Cadillac Climbs in J.D. Power Initial Quality Rankings

Cadillac continues to advance in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality StudySM, moving up five spots to fourth overall for 2012.

The Escalade was the highest performer in the large premium crossover/SUV segment for the third year in a row, and the SRX now ranks third in the midsize premium crossover/SUV segment, improving seven positions from the 2011 study.

“At Cadillac, we live by the philosophy of never leaving well enough alone, which means we are constantly improving and elevating our product lineup and the overall customer experience,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing.  “Escalade is a great example of how our core product lines consistently compete at the highest levels on quality. This is precisely the goal of our all-new 2013 cars – the XTS luxury sedan and ATS sport sedan.”

The 2012 IQS is based on responses from more than 74,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2012 model year vehicles surveyed at 90 days of ownership. The study includes a 228-question survey designed to provide manufacturers with information they can use to quickly identify problems and drive improvement.

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. More information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com.

Courtesy of Cadillac Media

Cadillac ATS’s Lighter Weight is Competitive Advantage

Like an athlete training for a major competition, Cadillac is completing its preparations for the all-new 2013 ATS, including finalizing key performance specifications. The ATS with the 2.5L engine and automatic transmission has an official base curb weight of 3,315 lbs. (1503.7 kg) – making it the lightest vehicle in the U.S. segment that includes the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4.

The all-new compact luxury sport sedan translates that mass efficiency into nimble, quick performance. The 3,461-lb. (1573 kg) rear-wheel-drive ATS achieves 0-60 mph acceleration in 5.4 seconds – among the fastest in its segment compared to mainstream competitor variants – when equipped with a 3.6L V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission.

“Being quick and agile are highly valued qualities in the compact luxury sport sedan segment,” said David Masch, ATS chief engineer. “We designed and engineered ATS’s all-new vehicle architecture to deliver a spirited driving experience that builds on Cadillac’s sport heritage and success with its performance-tuned CTS-V.”

The lightweight construction combines with sleek aerodynamics and other efficient engineering techniques to enable excellent, GM-estimated fuel economy of 32 mpg highway and 22 mpg in city driving for the 2.5L and 2.0L turbo (EPA estimates are not yet available).

An aluminum hood and front suspension parts, magnesium engine mount brackets and natural-fiber door trim panels contribute to ATS’s light weight. The ATS development team also reduced weight in the rear suspension by using specially engineered straight steel links with mass-reducing holes instead of using aluminum.

ATS’s performance also benefited from efficient 50-50 mass distribution between the front and rear.  ATS’s segment-leading lower curb weight enabled the use of optimized high-strength aluminum 18-inch wheel forgings and front Brembo brakes that deliver a 60-0 stopping distance of approximately 129 feet.

ATS also uses an acoustically laminated windshield and side windows that are lighter than standard tempered glass and provide better wind and powertrain noise reduction for a quiet interior. Acoustically laminated glass also offers almost double the amount of ultraviolet ray protection.

“With the ATS, Cadillac set out to deliver a leading compact luxury sport sedan that would be fun to drive year-round, while providing all of the amenities and advanced technologies that luxury car buyers expect,” said Don Butler, U.S. vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “ATS provides a new entryway to Cadillac for luxury car buyers, and strives to become a compelling challenger in a segment dominated by Europeans. The only way to achieve that mission was to create an excellent driver’s car.”

ATS with an efficient 2.5L engine and next-generation six-speed transmission will be priced starting at $33,990, including destination charges (excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees).

The standard lightweight and powerful 2.0L turbocharged model is priced at $35,795, including destination (excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees) and will offer automatic and manual transmissions, and rear- or all-wheel drive.

Topping the engine range is a 3.6L V-6 with a preliminary rating of 321 horsepower (239 kW), costing $42,090 including destination (excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees) with an automatic transmission and standard content that includes the Cadillac User Experience (CUE,) a comprehensive, in-vehicle user experience; leather seating surfaces are included as well as eight-way power front seats plus two-way power lumbar, adaptive remote start and more. All-wheel drive also is available.

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. More information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com.

Courtesy of Cadillac Media

Buy or Lease?

Find out if it's better for you to buy or lease your next car from Williamson Cadillac. Just answer a few simple questions and we'll help you out. Click here to get started!

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"We bought a 3500 Sierra Denali Diesel with all the options as a tow vehicle for my 5th wheel. We had first visited an area Chevy dealer but my wife likes the looks of the GMC and the status of the Denali name. The sales person was very knowlegable and carefull to be sure we got exactly what we wanted. The facility is superior in every way. Everyone there went out of their way to make our purchace a pleasant experience. But, the biggest suprise was that Williamson's price was over $1000 less than what I almost paid for the Chevy Silverado."- Dan J.

 

 

Cadillac ATS Performance Technology Helps With Safety, Comfort

When it comes to performance technology, you do not need to be on the track these days. The all-new 2013 Cadillac ATS compact luxury sport sedan will take race-ready technology tested on the world’s premier race tracks and proven on Cadillac CTS V-Series vehicles and bring it to the industry’s most-popular luxury segment.

 “Performance, safety and style are the trademarks of all Brembo high-performance brake systems, whether on the road or on the track” stated Dan Sandberg, president and CEO of Brembo North America.

“With the Cadillac ATS, we see a perfect example of how Brembo’s advanced technology can be used to substantially improve the safety of what is already a great performance luxury sedan”.

“When we talk about the ATS having quick, nimble, fun-to-drive dynamics, we’re talking about qualities that contribute to better safety and efficiency as well,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing.

“And thanks to Cadillac’s advanced technologies, the ATS is a vehicle that’s as comfortable as it is quick. It’s a no-compromise luxury sport sedan.”

When equipped with Brembo brakes, ATS’s estimated stopping distance from 60-0 mph of 129 feet is among the best in the class. On race tracks, that equates to less time spent in a slow corner; on public roads, shorter stopping distances can reduce the damage caused in a collision or prevent one altogether.

The ATS’s Luxury, Performance, or Premium model packages will use front brakes from the industry’s most well-known supplier, with high-performance fixed calipers grabbing down on ventilated brake rotors measuring 12.6 inches in diameter.

Shorter braking distances are also aided by ATS’s low curb weight, made possible by advanced materials and engineering techniques. At less than 3,400 pounds, ATS is more than 100 pounds lighter than a Mercedes-Benz C250 or an Audi A4. Lower weight also equates to less work for the vehicle’s engine and fewer stops at the gas pump.

Magnetic Ride Control, a class-exclusive technology pioneered by Cadillac and adopted by automakers such as Ferrari brings on-demand suspension performance and comfort adjustments to any ATS equipped with the FE3 Sport Suspension package. With the push of a button, the car can transform from a sharp sports car to a comfortable luxury sedan.

This duality is made possible by electronically controlled shocks filled with a magneto-rheological fluid containing minute iron particles. Under the presence of a magnetic charge, the iron particles align to provide damping resistance almost instantly. Sensor input determines the amount of resistance required, varying the magnetic charge to optimize damping.

Magnetic Ride Control also uses sensors and processors to constantly study the road surface and make small adjustments in just one millisecond to fine-tune the suspension beyond the driver-selectable presets of “Tour,” “Sport” and “Snow/Ice,” ensuring an optimal ride-and-handling balance for any condition.

The 2013 Cadillac ATS goes on sale this summer at a base price of $33,990, including destination charges. It will be built at Cadillac’s Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Lansing, Mich.

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. More information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com.

Courtesy of Muncie Free Press

Cadillac XTS has arrived

The all new Cadillac XTS has arrived and it's bringing the future forward. Click here to explore this wonderful vehicle and discover a car that not only moves you, but accelerates you well into tomorrow.

2013 Cadillac ATS configurator powers up, pricing still TBD

If you're just dying to know whether you can order your 2013 Cadillac ATS with, say, the 3.6-liter V6 and a manual transmission, you're in luck. Cadillac has launched its ATS configurator – sans prices – so go ahead and get officially disappointed, as that manual gearbox is only available with the 2.0-liter turbo, and only in rear-drive.

Cadillac shows 10 exterior colors available on the ATS, with four shades of leather and two leatherette trims. We're partial to Opulent Blue Metallic paint and Morello Red leather, though admittedly the two don't really match, which is why Cadillac doesn't allow you to order them together.

Now that we've betrayed the fact that we've already wasted far too much time playing with a configurator that doesn't contain any pricing information whatsoever, we'll suggest you just go mess with it on your own.

We'll circle back once the Caddy team shows us the money.

 

Courtesy of Autoblog

Lease a 2012 Cadillac CTS Sedan for $269 per month!

Happy Monday fans! Stop by Williamson Automotive and lease a 2012 Cadillac STS Sedan for just $269 per month! Click here for more information. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Spy Photos: 2014 Cadillac CTS Shows Interior, Turbo Motor

The 2014 Cadillac CTS is right around the corner and we're finally getting to see the new design as bits of camo are peeled away.

And the big thing peeled away this time is the hood. Hiding under that hood is a new twin-turbo V6 that gets a handy engine cover with "Twin Turbo" molded in. These engine covers are more than decorative as they're an integral part of controlling the rather unpleasant sounds of direct-injection so it's expected that they need to test with them installed. They took the time to cover up the Wreath and Crest, but left the fun stuff.

Beyond that we've see a new interior for the CTS that includes paddle shifters, stitched dash, and a traditional fixed navigation/control screen (though it does appear to hide a little bin a-la the Malibu) that will offer Caddy's new CUE media interface.

This CTS prototype is also sporting some rather aggressive wheels/tires and sports fixed brake calipers up front. It seems unlikely we're looking at the 2014 CTS-V, instead, we're thinking that the 2014 CTS will simply be a more sporting car and we're okay with that.

 

Courtesy of Edmunds Inside Line

Lease at 2012 Cadillac SRX at Williamson Automotive

Stop in today and lease a brand new 2012 Cadillac SRX for only $289 per month! With it's abundant features, capable handling and classy cabin design; what's not to love? Call or stop in to schedule a test drive!

 

GM considers flagship sedan for Cadillac

Cadillac is considering a large, flagship sedan to take on the Mercedes-Benz S-class and BMW 7-series, a top General Motors official says.

Mark Reuss, GM's president for North America, told Automotive News last month that a new flagship is on the table as GM maps its go-global strategy for Cadillac.

A flagship would be a continuation of how GM has been positioning Cadillac's lineup to go head-to-head in each segment with BMW, Mercedes and Audi. This summer, for example, Cadillac is launching the ATS compact sedan, GM's answer to the BMW 3-series.

Next year, Cadillac is expected to roll out a redesigned CTS sedan that is longer than the current generation. That would make it an apples-to-apples choice when compared with another car in the mid-sized luxury segment, such as the Mercedes E-class.

"I'm a fan of going right at those segments and beating them in segment," Reuss says.

He says he would "love Cadillac to have a flagship." While GM is launching the XTS large sedan this month, it's priced far lower than the 7-series, S-class or Audi A8.

But a Cadillac flagship becomes a reality only if GM executives conclude that it is the best use of the automaker's finite resources, Reuss says.

"The way we're funding Cadillac has been from, sort of, everything else in GM," Reuss acknowledges. That leaves the brand with "very reduced scale in terms of individual architectures, engines, technology."

"We have to make very careful decisions," he says.

Some of those already have been made, including the redesigned CTS and Escalade SUV, both expected late next year. The ELR plug-in hybrid coupe also is due next year.

Courtesy of Mike Colias, Automotive News

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Verano, Unique Leasing Options Attracting New Customers

Buick Verano luxury sedan sales in May surpassed 3,000 for the first time, continuing an upward sales trend from its December 2011 launch. Half of Verano buyers are coming from non-General Motors’ brands.

The Verano was named NADAguides.com’s Featured Vehicle of the Month.

“We were impressed with the Verano’s thoughtful design, luxury appointments, quiet ride and many safety and technology features,” said Tony Snyder, director of Product Development for NADAguides.com. “The 2012 Buick Verano is a stand-out model in the compact luxury segment, already achieving significant sales increases in its first few months and holding its own with more established brands like Acura and Audi,” 

Total Buick sales in May – the brand’s highest volume month so far in 2012 -- were up 19.2 percent, while retail sales were up by 10.7 percent.

Buick is seeing new sales growth trends in new markets for the brand. In May, sales in St. Louis increased by 48 percent, while dealers in Houston increased sales by 40 percent.

“Buick customers can now drive our new and updated models using worry-free leasing with Experience Buick,” said Brian Sweeney, vice president of Buick Sales and Service. “And many are making their decisions in modern, updated dealership facilities around the country.”

Experience Buick allows drivers to lease a vehicle for two years with the added value of maintenance, SiriusXM, and OnStar included in the monthly payments. Since it was introduced in April, this all-inclusive option has nearly doubled Buick’s leasing rate, from 15 percent to 26 percent. Celebrity ads featuring basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, supermodel Marisa Miller and actor Ving Rhames have aided awareness of Experience Buick.

LaCrosse midsize luxury sedan retail sales increased 13.3 percent year over year in May. LaCrosse is also outselling its core competition, including the Lexus ES, Acura TL, and Lincoln MKS.

Sales of the LaCrosse include models with eAssist, a 36 highway mpg-rated gas-electric powertrain that’s offered for the same base price as the car’s traditional V-6 engine, represented 26 percent of LaCrosse retail sales last month.

According to research from the United States Department of Energy, the cost of the LaCrosse’s eAssist system is recouped within the first year of ownership.

The Buick Enclave luxury crossover SUV had its best retail sales month of the year, with an increase of 4.8 percent year-over-year. A redesigned 2013 model of the industry’s best-selling three-row luxury crossover arrives later this year.

 

Courtesy of Buick Media

Latest Comfort Features For Back Seat Passengers

Gone are the days of backseat passengers passing the time with games of I spy and bubble gum blowing contests. 

Now cars are equipped with the latest technologies and advanced features that make long-distanced treks a lot more luxurious. Some of the latest features include more leg room, which reduces the physical vibrations while taking a long tour in your favorite vehicles. Some models introduced in this year have bigger back seats which, give more space for passengers to have their own little party with their friends. According to auto experts, the majority of the mid-size sedans and larger luxury vehicles now carry these amenities.

Automakers such as Cadillac, BMW, Acura, and Lexus are now placing more importance to back seat passengers in their latest and upcoming cars. The push for next generation car design will be in providing the latest features for back seat passengers not only in the U.S. market, but also for various regions in the world.

"The latest Cadillac XTS sedans have 2 inches more rear seat legroom than the outgoing STS it replaces," executive in charge of the XTs, Jeanne Merchant said to reporters.  "Owners might drive important clients to lunch. They want to feel like they have the best seat in the house."

Courtesy of Auto World News

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Short & Sweet Leases At Williamson Automotive

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