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2015 Cadillac Escalade gets 8-speed auto, range-topping Platinum Collection trim

The redesigned 2015 Cadillac Escalade is still quite fresh on the market, but the luxury brand has a host of mid-model-year updates for its massive luxury SUV that should make it an even better driver. The range-topping Platinum Collection (pictured above) is also all set to ensconce drivers in leather when it hits the road in the fourth quarter of 2014.
The entire Escalade range now gets an eight-speed automatic to replace the previous six-speed, and four-wheel drive models also get a two-speed transfer case to go along with it. New standard features include a Surround View camera system, 4G LTE connectivity, and the electric tailgate also now closes hands-free, in addition to opening that way.
To make riding in the Escalade an even more luxurious experience, Cadillac is adding a Platinum trim. Exterior changes add even more shine to the behemoth SUV with a grille wearing the redesigned brand crest, additional chrome trim, 22-inch wheels and Platinum badges. However, the interior is where things really get plush. The first and second row of seats are wrapped in Nappa, semi-aniline leather in a choice of either beige or gray. The dashboard, upper door panels and center console also get hand-stitched and wrapped leather, plus a suede microfiber headliner. Both front seats are heated and cooled with 18-way power adjustments, and the driver even gets a massaging function. Rear passengers are hardly left out, either, with 7-inch LCD screens in the headrests and a 9-inch screen in the center.

2016 Cadillac CT6 has arrived

We have known for a while that the 2015 New York Auto Show would mark the debut of Cadillac's latest flagship model. But after months of waiting as Caddy slowly revealed details, the 2016 Cadillac CT6 has finally arrived. The sedan is a technological tour de force for the brand and inaugurates a long list of new technologies. The CT6 will begin production at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in late 2015 and will go on sale with three engine options. Caddy won't release final figures yet, but based on preliminary numbers, we know the base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will make 265 horsepower. Stepping up to the newly revised 3.6-liter V6 will net buyers an estimated 335 hp, and finally there will be the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with an output of around 400 hp. All of these engines will be mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions, and six-cylinder models will get standard all-wheel drive that will be able to constantly vary the power sent to the front wheels. Carrying those powertrains is the new, aluminum-intensive Omega architecture. In addition to the lightweight metal making up the platform, the entire exterior also uses it to provide an estimated curb weight of less than 3,700 pounds. The decision to shed mass makes the CT6 a featherweight in its class – for comparison, the lightest, six-cylinder Audi A8 weighs 4,365 pounds. The sedan rides on a 122.4-inch wheelbase and is 204 inches long. That makes the Cadillac about 1.3 inches shorter than the smallest BMW 7 Series, but the Caddy is projected to tip the scales at less than both the big Bimmer and even the 5 Series, too. Cadillac wants the CT6 to be a luxury sedan that drivers can enjoy. In addition to the low weight, there's an available Active Chassis System throughout the range with rear-wheel steering and Magnetic Ride Control. When combined with the all-wheel-drive system, it means every corner of the car is both driving and steering the vehicle. Inside, the CT6 offers a ton of tech and luxury. Drivers are held in massaging, leather seats, and rear passengers also get adjustable chairs that are heated and cooled. Quad-zone climate controls keep everyone comfortable. Plus, in addition to the 34-speaker Bose audio system and streaming rearview mirror, there are features like a 10.2-inch CUE infotainment system with a capacitive touchscreen and console-mounted touchpad. The display also shows a 360-degree view outside and can even record video when the security system is activated.

Safety group pans GM’s new Marketplace in-dash shopping

When it comes to our cars, is the Internet of Things a godsend? Or a hidden menace that will create more problems than it will solve? On the same day General Motors announced it will equip newer-model cars with its in-dash Marketplace e-commerce app, a prominent safety group was shooting it down. National Safety Council President Deborah Hersman tells Bloomberg the technology will only contribute to distracted driving and hurt efforts to stem the tide of rising auto fatalities, which grew 5.6 percent to more than 37,000 in the U.S. in 2016. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says distracted driving was responsible for 3,477 fatalities and 391,000 injuries in 2015, the most recent year for which it has data. "There's nothing about this that's safe," Hersman told Bloomberg. "If this is why they want WiFi in the car, we're going to see fatality numbers go up even higher than they are now." Marketplace, developed with IBM, will allow drivers — or more often, one hopes, their passengers — to order coffee or food, find gas stations and reserve hotel rooms from their dashboard screens. The technology is set to be uploaded automatically to nearly 1.9 million GM vehicles model-year 2017 and later that are equipped with WiFi hotspots and compatible systems. By the end of 2018, about 4 million Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles will be equipped with Marketplace. The app will debut with a limited number of participating retailers, including TGI Fridays, Shell, Exxon Mobil and Starbucks, with more likely to join later. Online retail giant Amazon is also partnering with automakers such as Ford to bring e-commerce capabilities inside the car through its Alexa personal assistant. While convenience is nice, one other thing is becoming clear as the IoT wedges its way into our cars: It's taking aim at some decidedly first-world problems.Related Video: Image Credit: GM Buick Cadillac Chevrolet GM GMC Technology Infotainment in-car entertainment marketplace e-commerce