Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept Debuts @ 2008 NAIAS

[Merc1]

With the media focused firmly on Sunday morning's overexcited cattle, Cadillac quietly revealed that it has more in store than the high-powered 2009 CTS-V for the Monday morning festivities, mainly a coupe variant of the hot CTS. Unfortunately, it will only be a conceptbather than a production car, but that is not too shocking -- a production CTS Coupe is not expected until 2010.

Caddy will also have another fuel cell car on hand in addition to the Provoq, which was unveiled earlier at the CES show called the Myst. No word on what kind of vehicle the Myst happens to be.

For a show heavy on blown embargoes and short on surprises, this comes as welcome news.



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M

[siko]

The funny part is that it's already been sort of leaked via and newsppaper ad:

[Merc1]

Hilarious, but all in all a misprint.

M

[Merc1]

2008 Detroit Auto Show: Cadillac to Unveil CTS coupe concept

Cadillac dropped a surprise on the Detroit auto show early this morning with a press release announcing the reveal of the CTS Coupe concept. We’ve been expecting some variations of the CTS sedan for some time now and it looks like we’ll finally get a look at what’s in store later this morning. In addition to the two-door CTS, Cadillac also plans to roll out the Myst concept, a hydrogen-fueled “vision of future luxury transportation.” Not sure what form it will take, but it’s guaranteed to have plenty of chrome and the word “hydrogen” on it somewhere. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Edmunds Inside Line


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Can't wait to see it. I wonder if we'll eventually see a CTS-V Coupe?

M

[Merc1]

Well here she is:





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Looks a short tail mess IMO. The rear is clearly and afterthought.


M

[Merc1]

DETROIT - Its ultra-rakish roofline, ending in subtle tailfin-taillamps, will be controversial. The '10 Cadillac CTS coupe's styling will polarize, which should make the car successful in North America and Europe. Cadillac is calling it a "concept," yet despite denials that it has decided to produce it, the CTS coupe will launch in 12 to 18 months alongside a wagon version intended mostly for Europe. Car czar Bob Lutz says it's the one North American International Auto Show debut that GM managed to keep secret.

"To be honest, this vehicle wasn't supposed to exist," design chief Ed Welburn says. His designers drew the second-generation CTS sedan (2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year) and kept drawing. Credit for the drawing that led to the "concept" goes to Bob Munson, a "quiet designer" who just goes about doing his job, Welburn says. The roofline has no break from the c-pillar to taillamps atop a kind of bustle-butt. Doors are frameless and the door handles are electric buttons behind an aerodynamically correct opening, like on the Cadillac XLR. Forward of the a-pillar, the CTS coupe is virtually the same as the sedan, and overall dimensions are nearly identical (the super-rakish roof makes it look like a car with a longer wheelbase and short rear overhang).

Welburn says the CTS coupe could come with a "wide variety of powertrains, including a diesel," (slated for the upcoming CTS' European launch) and, of course, the 550-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter engine of the just-introduced CTS-v. Inside, the concept has piano black instrument panel accents, chrome and carbon fiber accents and deep yellow perforated suede inserts on the seats and door panels. The seats are more aggressive than the CTS sedan's. Even the seatbelt buckles have chrome accents, like on GM cars of the 1960s.

Coupes are a sketchy business, of course, but this is one area where Mercedes-Benz, and especially BMW with its 3 Series coupe, do well. The CTS coupe -- okay, "concept" -- will polarize, and it will succeed. It's a bold Cadillac, in the best sense of that description.


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Looks better in thse shots, but there is something off from front to rear.


M

[SDNR]

I like.

[siko]

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[Sunny]

I like the CTS sedan, but I like my coupes looking lithe, not a massive monolith. But for those who like that, it is pretty impressive.

[ZicZachZo]

It looks like a gian wedge of steel. I like it!