Mark Reuss, General Motors North America President, has been quoted as saying:

“The car we codenamed ATS is being developed to be a driver’s car on an all-new Cadillac-specific RWD-AWD architecture”

The ATS is expected to be a rear-wheel Alpha platform vehicle and would feature a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 with 380 hp in the ATS-V.

The model is set for release next summer and is expected to compete head on with models like the Audi A4, BMW 3-series and Mercedes C-class.

Production of the model will get under way at the Lansing Grand River at the same plant that builds the award winning mid-size Cadillac CTS sedan, coupe and wagon. It has been reported that the plant has received a $190 million investment and created 600 additional jobs.

This car from Cadillac would have been first ‘luxury PHEV’ car in the US. It also would have been the second PHEV from GM, after the Chevy Volt. The project has however been axed as the company thinks that the crossover plug-in would be financially feasible.

There are also many who feel that the project could well be revived on another platform in the future. The SRX platform on which this PHEV was intended to be built would have marked an end in sales when the new car got ready for production. Let’s wait to know what’s on GM bosses’ minds next.

(Via Reuters)

Cadillac is said to be the fastest growing luxury brand in the United States and they intend to grab a strong portion in the competitive markets with addition of the small luxury car. This car is likely to compete with the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, and Mercedes C-Class. ATS will be listed below the company’s acclaimed model CTS.

As reported, the ATS may be offered as a sedan, coupe, convertible, and wagon and will be brought into the markets with the rear-wheel drive Alpha platform. This system is already on the move for the next-generation CTS and Chevrolet Camaro. It may also feature an optional all-wheel drive and the variants will be powered with the high-tech engines.

The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon which is slated for a release at the upcoming New York Auto Show has been detailed prior to its debut. Scheduled for sales in late 2010 the Sport wagon offers a pleasing combination of performance and practicality. Where Volvo and BMW are dropping wagons in the US, Cadillac is ready to arrive with a variant that can please the best of speed freaks and the larger families. The wagon offers 720L of space behind the rear seats and this space more than doubles when the seats are folded. The engine choice includes a top bracket supercharged 6.2L V8 beast that renders 556hp with 551lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a 6-speed manual/automatic transmission and together the combination helps the car to dash from 0 to 60mph in 4.5 seconds.

The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe has been officially revealed at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The CTS-V Coupe has more features compared to the standard CTS Coupe which includes center mounted exhaust pipes, 19-inch wheels that come with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires and a bulging hood.

Power is sent to the wheels by a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine that outputs a good 556hp and a 551 lb-ft of torque. The standard edition comes with a six-speed manual and if you want it there’s an option for an automatic transmission, too. All these help the car reach 0 to 60mph in just under 3.9 second.

The new Cadillac CTS-V Coupe will be priced around $67,000 US dollars and will be up for sale this summer.

At the bottom of the car, it hasn’t changed at all from the CTS sedan. The wheelbase is the same, though it has been slightly reduced in the coupe, and the engine is the same 3.6 liter V6 that powers the sedan version. Customers can pick between a rear- or all-wheel drive. And to top it all off, Cadillac also came out with the announcement of a CTS-V coupe, which boats a nearly double engine power and impressive technical characteristics.

Reports have confirmed that US Automaker General Motors (GM) will build a production version of the Cadillac Converj Concept. According to The Detroit News, the Converj was given a go ahead by GM’s board of directors last week. The model is atleast 2- 3 years away from reaching dealing showrooms and a production date is yet to be set. When the Converj was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz hinted that a production version would be similar to the concept given – the fact that it won accolades for its sleek styling and superior powertrain.

The Converj uses the same technology as the Chevrolet Volt, the Converj will possibly include an electric motor that produces 120 kW (161 hp) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque which is powered by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. The Converj will be recharged by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine once the car exceeds its 40 mile electric-only range – similar to the Volt. It can also be recharged via a 240V or 120V outlet.

There are also some unofficial reports that the Cadillac will make some small alterations, so that the Converj has a more performance-oriented setup as compared to the Volt. [via detnews.com]

Those wicked chaps at Hennessey Performance Engineering got their hands on a Cadillac CTS-Va and turned it into a real monster. Thanks to a V800 package that includes a twin-turbo system, external wastegates, blow-off valves, a high-performance fuel system with upgraded injectors and new engine management software, the 556 hp stock engine is now churning some 800hp and 780 lb-ft of torque. But for those that 800hp (anyone?) is too much, they’ve prepared more tuning packages (V600, V650, V700) that will cost less. A beast in disguise, Hennessey sure managed to get us dreaming of burning rubber from behind the wheel of their new 800hp CTS-V. How about you?

Cadillac has stepped out into the hybrid SUV market both in style and with efficiency in mind. And that’s because their new Escalade Platinum Hybrid offers not just a real cool look with its all black body, but brings about performance with a mileage of 24 mpg. That is the number that Cadillac wishes to highlight when it comes to the Escalade, which is driven by a 6.0-litre V8 engine along with General Motors’ two-mode hybrid system. As a part of the system will be a 300-volt nickel hydride battery that will power the Escalade on as the company tries hard to integrate a classy look with cleaner vehicles and efficient engines. With a price tag well in excess of $85,000, the Escalade will soon be available in the US market. [via Autocar]

Now that President Barack Obama was officially sworn into office as the 44th President of the United States, today in Washington, it’s time for us to take a look at Barack Obama’s new limo. A week ago, GM came out with the official details of the new Cadillac presidential limousine, and we’re really impressed. With a completely new design from its predecessor, it has a dual-textured grille from the Escalade, side and rear profiles from the DTS and STS, while the inside resembles the interior of a CTS. And though the design is impressive, we’d really love to know a bit about the high tech safety features it comes packed with. Cadillac only said that “the car was designed, developed and tested by specialists who adhered to an extensive set of specifications. It was subjected to an extreme testing regimen to ensure performance that achieves precise functional requirements.” [via SFGate]