The New York Auto Show could not come at a better time to serve as a reminder that consumer demand and desire are the keys to recovery in this industry.  With recent headlines focused more on bonuses and financial statements, the hot new cars and consumer demands have been pushed to the background.  Enter Cadillac’s presence at New York.  

Cadillac’s display, like the dealer showrooms this summer, is focused on fantastic new Cadillacs connecting with the changing priorities of luxury consumers.   Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

2010 CTS Sport Wagon

Yes, it is a wagon, and it’s a smoking hot wagon.  This car is a progressive take on the classic wagon body style, delivering fashion, function and fuel efficiency.  The Sport Wagon features a dramatic design offering a fresh alternative to larger vehicles, and could be the right car to spark a re-emergence of the wagon category.   It starts production this spring and will be available either a 3.6 or 3.0-liter direct-injection V6, capable of fuel economy numbers up to 28 mpg.

2010 SRX

Cadillac’s next-generation 5-passenger crossover is focused on the new priorities of luxury buyers – dynamic design, the efficient performance, advanced all-wheel-drive technology and personalized infotainment systems.  

SRX’s new design offers a more distinctive alternative in the crossover market, while the 3.0-liter  Direct Injection and 2.8-liter turbo-charged V6 engine choices deliver impressive performance and efficiency.  The new intelligent AWD system enables torque to move front-to-back and side-to-side along the rear axle for excellent wet weather traction and confidence-inspired driving.

Over the past two days, a handful of automotive journalists have tested pre-production models of the new SRX, and if their comments are any indication, the 2010 SRX will be a success.  But don’t just take our word for it, read some of their comments here.

2009 Platinum Escalade Hybrid

You would be hard pressed to find another luxury SUV on the planet with as much technology as the 2010 Platinum Escalade Hybrid.  The Escalade’s two-mode hybrid system allows it to return exceptional fuel economy (50-percent better than non-hybrid), while delivering the capabilities of a true luxury SUV. The limited-edition Escalade Platinum model includes other advanced technologies, such as award winning (link to light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps and Cadillac’s advanced Magnetic Ride Control system.

Cadillac Converj Concept

Voted the Best Concept Car of the 2009 North American International Auto Show, the Converj is the Cadillac of extended-range electric vehicles.  It demonstrates the future potential for the combination of a boldly designed, well-appointed, technologically advanced grand touring coupe with the guilt-free electric vehicle propulsion system that enables miles of gas- and emissions-free driving.

Cadillac Wifi
What could be better than wireless internet on the road?  Partnering it with a brilliant luxury sedan like the CTS sounds like a step in the right direction.  And that is what Cadillac has done with Cadillac Wifi, a new in-vehicle wireless internet service, giving customers full internet access in and around the car via their laptop or WiFi device.

Knowledgeable specialists will be providing live demonstrations of Cadillac Wifi by Autonet Mobile in the Cadillac display, April 10-19.  Be sure to stop by and check it out.