GM Releases First Official Pictures of the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racecar

After teasing us with a couple of renderings in December, Cadillac today released the first official photographs of the CTS-V Coupe racecar, ahead of its North American International Auto Show debut on Monday, January 10.

GM also took the opportunity to re-confirm Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim as the pilots of the two cars that will be entered in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT series for the 2011 season. The first track tests are scheduled to begin in late January, at Sebring International Raceway, while the season will kick off on March 25-27 in St. Petersburg, Florida. No tech specs have been released.

By Csaba Daradics

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GM Issues Separate Recalls on Cadillac CTS and Escalade, and Chevy and GMC Trucks

General Motors is recalling close to 100,000 vehicles in two separate campaigns. In a posting with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], GM said the first recall affects almost 96,000 Cadillac CTS sedans from the 2005-2007 model years over concerns that some of the vehicles have a condition in which repeated flexing of the passenger sensing system mat in the passenger seat may break the connection. The company said that if this occurs, the sensor may not detect the presence of a front seat passenger and will disable the air bag.

Dealers will replace the passenger sensing system free of charge, however, GM has yet to provide an owner notification schedule for the CTS recall.

The second recall from GM concerns approximately 1,260 Cadillac Escalades, Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado 1500s, and GMC Sierra 1500s, all from the 2011 model year. These trucks may have a faulty rear-axle cross pin, which could fracture and become displaced within the axle.

GM said that if the pin shifts out of position, it could create an interference condition and cause the rear axle to lock, in which case, the driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without prior warning.

The company added that this safety recall is expected to begin during January 2011.

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Cadillac Releases Pricing for 556HP CTS-V Wagon

General Motors has revealed pricing for its new Cadillac CTS-V 'super' Wagon, a car that like or not, is destined to be a classic for future collectors. Scheduled to go on sale in limited numbers at Cadillac dealers later this year, the CTS-V Wagon is priced at $62,990, including destination, meaning it carries the same exact MSRP as the sedan model.

"The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon is a limited production offering for connoisseurs who are interested in the unique combination of V-Series performance with wagon style and capability," said Don Butler, vice president, Cadillac marketing.

Beneath the more practical bodywork of the CTS-V Wagons beats the same heart found on CTS-V sedan and Coupe models, a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine pumping out 556 horsepower and 551 lb.-ft of torque.

All those ponies are delivered to the rear wheels through either a standard six-speed manual, or a six-speed automatic transmission, with Cadillac claiming the CTS-V Wagon completes the 0 to 60mph (96 km/h) sprint in 4.0 seconds.

Aside from the new drivetrain, Cadillac's super fast wagon also gets Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes, and 19-inch forged-aluminum wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires.

Standard features include heated, leather-appointed seats, in-dash navigation system with 40-gigabyte hard drive and Xenon HID headlamps. Available options include the $3,400 Recaro heated and ventilated, driver and front-passenger bucket seats, $800 19-inch, polished aluminum wheels, a $600 midnight Sapele Wood trim package and $300 Suede steering wheel and shifter.

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GM Recalls Over 20,000 Cadillac CTS Models to Address Safety Issue with Glove Box

General Motors said on Monday it has issued a recall on 20,224 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V cars from the 2009-2010 model year to replace the glove box compartment. NHTSA's tests showed in the event of a frontal crash, if the front passenger is not wearing a seat belt, the risk of leg injury is higher than permitted under Federal law. It goes without saying that despite the NHTSA's findings, passengers should wear their seatbelts at all times.

Being a manufacturer recall, GM's dealers will replace the glove compartment assembly and, if necessary, in some vehicles modify the instrument panel structure, free of charge.

The Detroit automaker said the safety recall is expected to begin on or before October 20, 2010. For more information, owners of the affected CTS and CTS-V models may contact Cadillac directly at 1-866-982-2339.

Cadillac CTS Coupe Loses its Top for SEMA Show

Drop Top Customs, the Florida-based company that brought us the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger convertible models at last year's SEMA Show, is now getting ready to chop the roof off the freshly revealed Cadillac CTS Coupe. The soft top Caddy will be revealed in the flesh for the first time at this year's edition of the SEMA gathering, which runs from November 2 to 5 at the Las Vegas convention center.

For now, you'll have to make do with a set of renderings that you can check out along with some other drop top custom conversions from the tuning shop in the gallery after the jump.

Source: DTC , Via: Autoblog.com

Cadillac CTS Convertible

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Other Models from Drop Top Customs