2006 Cadillac Xlr - V, Hardtop Convertible on 2040-cars

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GM will likely build PHEV batteries in China soon

It's a big week for batteries. Friday, Tesla will hold a big event at its Gigafactory in Reno, NV. But even in Michigan, there are things happening on the electrified automotive front. This was proven when GM invited journalists to its Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant today, highlighting the six different battery packs it makes for nine vehicles around the world (plus a tenth, coming to Asia, that has not yet been announced). During our tour, we learned a few interesting tidbits that we thought readers would like to hear: The Cadillac CT6 plug-in hybrid launches in China this fall before coming to the US next year. GM builds the battery packs in Michigan and ships them to China for final assembly in the PHEV. For now, this is all fine for GM to qualify for China's incentives for building green cars in the country. But, as Bill Wallace, GM's director of global battery systems, told AutoblogGreen, this could change thanks to the country's 'Made in China 2025' plan. The situation is "evolving," he said, and it's a safe assumption that GM will need to build packs in China some day. For the CT6 PHEVs that will be sold in the US, the batteries will make a round trip, since GM will only build the plug-in version in China. As for the range of the CT6 PHEV, that hasn't been announced, but since China offers incentives for vehicles that get at least 50 kilometers (31 miles), that's a likely target (the US range (UPDATE: GM did announce an expected range for the CT6 PHEV in the US at the LA Auto Show last fall, saying it would "travel approximately 30 miles on a full electric charge"). The battery pack in the CT6 is also a clunky box-type thing, totally unlike the near-elegant T-shape used in the Volt. This despite the fact that the guts of the two packs are similar. Both have 192 li-ion cells and weigh almost the same, but GM tuned the CT6 pack for acceleration instead of range, the way it did with the Volt's pack. Still, the main reason the packs are different is because the CT6 is a rear-wheel drive vehicle, and the tunnel that the Volt's pack uses is occupied by the driveshaft. Despite the highly touted second-gen Chevy Volt going on sale last year, GM still has the capacity to build battery packs for the old, first-gen model. This is because the company is legally required to be able to provide replacement packs for warrantied vehicles (for up to 10 years), and the second-gen packs don't fit into the first-gen vehicles.

Cadillac reveals more 2015 Escalade details, launches colorizer

Cadillac has opened up a mini-site to entice you into its all-new 2015 Escalade, and begun talking about more of its features and trim levels. While all versions of the new daddy Caddy will be powered by a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque routed through a six-speed automatic, there will be three trim packages you can wrap around that powertrain and seven exterior colors available to make it pop.
Features common to all trims include leather throughout, heated and cooled front seats, a 12-inch reconfigurable dash cluster, a quieter interior thanks to Bose active noise cancellation and the brand's love/hate CUE infotainment system. The base trim comes with adaptive remote start, hands-free tailgate, rear-view camera, park assist, Magnetic Ride Control and sits on 20-inch wheels. Moving up to the Luxury spec increases your stature with 22-inch wheels and adds a reconfigurable, color head-up display, a sunroof, power fold-and-tumble second row seating, Intellibeam headlights and a Driver Awareness Package with active crash-avoidance technology like Safety Alert Seat, lane departure warning and forward collision alert.
The top Premium trim gets a Driver Assist Package that includes Automatic Collision Preparation, automatic braking and adaptive cruise control, rear-seat entertainment, along with exterior touches like illuminated door handles.

Cadillac cancels sponsorship of Trump's PGA event

Cadillac has ended its sponsorship of the PGA's World Golf Championship, which has incited a response from Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Without the automaker's money to run the event at a property owned by Trump in Miami, the PGA announced it will move the WGC to Mexico City. Trump responded by saying, "Cadillac's been a great sponsor, but they're moving it to Mexico. They're moving it to Mexico City which, by the way, I hope they have kidnapping insurance. They're moving it to Mexico City. And I'm saying, you know, what's going on here? It is so sad when you look at what's going on with our country." In 2010, the PGA announced a multi-year deal with Cadillac to sponsor the WGC, starting in 2011. Since 2007, the event has been held at what is now known as the Trump National Doral Miami location. Trump took ownership of the property in 2012. Cadillac issued a statement to Autoblog that says: "We are proud to have been the title sponsor of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship since 2011. We have made the decision, however, not to extend our sponsorship beyond this year. We thank the PGA TOUR for a great six years with the Cadillac Championship." Related Video: News Source: Talking Points MemoImage Credit: Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images Auto News Government/Legal Cadillac Mexico City