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 Escalade Platinum Edition Docks in Europe

Catering to the needs of soccer players, singers and business men of all sorts (including of course the shady type) who want to stand out from the crowd of Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover and BMW X5 SUVs, GM of Europe is launching a new and exclusive edition of its larger-than-life Escalade.

The Escalade Platinum Edition includes nearly every option of the regular Escalade and offers numerous unique additional features made available only on this version. The only option offered to buyers is the exterior color.

Along with the special Tehama aniline leather that covers the seats, instrument panel and center console, the top-of-the-line Caddy SUV adds genuine olive ash and burled walnut woods with wood inlays and aluminum trimmed instrument panel and console.

Rear passengers are treated to a separate entertainment system with DVD player, while heated and cooled front cup holders are included as well as a modified instrument panel, all set in a unique interior color combination of cocoa/light line.

Other standard features include hard drive-based navigation, keyless entry, electrically adjustable leather seats with memory function and xenon adaptive forward lighting.

A set of unique 22-inch multi-spoke chrome wheels completes the package.

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In Making the latest Cadillac Escalade More High-Tech, GM Actually Made it Easier to Steal...

According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, the Cadillac Escalade is numero uno when it comes to stolen car claims here in the US. The group says that for the first three years of the third-generation Escalade's production (2007-2009) there have been an average of 10.8 claims - from stealing the rims up to the entire car - for every 1000 insured Escalades. That's approximately five times more claims than the average car.

This surge in Escalade theft isn't just because Cadillac's big SUV is many celebrities' vehicle of choice, however. After 2006, the SUV was actually made easier to steal than most cars because GM did away with the simple yet effective steering wheel lock. Instead, it was replaced by some electronic nannies that were supposed to be "better". Don't worry, the lock's back for 2010, so all you up and coming pimps will have harder-to-jack rides. Watch the report in the video below.

By Phil Alex

Source: NYTimes & WXYS

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Cadillac wants to "Conquer" the European Luxury Market - Again...

Those folks holding the reins over at General Motors are a funny bunch. Every so often then they announce some grand scheme to enter Europe's extremely competitive premium automotive market with their Cadillac brand.

After GM's most recent fiasco with Kroymans, a Dutch distributor that sold Cadillacs in Europe before declaring bankruptcy last year, the U.S. automaker will now establish its own organization, called "Cadillac Europe" that will import, distribute and market a selected range of models specified for the Euro market.

"Europe is an important market for Cadillac," says Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. "Re-establishing distribution of our premium offerings is good news for those who seek import exclusiveness".

Of course many Europeans have associated Cadillac's "import exclusiveness" with products such as the now discontinued BS BLS that was essentially a re-skined Saab 9-3 which in turn was heavily based on the Opel Vectra, but anyway.

At the Geneva Motor Show, Cadillac will give Europeans a taste of their newest products including the CTS Coupe that's sated to arrive in North American showrooms this summer and this fall in Europe as well as the new CTS Sport Wagon, CTS Sport Sedan, the range-topping 556HP CTS-V, the SRX crossover and the "oh so European" Escalade Hybrid.

No word on any diesel or small displacement gasoline engines. That said, we suspect that Cadillacs will continue to be a more rare sight than pink-colored Aston Martins on European roads.