By Rob
The final element of the preview drive was a test session at the Nuerburgring. Great fun, although with quite a bit of seriousness to maximize safety on this most treacherous track. I’m sure the various journalists in the big car magazines will describe this far better.
Suffice it to say it was a unique opportunity and a very thorough introduction to the car . . . sure beats driving back and forth to the grocery store, or sitting in a traffic jam.
Seriously, we felt good about it, as we know that many folks are interested in the car. We certainly can’t take consumers along with us as we drive the car in high-performance settings like this. So this is the next best thing – enabling some journalists to participate with us. And the reports are coming in, as you can see here and here.
Syndicate this site
Comments
Edmund's is now showing pricing information for the various options packages. One thing that disturbs me (and I am hoping they a wrong on this one): Apparently the full luxury package (PDQ?) is not available with the Y43 package that seems to be the only way to get the adaptive Xenon headlights and the sports/performance options. Why would this be when the CTS is being touted as a Luxury Sports Sedan (key words here are luxury and sport taken together, not separately)?
Posted by: Jim Hufton | August 6, 2007 2:52 PM
Any idea when these will be at the dealers? Especially the AWD version.
Posted by: greg | August 6, 2007 3:18 PM
On another forum, someone commented that GM made some last minute changes to the CTS prior to full production. One of them being an addition of an electronic parking brake for manual transmissions, eliminating that dreadfull floor mounted parking brake. I would appreciate some comments on this if it is true. If it is, it put the CTS right to the very top of my shopping list. Thank you.
Posted by: Joe D., Cleveland OH | August 6, 2007 4:49 PM
Thanks for all the comments/questions.
As anyone who comes to this site knows, we're very open and appreciative to questions. But we're careful to note that we're experts in developing and testing Cadillacs. We're not necessarily experts on marketing or pricing. That expertise lives at Cadillac.com. See the link on the right side of the page.
Official info on things like option packaging and pricing will be on Cadillac.com in the coming days. Edmunds.com does a great job. But they may not necessarily have the precise info for a model like CTS that has not quite yet reached the market. The official info will be on Cadillac.com once that site turns over to the 08 model year (right now, of course, it is mostly devoted to the 07 model year.) That happens right when vehicles begin to appear at dealerships - in this case, that's in late-August. And AWD will be available right away.
Thanks for your patience. At the moment, Cadillac.com must keep the 07 pricing and options as there are folks still shopping those cars. The changeover happens later this month.
Posted by: Editor | August 7, 2007 11:58 AM
A question / suggestion: Will there be any launch events for the CTS? When the first-gen CTS came out I inquired with my local dealer about the availability of a manual transmission and his response was "yes they make them, but I've never seen one." I suspect the only opportunity to test drive a manual transmission CTS would be at a GM sponsored launch event. While there's a lot of excitement about the vehicle, it would take a huge leap of faith for someone to special order a car when they can't drive an equivalent to it.
Posted by: Andy | August 7, 2007 4:40 PM
Congratulations. Your hard work has paid big dividends with the automotive press. I hope that the dealerships care about the success of the CTS as much as you and the guys in Lansing obviously do. It would be a shame to see dealers marking up the cars and driving people away.
Posted by: Jeff | August 9, 2007 9:04 AM
The car is great and I do mean great. I am a owner of a CTS-V. I have to say that this is the most exciting car that I have owned. I have owned 2 Caddy's previous to this one (Fleetwood 1993 and a DTS 2001). Both were good. This CTS and CTS-V for 2008 are head turners. From what I understand the CTS will be boasting about 300BHP on a six cylinder,3.5 liter engine and direct injection. Which means no throttle lag. More getup and go. The CTS-V now this is a different story. Now I am not trying to talk anyone into buying these cars but you have to try it for yourself. The V version will have the L-7 engine in it. From what I have found out is that it will be boasting 500BHP also direct injection and maybe an automatic transmission. But the V version you really do not want an automatic. Like I said I have one, the fun of it with an automatic would not be there. To Jeff Hufton, the new ones have the luxury there and for you to have the (luxury/sport) I would say to you drive a CTS-V. You will never be the same. Everything that is on the CTS is on the CTS-V and some more. The price tag might push you away but it is well worth it. The car comes fully loaded and I do mean FULLY. It is a 2005 and looks like a 2007. The works is in there nav system, P/windows,seats heated,am-fm-xm radio, onstar and a six speed manual tranny. Info center,you name it its there. So luxury CTS, luxury/sport CTS-V. Later
Posted by: Lamonte | August 21, 2007 3:58 PM