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2020 Cadillac CT5-V, CT4-V to be revealed next week

Even though the ATS-V and CTS-V are on the way out, the future is looking bright for Cadillac's high-performance sub-brand. Why is that? Well we're going to see not one, but two all-new V models on May 30. The company revealed its plans to show the 2020 Cadillac CT5-V and the CT4-V in an announcement about 15 years of the V brand. Not much is known about either car, but both should be wickedly quick based on their predecessors. We're particularly curious as to what engines will be used. With the CT5-V, a return of a supercharged pushrod V8 seems possible considering the CT5 is based on the Alpha platform that also underpins the Camaro. But Cadillac may want to push its more unique powertrains such as the twin-turbo, double-overhead-cam 4.2-liter V8 in the CT6-V. In the CT6-V, it makes 550 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. Cadillac's former CEO said that other cars getting the engine will have it 500 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. We think the company could get away with the full power in the CT5-V, though, since each car's mission and character is different. There's also a slim chance we could see a return of the manual transmission for the midsize sports sedan, based on what a Cadillac engineer said. As for the CT4-V, there are more questions, simply because we haven't even seen the regular version yet except in spy shots. Since the CT5 is built off the Alpha platform, it seems reasonable to think the CT4 will do the same, especially since the ATS also used the platform. And to leave space between the CT5-V and itself, using a hot version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 seems like the most likely choice. The hot V6 in the ATS-V made 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque, so we would expect the same. Hopefully Cadillac will offer a manual with it again. One final note from the Cadillac V announcement also got our attention. It said that these two cars are "just the beginning." That seems a pretty obvious sign there are other V models in the works. Since the CT4 and CT5 will round out the company's car line, the logical next choice would probably be crossovers. It will be interesting to see what an XT4-V or XT5-V will be like, especially since they use front-drive platforms. But in the meantime, we'll look forward to Cadillac's hot sedans.

Car subscription services: A slow, expensive start — but the potential is huge

Americans are used to paying for subscriptions — to magazines and cable television, for instance — but experience shows they'll cancel when the price of admission gets too high, or there are more tempting alternatives. Cord cutters ditched nearly 1.5 million pay-TV subscriptions in 2017, according to a survey by Leichtman Research Group. Cable TV started out cheap with basic offerings, and then got expensive. The auto industry's subscription offerings are new, but they're starting out costly, and not price-competitive with traditional leasing. The upside is that they take the hassle out of car ownership for busy people by letting the service take care of maintenance, insurance, licensing and taxes. And they give consumers choice, often allowing relatively painless switches between different cars in the automakers' lineup. Subscription services also point the way toward an ownership-free auto experience, and offer an easy transition to a potential world where ride- and car-sharing will be dominant. Subscriptions are here to stay, but consumers may take a while to "get" them. Lincoln's subscription service for lightly used 2015 to 2017 models, offered through the Ford-owned Canvas beginning this year, got off to a slow start. Many early subscribers canceled. Last month, Cadillac announced it would " temporarily pause" its $1,800-per-month Book subscription service for "adjustments" as of December 1. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Snags with the back-end technology used to support the service made some customer-service functions tedious and time-consuming, adding costs for the company." The challenge for automakers is to come up with a strategy that offers consumers a compelling, affordable option to regular ownership, and one that can also make a profit. I think they'll find that sweet spot, but they're not there yet. Jack Nerad, former executive editorial director at Kelley Blue Book and author of " The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying or Leasing a Car," points out that "A lot of people expected that subscriptions would be very valuable for people who wanted inexpensive transportation, but the reality is quite the opposite. Subscriptions are offering more choices for the wealthy.

GM extends production at Detroit factory until early 2020

General Motors Co said on Friday it had extended the production at its Detroit Hamtramck plant until January 2020, against an earlier plan to discontinue production in June this year. The No.1 U.S. automaker is revamping its operations, which include plant closures and thousands of job cuts, as it looks to boost profitability in the wake of declining U.S. auto sales. The Hamtramck plant will continue to produce the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 sedans until early next year, the company said. "We are balancing production timing while continuing the availability of Cadillac advanced technology features currently included in the CT6-V — the Blackwing Twin-Turbo V-8 (engine) and Super Cruise (driver assistance system)," GM said. The plant has already discontinued production of the Buick LaCrosse sedan and Chevrolet Volt electric hybrid car. Detroit-based union United Auto Workers' President Gary Jones said GM's decision to continue production at the plant was a relief for the workers as well as their families. "We commend GM for today's decision and we reiterate the importance of a collective bargaining process in times like these," Jones said. Reporting by Ankit Ajmera. Related Video: