2015 - Cadillac Escalade on 2040-cars

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Cadillac CT4 and CT5 high-performance V cars spied

This summer, Cadillac teased much more impressive V-series models than the lukewarm CT4-V and CT5-V. Now we get a better look at both super sedans, each one boasting more aggressive, but subtle visual upgrades. Normally we would talk about the visual changes to each car individually, but the changes are nearly identical between the cars. They both get deeper chin spoilers and lower side skirts. The lower grille opening now features slatted sections on either end. The headlights, main grille and hood all look unchanged from the regular V models. The same goes for the rear bumpers and tailpipes. The rear spoilers on both are much taller, though. The wheels on the CT4 look about the same as the CT4-V, but the CT5 wheels look a bit different with more detail. We also get a good look at the wheel-filling brakes. Cadillac hasn't said anything concrete about the specifications of the hotter CT4 and CT5 models, except that they'll definitely be faster than the revealed V models. One thing we do know, thanks to our spy photographer's video from earlier this year (shown above), the CT5 will get a V8. Our bet is on it being the Blackwing twin-turbo V8 that's available in the CT6-V and CT6 Platinum. It would probably have at least the same output at the CT6-V at 550 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque. Expect the 10-speed automatic transmission to carry over with it. This drivetrain would also open up the possibility of all-wheel drive. As for the fast CT4, it could potentially revive the ATS-V's twin-turbo V6 with 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. It would probably also get a 10-speed automatic and maybe all-wheel drive as an option.

NHTSA investigating nearly 750,000 GM models over non-deploying airbags

Nearly 750,000 vehicles built by Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac are the subject of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation due to non-deploying driver-side airbags. While the investigation is ongoing, the agency believes the issue is likely due to rust particles that form on the inflator's connection terminal interface. The list of nameplates included in the investigation includes Chevrolet's Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban, GMC's Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL, plus Cadillac's Escalade, Escalade ESV, CT4, CT5, and XT4. All of the potentially affected vehicles are 2020 or 2021 models, according to a bulletin published on the NHTSA's website. Investigators launched the probe in April 2021 after 15 consumers reported airbag-related issues, including nine who said an airbag malfunction light appeared in the instrument cluster. More alarmingly, the NHTSA is aware of six accidents that caused significant damage to the car's front end yet didn't trigger the driver's airbag. It adds that there are no fatalities linked to the issue, but there are six crashes and eight injuries reportedly blamed on it. No evidence suggests this problem is related to the millions of potentially deadly Takata inflators recalled over the past few years. General Motors is aware of the defect. It sent a technical service bulletin (TSB) to its dealers in March 2021 to address the aforementioned warning light. The note explains the issue is due to "rust particles in the connection terminal interface of the driver's airbag inflator." The company hasn't issued a safety recall yet, however. Whether it will partially depends on the NHTSA's findings. It's currently looking into the scope and the severity of the problem, and it wants to understand its implications on driver safety. Investigators will decide whether General Motors needs to recall the 749,312 cars that are part of the probe when they close their investigation. General Motors has already spent a significant amount of money replacing defective airbag-related parts in its cars. In November 2020, it was ordered by the American government to recall nearly 6 million pickup trucks and SUVs equipped with potentially dangerous Takata airbag inflators. It repeatedly argued that testing proved the inflators were safe, and it petitioned the agency four times starting in 2016 to avoid a recall, which cost an estimated $1.2 billion (about a third of its net income in 2020).

Why Cadillac is willing to lose 43 percent of its dealers

Cadillac is offering about 400 dealers in the United States a lump sum of money to close down. That represents over 40 percent of Cadillac dealers in America. Offers start at $100,000 and top out at $180,000. The average offering is around $120,000. According to Automotive News, Cadillac chief Johan De Nysschen estimates it will cost the automaker around $50 million to close these dealers. Any dealer that chooses to remain open will have to submit to Cadillac's ambitious Project Pinnacle, which will divide dealers into incentive categories based on how many units they sell. "Every single Cadillac dealer will have the potential to earn significantly higher profits than they do today," says De Nysschen. Dealers have until November 21 to decide if they want to take the cash or submit to Project Pinnacle. A logical question: Why is Cadillac willing to spend $50 million to close down 43 percent of its dealers? First, GM's luxury brand has way more dealerships than it needs. Second, the 400 dealers with offers to shutter each sold 50 or fewer vehicles in 2015, representing just 9 percent of its sales volume in America. So, while closing these smaller dealerships may have a small initial impact on sales, it's not going to be a major hit to Cadillac. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Gary Cameron / Reuters Cadillac Car Dealers Luxury Performance