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Why GM will import the Cadillac CT6 PHEV from China

There's a clear-cut reason that General Motors is going to build its upcoming plug-in hybrid CT6 sedan in China. Sure, the car will be sold in China and the US, but the real reason for the "Made In China" stamp is environmental. If an automaker wants to build a new model in China, adding a green powertrain is an easy way to do that. The CT6 will have both a PHEV option as well as standard gas engine versions. David Leone, Cadillac's executive chief engineer, told AutoblogGreen recently that, "[China is] far more receptive to approving localized production of vehicle programs that have new energy vehicle powertrain applications." To put it succinctly, since the CT6 has a PHEV option, it is easier for GM to build all CT6 models in China. Some of them will then be imported to the US. "Most new global Cadillacs will also be produced in China as well. It's our second-largest market in the world." "To bring any new car into China, to produce it, you need government approval," Leone said. "The government isn't interested in bringing many new cars to market that don't have new energy credits. [The CT6] also provides new energy credits that enables it to be an attractive, well-received product in China." Leone said that there are two main markets for the various CT6 models: China and the US. The car will arrive in the 2017 model year, so some time after the end of June 2016. There are other practical reasons to build the PHEV in China, like the cells in the battery pack. Those are provided by LG Chem, which makes some cells in Michigan but more in South Korea. And GM already builds cars in China through its joint venture with SAIC, Shanghai General Motors, or SGM. "In February 2013 we started making the XTS, in summer of 2014 we started making the ATS-L," Leone said. "We will be producing [the CT6] within a number of months. Most new global Cadillacs will also be produced in China as well. It's our second-largest market in the world." The Chinese and US versions of the CT6 will be identical, Leone said. While some Cadillacs sold in China are slightly different than the US versions – the Chinese ATS is 77 millimeters longer, for example – the CTS6 PHEV will be exactly the same in both places, other than slight tweaks to the trim levels. Still, "more of our cars going forward will be the exact same car," he said. That doesn't mean that sales will be the same everywhere.

2019 Cadillac ATS-V, CTS-V get cool color, weird name

A lot of special-edition cars are really not all that special. They consist of some special paint combo, and maybe a couple of optional features made standard. The Cadillac ATS-V and CTS-V Pedestal Editions are actually pretty much that. But they make up for the mild content list with a really nifty color, great exclusivity and also a weird name. They also help celebrate the ATS-V and CTS-V before they disappear from the line. First let's take a look at the color. It's a shade called Bronze Sand Metallic. It's an earthy, dark brown with a yellow-green tinge to it. We suspect it probably looks more impressive in sunlight, and it's unlike most browns we've ever seen. It's sure to garner attention in any parking lot stuffed with black, silver and white luxury cars. It's matched with sand-colored ultrasuede inserts and bronze-threaded carbon fiber trim on the interior that look sumptuous. Each also comes with carbon fiber exterior trim, red brake calipers, and the CTS-V adds the performance data recorder and Luxury Package. The name really is strange, though. Cadillac says, "The special-edition variants are named in tribute to Cadillac V-Series' time spent at the pinnacle of luxury high-performance." So it seems the thinking was that these cars are up on a pedestal compared with other performance luxury cars. But even in that sentence from Cadillac, there's a word that would be better and more recognizable for excellence: pinnacle. We can think of other great words for marking the peak or the top of performance and luxury, words such as "apex" or "climax." Well, maybe not that one. One of the big appeals of these cars is that there won't be many of them. There will only be 300 built, and that's the total between the ATS-V coupe and CTS-V sedan. The final total for each model will be determined by orders. Ordering opens up on the first week of November, with production coming at the end of that month. The cars will only be available to buyers in the U.S., Canada and the Middle East. There are significant price differences between the two cars. The ATS-V coupe starts at $77,090, while the CTS-V starts at $102,590. That puts the ATS-V at roughly $10,000 more than a base model, and the CTS-V at roughly $12,000 more than its base model. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 Cadillac ATS-V and CTS-V Pedestal Edition View 9 Photos Image Credit: Cadillac Cadillac Coupe Luxury Performance Sedan cadillac ats-v

GM cutting production at two plants

General Motors is continuing to adjust to excess supply of some of its brands' models. To get production more in line with the vehicles' actual demand, the automotive giant is idling two of its factories in North America in the coming months. The Orion Assembly plant is going to be down from March 9-13, according to an anonymous plant worker and another insider speaking to Automotive News. The factory builds the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano, but there are plenty of both models sitting on dealer lots, including 216 days worth of Sonics, according to AN. The factory already had two idle periods announced to reduce the excess. In addition, downtime is scheduled at GM's "Flex" line at the Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, plant from April 13-17. This affects supply of the Chevrolet Camaro, Impala, Buick Regal and Cadillac XTS. Among them, the automotive giant has the largest supply of Regals ready for dealers with 213 days worth of them, according to AN. The future for the whole Oshawa factory is cloudy in general, though. There are rumors that it could close entirely in the future because the Camaro is leaving and the Regal and XTS might not last much longer than 2017. The Canadian government and the labor union there intend to put up a fight, though. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing Buick Cadillac Chevrolet GM orion assembly oshawa plant idle