1989 Cadillac Fleetwood on 2040-cars

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Cadillac president de Nysschen says electrification coming 'across the spectrum'

We like to pick on new Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen for his insistence, many years ago, when he was president of Audi of America, that plug-in vehicles are for idiots. Listening to him give the keynote address at the Washington Auto Show today, you wouldn't know he ever said anything negative about an electric vehicle. Instead, he sounds something like a EV-angelist. De Nysschen said that Cadillac will be able to benefit from GM's considerable expertise in plug-in technology, which he said would be "applied across the spectrum of our portfolio." GM's electric committment will help in "making electrification commonplace." With the plug-in ELR already on the road, de Nysschen said that the company's next step in advancing powertrains will be the introduction of stop/start technology – which de Nysschen called an "important system to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions" – into a Cadillac for the first time later this year. Without giving any specific details, de Nysschen said that Cadillac will introduce eight new models (not necessarily plug-ins) by the end of this decade, including five that "will take Cadillac into market segments where the brand is not even present today." These new vehicles will likely be much lighter than today's vehicles, de Nysschen said, because "weight reduction today is critical to automotive design, it helps to improve fuel efficiency and contributes to desireable vehicle dynamics." The key is to reduce weight without compromising safety or comfort and to use the right material – steel, aluminum, carbon fiber – in the right place at the right time. It was a not-so-subtle jab at Ford and its new aluminum F-150. "In the pursuit of weight reduction, some manufacturers have also opted for abandoning steel and have gone for an all-aluminum approach," he said. "At Cadillac, we believe that different materials each present particular advantages in specific applications. There is no single material that represents the optimum balance of the conflicting objectives of every single application." Related video:

Here's what else you could buy for the average new-car price of $40,573

Autoblog may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The average price of a new car in America hit a new record in December 2020: $40,573. Not that we're surprised — the average has been over $35,000 for the past few years — but seeing that baseline figure crest 40 large is still a sticker-shock to the system. So, as we do every once in a while, we put our collective heads together and came up with a list of alternatives that you could choose to buy for that sum, new or old, classic or practical. Now, let's be crystal clear about one thing here. We're not actually recommending you make this type of decision. That said, we wouldn't blame you if you did. Managing Editor Greg Rasa: $40,000 will buy a fully loaded Camry or moderately equipped crossover. Or, for $39,997, to be exact, one could go motoring in a fine British automobile. This 2006 Aston Martin DB9 Volante in Alabama has 21,452 miles on it, and depreciation has worked its cruel magic: It is listed for less than one-quarter of its $168,000 starting MSRP when it was new. A check of other used DB9s nationwide indicates this is a fair price. This Aston's CarFax reveals two owners. (One, really, as the second was a dealership. Looks like it got traded in for a Porsche.) If you're understandably concerned about reliability, its service history indicates no surprises to date. Remember, it has a 450-horsepower 5.9-liter V12. And spring is coming. Of course a used Aston Martin is riskier than a new Camry. But as Louis Prima sang, "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think." What price beauty? Less than $40 grand. Associate Editor Byron Hurd: This price point opens up a ton of options in the "nearly new" luxury space, including a few good enthusiast picks, but my nod here goes to the Cadillac ATS-V. The discontinued, M3/M4-rivaling, 465-horsepower sport sedan and coupe can be had all day long in this price range with low miles. In fact, the real challenge is finding one in the spec you want, since it's one of those old-fashioned cars that actually presented the buyer with choices. Here's a clean, six-speed sedan in an actual color for less than our target price, for example. Coupes are more plentiful than sedans, especially in interesting colors, but there are plenty of them out there.

2017 GMC Canyon steals Cadillac's V6 for a little more power

GMC is fortifying the Canyon with a new powertrain and two new trim levels for 2017. GMC will give the Canyon the 3.6-liter V6 found in the Cadillac ATS, CTS, CT6, and XT5 crossover. The engine will be matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which also can be found on Cadillacs, the new 2017 Colorado, and other General Motors vehicles. The new engine comes with variable valve timing, improved direct injection, and Active Fuel Management, which is a form of cylinder deactivation that shuts off two cylinders to increase fuel efficiency and performance. Power is up from 305 to 308 horsepower, while torque increases from 269 to 275 pound-feet of torque compared to the old 3.6-liter V6. With the new transmission, the Canyon benefits from a higher first gear ratio, which should help drivers get off the line more easily when towing large cargo, and lower overdrive ratios for improved fuel efficiency. The 2016 model had a six-speed automatic. The Colorado also gets the eight-speed transmission for '17. GMC previously announced the All Terrain X and Denali models. The All Terrain X trim is offered on the SLE model and comes with the new 3.6-liter V6 engine or the 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel. The All Terrain X gets Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac P225/65R17 all-terrain tires, a body-color grille surround and matching rear step bumper, bespoke 17-inch aluminum wheels, and a spray-on bedliner. The truck also is fortified with Hill Descent Control and an off-road suspension. The Denali carries the flag as the most luxurious Canyon model and gets a Bose seven-speaker audio system, more chrome, and interior upgrades. In addition to the new models and the powertrain, the 2017 Canyon will be offered with new colors – Dark Slate Metallic, Mineral Metallic, and Red Quartz Metallic – a new IntelliLink radio with a seven-inch touchscreen, a heated steering wheel as an optional extra, and Standard Teen Driver Mode. The 2017 Canyon, with all of its changes, will be available in the fourth quarter of the year. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 GMC Canyon Denali: LA 2015 View 14 Photos News Source: GMC Cadillac GMC Truck Luxury Off-Road Vehicles engine gmc canyon chevrolet colorado