General Motors announced yesterday the changes and additions of the 2009 Cadillac Range. The 2009 Cadillac Range will include the CTS Sport Wagon and two special editions - the Escalade Platinum Edition and the Cadillac SRX Sports Edition. GM also announced that the 2009 Cadillac Escalade will also be offered with the Hybrid power option.
The 2009 Cadillac BLS and BLS Wagon will be offered with enhanced gasoline, diesel or ethanol fuel alternatives and the STS-V and XLR-V will come with the Northstar V8 supercharged engine.
Cadillac Press Release:
The Cadillac range for 2009 continues to grow, giving customers an ever-increasing choice and raising the profile of the Cadillac brand in Europe. Vehicles such as the BLS sedan and wagon, with their wider choice of powertrain options and the all-new CTS Wagon. This clearly demonstrates the commitment of the contemporary luxury brand to continued European growth.
BLS and BLS Wagon
The Cadillac BLS is at the forefront of the American luxury brand’s growing international presence. It is enhanced by the choice of both a luxury midsize sedan and the stylish, versatile BLS Wagon which was launched in 2007 as the first station wagon in Cadillac history.
The Cadillac BLS offers the widest-ever choice of powertrains. The BLS sedan and Wagon are both offered with a choice of three – all turbocharged – gasoline engines, two turbo-diesels and a low-emission bio-ethanol engine,
running on either E85 bio-ethanol or traditional gasoline.
A new more powerful, 205 kW (280hp), 2.8L V6 heads the range of turbocharged gasoline engines. Both it and BLS models powered by the 154 kW (210hp) four cylinder turbo now feature all wheel-drive as standard and complement the front wheel-drive, 129 kW (175hp) model.
The 110kW (150hp) and 132kW(180hp) common rail 1.9 liter turbo diesel engines are powerful
direct-injected units offering the dynamic driving performance that customers have come to expect from Cadillac. The top of the diesel line, the 132 kW engine is a two-stage turbo-diesel that delivers 400 Nm of maximum torque. It gives the BLS a top speed of 220 km/h and 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 8.7 seconds. Diesel units are fitted with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter for optimum emissions performance.
The BLS wagon and sedan are the first Cadillac models to be offered in Europe with the option of a low-emission, bio-ethanol FLEXPOWER engine, which runs on E85 bio-ethanol, unleaded gasoline or any combination of both fuels, developing 147 kW (200hp).
All engines share common features of high torque and low fuel consumption and are matched to six-speed manual and five- or six-speed automatic transmissions, depending on engine type. StabiliTrak electronic stability control is fitted as standard across all BLS models.
The Cadillac BLS sedan offers an attractive and elegant alternative choice in the premium mid-size market segment. The Cadillac BLS wagon measures 4,716 mm, compared with 4,680 mm for the BLS sedan and combines a compact, sporty shape with a high degree of versatility and functionality, offering with the rear seats folded down a total of 1,285 liters of flexible and versatile cargo space. As with all Cadillac automobiles, the level of standard equipment is high.
CTS and all-new CTS Sport Wagon
The 2009 Cadillac CTS Sport Sedan combines advanced technologies with entertaining luxury and dramatic design which is unmistakably Cadillac. Ample interior space and a range of fuel and emissions-efficient, six-cylinder engines add to the attraction of the CTS range, which is being further enhanced during 2009 by the arrival of new models including the all-new CTS Sport Wagon and the spectacular CTS-V luxury performance sedan.
The CTS range offers the choice of two trim levels, Elegance and Sport Luxury. In the CTS interior, advances in surface development, technology, materials and construction, underscore technical precision with elegant, hand-crafted details.
These include streamlined instrumentation, LED lighting and hand-cut and sewn accents with French stitching. Available features include as a 40-gigabyte internal hard drive, pop-up navigation screen and a hand-cut and sewn interior with Sapele wood accents.
Direct gasoline injection technology helps the CTS offer more power while maintaining fuel economy and lowering emissions. A 3.6L V6, direct injection power unit generating 229kW (311 hp) is matched with fuel-saving six-speed transmissions, including an Aisin six-speed manual or an electronically controlled Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic. Both the Sedan and CTS Sport Wagon offer AWD as an option.
An efficient 2.9L turbo-diesel engine is being developed for CTS models. It is a compact, dual overhead cam, four-valve V6 engine from GM’s family of diesel engines that delivers optimal fuel economy as well as reduced emissions and noise. The engine is rated at 184 kW (250 hp).
The CTS Sport Wagon, due in showrooms from summer 2009, rides on the same 2,880mm wheelbase as the CTS Sedan, but offers a generous cargo area of 720 liters behind the rear seats. Further design highlights include new 19-inch wheels and the option of a large panoramic rear sunroof.
Further adding to the profile of the CTS range, the limited-edition, high performance CTS-V is set apart by a distinctive front fascia, hood with power dome, satin finish grille, 19” painted and optional polished wheels and of course, the distinctive V-Series badging. Recaro sport seats and a DVD-navigation system are part of the standard equipment.
The most powerful road-going sedan ever built by Cadillac features a hand-built, supercharged 6.2L V8 developing 415 kW (564 hp). It gives the CTS-V a top speed of 308 km/h (manual transmission) and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.2 seconds.
The power unit is complemented by either a six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel shift controls or a six-speed manual transmission. Meanwhile the chassis features Brembo brakes, Magnetic Ride Control suspension with two modes and race car-proven Performance Traction Management, which manages torque for optimal traction.
SRX
The Cadillac SRX, remains the division’s first-ever luxury crossover vehicle. It sets a new trend in combining the sporty exterior and driving dynamics of a luxury station wagon, the off-road capabilities and interior space of a sport utility vehicle and expressing Cadillac's bold design vocabulary with its crisp, sharp-edged look.
Models range from the competitively priced rear-wheel-drive 3.6L V6 VVT, with a power unit developing 190 kW (258 hp) to the AWD 4.6-liter, 32-valve V8 Northstar equipped SRX, generating 239 kW (325 hp) at 6500 rpm and 427 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm, linked to a six-speed automatic transmission.
A new model further adds to the appeal of the SRX range for 2009. The Sports Edition is based on the 3.6L V6 VVT with All Wheel Drive and adds body colored front grille with stainless screen backing, body color front/side/rear sport fascias, chrome roof rails and 18” wheels to the already comprehensive list of standard equipment.
Three options are available for the SRX Sports Edition. A power folding third row seat aids convenience and versatility, while an UltraView sunroof and a rear seat entertainment system add further to the spacious interior, enabled by a 2.96 meter wheelbase, one of the longest in its class.
Escalade
The iconic Cadillac Escalade is rightly regarded an aspirational nameplate around the world. Performance of the 301 kW (409 hp), 6.2 liter Vortec aluminum V8 with VVT (variable valve timing) and six-speed automatic transmission is further enhanced for 2009. Later in 2009, a 6.0L V8 Hybrid, will feature GM’s latest Two-Mode Hybrid technology.
The world’s first hybrid system applied to a large luxury SUV, the Escalade Hybrid’s advanced Two-Mode Hybrid technology can operate the vehicle on battery-electric power alone during idling or low-speed driving situations. Escalade Hybrid also incorporates Active Fuel Management technology that enables the Vortec V-8 engine to operate on only four cylinders in certain driving conditions to save fuel. It achieves a 50-percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving.
The Escalade is instantly identifiable as Cadillac’s premium luxury SUV. Its attributes are further developed for 2009 with standard-fit refinements such as 22-inch, seven-spoke chromed aluminum wheels, power-tilt steering wheel and standard DVD navigation system with integrated reverse camera.
STS-V and XLR-V
Cadillac’s two range topping models, the STS luxury sedan and XLR luxury roadster, are boosted for 2009 by high-performance variants carrying the famed V-Series badges.
Both models feature unique V-Series exterior elements including the high-flow, polished stainless steel wire mesh front grille, fluidly sculpted hood and V-Series performance badging. Under the skin, hand-built, supercharged 4.4-liter Northstar V8 engines linked to 6-speed automatic transmissions with driver shift control provide spectacular, rear-drive performance.
Unique V-Series interior elements include hand-wrapped leather surfaces throughout, including the instrument panel. Alcantara suede fabric seat inserts add style and aid occupant location in hard cornering while new trim rings around the graphic displays in the instrument cluster, new Black Olive Ash Burl wood finishing and new Bermuda metal accents complete the interior upgrade. As with all V-Series models, the cars are ‘fully loaded’ as standard. The only option available on either model is the choice of metallic paint.
STS-V
At the heart of the STS-V, the intercooled and supercharged 4.4L DOHC Northstar V8 is tuned to produce 350 kW (476 hp) at 6400rpm, with 595 Nm of torque at 3800 rpm. It gives the luxury high performance sedan a top speed of 250 km/h and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.9 seconds.
The precision-tuned performance chassis is aided by a four-channel StabiliTrak chassis control system recalibrated for the STS-V’s increase in horsepower and torque. To optimize straight-line performance during acceleration from low speed, Vehicle Launch Control software is used, combining a specific combination of traction control, torque management and driveline disturbance mitigation.
XLR-V
The 2009 XLR-V is distinguised from earlier models by new front end styling with new fog lamps, two-piece grille and redesigned air intakes along the car’s flanks resulting in an appearance that is more powerful, perfectly matching the capabilities of this luxury, high-performance roadster. The intercooled and supercharged 4.4L DOHC Northstar V8 develops 331 kW (450 hp) at 6400rpm and 561 Nm of torque at 3900 rpm to enable a top speed of 250 km/h and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.7 seconds.
The Cadillac XLR-V again boasts the most advanced safety and comfort-enhancing technologies for its 2009 model year. These include the renowned Cadillac Magnetic Ride Control system, Keyless Access with push button start, DVD navigation and entertainment system, seats that can be heated or cooled, head-up display and a heated steering wheel.
