Car Reviws |
| 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, an AW Drivers Log: Posted: 08 Dec 2010 06:45 AM PST  Cadillac The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: I said it after I first drove a CTS-V coupe briefly, and I'll say it again: General Motors/Cadillac has struck upon a very interesting performance formula here. The CTS-V coupe, in my humble opinion, stands apart and alone from any of the potential competitors you might naturally think it has. Sure, on paper that might sound a bit odd, but drive this car, and it feels like a very fresh creation. I was surprised that for all of its inherent speed and quickness, the power is not overwhelming or frightening. It's not a “barely in control” sense of power and torque. Instead, it's a “oh, yeah, I can use this” amount of power and torque. The supercharger whine mixed with the V8's bark is very entertaining, though it's not dialed up to the level heard in the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1. I like the exterior design, if nothing else because it is very unique, and the interior is a galaxy far, far away from the original CTS models. This time, it appears to cost a good amount of money to manufacture, whereas the old car simply cost a lot to manufacture. The V coupe is heavy, but the engineers have damped out suspect body-control issues, and the chassis is fun to wring out. Raynal (see below) says he didn't love the seats, but I easily found a great driving position. As usual, I would prefer the manual transmission, but this auto 'box does a competent job upshifting and downshifting. Until General Motors offers a performance dual-clutch system, though, I'm going to feel like the automatic six-speed just isn't quite right for a performance car of this caliber. Regardless, this is an excellent overall car that I would be very happy to own. I'm not saying it is better than a relatively equivalent (pricewise) BMW or Mercedes-Benz performance model. No, it's just wholly different, and I applaud Cadillac for coming up with a new take on this oftentimes repetitive segment. EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I liked this car way more than I thought I would. And the people who saw it liked it too--this car got a lot of thumbs-ups. It is good-looking, fast and comfortable and seems well built, too. It's also easy to drive, in that it will lazily dawdle along around town nicely but becomes a screamer when you want it to. I love the sounds the V8 makes when you tromp on the gas, and it seems to rev so freely. In fact, I wouldn't mind if it was a bit louder. I didn't really love the seats and was kind of surprised to see that Recaro makes them. I usually like Recaros but I found these had too much support in the wrong places. Other than that, I liked the CTS-V coupe a lot. It's easy to drive hard and fast and always felt well-balanced. It'd be even better if it lost a couple hundred pounds. COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: Damn, this car is fast! Those were the words that came out of my mouth as I hit the throttle to merge onto the expressway for my commute home. I was amazed at how quickly things got going quickly in the CTS-V. I guess I shouldn't have been, given everything I've read about this rocket. But to be behind the wheel and feel the whoosh of power with not much pressure on the pedal was sweet. How I wished the construction barrels would disappear and for long, open stretches of road to spill before me. Alas, this is Michigan in the throes of Construction Season, so no such luck. But before I hit those slowdowns, I was able to open it up a little, if only briefly--what a blast! And many thanks to Cadillac for the strong brakes to smoothly scrub the speed. Inside, the cabin is sleek and sophisticated, and I like the pop-up nav screen and the ability to hide it when you want it out of the way. The seats were plenty comfy, and I liked the feel of the suede steering wheel in my hands. My only nit is the sheetmetal. Yes, it looks fast and sporty, but the sharp edges and creases, well, I'm not sure I am a fan. But inside, well, there's plenty to like. And how I love all of the power on tap. EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: This is a terrific car from Cadillac. I like the coupe look, the comfortable interior and the monster V8. This thing has a terrific rumble and stump-pulling torque. If you mash the throttle, make sure you're pointed in the right direction. Things happen real fast. EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: I'm not sure there's a coupe on the market right now that I like better, and it's hard to argue with some of the hot coupes we've had in our garage lately. That means the CTS-V coupe is truly a world-class car, an equal competitor with the best anyone has to offer--and better than most, if not all of them. The car's power is out of this world--with every bit of it on tap without hesitation as long as you keep the revs in that 3,000-to-6,000 sweet spot. Power comes on instantly then, with a supercharged whir and a punch that is both beefy and velvety in delivery. Only when you let the revs drop too low is there a noticeable delay until the power punches you into the seat. Ah, the seat, a fine piece of upholstery that is--with plenty of support yet none of the overbolstering that too often makes cars at this level too harsh for everyday use. Not the CTS-V. In addition, from the suede-lined steering wheel to the handy center stack controls to the at-your-fingertips shift buttons, everything is clicking in this Caddy. One final thought occurred to me while winging along in this wicked CTS: Isn't it amazing how strong the entire line of CTS models is? When you consider that this car comes in iterations from a V6 wagon to a V8 sedan to this mighty monster coupe, it is evident that Cadillac has its product line right with this car. 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Base Price: $64,290 As-Tested Price: $68,590 Drivetrain: 6.2-liter supercharged V8; RWD, six-speed automatic Output: 556 hp @ 6,100 rpm, 551 lb-ft @ 3,800 rpm Curb Weight: 4,237 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 16/15.2 mpg Options: Recaro high-performance seats ($3,400); midnight wood trim package ($600); suede steering wheel and shifter ($300) |
| 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon, an AW Flash Drive: Posted: 08 Dec 2010 01:30 AM PST       
What is it? Acura expands the TSX lineup with the addition of the Sport Wagon for the 2011 model year. In other markets around the world, the TSX sedan and wagon are sold as the Honda Accord--it's slightly narrower and shorter than the U.S. Accord. But the TSX keeps it's European-influenced styling and suspension settings. The prime selling point of the TSX wagon is the added cargo versatility that comes from folding the rear seat. How's it drive? Like just about every other Honda/Acura product, this TSX Sport Wagon is fun to drive. Having said that, the 2.4-liter I4 is not necessarily the life of the party. Like most Honda powerplants, there's not a lot of low-end grunt, and the fun doesn't happen until you get further up the rev range. Acura officials made a conscious decision to not offer the Sport Wagon with the six-speed manual that is available in the TSX sedan because product planners say U.S. buyers are not big on manual transmissions. With single-digit take rates for Acuras with manuals, and with Acura expecting to sell just 4,000 wagons annually, it's easy to see why the manual remains on the shelf. But having the manual transmission would put a little bit of sport into the Sport Wagon that it is lacking. Still, the steering is quick and responsive, the suspension is firm without being harsh, and the cabin is quiet at highway speeds, making the time behind the wheel enjoyable. Plus, with an available 460-watt ELS surround-sound audio system with a 15-gig storage, you have a concert hall on wheels, for those who appreciate such things. There are few, if any, better manufacturer audio systems offered today. Do I want it? Like similar wagons from Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, the TSX Sport Wagon is a terrific alternative to a sport-ute. With cargo-hauling capacities similar to those of a compact SUV (60.5 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats folded) you get a fun-to-drive car with good fuel economy. And this being an Acura, you get a bunch of available technology, such as a terrific, easy-to-use nav system with a backlit VGA eight-inch color screen along with real-time traffic and weather, plus the above-mentioned rocking audio system. The TSX Sport Wagon is not available with all-wheel drive, and that might hurt it going up against competitors such as Audi and Volvo that do offer it. But if front-wheel drive and snow tires will get you through the winter, or you live in areas where that is not a concern, the TSX Sport Wagon is a solid player in what is becoming an increasingly crowded segment. 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon On Sale: Dec. 21 Price: $31,820 Powertrain: 2.4-liter, 201-hp, 170 lb-ft I4; FWD, five-speed automatic Curb weight: 3,599 lb 0-60 mph: N/A Fuel economy (EPA): 25 mpg |
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