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You may be hard pressed to visually identify the changes over the current version by looking at the above photo, but the Cadillac CTS range has received an update for the 2012 model year that brings a redesigned grille, a revised V6 engine and a new Touring Package edition. The improvements will be carried over to all three CTS models, including the Sedan, the Coupe and the Sport Wagon, with first deliveries expected in late summer. Read more »

In an attempt to help reduce California's $26.6 billion deficit, the state's Citizens Compensation Commission has decided that members of the Senate and Assembly who drive state-sponsored vehicles will have their annual vehicle costs cut from $7,453 to $3,600. That boils down to $300 per month for expenses (gas, insurance, etc.), and oh, they'll have to drive their own cars as of December…

California lawmakers average an income of $131,000 per year before retirement benefits, and reducing vehicle costs is one minor cut that's being made for the betterment of the whole. Some people thought the measure was a bit too broad, not taking into account lawmakers' locations.

The concept of turning SUVs into pavement-pounding, drag-racing, supercar-shredding monster rods never ceases to amaze me, and by that I mean my jaw is on the floor and I'm completely boggled. I love me some automobiles (and vehicular transportation in general), but there's something about a nigh-three ton box on wheels and oodles of GO that seems...weird.

However, if monster rods - or high performance in general - are your cup of Starbucks soy latte, then Hennessey has got you covered (as if you didn't know that already, what with their cray-cray 1,000+ horsepower Vipers from way back when). Below, for your viewing pleasure, is video of a 2011 Cadillac Escalade drag racing a 2011 R35 GT-R and beating it.

Less than two years after the market introduction of the new Cadillac SRX in North America in the summer of 2009, and General Motors has gone ahead and improved its premium crossover for the 2012 model year with a more powerful six-cylinder engine and additional equipment features.

The highlight for the 2012 Cadillac SRX is of course the new 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 engine with 300HP and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) of torque, which replaces the current 3.0-liter direct-injected V6 engine with 265HP and 223 lb.-ft (302 Nm).

Not much has changed in Cadillac’s new 2011 DTS sedan. This vehicle offers modern comforts commonly associated with this price range. It has a fantastically plush ride, and an extremely quiet cabin. The car even carries a big V8 standard with a four-speed automatic transmission.

The 2011 Cadillac DTS comes with four trim levels. These are Basic, Luxury, Premium, and Platinum. The standard model comes from the factory with 17-inch wheels, front foglights, sepearte climate control for passenger and driver, Bluetooth, an eight-speaker stereo system, OnStar free for 12 months, remote engine start, and xenon headlights.

The Platinum model yields the driver a more powerful engine, Magnetic Ride Control, 18-inch wheels, and a leather accented dash, and a faux-suede headliner, blind spot warning systems, and lane-departure systems.

The transmission is tweaked for higher performance in the Platinum model. Front-wheel drive is the method in which the transmission transfers power in all models. The 2011 Cadillac DTS comes standard with electronic stability control, side-impact front airbags, and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats. The available front bench seat makes this car one of the only luxury sedans that seats six. The ride quality in the 2011 DTS is up to par with any luxury sedan ever driven.

The DTS, formerly the DeVille, is a front-wheel-drive alternative in Cadillac's luxury sedan lineup. It competes with the Lincoln MKS, Volvo S80 and Chrysler 300C. The DTS can seat five or six.
New for 2011

The 2011 DTS gets free scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, replacement of engine and cabin air filters, and multipoint vehicle inspection for four years or 50,000 miles through Cadillac's Cadillac Premium Care Maintenance program. Otherwise, there are no significant changes.


Exterior
The DTS' styling is linear and straightforward. It's 207.6 inches long (the roomier DTS-L is 215.6 inches long) making it larger and longer than the MKS, S80 and 300C. The model's styling is similar to Cadillac's STS sedan. Exterior features include:
• Eggcrate grille
• Central wreath-and-crest badging and fresh front-end sheet metal
• Standard xenon headlights
• Vanilla Latte and Tuscan Bronze ChromaFlair exterior colors
• 17-inch wheels standard
• Available 18-inch wheels and sunroof
Interior
The DTS can hold five or six occupants, with a choice of front bucket seats or a front bench. Interior features include:
• Burl wood trim available
• XM Satellite Radio, NavTraffic and OnStar available
• Standard dual-zone automatic climate control (three-zone system with a zone for rear passengers is optional)
• Optional heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and heated steering wheel
• Standard remote start system
• Optional power folding mirrors, rain-sensing wipers and heated windshield-washer fluid
Under the Hood
The DTS is available with a choice of Northstar 4.6-liter V-8 engines, both mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Mechanical features include:
• Base V-8 produces 275 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque
• Optional quicker-revving version makes 292 hp and 288 pounds-feet of torque
• Optional Magnetic Ride Control

Safety
Safety features include:
• Optional lane departure warning system uses a camera between the rearview mirror and windshield to warn drivers when they've strayed from their lane
• Optional blind spot warning system senses when objects are in the driver's blind spot
• Six standard airbags: side-impact, side curtain and dual front
• Standard all-disc antilock brakes
• Standard electronic stability system with brake assist
• Standard traction control

A gentle, floating ride and spacious interior make the 2011 Cadillac DTS remind buyers of classic models. The DTS is a huge, front-wheel drive sedan that doesn’t have much in common with most luxury large cars. In the luxury large car class the Audi A6, Lincoln MKS and Volvo S80 are the only other front-wheel drive options available. These competitors all have their attributes, but the MKS best matches the DTS in terms of interior space and price.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade is not for shrinking violets. The Cadillac Escalade is a perennial car reviewer favorite among luxury large SUVs for its powerful V8, flamboyant styling and luxurious passenger cabin. "There are luxury SUVs and then there's the 2011 Cadillac Escalade. There are full-size SUVs and then there's the Escalade,” says Edmunds. The 2011 Cadillac Escalade features seating for up to eight in a roomy and luxurious cabin. Pricewise, the Escalade falls in the middle of its class. While cramped third rows are typical for the class, if you need a comfortable third row that can handle adults, check out the Lincoln Navigator.

The Escalade can seat up to eight people and comes in four models: the Escalade, Escalade ESV (an extended wheelbase version), the Escalade EXT (which trades the third row seat and enclosed cargo area for a short truck bed) and the Escalade Hybrid. We review the Escalade EXT and the Escalade Hybrid separately.

There are luxury SUVs and then there's the "2011 Cadillac Escalade". There are full-size SUVs and then there's the Escalade. An adjustable suspension that's standard on all but the base Escalade optimizes ride and handling. Truly, the Escalade lives up to its Cadillac badge.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade is a full-size luxury SUV available in four trim levels: Base, Luxury, Premium and Platinum Edition. The base Escalade comes standard with 18-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, power-folding and driver-side auto-dimming exterior mirrors, a power liftgate, automatic xenon headlights, foglights and running boards. Other standard amenities include tri-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-only steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, and heated and ventilated 10-way power front seats with adjustable lumbar and driver memory functions. The Escalade Luxury adds chromed 22-inch cast-aluminum wheels, automatic headlight high-beams, a blind-spot warning system, a suspension with an active damping system (optional on the base model), a sunroof, power-folding and tumbling second-row seats and a heated steering wheel.

The Escalade Premium adds power-retractable running boards and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a single roof-mounted display (optional on Luxury). The Escalade Platinum Edition adds different chromed 22-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, upgraded leather upholstery, leather-trimmed dash and door tops with contrast stitching, heated and cooled cupholders, and a headrest-mounted dual-screen DVD entertainment system.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 good for 403 hp and 417 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the Escalade, but all-wheel drive is optional.

The Escalade features cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel economy. Note that we said "improved" and not "good," as the big Escalade manages just 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 13/18/15 with all-wheel drive.

Standard safety features on the Escalade include stability control, antilock disc brakes, traction control, front side-impact airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera and OnStar emergency telematics. In Edmunds brake testing, the 2011 Cadillac Escalade came to a stop from 60 mph in a disappointing 144 feet. In government crash testing, the Escalade received a perfect five stars for frontal crash protection.

Adding the available second-row bench raises total seating capacity to eight. Fold those second-row seats down and the cargo capacity grows to an impressive 108.9 cubic feet.

For years, Cadillac has led the luxury SUV class with its classy and sport Escalade. Over the last decade, the vehicle has been on the cutting edge in its class, setting trends for on-road performance and outpacing the competition with interior amenities.

A prototype version of Cadillac’s upcoming BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class rival, dubbed the ATS, has been caught on video during road testing. Though still heavily camouflaged, it appears that the Detroit firm’s compact, rear-wheel drive sports sedan will continue with Cadillac’s Art and Science design language.

The new ATS sedan will be positioned below the CTS, taking its place as the Cadillac’s entry-level model. The introduction of the ATS will allow the next iteration of the CTS to grow in dimensions to better compete with Germany’s executive saloons like the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6.

The engine lineup of the ATS is pretty much speculation as of right now, though a supposedly official document that leaked onto the internet in January made word of three engine choices including a 270HP 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, a 330HP 3.6-liter V6 and a 470HP 6.2-liter V8 for the range topping ATS-V.

"Refueled: The Return of the CTS-V" is the name of Cadillac’s new series of short films that were created to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the development of its all-new CTS-V Coupe racing car, with which the company marks it return to competition after a four year hiatus. The newly released footage documents the genesis of the CTS-V Coupe racecars as well as their connection to the production version of the sports coupe.

The Cadillac CTS-V will make its competition debut at the season-opening race of the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT series in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 25-27. The GT series’ schedule for 2011 includes eight races in the U.S. and Canada from March to October. Click through to the jump for the videos.

We’ve already told you about Top Gear’s plans to export the franchise to China, but today we stumbled upon what is claimed to be the first 15-minute long pilot episode of the TV series. China’s version of the famous car show keeps the familiar format with three male hosts and includes an oddball test where a Cadillac STS is compared to a donkey to see which is better suited to millstone work. If you follow the jump, you can watch the full video while we’ve also added a second clip that contains some English subtitles, though there’s no way of being sure about its accuracy.

American tuning firm Hennessey has crafted some pretty insane vehicles over the years. One of its most recent tunes is based on the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon, which leaves GM’s factory with a 556-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 lump, but once Hennessey’s engineers perform their magic under the hood, output is lifted to 650 horsepower.

To show off the tuned CTS-V Sport Wagon’s potential, the Texas-based company brought the Cadillac to the track and drag raced it first against a stock 480HP Porsche 911 Turbo [997] and then a standard 485HP 2011 Nissan GT-R. Watch what happened in the video after the jump.

In the latest round of safety recalls, General Motors has issued a warning on certain 2011MY Buick LaCrosse sedans and Cadillac SRX crossovers due to a software glitch that may disable the driver’s ability to adjust the settings on the hearing, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

The racing division of Cadillac travelled to the Sebring International Raceway for a second round of testing before the start of the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT season, which will mark the return of the brand with the crest to racing after a three year hiatus.

It was a time when associating Cadillac with all-wheel drive was considered to be a heresy. But mentalities have changed and more American customers are specifying their cars with the AWD option. GM’s luxury brand has registered a combined sales increase of 38% for its 4x4 SRX, CTS and Escalade models in the past two years. Specifically, one-third of the SRX crossovers, almost half of the CTS and three-quarters of the Escalade vehicles sold in the U.S. have been equipped with all-wheel drive.

Porsche isn't the only automaker launching limited edition versions of its cars built around a black-color theme these days as Cadillac has also jumped on the bandwagon by introducing its own special series for the CTS-V range. The Black Diamond Edition, available in the CTS-V Sedan, Coupe and Wagon models, will hit Cadillac showrooms in March.

Making its way down to Florida for RM Auction's annual Amelia Island event on March 2, is this 1955 Ford "Beatnink" Bubbletop custom concept inspired by futuristic design studies from the 1950s. Despite its name, the Beatnik is a fairly new creation built by Gary “Chopit” Fioto. It is based on the body of a 1955 Ford model but rides on a modifies chassis of a 1988 Lincoln Town Car and is powered by a Chevrolet 350-cubic inch small-block V8 engine.

The 2011 Cadillac SRX enters the market without any major change in the market.
The 2011 Cadillac SRX comes in a single body style of a compact luxury crossover SUV and is obtainable in about six trim levels: Base, Performance, Luxury, Turbo Performance, Turbo Premium and Premium.

The Performance SRX trim brings adaptive suspension dampers, 20-inch wheels, a voice-activated navigation system offering real-time traffic, adaptive xenon headlights, a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system having USB/iPod interface, foglamps and digital music storage.

The top-shelf Premium SRX trim gets ventilated front seats, tri-zone climate control, rear seat audio controls and heated rear seats. The 2011 Cadillac SRX has a 3.0-liter V6 engine as its standard engine, and gets 265 hp power and 223 pound-feet of torque from it--The 2011 Cadillac SRX gets front seat side airbags, antilock disc brakes, side curtain airbags, traction and stability control and OnStar as its standard safety equipments.
The Cadillac SRX carries over unchanged for 2011--For one, the SRX is fat. While legroom is generous, headroom is notably cramped for even average-height passengers because of the panoramic sunroof that's standard on all but the base SRX. In total, the 2011 Cadillac SRX is an appealing compact luxury crossover as long as you can live with its insufficient performance and compromised backseat. The 2011 "Cadillac SRX" is a compact luxury crossover SUV available in six trim levels: Base, Luxury, Performance, Premium, Turbo Performance and Turbo Premium.

The SRX Luxury adds front and rear parking sensors, power-folding and driver-side-dimming mirrors, automatic wipers, keyless ignition/entry, a power tailgate with adjustable maximum height, a panoramic sunroof, remote engine start, driver memory functions, power-adjustable pedals, heated front seats with eight-way power passenger adjustment, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a cargo management system, interior accent lighting, wood trim, Bluetooth and a rearview camera.

The top-shelf SRX Premium gains tri-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and rear seat audio controls--A rear-seat DVD entertainment system with dual seat-mounted screens is optional on all trims but the base SRX.
The 2011 Cadillac SRX comes standard with a 3.0-liter V6 that produces 265 hp and 223 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive optional on all but the base SRX. The 2011 Cadillac SRX comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and OnStar. In Edmunds brake testing, an SRX Luxury Collection with 18-inch wheels came to a stop from 60 mph in a longer-than-average 128 feet. An SRX Turbo with 20-inch wheels was essentially no different.

In government crash tests, the SRX scored a perfect five stars in front impact testing for driver protection and side protection. The SRX's interior is its single most appealing aspect--In other respects, the 2011 Cadillac SRX is a commendable luxury crossover.
The 2011 Cadillac SRX ranks 6 out of 8 Luxury Compact SUVs. Reviewers say the 2011 Cadillac SRX is a smooth-riding and stylish crossover that has plenty of amenities to keep buyers happy. Also, the SRX is big for a luxury small SUV. It has a lower starting price than the SRX and has better fuel economy. If you like the SRX’s room, go for the Volvo XC60.

The SRX comes in base, Luxury, Performance and Premium trims with a choice of two V6 engines. The SRX was all-new for 2010.

If there's one company that knows a thing or two about tuning GM's products, it's Lingenfelter. The Indiana-based tuning firm has just announced its latest package for the Cadillac CTS-V series, which covers the sedan, station wagon and coupe models. In stock form, the CTS-V's 6.2-liter supercharged V8 churns out 556HP and 551 lb.-ft of torque.

Lingenfelter's engine tune includes a variety of mods such as ported LSA cylinder heads and the addition of LPE's GT9 ZR1 supercharger camshaft, which help push the V8's output to more than 700-horses at the crankshaft. The long-time GM tuner also tried out a CTS-V Coupe with a manual transmission on the dyno, with the test yielding 623HP and 617 lf-ft at the rear wheels. Follow the jumps for a video and detailed info on the tuning package.

A supposedly official preliminary spec sheet of Cadillac's forthcoming new small luxury sedan surfaced on the internet today. We're not going to call it a leak just yet as we're not at all certain for its authenticity. That said, we'd advise you not to take anything you read on the paper after the jump for granted.

Cadillac is getting ready to return to the fabulous world of motorsports with its new CTS-V Coupe race car. Following the two-door model's world premiere at the Detroit Motor Show last week, the race-prepped CTS-V Coupe hit the track for the first time on Monday driven by Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim, for tests at Sebring International Raceway.

GM's luxury car division had pulled out of racing before the U.S. government bailed out the company in 2009. More specifically, the last time Cadillac competed was in 2007 in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT series. Now, the company will reenter the series, beginning with the season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 25-27. Hit the jump for a comprehensive gallery.

General Motors is expanding a previous recall concerning a faulty rear-axle cross pin to include another 26,751 SUVs and trucks from the 2011 model year. The first recall was issued in late December and concerned approximately 1,260 Cadillac Escalades, Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado 1500s, and GMC Sierra 1500s, all from the 2011MY. Read more »