By Rob
It happens to most everyone. You get asked, “What do you do for a living?” In our case, the answer is "driving Cadillacs."
Several times a year, we organize long development-drive trips on public roads, striving for a very comprehensive “real world” evaluation. We’ll take a week, sometimes more, and cover hundreds of miles, driving from dawn through evening each day.
I’m Rob K. When someone asks me what my job is, the title “lead development engineer” is not very revealing. Instead, I usually just say that I’m an engineer, and I test drive luxury and sports cars. That usually elicits a response such as, “Sounds like fun,” or, “Can I trade jobs with you?”
It can be fun. And, no, I probably wouldn’t trade jobs with you. It can be very interesting. It can also be tedious and nerve-wracking. It takes us all over the world, testing in some incredible settings. Along the way, we obtain a lot of memories, knowledge, photos and laughs. When we get back from a ride trip, or an important track test, the e-mails start flying, sharing the stories from the road. That’s exactly what we’re doing here.
Brand-new freeways just constructed in China... Germany’s famed Nurburgring... California’s Death Valley. We’ll share some interesting highlights from those trips, along with stuff we’re doing right now.
Now, I’m writing this from a lesser-known place: Kinross, Mich., some 350 miles north of my home in the Detroit area. With due respect to the very nice locals, there is one reason we come here: snow. They measure snow here in feet, not inches. Well, actually there is something in addition to the snow: the deactivated Air Force base nearby, providing a giant piece of snow-and-ice covered pavement. I’ll show you more about that soon. Right now, they’re digging out from the latest storm — a foot-and-a-half deep.
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Comments
I think it's great what you're doing with this blog. At one time I dreamed of being an automotive engineer (though like you, I wouldn't trade jobs) - this will help me to live out those fantasies of my youth.
Thanks for all of the interesting info - and feel free to leak a few tidbits on the CTS-V...
Posted by: David Eagle | February 9, 2007 1:09 PM
I'm really interested in the CTS coupe. Any chance that some pics will be posted soon? Hopefully the styling will be more subdued as compared to the oversized garish grille of the '08 CTS. The angle of CTS sedan photo at the top of this blog makes the car look way overdone in front. Softer styling without the juts under the headlights and hard edges of the sedan front end would go a long way. A smaller sleeker grille (c'mon tone it down guys) without the bulging bloatiness of the CTS front clip would also be appreciated.
Keep the wood trim with the 6-speed AWD sport edition, a useable fold down split rear seat, tilt and telescoping fat steering wheel, and make the pricing and features comparible to the G35 coupe and I'll be first in line (in the second model year of course) to buy one.
Thanks for listening.
Posted by: Jon Turner | February 9, 2007 6:04 PM
I remember reading the Car & Driver article about this facility while testing the SRX's stability control system vs its competitors. Pretty cool.
Posted by: J. Crew | February 10, 2007 8:34 PM
Good to here from the people on the team, that gets the job done. I too dreamed in my youth of design and engineering; though my aptitude kind of maxed out with my career as a sheet metal fabricator. This is Tonic, Inspireing, Fun. Would be cool to here from Team Corvette people; if they arent to buissy too.
Jason Zebersky
Posted by: Jason Zebersky | February 10, 2007 8:40 PM
What point are you in the testing? Fine tuning before production? How late can you go with testing to affect when production first begins?
Posted by: Paul Eccles | February 12, 2007 12:15 PM
I agree with Jon's comments. Why the subtle horseshoe look on the new CTS (current Audi-esque grossness)?
Does the styling direction get any outside comments before getting locked in? Where do I sign up to complain before it's too late?
Posted by: Robert Kingman | February 12, 2007 3:01 PM
Good Idea - Cadillac information from the Engineers. Previously, I bought a 99 Catera Sport for the rear wheel handling capabilities and wasn't disappointed. My next car was a 92x Aero which won out over the CTS for its driving enjoyment. I am looking forward to the new CTS. I hope that it has moved forward in being a drivers car.
Posted by: Mike Woodall | February 12, 2007 9:05 PM
This Cadillac driver's blog is great! GM seems to really be taking the pure art and enjoyment of driving seriously. I don't think Cadillac has ever had as much attention to performance done by their engineers and designers as it has now. I Can't wait to get on the '08 CTS order list. Make mine silver/black leather. Aluminum interior trim - save the wood for trees! The 300 horse DI 3.6 and a 6 speed manual transmission. Anyone on the driver's log have a picture of someone driving the manual 300 pony CTS? I'd love to see it. Thanks.
Posted by: Joe | February 14, 2007 10:26 PM
great blog. I guess I have to differ with others here and say that I like the nose of the '08. I just hope there's time to recommend a better grade of carpeting and grab handles at the driver and passenger side of the upper interior door frame. That's sorely missing on my '04. And a telescoping steering column would be welcome, indeed!
Posted by: Brad | February 17, 2007 3:27 AM
I have a great respect for Cadillac. I look forward to the Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman and the Cadillac Phaethon to go head to head with Rolls Royce Phantom and Bentley Continental convert.My hope is that you will return to using names soon because the initials are disrespectful to the brand (Seville STS is better, let the consumer shorten the name) please return the 2 second delay to the cornering lamps and a Cadillac is not a Cadillac without Trumpet Horns.Please recreate the global desire to be in the presence of Cadillac. Respectfully, R Palmer
Posted by: RPalmer | February 28, 2007 6:59 AM