Queen of the Road

The name evokes images of high quality luxury cars. A car brand that has been always associated with superior make, precision car technology and innovation. It has become ingrained in our vocabulary that everything of high quality has been tagged "the Cadillac" of sorts.

As a high quality car manufacturer, Cadillac assures that every vehicle that comes out of its assembly line fits to be called a Cadillac. Ever since the introduction of the very first Cadillac in 1902, the company had made its mark on luxury cars and sport utility vehicles.

The first Cadillac was first manufactured by the Cadillac Motor Company, a company formed by former employees of the Henry Ford Company. The 10 hp Cadillac rolled out of the factory floor on October 1902, marking the birth of one of America's top car manufacturers. The first model was shown at the New York Auto Show, where it impressed thousands and meriting 2000 orders. It defined Cadillac's position as a reliable and precise manufacturer; the Cadillac was better made than its nearest competitor. As a measure of its greatness, the Cadillac was awarded the 1908 Dewar Trophy; for the most important advancement of the year in the automotive industry, the interchangeability of its car parts.

In 1909, the Cadillac Motor Company was purchased by General Motors, and became its luxury car division. Cadillac not only made large luxury vehicles, it also made "commercial chassis" institutional vehicles such as ambulances, funeral home flower cars, hearses and limousines.

It was under General Motor's management that numerous firsts and technological advancements became standard features in Cadillacs. In 1911, the Cadillac became the first internal combustion engine automobile to feature an electric starter, as opposed to the competition's crank start. The first mass produced V8 engine became available in 1915; shatter-resistant glass in 1926; and the first fully synchronized transmission in 1928.

Pre-World War II Cadillacs were models for well-built, powerful, and mass-produced luxury cars. These were aimed primarily at the upper class market. In the 1930s, 12- and 16- cylinder engines became part of the Cadillac stable. These cars were fitted with custom-built bodies, and their engines were able to deliver a combination of high power, smooth driving and quietness.

After the War, Cadillac introduced the "finned" car concept. Inspired by the twin rudders of the Lockheed P-38, Cadillacs sported tailfins in 1948. It reached its highest point in 1959, when the Cadillac had the most recognizable tailfins in the automotive world.

Since then, the Cadillac became a symbol of innovativeness, of simple elegance and bold design. Today, the Cadillac's stable include the STS, XLR, XRX, CTS, EXT, ESV, the Escalade, the Deville and the V-series. All of them carry the proud lineage of quality and luxury packed with sophisticated Cadillac parts that only a Cadillac could muster.

Despite its strong, recognizable design heritage, the Cadillac has resisted any efforts to bring back its "old" or "retro" designs. However, the Cadillac has trailblazed on a new road, the design philosophy of "art and science" - a form Cadillac says "expresses bold, high-technology design and invokes the technology used to design it."

As a progenitor of bold ideas, the Cadillac has the world waiting for its next innovation.

By Fernando Asedillo.

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Touring the Cadillac CTS

Cadillac’s luxury sports sedan, the Cadillac CTS has been bringing fame to its brand as well as unforgettable experiences for its drivers and passengers. The Cadillac CTS actually stands for “Catera Touring Sedan”. It holds four doors and has the capacity to take in a maximum of five passengers in its spacious cabin. This vehicle has also been made available in two trims which comprise of the 2.8 L Sedan, and the 3.6 L Sedan.

Upon its introduction, the Cadillac CTS 2.8 L Sedan comes equipped with the standard 2.8 liter V6 engine that is very much capable of providing some 210 units of horsepower. It also gives the Cadillac CTS the chance to achieve 17 mpg for city driving and 27 mpg on the highway. As per the Cadillac CTS 3.6 L Sedan, this vehicle comes with a standard 3.6 liter V6 engine capable of making 255 horsepower. It can give the Cadillac CTS a chance to roll along with 17 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Standard for both of these trim levels is a six speed manual transmission system with overdrive. Given as an option is a five speed automatic transmission system with overdrive.

This vehicle rolled off the Cadillac manufacturing plants using the General Motors’ new Sigma rear wheel drive architecture. To give credit to its brand name, this vehicle was nominated in 2002 for the North American Car of the Year award. Trivia has it that the Cadillac CTS was seen extensively in one of the car chase sequences in the 2003 movie, The Matrix Reloaded. Because of that stint, the first photographs of this vehicle were from that movie.

The Cadillac CTS comes in a package of features. For exterior colors, this luxury sports sedan could come in painted with light platinum, black raven, blackberry, blue chip, infrared, radiant bronze, sand storm, silver smoke, stealth gray, or white diamond. As per the interior, it could be ebony, light gray/ebony, or cashmere. Standard equipment for this includes driver and front passenger frontal air bags, head curtain side impact air bags, an AM/FM stereo with CD player, a digital clock, an auto tone control, an automatic volume, a Radio Data System, four wheel anti lock brakes, a dual-zone automatic climate controls, a cruise control system, power door locks, fog lamps, daytime running lamps, halogen headlamps, a wood trim for the interior, power adjustable and heated mirrors, the OnStar system, a remote keyless entry system, seat controls, and the XM Satellite Radio.

By Shane Carter.