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Cadillac president reveals XTS sedan refresh, flagship vehicle plans

Update: The second paragraphed has been changed from the original text to make it clear that de Nysschen, not Autoblog , claimed the report by The Detroit Bureau is inaccurate. Cadillac has been on a tear ever since the automaker poached Johan de Nysschen from Infiniti, becoming a more profitable automaker while delving deeper into the luxury market. While some reports indicate that Cadillac may be limiting its lineup, de Nysschen just put everything out in the open. In the comment section of an article by The Detroit Bureau that claimed Cadillac would cut its lineup down, de Nysschen stated the report was inaccurate and outlined the automaker's future. The Cadillac CEO wrote "Some of what you report is correct, some incorrect, most is conjecture." A Cadillac spokesperson confirmed that de Nysschen did write the comment, but did not comment on any of the details. The Detroit Bureau's Paul Eisenstein told Autoblog that he stands behind the information in the report. In any case the most interesting tidbit in de Nysschen's comment is the major refresh for the Cadillac XTS. The news directly contradicts previous reports that indicated the XTS would be killed off by 2019. In Cadillac's pursuit to add some space between it and GM, the XTS was expected to get the axe in favor of more profitable vehicles. The sedan, which was introduced in 2012, shares its underpinnings with the latest generation of the Chevrolet Impala. To the contrary, Nysschen stated that "We ARE planning a major refresh for XTS." What the major refresh will bring the aging sedan is still a mystery, but the vehicle isn't dying. The move to keep the XTS in its lineup is a bit of a surprise as Cadillac has filled its lineup with track-oriented sports cars, rear-wheel-drive sedans, and extravagant crossovers. The boat-like XTS with its front-wheel-drive layout and available all-wheel-drive system sticks out like a sore thumb, even if it were to receive a major overhaul. The only real explanation is that Cadillac hopes the vehicle will still appeal to its old-school customers that are unwilling to compromise interior space and ride quality. In our most recent review of the XTS, we thought the luxurious sedan was a great long-distance cruiser, but not a talented sports car – no surprises there. It's unlikely that Cadillac will focus on driving pleasure with the refreshed XTS, focusing instead on pure comfort and luxury.

Drive like a prince: Join us for a walk through Monaco's car collection

Small, crowded, and a royal pain in the trunk lid to drive into during rush hour, Monaco sounds like an improbable location for a huge car museum. And yet, this tiny city-state has been closely linked to car culture for over a century. It hosts two major racing events every year, many of its residents would qualify for a frequent shopper card if Rolls-Royce issued one, and Prince Rainier III began assembling a collection of cars in the late 1950s. He opened his collection to the public in 1993 and the museum quickly turned into a popular tourist attraction. The collection continued to grow after his death in April 2005; it moved to a new facility located right on Hercules Port in July 2022. Monaco being Monaco, you'd expect to walk into a room full of the latest, shiniest, and most powerful supercars ever to shred a tire. That's not the case: while there is no shortage of high-horsepower machines, the first cars you see after paying ˆ10 (approximately $11) to get in are pre-war models. In that era, the template for the car as we know it in 2023 hadn't been created, so an eclectic assortment of expensive and dauntingly experimental machines roamed whatever roads were available to them. One is the Leyat Helica, which was built in France in 1921 with a 1.2-liter air-cooled flat-twin sourced from the world of aviation. Fittingly, the two-cylinder spun a massive, plane-like propeller. Government vehicles get a special spot in the museum. They range from a Cadillac Series 6700 with an amusing blend of period-correct French-market yellow headlights and massive fins to a 2011 Lexus LS 600h with a custom-made transparent roof panel that was built by Belgian coachbuilder Carat Duchatelet for Prince Albert II's wedding. Here's where it all gets a little weird: you've got a 1952 Austin FX3, a Ghia-bodied 1959 Fiat 500 Jolly, a 1960 BMW Isetta, and a 1971 Lotus Seven. That has to be someone's idea of a perfect four-car garage.  One of the most significant cars in the collection lurks in the far corner of the main hall, which is located a level below the entrance. At first glance, it's a kitted-out Renault 4CV with auxiliary lights, a racing number on the front end, and a period-correct registration number issued in the Bouches-du-Rhone department of France. It doesn't look all that different than the later, unmodified 4CV parked right next to it. Here's what's special about it: this is one of the small handful of Type 1063 models built by Renault for competition.

GM recalls Chevy Impala, Cadillac XTS for braking problem

Back in April, General Motors launched an investigation into braking issues affecting the 2014 Chevy Impala. Now there's a recall of both the Impala and the Cadillac XTS with which it shares its Epsilon II platform.
The issue apparently revolves around the electronic parking brake, which may not properly disengage. As a result, the rear brake pads could rub the rotor even while the vehicle is in motion, causing "significant heat, smoke and sparks." The earlier investigation had been launched following a complaint regarding the forward collision avoidance system, which is now either appears to have been unrelated or possibly a symptom of this larger issue.
The recall affects 2013-15 XTS models manufactured between February 14, 2012, and August 22, 2014, as well as 2014-15 Impalas manufactured between January 15, 2013, and August 22, 2014. The total number of affected vehicles reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration comes to precisely 132,921 units, while The Detroit News reports a higher total of 205,000 units - the difference potentially coming down to the scope within the US and more broadly across North America. Dealers will contact owners to update the software in order to fix the problem.