London Mayor to Whack President Obama’s Motorcade with the Congestion Charge

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past week or so, you’d have seen that hi-larious [sic] video of one of the Barack-mobiles getting stuck on a ramp outside the U.S. Embassy in Ireland. The U.S. President’s eight ton, “Beasts” are monsters of cars, built to withstand bullets, bombs and probably reporters’ shoes (yes, I went there).

In a cute footnote to this story, notorious car-hater environmentally-conscious London Mayor Boris Johnson is considering levying a congestion charge on each car in President Obama’s motorcade, the cost of which would be £10 (US$16) per vehicle. A spokeswoman has stated that they will not be paying the charges if billed.

Read more »

2011 Final Cadillac DTS

2011 Final Cadillac DTS

Famed Italian car collector (and luxury products retailer) Nicola Bulgari owns no much less than 14 Cadillacs, ranging from historic beauties like a 1932 355B V12 Fleetwood Limousine to contemporary marvels like the 2009 CTS-V sedan and 2010 CTS Activity Wagon. Now, Bulgari has extra a 15th Caddy to his assortment: the extremely last DTS sedan to roll off GM's Detroit assembly lines.
Read more »

Last Cadillac DTS Heads to Bulgari Collection

It may not be anywhere close to being a historic model for Cadillac, but for some, the outgoing DTS has a special place in their wish list. In fact so special that Nicola Bulgari of the renowned Italian jewelry, perfume and more recently hotel chain family, decided to add the last DTS to roll off the production line to his personal car collection.

“Is it important?” Nicola Bulgari asked. “Is it the number or the quality that matters? It’s the quality. I like the DTS because it’s a great sedan,” said Bulgari. “It’s the last of an era. I thought it would be wonderful to own the last Northstar in a DTS. It’s one of the best engines ever designed – reliable and a performer.”

Read more »

President Obama’s Cadillac gets Trapped on a Ramp in Ireland

The heavily armored Cadillac that U.S. President Obama relies on for short-distance travel caused an embarrassing moment during his trip in Dublin, Ireland, today when it got jammed on a ramp after exiting the U.S. Embassy's complex. The first cars from the presidential motorcade passed without problems through the gates of the Embassy, but a BMW 7-Series preceding the Cadillac slightly touched the asphalt.

The Presidential Cadillac, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, came next and hit the ground much harder and was immobilized. "There was a loud kind of bang, metal-on-metal, grinding, crunching noise and the car was stuck," an RTE reporter told the AFP.

Read more »

FAB Design's Cadillac Escalade Proves Money Can't Buy Taste

Swiss-based tuning firm Fab Design will no doubt raise a few eyebrows with its most recent work on the Cadillac Escalade. Roland Rysanek, the owner of the aftermarket company, which specializes on Mercedes-Benz models, found himself in front of a dilemma when asked by a North African client to modify the heavyweight American SUV.

Rysanek eventually accepted the job, as the eccentric owner was a loyal client with plenty of Fab Design Mercedes models parked in his garage. Anything for a devoted customer, right? Well, this particular client wanted the car to look like no other Escalade and to have an interior lined with genuine snake leather and crocodile-imitating leather – lots of it.

Read more »

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racer SCCA

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racer SCCA

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racer SCCA

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racer SCCA

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racer SCCA

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racer SCCA

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racer SCCA

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racers Show their Colors at Sebring

The racing division of Cadillac travelled to the Sebring International Raceway for a second round of testing before the start of the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT season, which will mark the return of the brand with the crest to racing after a three year hiatus.

For the first time, both CTS-V Coupe racecars showed the full color scheme, decals and numbers they will wear during the 2011 season. The No. 8 car will be driven by Andy Pilgrim, while the No. 3 coupe will have Johnny O'Connell behind the wheel.

“It’s our first opportunity to get both cars on the track at the same time, in full race trim. Besides looking incredible on the track, the cars are performing at an exceptional level,” said Jim Vurpillat, Cadillac global marketing director.

“We’re getting in a lot of laps, and that’s what we need to do to get ready for the 2011 season,” said No. 8 car driver Andy Pilgrim. His teammate, Johhny O'Connell added: „With two full days of testing (Feb. 22-23), we’ll have a really good idea of how we’ll perform at the first race in St. Petersburg next month.”

The first race of the season will be on March 25-27 in St. Petersburg, Florida, followed by seven other venues in the U.S. and Canada.

By Dan Mihalascu

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

FIRST DRIVE 2011 CADILLAC CTS-V WAGON

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

As with the CTS-V Coupe, everything forward of the A-pillars was lifted straight from the CTS-V Sedan and mated to the Cadillac Sport Wagon's body. Not everything is the same, of course. The show special you see here features a new rear fascia with a special roof-edge spoiler and integrated third brake light, all of which are unique to the concept and could see production in the future. The car is finished in the same Midnight Silver paint as the Sixteen Concept, augmented by special Liquid Silver wheels and a Black Chrome grille.

Read more »

Cadillac Aera Concept LA Show 2010

Attention to the Los Angeles Auto Show is on new vehicles and concepts in ways a car in the very near future. One aspect of the show but looking further, pushing their vision of the designer to create a topic included. The Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge has taken seven years, the designers had in 2010 to a car of 1000 pounds, the stylish and performance-oriented, but was also able to take to create four passengers. GM Advanced Design Team came to the plate and with his concept was Cadillac, took first place. The podium is full are, however, because the Smart 454 also claimed a victory in the competition as the judges declared a draw.

Read more »