2004 Cadillac Cts Sedan 4-door 3.6l, Auto, Runs Good on 2040-cars

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Dodge Dart falls short of Consumer Reports Recommended, Caddy XTS and Lincoln MKS, too

The Dodge Dart, Cadillac XTS and Lincoln MKS all failed to earn a "Recommended" rating from Consumer Reports. When it came to the compact Dart, the organization's testers thought the vehicle offered a quiet cabin, solid-feeling chassis and nimble suspension, but the new model ultimately fell short of the coveted rating due to powertrain issues. The institute's reviewers found the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to be underpowered and noted "drivability issues" when the available turbocharged 1.4-liter four was paired with the optional dual-clutch transmission (some of our editors disliked it paired with the six-speed manual). CR also dinged the latter powerplant for sounding "raspy." For what it's worth, we think the forced-induction engine offers an excellent and playful exhaust note, but that's just us.
As for the XTS, CR lauded the car for its luxurious cabin, but the vehicle's experience was dulled by its finicky CUE infotainment interface. Overall, the big Cadillac scored much higher than its cross-town rival from Lincoln. While testers found the American luxury sedan to offer a quiet ride and quality fit and finish, they felt the MKS delivered a "cramped driving position, ungainly handling, uncomposed ride, and limited visibility." Ouch. At the end of the day, both cars fell short of rivals from Japan, Germany and Korea. Check out the full press release below with more details, along with CR's musings on the Chevrolet Spark and Lexus ES.

Cadillac CT6 hybrid likely to appear in Shanghai

Cadillac is poised to reveal a hybrid version of the CT6 sedan later this month at the Shanghai Motor Show. Rumors have swirled of the sedan's pending reveal, and General Motors product chief Mark Reuss reportedly confirmed its existence last fall during an investor conference. On Wednesday, Reuss again said that GM is working on the hybrid CT6, and when asked by Autoblog, he hinted at the pending debut. "We've really got to wait until we finish rounding out the portfolio," he said. "The Shanghai show is where you should look for all of it. So stay tuned." A Cadillac spokesman declined to comment, but confirmed "we will add variants." The brand has already announced two V6 engines and is looking to expand the line. Reuss also said GM has considered a V-Series model for the CT6, but it's focusing on launching the four-cylinder and V6-powered sedans first and promoting V-Series versions of the CTS and ATS that arrive this year. "The [CT6] architecture is certainly capable of doing it," he said. "The question is who's going to buy the CT6? What kind of person? And do we need a V-Series off of that is the question we haven't answered yet. It's certainly capable of doing it ... we've certainly thought about it." Details of the hybrid powertrain aren't known, but it could use plug-in technology. Chevrolet announced the 2016 Malibu will get a hybrid model that employs electric powertrain features from the new generation of the Volt. For the CT6, electric-vehicle technologies would likely be used to extend range and aid the performance of the conventional engine. Related Video:

2017 Cadillac XT5 will debut in Dubai

Cadillac confirmed the 2017 XT5 crossover – the replacement for the SRX – will officially debut at the Dubai Motor Show in November. The XT5 will then make its first North American appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show later that month. The current SRX is a hugely important vehicle for Cadillac – it's still the company's best-selling product worldwide. But it's pretty old now, having launched in 2009 as a 2010 model. The XT5 will bolster all of the good things about the SRX while finally bringing that product up to date. Above, you can see a spy shot of what looks to be the new XT5, caught during a photo shoot. "The XT5 will be the cornerstone of a series of crossovers bearing the 'XT' designation," Cadillac said in a statement. We've long known that Cadillac wants to add a CUV between the XT5 and its flagship Escalade. But we think there's also room for something smaller – a proper fighter to the expanding entry-level luxury crossover segment that includes the Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1, upcoming Infiniti QX30, and more. We'll have more information on the 2017 XT5 this week. In addition to the auto show news, Cadillac confirmed it will have a few photos and details to share in the coming days. Stay tuned.