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June 16, 2008
2009 CADILLAC CTS -- DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
Cadillac is a brand of luxury vehicles, part of General Motors, produced and mostly sold in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the name became a synonym for "high quality", used in such phrases as "the Cadillac of watches," referring to a Rolex. Cadillac's current slogan is "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit," in reference to the inalienable rights mentioned in the United States Declaration of Independence. (Wikipedia).
Thanks to a remarkable blend of dramatic design, technology and craftsmanship, Cadillac CTS enters 2009 riding a wave of acclaim from critics and consumers.
According to Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager, "CTS is earning the acclaim of luxury buyers, the most discerning critics. It has earned a position as one of the premier luxury sports sedans, further strengthening Cadillac's historic resurgence into the top tier of global luxury brands."
The redesigned CTS has also been lauded for its safety. Features such as a robust body structure that helps absorb crash energy and six standard air bags - including a segment-first dual depth passenger frontal air bag, active headrests and head curtain side air bags - helped it earn a Top Safety Pick recognition by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
According to GM, CTS sales are rising sharply, with monthly sales increases consistently exceeding 50 percent. Changes to 2009 Cadillac CTS are evolutionary, comprising content and feature revisions that reflect market demands.
Photo: The Cadillac CTS Launch in China.
Vehicle Highlights
• Cadillac's award-winning luxury sedan
• Advanced 3.6L V-6 engine with gasoline direct injection technology
• Six-speed transmissions paired with all powertrains
• Rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models
• Six standard air bags including dual depth front passenger air bag
• Leading-edge electronics with Bluetooth connectivity
• Handcrafted cut-and-sewn interior trim
Design: At a glance, there is no mistaking the CTS for anything but a contemporary Cadillac. Signature exterior cues include vertically oriented "light pipes," horizontal spline lines and a dihedral-shaped hood. It also strikes a sporting stance, with a wide track, communicating a dramatic presence unlike most traditional luxury sedans and the car's performance capabilities
Interior elements: The CTS' interior emphasizes technical precision with elegant, hand-crafted details. Analog instrumentation is streamlined and defined by bright accents. An integrated center stack design, with either a satin metallic finish or genuine Sapele Pommele wood, blends into the lower instrument panel that sweeps forward and away of front-seat occupants. The hand-assembled center console leads seamlessly into the center stack, providing a sportier "cockpit" feel for the driver and passenger without compromising space.
Available heated and ventilated seats incorporate "thin-seat" technology for maximum occupant comfort and enhanced rear-seat leg, knee and foot room.
Clean, white ambient light emitting diode (LED) accent lighting is available, positioned in the door pulls, foot wells and recessed between the upper and lower instrument panels. The result is a dramatic effect similar to recessed lighting used in contemporary homes.
Powertrains: Direct injection technology helps the CTS offer more power while maintaining fuel economy and lowering emissions. The standard 3.6L VVT engine that produces 263 horsepower (196 kW) and 253 lb.-ft (343 Nm) of torque serves as the base engine in North America and is available in rear- and all-wheel-drive layouts.
All CTS engines are matched with fuel-saving six-speed transmissions, including an Aisin six-speed manual or an electronically controlled Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic. The Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic features driver shift control, which enables on-demand clutch-less manual shifts.
Craftsmanship and quietness: Every CTS features Cadillac's "cut-and-sew" interior process that combines advanced technology with the hand-rendered precision of expert craftsmen. Coverings for components such as the instrument panel, center console and door trim are cut, sewn and wrapped by hand. This enables details such as decorative French stitching and the near elimination of gaps and seams, for a superbly tailored appearance.
Quietness is another measure of CTS' craftsmanship. Detailed analysis of sound and vibration was lavished on the CTS during its development. This reduced overall cabin noise via improved body sealing and sound insulation. It also focused on tuning the quality of the remaining sound.
Driving dynamics: The CTS chassis enables a great balance of performance and luxury. The CTS features advanced chassis technology in the form of Cadillac's StabiliTrak electronic chassis control system.
Infotainment and vehicle technology: CTS incorporates the best attributes, advanced technologies and electronics, including:
• Integrated iPod/MP3 capability - Designed in consultation with the engineers behind the iPod and other computer and entertainment industry experts, the center console of the CTS is tailored for MP3 players, iPods or other digital music devices. They can be charged via a USB port, which also enables playlists to appear on the car's touch-screen, and steering wheel controls can be used to advance tracks.
• Hard drive audio system - A 40-gigabyte hard drive allows pausing and rewinding of live radio, as well as "ripping" tracks from CDs. The hard drive enables 60-minute "buffering" of the car's radio, meaning that passengers can "pause" a live broadcast in order to take a phone call, or even leave the car to run an errand, or simply rewind to listen again.
• Navigation system - The navigation system includes 3D imaging of more than 800 major landmarks in 39 U.S. cities, voice recognition and real-time traffic and weather data. This available system uses an eight-inch diagonal, high-resolution full VGA infotainment display head with full touch-screen operation. The screen can retract into the instrument panel when not in use.
• Adaptive forward lighting system - When equipped with the uplevel HID headlamps, the CTS also includes an advanced forward lighting system that automatically adjusts headlamp direction for improved nighttime driving visibility. The system is capable of turning the headlamps a maximum of 5 degrees inboard and 15 degrees outboard on each lamp.
• Available Bluetooth connectivity - CTS is equipped from the factory for Bluetooth wireless connectivity of cell phones and other electronic data devices. It enables hands-free phone connectivity, providing easier and safer calling and dialing.
Safety features: The 2009 CTS is designed to enhance Cadillac's reputation for providing safe occupant environments in luxury vehicles. Details include:
• Dual-stage driver front air bag
• Segment-first dual depth front passenger air bag
• Driver and front passenger side seat-mounted pelvic/thorax side air bags
• Roof-rail side curtain air bags, cover front and rear seating rows
• Front safety belt pretensioners
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Body structure with strategically placed high-strength steel
As with other Cadillac models, the 2009 CTS comes standard with OnStar with Turn-by-Turn Navigation, the first factory-installed, fully integrated GPS navigation system from OnStar. Turn-by-Turn allows consumers to talk to a live advisor, who in turn sends complete step-by-step directions to customers' vehicles through their OnStar system. These audio directions automatically play through the vehicle's stereo as needed, triggered by the OnStar system's GPS capabilities. This enables drivers to be led to their destination while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Source: GM
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:51 AM | Link to this Post
