The Cadillac XLR luxury roadster’s days are numbered, as production of the low-volume retractable hardtop convertible coupe is set to end in Spring of 2009.

The XLR’s total sales were down by 29 percent in 2008, with a total of 1,250 compared to 1,750 sold annually in 2007. The numbers for the last two years paled in comparison to the car’s first three years, which saw the roadster average around 3,500 units annually.

While the XLR counts down to its impending demise, the all-new Cadillac CTS Coupe (and its high-performance CTS-V variant) is set to fill the void left by the XLR, as it takes its place as Cadillac’s main midsize luxury car. It was originally intended for release this year with a 2010 model year.

The only catch is that Cadillac is reluctant to release the vehicle while the industry is still facing hard times. This is why the company is delaying the CTS Coupe until 2010, probably pushing it back to the 2011 model year. The CTS Coupe has received mostly positive reviews, so there’s no way Cadillac will keep it in wraps far longer than next year.

Source: Car and Driver

The Cadillac CTS-V is Caddie’s most powerful car they’ve ever built. And if Europeans want to own one (which kind of weird since they basically have better options over there), they will be able to purchase one for £56,495. What makes the prospect even worse is that, one can be had for only $59,995 in the local US market.

The CTS-V boasts of 556 bhp that comes from a 6.2L supercharged V8 engine that can be mated to a stock manual or a choice automatic gearbox. At least going on a straight line wouldn’t be a problem as the CTS-V can get from naught to sixty in 3.9 seconds.

I wonder why Cadillac is still making the effort to ship this elsewhere. The Brits hate American cars for not being able to go around corners anyway. And with the CTS-V available as left-hand drive only, many Europeans would definitely be hesitant to even “invest” in one.

Source: Autocar

At least Cadillac has completed something good for use for once with their latest creation – President Barack Obama’s new limo. The limo is set to be used in his landmark inauguration parade.

The Presidential Limo has built this tank-on-wheels from ground up taking bits and pieces from their bin and slapping it on what is essentially a tank. A project headed by the US Secret Service, “The Beast” offers much protection for the country’s premiere VIP.

It’s got bulletproof glass, run-flat tires, and armor plating that can withstand a direct hit save perhaps a direct hit from a nuke. It even has independent oxygen supply in the event of a chemical weapons attack. Aside from the token luxuries, the car also features one of the most secure communications system.

Cadillac had been supplying the President of the United States with vehicles ever since 1919.

Source: Autocar

All in the efforts of staving off corporate death, General Motors is banging the drum again on all of their possible offerings. This time, they unveiled the new 2010 Cadillac SRX even before its supposed debut in the Detroit Motor Show.

The SRX gets a new treatment starting with a curvier exterior with Cadillac ditching the familiar right angles found in its previous incarnation. This is in reaction to the beating the SRX got in its market division with better looking crossover competitors.

Under the hood, the SRX gets a choice of a V6s – a 3L and a 2.8L turbo. Both engines would return 20-something miles to the gallon according to GM execs. The 3L engine dishes out 260 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque while the 2.8 turbo gets 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Both engines will be mated to six-speed gearboxes.

I wonder why GM still wants to pursue a good share in an oversaturated market. The local market is quite bleak despite the overall preference for smaller vehicles and elsewhere, people prefer European made CUVs.

Source: DetNews

More GM madness with this newsbit. This is one thing that the company can’t afford right now. Recalls cost a lot of money and they just won’t be recalling a couple hundred thousand, they’ll be dealing with nearly a million vehicles.

857,735 GM vehicles has been flagged for due to a faulty windshield washer fluid heater. The fault may cause other electrical features to get screwed up, even create nasty smells, or smoke. This should be classified to a problem that should have never existed if only automakers haven’t brought all of this electronic thingamajiggery into the equation. A toasted car surely isn’t worth the perk of getting heated wiper fluids.

View the list of affected vehicles after the cut courtesy of the National Highway Traffic after the cut.

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I’m no hotshot business executive but taking the point of view of a consumer, I think that they need to rethink their branding strategies to pull themselves out of the abyss. Having multiple names (six divisions and six subsidiaries) to market their products provides all sorts of complications.

Take this potential move for example. After creating so much buzz on the upcoming Chevy Volt – the plug-in hybrid set to be released 2010 – they’re considering marketing the same product under a different brand. They’ve already considered a Cadillac Volt, now they’re considering a Pontiac version. And probably, even a Buick one.

Oh lordy, what are they thinking? This while trying to limit vehicle overlaps? I hope they become more clear on this one and I hope that their planned “versions” are more of shared technology.

Now how about marketing the first one as Volt. Then take swap out the hybrid with a full gas-guzzling engine then market it as New Volt. After mass outrage, bring the old Volt back and call it Volt Classic. Sounds like a plan.

Source: Popular Mechanics

With a lot of people disposing of their cars to get newer and more fuel-efficient cars, it has now become a challenge for dealerships to dispose of trade-ins. With a flailing company such GM, it is important to make their pre-owned vehicles much more attractive for buyers on a budget.

Now, they’re offering used-vehicle warranties with a 12 month/12,000 mile bumper-to-bumper coverage starting next month (September 13). Now this is shaping up to be a great deal compared to the former 3-month/3,000 mile guarantee.

The warranty, as with other standard warranties, would only cover defective materials and workmanship and will not cover standard wear-and-tear components such as tires and brake pads. Body and metal components that are often subject to rusting are covered by 6-year/100,000 mile warranty.

The new policy will cover GMC, Chevrolet, Buick and Saturn brands. The more luxurious Cadillac, Hummer and Saab brands offer separate and longer warranties (six-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper comprehensive coverage).

I really wonder how that idiom “The Cadillac of…” came from. I understand the popularity of the Cadillac over the past century. But since I’m more into being the automotive engineering nut, I really can’t see why any brave Adonis type of guy would be referred to as the Cadillac of Men. Guy’s probably got fins.

Anyway, 2008 and Detroit and we get to see this new Cadillac – the Cadillac Provoq. Still in the lines of being a luxury vehicle but you can forget about muscle, power, and gas-guzzling elegance because this one is a one of GM’s attempts in the fuel cell technology.

This vehicle can be driven 280 miles on hydrogen and 20 miles on pure electricity. That’s a total of 300 miles on 13.2 pounds of hydrogen. We know that GM has really put in a lot of work in the fuel-cell race with the Volt for the Chevrolet badge also doing what the Provoq is to the Caddy.

Take that Toyota? It is with this move that directly places Lexus in GM’s crosshairs especially with the news that the Provoq might not be a concept for long and will make it to production.

Source: Cadillac

So the Porsche got into the hybrid SUV game with the Cayenne. Cadillac wouldn’t be too far behind with its Escalade Hybrid which will also be featured in the Los Sangeles Auto show. Still, it boggles the mind in what exactly the point is in this. SUVs for me are beer-guzzling lumberjacks. Making hybrids out of them is like giving them kegs of beer to swig through a baby bottle. Now that just gives you a mental image of grizzled men in diapers – nasty.

So what does the hybrid technology give the Escalade – an extra 6 mpg of fuel economy. Hey, that’s a lot given the swigging nature of this thing. Yeah, like lumberjacks will ever join the green brigade.

The Escalade hybrid’s powered by a 6.0 liter V8 engine to be combined with a two-mode-hybrid system that sports an electrically variable tranny and a 300-volt nickel-metal hydride Energy Storage System. It will have 2WD and 4WD options with 6,000 and 5,700 pounds of pull respectively.

Source: eGMCarTech

No doubt about it, the SEMA show will be ridden with SUVs galore. I’m not a big fan of hulking machines and their gas-guzzling nature. In any case, that shouldn’t stop me from featuring the ones to be featured in this year’s SEMA show.

Cadillac will be featuring this SUV concept that is the Cadillac Escalade Sport. So the Escalade is actually one in the forefront of the SUV market and this sport concept is sure to increase its appeal to people who find the Incredible Hulk charismatic. This version features a small-block V8 that is capable of producing 550 hp mated to a heavy-duty six-speed tranny.

I really don’t get the point in letting this brute sit on 24-inch rims and then lower the ride height. For me, that defeats the purpose of having an SUV. SUVs for city driving? That’s like sticking the Hulk to nanny duty.

Other enhancements strapped to this sport concept are new upper and lower grilles, Recaro sport bucket seats, unique trims, and modified consoles.