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Almost half of US Cadillac dealers say no to ELR plug-in hybrid

If you've got $75,995 (or so) burning a hole in your pocket and a hankering for the new Cadillac ELR, you'd better call your local dealer before you burn up shoe leather and gasoline to head down there. According to a report on Edmunds, only about 56 percent of the brand's 940 dealers have signed up to carry the premium plug-in hybrid. As much as we'd like to see the more affluent among us driving on electricity, we can certainly understand the dealers' apparent lack of enthusiasm. The article cites costs of up to $15,000 for tools and training to sell the ELR. Show floor real estate is another consideration for dealers who aren't enthusiastic about sacrificing space for a for a vehicle with initial sales – just 46 units nationwide in the first two months, but that volume is expected to increase – that are as mediocre as our first drive impressions. Still, for those locations that co-habitate with Chevrolet dealers who already participate in the Volt program, the extra expenditure shouldn't be too onerous. The two vehicles share the same basic electro-mechanical drivetrain, so those dealerships should have most of the needed infrastructure already in place. The bulk of ELR sales, according to Cadillac's global marketing director Jim Vurpillat, are expected to be in along the coasts, in places like California, Miami and New York. Featured Gallery 2015 Cadillac ELR: First Drive View 25 Photos News Source: Edmunds Green Cadillac Electric cadillac elr

Expect the Cadillac XT3 small crossover in late 2018

Cadillac's sedan-heavy lineup can't complete in this crossover-crazy market, it seems. The Detroit News spoke to Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen and found out some more details about the brand's plan to alter its lineup to cater more to current consumer tastes. It's no surprise that these plans would include a small crossover, because de Nysschen has been talking about a vehicle smaller than the XT5 like this since at least 2015. The report also pins the Fairfax Assembly Plant, where GM builds the Buick LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Malibu, as the site for what could be called the XT3's production. That's not an immediately obvious choice, since the LaCrosse and Malibu are based on the latest evolution of the Epsilon platform, known as E2XX. And the XT5 is based on a crossover version of that same platform (known as C2XX), while XT3 is expected to be smaller than the XT5. So perhaps there's a different assembly line going into Fairfax, or the C2XX platform can be significantly shortened. We assume that the XT3 would be built on a smaller platform, perhaps the Gamma II that underpins the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore – which are built in either South Korea or Mexico, depending on which market they are to be exported to. The Encore is selling very well for Buick, with sales figures increasing through late last year. Another possibility is the D2XX platform that underpins the Chinese-built Buick Envision and the GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox, perhaps with assembly happening at the CAMI plant in Ontario. At this early stage, without confirmation of GM as to what platform the XT3 will use or where it will really be built, it's too early to say what the Fairfax rumor means. This isn't the first time we've heard about a small Cadillac crossover. Back in 2015, de Nysschen told us to expect it sometime in 2018. But later that year, speaking to Reuters, he posited that it'd be closer to 2019. The Detroit News says de Nysschen told them it'll launch in the second half of 2018, splitting the difference between what we'd heard previously. Remember, Cadillac's only two vehicles in the segment are the XT5 and Escalade. We know that the brand is almost certainly scrambling to fill the holes in that side of the lineup. We think a three-row crossover will slot between the two, probably called the XT7.

GM will expand Super Cruise to entire U.S. lineup after 2020

General Motors plans to bring its Super Cruise semi- autonomous highway driving technology to its entire U.S. lineup after it rolls it out to all Cadillac vehicles in 2020. Mark Reuss, GM's executive vice president for global product development, made the announcement at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America conference in Detroit. Automotive News reports he also announced plans to offer vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication in a high-volume Cadillac crossover by 2023 — technology that will also eventually spread across the luxury brand's portfolio. Super Cruise is GM's semi-autonomous, lane-centering driving system that uses lidar mapping, GPS, cameras and sensors. The system offers hands-free driving on the highway, with an infrared camera and lights that track the driver's head position to make sure the driver is paying attention, ready to take over when needed, and not nodding off. If it senses the driver is unresponsive, it can bring the vehicle to a stop on the shoulder and activate OnStar. Super Cruise is already an option on the 2018 CT6 and standard on the Platinum trim model. You can read our First Drive review of the technology here. Meanwhile, Cadillac launched vehicle-to-vehicle technology in the 2017 CTS sedan, allowing equipped Cadillacs to share information regarding speed, direction and location at distances of up to 980 feet to help avoid collisions. By going one step further with V2X, Cadillac can tip off drivers to hazardous road conditions, the status of traffic lights, work zones and threats of crashes. It's the first major announcement from the luxury brand since the departure of former CEO Johan de Nysschen and his replacement by Steve Carlisle in April. Related Video: Image Credit: Cadillac Cadillac GM Technology Emerging Technologies Autonomous Vehicles cadillac ct6 vehicle to vehicle communications Super Cruise