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Cadillac ATS and CTS get blacked-out treatments

Some still think of gallons of chrome when Cadillac comes to mind, and some of the automaker's models still take the blinged-out approach (we're looking at you, Escalade). But for those whose impression of the America luxury marque's is about more than brightwork, Caddy has announced a new Black Chrome package. Available for the ATS coupe, ATS sedan, and CTS sedan, the optional package, as you might have guessed, applies dark chrome to the outside of the vehicle. On the ATS, that includes the front grilles (upper and lower) and rear trim, as well as body-colored door handles, gloss black window moldings, and dark-finish 18-inch alloys. Buyers can choose to apply the package to the Luxury or Premium trim, with the 2.0-liter turbo or 3.6-liter V6, in rear- or all-wheel drive, with four exterior paint choices, any interior available, and in two- or four-door bodystyles. The package goes for $795 on the sedan and $595 for the coupe. The package costs a little more for the CTS but includes a bit less trim, limited to the grille and those same 18-inch alloys. It can still be paired to the 2.0 turbo or 3.6-liter V6 in rear- or all-wheel drive, with three exterior tints and a limited selection of interior treatments. Pricing here starts at $1,295 with the Luxury trim, or $1,095 in either Performance or Premium spec. Those looking for a shinier treatment, however, need not apply. Related Video: Cadillac Introduces Black Chrome Package for ATS and CTS ENHANCES ENGAGING PERFORMANCE, STRIKING DESIGN 2016-03-14 Cadillac today introduced the Black Chrome Package for Cadillac ATS Sedan and Coupe and Cadillac CTS Sedan. The package further enhances the engaging performance and the striking design of the ATS, a Consumer Guide Best Buy for three years in a row, and the CTS, named one of Car and Driver's 10Best for three years in a row. The Black Chrome Package is available now to order at local Cadillac dealerships or through the Build Your Own tool on the Cadillac.com website. For additional information, customers can call Cadillac Customer Experience at 1-800-458-8006.

Cadillac CT4 and CT5 get meaningful updates for 2021

It's common for vehicles to get an update here or there in between full redesigns every five or six years, but the changes being made for the 2021 Cadillac CT4 and CT5, each just introduced last year, represent more than just a little nip and tuck. For starters, Cadillac's excellent Super Cruise will show up on the options sheets for the two sedans early next year in Enhanced form with with Lane Change on Demand functionality. Super Cruise will be offered on Premium Luxury and V-Series trims only. As we already knew thanks to early order guides, a new 12-inch digital instrument cluster that features driver-selectable themes is also on the menu for 2021. A traditional Tour theme is probably what most drivers will default to, while a Sport theme will likely include red accents and performance-monitoring readouts and a Stealth theme will offer minimal information and what we'd guess are non-distracting colors. CT4-V and CT5-V models will get an exclusive Track theme. New for the CT5 Sport trim level is a V Performance package that adds upgraded suspension bits, Magnetic Ride Control and a mechanical limited-slip differential. V Performance front brake calipers from Brembo are also optional on Sport models. Additionally, a new Diamond Sky special edition package will be offered on Premium Luxury CT4 and CT5 models, adding interior and exterior styling upgrades along with all-season run-flat tires on unique wheels. The package also gets the aforementioned V Performance brakes. Additional updates include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L with more than 200 live SiriusXM channels and on-demand programming choices, and a console-mounted rotary infotainment knob that enables left and right clicks to more easily navigate the CUE infotainment system. Buckle to Drive will come enabled from the factory (it can be disabled after purchase) and won't allow the driver to shift into drive unless the seatbelt is buckled. A Teen Driver mode will encourage safe driving from — you guessed it — teens. Forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, automatic emergency braking and the patented haptic Safety Alert Seat are now standard equipment across the board for both sedans. Check out the image gallery above to see many of the updates, including Super Cruise, the digital instrument cluster and the Diamond Sky edition. Related Video:    

GM says EVs are the future — but trucks are going to take it there

In the PowerPoint deck for the General Motors Capital Markets Day presentation, one of the more disturbing things comes early on, during GM President Mark Reuss' initial remarks, in an area where he is discussing the company's overall strength in trucks. The point being made is that GM has a truck for all and sundry. And there it is, a phrase on a slide that should send chills up the spines of those who still pine for the old Bob Seger "Like a Rock" Silverado ads: "Little bit country. Little bit rock 'n' roll." That's right. Donny and Marie. Somehow the Denis Leary snark in the F-150 ads is all the more appealing. The Capital Markets Day presentation was chock full of observations about electrification and automation (Reuss and CEO Mary Barra both noted that the corporation's vision is one of "Zero Crashes. Zero Emissions. Zero Congestion." Dan Ammann talked about the progress being made at Cruise Automation; Reuss rolled out the plan for an array of electrified vehicles, with a luxury EV and a compact SUV being the "Centroid Entries" for the modular bases of many others). But it is worth noting that there is no getting away from the power of pickups in the U.S. market, as that was the central topic in Chief Financial Officer Dhivya Suryadevara's comments, with "Truck Franchise" being flanked by "Key Financial Priorities" and "Financial Outlook." Clearly, to gloss the old phrase, the truck segment is where the money is. Suryadevra enumerated how the truck segment is significantly different than other types of light vehicles. Among her points: GM, Ford and FCA have more than 90% of market share. The truck parc has been growing and aging over the past 10 years. Customers are fiercely loyal to the segment—as in 70% of truck buyers are truck buyers. A good number of the vehicles are for commercial use (40 percent). Trucks are "less prone to. . .mobility disruption." Trucks offer high margins. Translaton: The segment is one that they're solidly positioned in. There are lots of old trucks on the road that will need to be replaced by new ones. Perhaps buyers may switch from a Sierra to a Canyon, but it will be a truck. If your livelihood depends on that type of vehicle, even if gas prices go up or the economy begins to go south, you're going to stick with it. Most of the country isn't San Francisco, so trucks will continue to be essential. And, well, they're profitable in the extreme.