges

Michael Harley — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Wagon, Videos, Cadillac, Porsche, Specialty

Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo - Click above to watch video after the jump

While the Nürburgring circuit seems to be today's venue of choice for sports car bragging rights, the drag strip remains king when it comes to acceleration contests. With that in mind, the folks over at Hennessey Performance have released a video of their latest hopped-up Cadillac V650 Wagon taking on Porsche's venerable 911 Turbo. As expected, the 650-horsepower "Family Station Wagon" nudges the lighter 480-horsepower "Germany's Finest" coupe for the win.

Wait a second.

The video clearly states the Porsche has a "Tiptronic" transmission. This means it is an older, pre-2010 model (note the lack of LED brake lights) that's missing the current lightning-fast dual-clutch PDK gearbox and standard limited-slip rear end. We don't know for sure, but it could even be an aged 2006 model. Thanks to launch control, today's standard 500-horsepower 997 Turbo does 0-60 in less than three seconds... easily. It is also disclosed that the V650 is riding on drag radials - a big advantage over street compounds on a well-used strip.

Nobody's downplaying the ferociousness of the blown wagon, and we welcome this type of challenge, but let's be sure to choose our words more carefully and keep the contestants in the same era. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges

Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2011: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Black Diamond Edition is drool-worthy darkness

Zach Bowman — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Performance, Wagon, Cadillac, GM, Luxury

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Black Diamond Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors is showing off its sexy new Cadillac Black Diamond Edition CTS-V Sport Wagon at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, complete with its exotic SpectraFlair paint and snazzy yellow brake calipers. As you may recall, GM partnered up with JDSU for the special hue, and each Black Diamond Edition Caddy gets a three-coat paint process. Along with the shiny stuff, Cadillac bolted on a set of Satin Graphite 19-inch wheels that help make those wild calipers pop in a big way, and the interior makes use of plenty of micro suede and special wood accents.

The combined effect is one very sinister long-roof.

Prices for the gussied-up CTS-V coupe start at $70,490, which is a $4,850 premium over the run-of-the-mill V. Worth it? We'll just say that this machine is one of the few at this year's Chicago Auto Show that has earned a presence on our 'most wanted' list.

Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Black Diamond Edition: Chicago 2011

Chicago 2011: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Black Diamond Edition is drool-worthy darkness originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

Rex Roy — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Cadillac, New Car Reviews

Single-handedly Changing America's Perception About Station Wagons

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you've spent any time on German roads, one thing you'll notice - right after the speed limit signs with a slash mark through them - is that station wagons are popular.

Nearly every manufacturer builds multiple models ranging from sub-compacts to near full-size behemoths. Mercedes-Benz E-Class and C-Class wagons are everywhere. Ditto for BMW 3 and 5 Series Tourings. Volkswagen, Fiat, Citroen, Seat, Skoda and Peugeot all sell lots of wagons. Perhaps it's a legacy of the Lamborghini Espada or the undeniable fact that the current M-B E63 AMG wagon is seriously cool, Europeans like wagons.

Americans, on the other hand, don't. Our country's collective notion of station wagons is stuck in Clark W. Griswold-land. Too bad. Most Americans have no idea what they're missing.

Continue reading...

Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon: Review

Continue reading Review: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

Review: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon racer rendered by reader

Jeff Glucker — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Etc., Cadillac, GM, Design/Style, Racing

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon race car gets rendered - Click above to view high-res image gallery

Like us, reader Tristan Hipps is a fan of the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. After perusing the recently-released images of the CTS-V Coupe race car, Hipps decided that he wanted to see what a wagon version might look like. I think we can all agree that it looks damn sexy...

Hipps stated that he "just tweaked the photos" of the CTS-V coupe to produce his vision of the Sport Wagon racer. If we tried that, we 'd probably end up with something resembling a Pontiac Aztek.

Click through the gallery below for two angles on Hipps' design, each set done with and without a rear spoiler.

Gallery: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon race car

[Source: Hipps Design]

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon racer rendered by reader originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon walkaround with Clay Dean

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 09 May 2010 11:32:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Videos, Cadillac, Luxury

Clay Dean runs through the finer points of the CTS-V Sport Wagon - Click above to watch video after the jump

We have no idea how it'll fare when it goes on sale, but we enjoy imagining the day when we start seeing the CTS-V Sport Wagon on the streets. Since that's still a ways off, for now we'll be happy getting our next fix from Cadillac Design Director Clay Dean, who takes us on a walk around the hottest wagon that isn't named "E63." Perhaps the most useful thing about it is that it gives us other features to talk about besides the engine - not that we'll ever really talk about them, but at least we know they're there. Follow the jump for the walk-around.

[Source: Cadillac]

Continue reading Video: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon walkaround with Clay Dean

Video: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon walkaround with Clay Dean originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 May 2010 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2010: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is fantasy writ large

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Performance, Wagon, Cadillac, GM, Luxury

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon - Click above for high-res image gallery

The world's automakers are introducing around 20 new vehicles this week at the 2010 New York Auto Show. Some of those cars are pretty interesting, but here's the juice: In 20 years, there is exactly one car being shown here today that people will still be whispering about. That car? The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. You're reading this correctly. Cadillac, former maker of landau-roofed Boca Rotan retirement sleds will soon be offering a station wagon stuffed with a 556-horsepower, supercharged and Corvette-derived 6.2-liter V8. If that's not loony enough for you, yes, you can order it with a six-speed manual. Wowza.

We first glimpsed the V Wagon last night at a fairly gala Cadillac cocktail reception, complete with GM design boss Ed Welburn and none other than Maximum Bob Lutz, the man who may have single handedly willed pistonhead fantasy into production. The CTS-V Sport Wagon took center stage flanked on either side by the plain old CTS-V and our Detroit Show favorite CTS-V Coupe. To put the spectacle in photographic terms, even though it was surrounded by some pretty desirable metal, the newest V managed to "pop."

We pressed the flesh and asked our full battery of penetrating, hard hitting questions ("Can I go to the launch?"), but the general theme from Cadillac seemed to be this: They known they're not going to sell many, and they just don't care. Sometimes doing what logic dictates you shouldn't do makes the most sense. Remember the Buick GNX? There was simply no rational reason for GM to allow that monster off a production line. Yet 23 years later, what Buick are we still talking about? To our minds, the CTS-V Sport Wagon has a similar, skull-cracking je ne sais quo about it.

But should a recently Chapter 11 company be in the business of building small volume, high-performance station wagons? Well.... yes, absolutely. Here are all the reasons why that we can think of. First, when was the last time an American luxury brand offered a full line of anything? For decades now, BMW has been happy to sell you a 3-Series coupe, sedan, wagon and convertible. Cadillac has had... the CTS four-door. Until now. Besides, having a low production halo version of your halo vehicle is the stuff that builds legends.

Or how's this, BMW sells a hopped up M3 coupe, convertible and sedan, but no wagon. Sure, BMW makes the M5 Touring (i.e. wagon), but they won't sell it to Americans. And Audi won't sell us either of its hot rod grocery haulers, the RS4 and RS6 Avants. We know Mercedes-Benz will be making an E63 AMG Wagon, but will they sell it here? Dunno.

But Cadillac will happily sell you a CTS-V Wagon for just a small premium over the Sedan. Figure about $65,000 or so. And if you haven't been reading between the lines, a bangin' five-door might help Cadillac strengthen its tenuous foothold in Europe, especially if this show car's leather/Alcantara interior and massively bolstered Recaro sport seats make it to production. Either way, Caddy just dropped a mighty big gauntlet.

Gallery: New York 2010: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

New York 2010: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is fantasy writ large originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon unleashed!

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:02:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Performance, Wagon, Cadillac

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here in America, drivers who prefer station wagons to crossovers and SUVs are in a distinctly fringe minority. In spite of that, Cadillac has heard the cries from the wilderness and delivered the car we've been clamoring for. The CTS-V Sport Wagon is now finally official and production starts later this year.

Ever since AMG built a handful of Hammer station wagons back in the late 1980s, the idea of a family hauler with ludicrous power and torque has held a strange and twisted appeal for us. The V-wagon takes all the traits we love about the 556-horsepower sedan and adds the expanded cargo body style.

Aside from the tailgate, everything else is carried over, including the magnetic ride damping system, Brembo brakes, 19-inch wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s, and the asymmetrical half-shaft rear end to avoid axle tramp. Add in 25.4 cubic feet behind the back seats and 58 cubic feet with them folded and we may well have the perfect performance car. Did we mention the 551 pound-feet of torque?

Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon unleashed!

Officially Official: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon unleashed! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2010: Cadillac commits to V- or Platinum editions for all models, CTS-V wagon all but certain

Chris Paukert — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Performance, Cadillac, Luxury

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

At this morning's XTS Platinum and CTS-V Coupe debut here at the Detroit Motor Show, newly appointed brand manager Bryan Nesbitt announced to the media that that all Cadillac models will receive V-Series and Platinum models. However, during the media scrum that followed the conference, we sought clarification from Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell, and he stated that future Cadillacs will receive a V-Series or a Platinum model. Thus, if you had visions of an Escalade-V dancing in your head, well... don't.

The prevailing logic behind which models will get a V or a P will depend on the model's market segment and inherent sportiness. As Caldwell explained it to us, a model like the CTS has a foot in both worlds (and could probably pull off both), but models like the SRX or Escalade lend themselves more to the heightened creature comforts of the Platinum experience. Some Autobloggers remain a bit foggy on why General Motors' luxury brand needs what is effectively a double-prestige trim level (shouldn't all Cadillacs be posh by definition?), but we do appreciate the added accouterments all the same.

And as to the possibility of a CTS-V Sport Wagon? Well, we got a wink-wink, nudge-nudge when we suggested to Cadillac that we'd like to see it, and judging by the smiles all 'round, it's all but certain that we'll be seeing its debut on the show circuit later this year.

Gallery: Detroit 2010: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Detroit 2010: Cadillac commits to V- or Platinum editions for all models, CTS-V wagon all but certain originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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