The technologically advanced Cadillac XTS will gain a notable advance in horsepower for 2014, with the brand introducing a new 3.6-liter V-6 engine that boasts twin turbochargers, 410 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque.

This isn’t merely a case of Cadillac engineers slapping a pair of turbochargers onto the XTS’ standard 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V-6. The brand reports that “almost every component is unique” to the new engine, including:

• A newly cast cylinder block
• More robust connecting rods
• Machined and domed aluminum pistons
• Patented air-cooling technology
• An all-new direct-injection fuel system
• NVH enhancements like tuned air inlet and outlet resonators, as well as aluminum cam covers

As for the turbochargers themselves, they work together to develop more than 12 lbs. of boost by leveraging vacuum-actuated wastegates with electronic control valves. But Cadillac didn’t stop there when it came to refreshing the XTS for 2014. Even though the car was introduced as an all-new model for 2013, the brand has further updated the XTS with added driver-assistance features (like an automated parallel-parking system and Intellibeam headlights) and a more feature-friendly environment for rear-seat passengers. In the mix at the back of the cabin are now a rear-seat dual-DVD entertainment system and an updated rear-armrest with integrated radio controls.

All that’s in addition to class-exclusive features like the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system, which delivers superior infotainment and connectivity capabilities; Magnetic Ride Control, the world’s fastest-reacting suspension; and the Safety Alert Seat that adds an extra level of occupant protection to the XTS. The latter feature works in concert with the car’s other safety alert systems, and if a potential issue is detected, the seat vibrates from the same direction.

Customers can look for the 2014 Cadillac XTS to arrive in dealerships later this year at a price that is yet to be determined.

With bold new entries like the ATS sport sedan and XTS flagship leading the way, the Cadillac brand is enjoying a significant surge in demand this year. In April alone, customers drove a 34.3 percent increase in sales for Cadillac, which has benefited from a 37.1 increase in deliveries through the end of last month. To help satisfy even more owners, Cadillac has announced further upgrades to what was already one of the most comprehensive Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) programs of any of the country’s premium auto brands.

This is a particularly important benefit in today’s marketplace, too, because the popularity of leasing in the luxury segments means that as sales rise, so does the number of off-lease vehicles that will be eligible for the new Cadillac CPO program. As noted by Chase Hawkins, vice president of Cadillac U.S. sales and service: “We expect lease returns to double this year, making it an ideal time to deliver further enhancements for customers.”

Speaking of which, those enhancements will include:

• Extended warranty coverage to match the brand’s 6-year/70,000-mile new vehicle bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 24/7/365 roadside assistance
• Courtesy transportation
• Three complimentary months of OnStar and SiriusXM Satellite Radio

In addition, most Cadillac CPO vehicles from the 2011 model year and newer will qualify for the division’s Premium Care Maintenance program, previously only offered on new vehicles. This initiative covers routine maintenance such as oil and filter changes, tire rotations, multi-point vehicle inspections and more.

“Enhancing the Certified Pre-Owned program adds valuable benefits for customers and the entire Cadillac brand,” added Hawkins. “Improving Certified Pre-Owned supports the ongoing long-term increase in resale value, and is another tool that will enable us to attract new customers.”

The Cadillac ELR is powered by a 154 kW electric motor and lithium-ion batteries. When they begin to run low on juice, the coupe’s 1.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine kicks in to recharge them. General Motors has added a new charging option: Regen on Demand.

When drivers brake in most vehicles, the kinetic energy expended is wasted as heat in the brake pads. Hybrid and electric vehicles (EV), on the other hand, convert that energy into electricity which is then stored in the batteries. Regen on Demand now allows drivers to do the same thing while coasting on the road.

Activating the system is simple. First, the driver removes his or her foot off the accelerator. The EV begins to coast. The driver then toggles the paddle shifters on the steering wheel to activate Regen on Demand. (In most autos, paddle shifters are used to manually row through the gear transmission.) The converted energy from the ELR’s momentum recharges the batteries. The company says steering the ELR with Regen on Demand turned on is like downshifting in a manual-transmission vehicle.

“Pulling back on the paddle to slow down allows the ELR driver to keep their foot close to the throttle, ready to accelerate,” says Chris Thomason, ELR chief engineer. “It provides a more engaged, satisfying driving experience, and when you consider the added benefit of re-capturing energy, it’s also a smart thing to do.”

Regen on Demand is unique to the ELR, which is based off the Chevrolet Volt. The luxury coupe can still be recharged through a standard 120-V outlet, which takes around 12 hours, or through a dedicated 240-V charger, which cuts recharge time to roughly 4-5 hours.

The 2014 Cadillac ELR is scheduled to go on sale next year.

Written by Joel Arellano.

The Cadillac CTS, once the golden child of the Cadillac lineup, has taken a distinct back seat the past few months to its siblings, the entry-level ATS and XTS flagship. General Motors has not forgotten the CTS, though. Scheduled to debut at this year’s New York Auto Show, details of the all-new CTS have begun to trickle across the autosphere. GM announced that it will be adding a new engine to the CTS lineup for model year 2014.

The new engine is a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V-6. It’s based off the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6 engine currently used in many Cadillac models including the CTS, ATS and XTS sedans, and the SRX crossover. Cadillac engineers have heavily modified it, adding an all-new direct-injection system, a more efficient air cooler, and twin turbochargers (hence the name). Expected output of the new engine is an SAE-certified 420 horsepower and a staggering 430 lb.-ft. of torque. In comparison, the standard 3.5-liter V-6 delivers 321 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, currently available on the 2013 CTS, gets 272 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. (The 2.5-liter four banger looks like it’s been dropped from the 2014 lineup.) The sole transmission will be an eight-speed automatic transmission, a first for the luxury brand.

States David Leone, executive chief engineer for the Cadillac division, “The new Cadillac Twin-Turbo brings a new dimension of technologically advanced performance to the all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan. Delivering power and sophistication, it marks another large step forward in the product-driven expansion of Cadillac.”

Official fuel-economy figures have not yet been released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). GM guesstimates the 2014 CTS with twin-turbo will get 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. With the CTS’ ability to reach 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, we don’t think buyers will be concerned about fuel economy. Note the 2014 Cadillac XTS will also share this new engine.

The 2014 Cadillac CTS is expected to go on sale some time in the third quarter of this year. Pricing and other details will either be released at the CTS’ NY debut or shortly before the Caddy goes on sale.

Written by Joel Arellano.

The Cadillac ATS blew into the Windy City trailing a long list of trophies and prizes from the media, and it’s leaving with yet another. The acclaimed PBS program MotorWeek singled out the ATS as its Best of the Year in the annual Drivers’ Choice Awards, which were presented at the opening of the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.

“The objective of ATS was to challenge the world’s best sport sedans head-to-head, developing a true driver’s car that was nimble, quick and fun,” said Jim Vurpillat, director of marketing, global Cadillac. “That makes this recognition from the experts at Motorweek especially meaningful.”

The ATS captured MotorWeek kudos for features like its low curb weight, high levels of comfort and technology, wide range of powertrains selections and just about everything else.

“There is no other new American car that excels in every measure within its class like the new Cadillac ATS,” added MotorWeek host John Davis. “It’s lightweight, it’s powerful, has extraordinary handling and is impressively fuel efficient. On top of that it has the latest in advanced technology and connectivity, including Cadillac’s CUE system. The Cadillac ATS is simply the most impressive luxury sport sedan ever to wear an American brand name.”

Unsurprisingly, then, the ATS also bested all rivals to earn the nod as MotorWeek’s Best Sport Sedan of 2013—and also has been named:

• North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit
• Car of the Year by Esquire magazine
• Luxury Car of the Year by Autobytel.com
• Vehicle of the Year by the Motor Press Guild

“The objective of ATS was to challenge the world’s best sport sedans head-to-head, developing a true driver’s car that was nimble, quick and fun,” added Jim Vurpillat, director of marketing, global Cadillac. “That makes this recognition from the experts at Motorweek especially meaningful.”

The Cadillac Converj thrilled auto-show visitors in 2009 when it appeared as a luxury concept built using the same powertrain technologies as the incredibly efficient Chevy Volt, and now that car will soon be having the same effect on Cadillac customers: That’s because the brand has officially announced that a production vehicle offering the same dramatic styling cues—and the same dramatically impressive fuel-efficiency performance—will go on sale in this country next year as the 2014 Cadillac ELR.

Photo: Charles Krome

Just introduced at Detroit’s 2013 North American International Auto Show, the ELR will advance GM’s extended-range electric-vehicle technology to new, more premium standards, with luxury features that will include a cut-and-sew leather interior with available chrome, wood and carbon-fiber trim choices; Cadillac’s intuitive and innovative CUE connectivity/infotainment system; a sophisticated and athletic suspension with a front HiPer Strut setup, a Watt’s linkage at the rear, and Continuous Damping Control; a standard 10-speaker Bose sound system; and a plethora of driver-assistance features like forward collision alert, lane-departure warning and Cadillac’s Safety Seat Alert technology.

Of course, most notable will be the ELR’s powertrain. It’s been tuned specifically to provide the kind of driving experience owners expect from Cadillac, but with the ability to do so while using no gasoline and releasing zero emissions—at least during “most daily commutes.” And the brand then promises the ELR will supply more than 300 miles of total range by relying on its gas-powered, hybrid engine. (Cadillac hasn’t finalized the numbers yet, but potential customers will want to remember that the Volt can travel some 38 miles on a single charge of electricity.)

“ELR is an unprecedented combination of luxury, advanced engineering and progressive design in a coupe that is both sporty and environmentally friendly,” said Bob Ferguson, Cadillac global vice president. “This is a pivotal moment in Cadillac’s history, as we continue our product-driven expansion.”

The Detroit Free Press recently joined the growing list of media outlets to honor the 2013 Cadillac ATS sport sedan, choosing the car as its 10^th Car of the Year. (The ATS previously was singled out for similar recognition by, among others, Esquire magazine, Popular Mechanics, the Motor Press Guild, and Decisive magazine—presenter of the Urban Wheel Awards.)

“The ATS sport sedan is a watershed vehicle for Cadillac and a breakthrough that will change the way General Motors develops all its upcoming vehicles,” according to Mark Phelan, the Free Press’ veteran auto scribe, who was referring to how engineers’ ability to reduce weight in the ATS can benefit all GM products.

Of course, that low curb weight, which starts at 3,315 lbs., also delivers some breakthroughs on the performance front, enhanced by features like a multi-mode suspension, Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brake components and a choice of three standout engines:

• A standard 2.5-liter I4 with 202 hp and 191 lb.-ft. of torque
• The 2.0-liter I4 turbo that produces 272 hp and 260 lb.-ft.—and was just named among Ward’s 10 Best Engines of 2013
• GM’s award-winning 3.6-liter V6, capable of making 321 hp and 275 lb.-ft. of torque

And yes, a manual transmission is on the menu, as are a wide range of available technologies that Phelan noted “none of Cadillac’s competitors can match.”

Among them are such innovations as the brand’s CUE touchscreen/voice control command center as well as the new Safety Seat Alert system. This latter feature works with the ATS’ other safety systems to add another layer of warnings, relying on vibrations to the driver’s seat. (Safety Seat Alert can be found on the all-new Cadillac XTS, too.)

Which is why Phelan believes: “The ATS is also destined to become the heart of Cadillac’s model line. It’s likely to spin off coupe, convertible and perhaps station wagon models, creating a family that should be Cadillac’s bestseller around the world.”

Keep your fingers crossed.

To ensure the brand-new Cadillac ATS was one of the top-performing cars in its segment, engineers removed enough excess weight to ensure the ATS also was one of the lightest cars in its segment—but they also added in high-tech driving features like Performance Algorithm Liftfoot (PAL).

This innovative powertrain management system enables the automatically transmissioned ATS to deliver the kind of driver control and handling prowess usually found only in cars with DIY gearboxes, especially when the time comes to straighten out some curves. To accomplish this, PAL—which is activated when the ATS’ driver-selectable suspension is in “Sport” mode—can detect when the athletic new sedan is being pushed into the corners, then automatically downshift to a lower gear to help drivers sprint out of the curves. Just as importantly, PAL will then keep the transmission in lower gears until it senses a return to more sedate driving performance is required.

Of course, PAL is just one of the many hi-po handling enhancers offered by the award-winning ATS. Esquire magazine’s “Car of the Year” also serves up:

• Magnetic Ride Control real-time damping, capable of adjusting the ATS’ suspension in just five milliseconds
• The first five-link independent rear suspension ever used by Cadillac
• A front suspension with a multi-link, double-pivot MacPherson-strut setup, with a direct-acting stabilizer bar
• Four-channel anti-lock brakes with Brembo components
• A sophisticated all-wheel-drive system

All of which helps explain how the Cadillac ATS became one of just three finalists for the North American Car of the Year award, set to be revealed in mid-January in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“The all-new ATS is the result of a comprehensive and focused mission to create a new sport sedan that challenges the world’s best,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “It’s rewarding to the entire team that created ATS to be recognized for its hard work by auto experts.”

The power-dense turbocharged I4 Ecotec engine offered in the new Cadillac ATS, with the highest specific output of any of GM’s production powerplants, has now earned one of the highest honors from today’s motoring media: A place among Ward’s annual rankings of “10 Best Engines.”

Squeezing 272 hp from just 2.0 liters worth of displacement, and making 260 lb.-ft. of torque, the engine can propel the ATS from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. Yet it’s also efficient enough to earn ratings of up to 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway/24 mpg combined when equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. Enthusiasts need not worry, however: the 2013 ATS also is available with a six-speed Tremec manual transmission for those who prefer a do-it-yourself approach.

“The 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder is a stout performer that impressed all the WardsAuto editors,” said Tom Murphy, executive editor of WardsAuto.com. “It muscled its way back into the winners’ circle with remarkable horsepower per liter, and the engineers deserve kudos for reducing engine friction some 16 percent, which means it runs smoother and more efficiently.

“This engine gets four mpg better on the highway than the earlier version did a year ago in the Buick Regal GS, a former Ward’s 10 Best Engines honoree. That’s impressive. If the ATS can nibble into the market share of well-established German brands, the 2.0L turbo should get most of the credit.”

“Benchmark efficiency and refinement were our top priorities when developing the all-new 2.0L turbo,” added Mike Anderson, global chief engineer for Ecotec engines. “The team was focused on using technology to reduce friction and engine noise and also managed to take specific output to a new level.”

And speaking of technology, the ATS’ award-winning engine boasts plenty, ranging from direct injection to a twin-scroll turbocharger.

The 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.0 Turbo is on sale now, with an MSRP of $34,900 in its rear-wheel-drive configuration and $36,900 when kitted out with all-wheel drive.

Cadillac’s all-new compact sports sedan—the ATS—has just been named “Car of the Year” by North America’s largest automotive media association—the Motor Press Guild (MPG). The honor came only after the ATS defeated five other finalists during in-depth, on-track MPG testing, and was based on vehicle performance in the categories of safety, quality, value, performance/handling, design/style, environmental/green impact, and technology/innovation.

“In many ways, the ATS is a breakthrough vehicle for Cadillac,” said Laura Burstein, president of the Motor Press Guild. “Not only is it smaller and leaner than other Cadillacs on the market, it’s the first American luxury car that truly goes head-to-head with compact luxury sport sedans from well-known European and Asian brands. Our members remarked that the ATS is capable on both the street and the track, offers a well-made and attractive interior, is replete with the latest technology and—perhaps most importantly—is fun to drive.”

Certainly helping matters is the fact that not only is the ATS leaner than other Cadillacs on the market, it’s also leaner than every other rival in its segment, which greatly enhances both its driving dynamics and its fuel economy. As a result, when the ATS is configured with its high-powered 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, it can achieve up to 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway while still benefiting from 272 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Alternatively, drivers who prefer a lighter impact on the environment can enjoy EPA grades of 22/33 with the ATS’ standard 2.5-liter I4—producing a peppy 202 hp and 191 lb.-ft. of torque—or, for a major increase in motivation, opt for an advanced 3.6-liter V6 engine that serves up 321 hp and 275 lb.-ft. of torque, yet still reaches 19/28 with the EPA.

“The ATS is the result of an extensive, all new, ground-up mission to deliver a segment-winning vehicle,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “That makes it especially rewarding when our efforts are recognized and awarded by a large and influential panel of automotive experts.”