2010 Cadillac SRX

2010 Cadillac SRX
2010 Cadillac SRX

General Motors' luxury division made big news by going small(er) at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Cadillac debuted its redesigned compact crossover SUV, the 2010 SRX.

The 2010 Cadillac SRX marks the first complete redesign of this SUV since its introduction for the 2004 model year. The first-generation SRX shared its basic platform with the division's CTS midsize sedan. It was available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and a choice of V6 or V8 power. It earned many favorable reviews for its performance, but was panned for very steep option prices as well as budget interior materials. GM did, however, rectify the latter complaint in 2007.

For 2010, SRX shrinks nearly 5 inches in wheelbase and overall length. As such, it will only seat five passengers, whereas the previous-generation model could seat up to seven. All-wheel drive will remain available, with front-wheel drive becoming the new standard. No longer will SRX offer a V8 engine; instead a pair of V6 powerplants mated to 6-speed automatic transmissions will be the norm. The base engine is a 260-horsepower 3.0-liter unit that uses high-pressure direct injection designed to increase power and fuel economy. It can also run on E85 ethanol-blended fuel. The uplevel engine is a 300-horsepower turbocharged 2.8-liter V6.

The 2010 SRX's interior design draws inspiration from the 2008 CTS sedan, with angular shapes and visible contrast stitching. Available features should include the usual luxury touches, including heated and cooled front seats, rearview camera, and a navigation system with a screen that retracts from the top of the dashboard.

Pricing was not announced, but the 2010 SRX might actually cost less than the model it replaces. Figure on a starting price in the low- to mid-$30,000 range, with loaded models topping out around $45,000 or so. Production begins in the second quarter of 2009, with retail deliveries available shortly thereafter.

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon
2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon
Is the station wagon poised to make a comeback in the automotive market? GM thinks so and wants its contender to be on the front lines. Enter the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, which premiered at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon basically doubles the cargo capacity of the current CTS sedan. A unique aspect of this hauler is how the design integrates a roof rack into the bodywork. Instead of traditional brackets and cross bars plunked onto the roof, the Sport Wagon's system blends the rack into the roofline, thus making the cross bars invisible when viewing the car at most angles.

CG Says...
Smart move on Cadillac's part to downsize the SRX. The new model should prove more fuel efficient and refined than its predecessor, while hopefully being less costly. The CTS wagon seems a bit risky at this juncture, but it could prove to be a sleeper hit. We're already going to see the electric propulsion technology that powers the Converj Concept in the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Hopefully a Cadillac that uses this system will come out sooner, rather than later. One with styling cues adopted from the Converj would be very nice.
As in the CTS sedan, the wagon will offer rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Initial-production models will feature the 304-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine from the sedan. Later in the model year, the wagon will offer, as an entry-level powerplant, a 3.0-liter V6 that GM says will produce about 255 horsepower. Buyers will have a choice of a manual or automatic transmission as well. A turbodiesel V6 engine will be available for European and Asian markets.

Available features include a power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, and a navigation system with 40-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital music files.

The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon goes into production this spring. No pricing was announced, but figure on the wagon commanding a slight price premium over the sedan, at least until the new 3.0-liter V6 engine becomes available.

Cadillac Converj Concept

Cadillac Converj Concept
Cadillac Converj Concept
This four-passenger concept car from GM's premium brand represents not only a design exercise, but also the latest iteration of GM's electric propulsion system. The drivetrain, called "Voltec" is similar in concept to the Chevrolet Volt, from where it derives its name.

Like Volt, Converj is designed to run up to 40 miles on battery power before a small gasoline engine kicks in to charge the batteries. Unlike a conventional gasoline car or gas/electric hybrid, the Voltec system uses only electricity to drive the wheels.

Saab: In other GM news, GM's Swedish brand debuted the 2009 Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show without any pomp and circumstance. The Griffin Edition is distinguished from other 9-5 models with specific exterior styling cues and interior trim details. Its powertrain remains a 260-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that pairs with a manual or automatic transmission.

The Griffin Edition is available as a sedan or SportCombi wagon. The only options are metallic paint, cooled front seats, and a navigation system. The car is hitting showrooms right now at a price of $42,775 for the sedan and $44,045 for the wagon.

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