By Liz
This photo goes back in time about two years, in order to address something several readers have brought up. We’ve talked previously about “mules,” the test vehicles we use a lot in the early development of a future vehicle.
Mules are existing vehicles that we adapt -- sometimes in extreme ways -- into early test vehicles. This is vital, as we need to do a lot of development driving before we are able to build actual prototypes.
In our case, we built a couple of mules for the CTS in order to develop our chassis control systems far in advance – these include StabiliTrak, traction control, ABS and other chassis systems. We used production versions of the larger STS sedan. As this photo shows, we took an STS and literally cut it open to shorten the body to approach the more compact dimensions of the CTS. One thing that worked in our favor was that we knew, even early on, that we would be increasing the track width of the CTS (by 2 inches,) so the chassis dimensions of the car were close to that of the STS, even though the dimensions of the body are considerably different.
This is a shot from our prototype build shop, where this STS was overhauled.
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Comments
Will the direct injection version support E85?
Posted by: Kumar Karna | June 12, 2007 5:22 PM
Any news on the CTS coupe? Is that still a go for production? Will the styling (especially front grill) be toned down from the "over the top CTS" and be more sporty? Will this one be fixed and offered in AWD with the 6 speed and console mounted ebrake?
Posted by: Jason Yates | June 12, 2007 11:12 PM
Can you clear me up on the upcoming CTS-v? I subscribe to Motor Trend and in the latest issue, they have a small article on the v. They say: "What's good for the Corvette Blue-Devil/SS/whatever is good for the CTS-v." That means that it'll likely have 600+ horse. I was reading Car&Driver online even after I read that looking for more information, and they claim that it'll only have 500-ish horse. Now, I guess "only" is the wrong word, as it should still go as fast as the old Jared could down a foot-long turkey combo at Subway. But 100hp is a significantly large range, especially when both are so sure in their own theory. Who is telling the truth?
Thanks much!
Posted by: Dylan | June 13, 2007 3:25 PM
hi liz. just having morning coffee at the caribou. read yesterday about how gm is assigning 500 engineers into the manufacturing end of the research business to work on the fuel cell.
when i hired into gm a way back when, fuel cell research was going on even then. finally, some light at the end of the tunnel. where does this news sit with 500-600 hp road machines the run on premium($$)fuel.
Posted by: don hetrick | June 16, 2007 10:15 AM
Are you thinking about a plug-in hybrid diesel version for new CTS? or maybe...a "Volt" version? That will give the CTS (and Cadillac) a hitech image and make it very competitive in the segment.
Posted by: Georges | June 20, 2007 10:38 AM