2011 Cadillac Luxury Collection on 2040-cars

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Cadillac sales chief Peffer resigns amidst slow sales

Cadillac continues to hemorrhage executives, as it's just seen its fourth high-level departure in the past year. Vice President of Global Strategic Development Don Butler (who defected to Ford) and European President and Managing Director Susan Docherty both left the company of their own volition, while Chase Hawkins, Cadillac's vice president of sales and service, was fired following a "violation of policy" in July of 2013. Strangely, it's Hawkins' replacement, Bill Peffer (shown above), who has handed in his papers this time around.
"Bill left to pursue other interests. Kurt McNeil replaces him, effective immediately," spokesman David Caldwell told Autoblog via email.
McNeil last held the VP of sales and service position back in 2012. He's currently the vice president of US sales for all of General Motors. According to The Detroit News, McNeil will take on the post in what is likely an interim capacity.

Cadillac CT6 beefs up with 400-hp twin-turbo V6

Cadillac's engine lineup is set to get a makeover led by the potent powerplants under the hood of the CT6. Our man Steven Ewing is onsite at an event in Detroit reporting all the details. Here's what we know so far: The CT6's top engine will be a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. It's the first twin-turbo with cylinder deactivation, which essentially makes the V6 able to convert to a V4 unit. Power will be 400 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 400 pound-feet of torque at just 2,500 rpm. No word on what a potential CT6-V would get. The CT6 will also have a naturally aspirated V6 that Cadillac is claiming to be all-new. It's rated at 335 hp at 6,800 rpm and 284 lb-ft at 5,300 rpm. That's an improvement of 14 hp and nine lb-ft compared with today's 3.6-liter V6, and fuel economy increases nine percent. Cadillac says it's the highest output for a naturally aspirated V6 that's SAE-certified and runs on regular fuel. Both of these V6s will have stop/start technology and will be paired to with eight-speed automatic transmissions. The 3.6-liter V6 will also be used in the 2016 CTS and the 2016 ATS. Meanwhile, Ewing reports that Cadillac says the ATS-V is actually more powerful than initially announced, though there are no numbers to flesh that claim out as yet. The brand also plans to offer four- and six-cylinder diesel engines in various vehicles and new V8 options. The CT6 bows at the New York Auto Show. It will use an aluminum-intensive body that reduces weight by 198 pounds compared with a steel setup and continues Cadillac's creased design language used on the CTS and ATS models. The CT6 goes into production late this year in Detroit. Related Video: Cadillac Next-Gen V-6 Engines Led by 3.0L Twin Turbo Segment-leading power, efficiency in world's most advanced six-cylinder DETROIT – Cadillac today announced a new generation of V-6 engines, led by an exclusive Twin Turbo V-6 that will be one of the industry's most advanced six-cylinder gasoline engines. It leverages the latest technology to balance efficiency, performance and refinement in the upcoming, top-of-the-range CT6 luxury performance sedan. The all-new Cadillac 3.0L Twin Turbo is designed to achieve new thresholds of refinement and specific output for the brand's new prestige luxury sedan, which makes its world premiere March 31, at the New York International Auto Show. Production begins late this year at General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant.

Driving the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V at the old Elkhart Lake road course

The placid community around Elkart Lake, WI, looks about as far removed from a glorious motorsport venue as you can imagine. A turn of the century downtown gives way to old-school resorts, beaches, and boat launches around the picturesque lake, with farms framing the rolling hills all around. But it was those very same meandering country lanes that gave birth to one of America's greatest racing circuits, some 65 years ago. Between the first race in 1950 and the opening of the dedicated Road America track in 1956, the roads around Elkhart Lake provided the setting for some great post-war racing. Competing on public streets was ultimately outlawed across the country, but not before drivers risked life and limb in the name of glory in the Wisconsin summer. Cadillac asked us out to the area recently, not to talk racing history, but to look forward at one of the most track capable cars the company has ever offered: the 2016 CTS-V. We got to drive the 640-horsepower beastie for an entire morning of hot laps at Road America, but unfortunately, we're not allowed to tell you about all of that right now. You'll have to wait until the embargo lifts on August 3, at which point we promise a full recounting of our adventure. Having the CTS-V for a full two days though, and in the spirit of the motorsport that imbues the air in Elkhart Lake, we took the Cadillac on a drive around the old 6.5-mile road course. Come for the new Caddy, but stick around to find out what the hell Wacker's Wend is. Cadillac Luxury Performance Videos