The next chapter in Cadillac’s video log of the development of this cutting edge sports sedan, the Cadillac ATS:
Having conquered the Nürburgring, it’s time for the ATS to make its public debut. ATS: The Journey Chapter 4 takes you behind the scenes of Cadillac’s reveal event to capture the reactions of the auto industry press as the ATS is unveiled. Will it meet their expectations? Watch to find out.
Cadillac Global Marketing Director Jim Vurpillat answers tech expert Katie Linendoll's questions at Cadillac-OnStar press event.
DETROIT – Cadillac CUE, the new user experience for intuitive in-vehicle connectivity and control, received a Popular Mechanics Top Gadgets of CES 2012: Editors’ Choice Award at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Cadillac was the only automaker selected. The awards were announced on PopularMechanics.com at the conclusion of CES.
Each year at CES, the editors of Popular Mechanics select their top picks based on the level of innovation, potential industry impact and overall appeal. Cadillac presented CUE amid thousands of new products and innovations in the consumer electronics showcase.
“After seeing an earlier demonstration of the system at the Los Angeles Auto Show, I knew it would be a strong candidate for an award at CES,” said Andrew Del-Colle, assistant editor, Popular Mechanics. “The show offered a great opportunity to compare the CUE with many other OEM and aftermarket systems, and it stood out to us for its innovative use of new standards such as HTML 5, as well as for its intuitive user interface.”
CUE features the first automotive use of capacitive touch – the use of electrodes to sense the conductive properties of objects, such as a finger. It is a technology used by many of today’s most popular handheld mobile devices.
Other key aspects of CUE are natural speech recognition, Bluetooth connectivity for up to 10 devices and a motorized concealed storage compartment. The system runs on an ARM 11 3-core processor on a Linux open-source HTML5-based software platform
CUE debuts in production on Cadillac’s 2013 XTS luxury sedan starting in late spring in North America. CUE will also be featured in the all-new 2013 ATS sport sedan launching in North American this summer.
DETROIT – Got backseat boredom? DVD players and Game Boys are so five years ago, but a new concept in rear seat entertainment technology that uses the windows themselves could replace squirminess and snoozing with interactive scribbling, sweeping and pinching.
General Motors Research and Development put that challenge before researchers and students from the FUTURE LAB at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Israel. The task: Conceptualize new ways to help rear seat passengers, particularly children, have a richer experience on the road.
The Windows of Opportunity (WOO) Project was inspired by psychological studies indicating car passengers often feel disconnected from their environment, GM asked the Bezalel students to turn car windows into interactive displays capable of stimulating awareness, nurturing curiosity and encouraging a stronger connection with the world outside the vehicle.
“Traditionally, the use of interactive displays in cars has been limited to the driver and front passenger, but we see an opportunity to provide a technology interface designed specifically for rear seat passengers,” said Tom Seder, GM R&D lab group manager for human-machine interface. “Advanced windows that are capable of responding to vehicle speed and location could augment real world views with interactive enhancements to provide entertainment and educational value.”
Since GM has no immediate plans to put interactive display windows into production vehicles, the R&D team gave free reign to the Bezalel students to create applications without concern whether they could be mass produced. Bezalel is Israel’s oldest institute of higher education and one of the more prestigious schools of its kind in the world.
The apps include:
To demonstrate these apps, the students produced a full scale functional prototype of a rear passenger seat and side window. The students used motion and optical sensor technology developed by EyeClick to turn standard window glass into a multi-touch and gesture sensitive surface.
If such interactive windows were put into automotive production they likely would use electronically charged “smart glass” technology, which is capable of variable states of translucence and transparency, and can reflect projected images. Smart glass is increasingly used in architectural and display applications, but outside of movies like Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is rarely seen in cars.
“Projects like WOO are invaluable, because working with designers and scholars from outside of the automotive industry brings fresh perspective to vehicle technology development,” said Omer Tsimhoni, lab group manager for human-machine interface, GM Advanced Technical Center in Israel. “WOO is just one of many projects underway at GM that could reinvent the passenger experience in years to come.”
DETROIT – Cadillac will again support CureDuchenne and its fight against muscular dystrophy in young boys by donating its corporate Super Bowl XLVI tickets in a charity auction to raise awareness and money for the organization.
CureDuchenne, a non-profit based in Newport Beach, Calif., will auction 19 Super Bowl XLVI packages provided by Cadillac. Each package includes hotel accommodations and a pair of tickets to Super Bowl XLVI, scheduled to be played Sunday, Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The auction runs on the charity auction website charitybuzz.com through Jan. 25. . Proceeds will benefit leading edge research to eventually find a cure for Duchenne, a progressive form of Muscular Dystrophy. Beginning this week, Cadillac will debut a series of announcements featuring NFL Linebacker Clay Matthews to promote the auction.
“This is a meaningful way to support this great innovative organization for this year’s Super Bowl,” said Don Butler, Cadillac vice president of Global Marketing. “This is a disease that knows no boundaries and deeply affects families – including some right here in our own family at Cadillac.”
Matthews, a member of the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers and three-time Pro Bowl nominee, says he is proud to lend his time and support.
“I consider myself very fortunate to be a voice for Duchenne and the CureDuchenne organization,” he said. “With the help and support of Cadillac, and so many great people across the globe, CureDuchenne is getting closer to finding a cure for this devastating disease.”
Currently 20,000 boys and young men are affected by Duchenne in the United States. It is a genetic disease that occurs in one of 3,500 boys worldwide. Boys with Duchenne are usually diagnosed by the age of five, in a wheelchair by age 12, and may be completely paralyzed by their late teens. Historically, most Duchenne patients do not live to see adulthood.
Duchenne can occur in any family, from any race and from any background. Currently, there is no cure, but for the first time there is hope that the current research may result in treatments which will greatly improve the lives of Duchenne boys.
“Last year’s ticket donation raised significant dollars and helped us fund leading-edge, gene therapy research and a dedicated Duchenne clinic at UCLA,” said Debra Miller, who founded CureDuchenne with her husband in 2003. “Our mission of extending and improving the lives of the 300,000 boys worldwide afflicted with Duchenne is more likely realized because of Cadillac’s generosity.”
Cadillac began its support of the CureDuchenne organization in 2010, when its Super Bowl XLV ticket auction raised more than $500,000 for the organization. That was followed by a contest on the American Chopper series on the Discovery Channel last summer. “American Chopper” challenged the highly competitive father-and-son duo Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. in a contest to design and build the best Cadillac design-inspired chopper.
To date, Cadillac has helped raise more than $750,000 for CureDuchenne and expects this year’s ticket auction to top last year’s.
The upcoming ATS and XTS feature the new Cadillac User Experience (CUE) configurable dash and touch-sensitive center console. The images Cadillac has shown so far may be a mix of what is in the show cars and what will make it into production, but let’s look at some of the variety, shall we?
This view shows info on the configurable dash, including a photo caller id displayed on the dash to the left, MPH and compass top center, a 3D graphical representation of a gas pump with integrated meter right, gear selection bottom right, 4-wheel tire pressure status bottom center, and odometer bottom left.
From the published info:
Cadillac CUE integrates interior design with industry-first control and command technologies. It will debut in 2012 in the ATS and XTS luxury sedans and SRX luxury crossover. It features a 12.3-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster (on select models) and offers four selectable displays: Simple (shown), Enhanced, Balanced and Performance, which can mix between vehicle data, entertainment, navigation and 3D vehicle image.
This interior shot shows the dash configured for a ‘conventional’ gauge set albeit with tire pressure displayed in the center of the tachometer display.
This view shows a half-dial to the left with needle & conventional tach, flat-bottomed dial center with MPH, and a stacked gauges to the right.
Based on these I am hoping that Cadillac is bringing a user-selectable suite of gauge packages for the configurable display to market!
KPE is the distributor for a supercharger kit soon to be released by IPF Tuning targeted at the GM LLT 3.6L V6 engine. The stock engine in the 2008-2011 CTS made 304 hp. With this new supercharger a 3.6L V6 would have 400+ hp — a bit more power than the stock LS6 or LS2 V8s in the 04-08 CTS-V!
The kit targets the LLT due to its use as the standard engine in the Chevrolet Camaro, but fitment there also enables fitment for the Cadillac CTS 3.6L. It is not clear if the same kit will work equally well on the 2012 LFX engines until further testing and tuning has been done.
IPF’s test claims are an improvement to 435 hp and 360 lb ft of torque. For the CTS 3.6L that power would change it from a 6.3s 0-60 time to under 5.1s under ideal conditions, and get it into the 13s in the quarter mile. Cost of the kit for the Camaro is US$5,590, with a $1K deposit for pre-orders. As of this article kits do not appear to be shipping yet.
Although $5K+ seems expensive that is a reasonable market price for a full supercharger kit. Remember there are advantages to buying a pre-engineered kit with some certainty of working properly when installed!
The kit appears to be complete, to allow for easy installation. It includes supercharger, intercooler, and appropriate custom brackets and mounting hardware.
The Supercharger head unit is a Vortech V3 Self contained unit! No drilling into the oil pan or complicated plumbing. The intercooler is a thick core for maximum cooling efficiency with minimal pressure drop. Silicone hoses and couplers and stainless steel clamps. All the hardware is high quality and made in the USA. A Powertrain Warranty is available from IPF and is valid when the kit is installed by an ASE Certified Technician. The kit will sell for $5590.00 plus shipping. The Powertrain Warranty is $275.00 which covers engine and transmission. Again most of the forced induction (Turbo kits) do not offer a Powertrain Warranty!!!
This is a video of a Camaro V6 with the supercharger kit installed.
The video notes:
IPF Supercharged and tuned 2011 Chevrolet Camaro V6 (LLT); For more information and available applications for select GM models, check out www.IPF-Tuning.com
KPE Products Contact info:
Dave Loucks
888-222-4291
dave@kpe-products.com
www.KPE-Products.com
www.IPF-Tuning.comWe are currently producing the IPF Supercharger for the 2010-11 Camaro V6. The kits will begin shipping the week of January 16th. There are some kits on backorder but we can still take preorders as of today. Camaro enthusiasts can still put down a deposit to guarantee they get one out of this initial production run!
After we complete this first production of IPF Superchargers for the Camaro, we will be moving on the CTS. Our intent is to have the CTS kit available in the next 90 days. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
The guys at DREVolution Motorsports are reporting that they are actually measuring 420-430 Hp at the wheels from Camaro testing. That would suggest almost 500 hp at the crank.
Click for IPF Tuning on Facebook
Continues the CTS Art and Science design themes, which can be difficult on a smaller car. The best critique received is that it looks too conservative — what the critics don’t recognize is that Cadillac has masterfully made a small car look as good as the mid-size CTS. The team stayed with 18″ wheels to save weight, but they look in proportion to the ATS.
Hidden front bumper. High tech lighting solutions. Conventional door handles retained to keep the chrome touches?
The electronic dash display is configurable in the CUE system. The center console display is all a touch screen. There is available HUD (Heads up display).
Interior appears to be evolutionary from CTS, which is good. Looks very streamlined and well laid out. Variety of colors is interesting and has a sporty appeal.
Everything is scaled to a smaller car to save weight, increasing performance and MPG.
These are all likely good trades to the target audience.
Wow they got it under 3,400 lbs! Looks good so far can’t wait to see more & get more details.
What are the performance numbers for the Turbo? for the 3.6L V6? What will the prices be? When does the ATS-V arrive?
At 7:30PM (EDT) on January 8, 2012, we will be performing migration to a new server.
During this time, CaddyInfo Forum will be turned offline to ensure no new content is lost in the move.
We expect full service to be restored no later than 4:00AM (EDT) on January 9.
Update: Server migration appears to be complete; new server is sh05.lw.ipslink.com for status purposes.
DETROIT – From the very outset of development, engineers focused on making the Cadillac ATS one of the lightest cars in the compact luxury segment. Its curb weight of less than 3,400 pounds (1,542 kg) is a key contributor to a world-class driving experience and helps make the new sport sedan more efficient.
An aluminum hood, magnesium engine mount brackets and even lightweight, natural-fiber door trim panels contribute to the ATS’s low overall mass – and reflect the systematic approach of evaluating every ounce that goes into the car.
“Low weight helps enable the ATS’s driving experience, making it feel more nimble and controllable,” said Dave Masch, ATS chief engineer. “Mass efficiency helps the car respond more immediately and precisely to driver input, and improves fuel efficiency.”
Discipline to mass efficiency was a driving force in the development of the ATS. The engineers and designers stayed true to the performance goals and desired driving character. The development team’s culture was also instrumental, as everyone from engineers to suppliers and leadership kept mass as a primary consideration.
“We thought about grams, not pounds, and looked at how even the smallest of changes could contribute to the overall mass goal,” said Masch.
Load and space management – what engineers and mathematicians call topology – was applied during the design of the car’s structure. That helped ensure mass efficiency was built into the very foundation of this all-new architecture. Advanced computational development helped determine the most efficient design, emphasizing strength and stiffness via the use of high-tech materials. High-strength steel (HSS) and ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS) are used most effectively to reduce mass and optimize crash protection.
The ATS features UHSS in areas such as cross-vehicle beams around the “safety cage” of the body structure.
Compared to conventional steel used in most body structures, the yield and tensile strength of HSS is about four times better, while UHSS – which can include boron steel – is up to four times stronger than high-strength steel. That allows these strategic parts to be made of thinner gauges for reduced weight, while still offering the same – or greater – strength of bulkier structures made of conventional steel.
ATS powertrain and suspension systems feature extensive use of aluminum, another material that offers an excellent blend of strength and low mass. Many of the links for the front suspension are aluminum, as well as the front suspension cradle on both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models. Also, the design of each component was carefully studied to optimize size and form.
“The design of each part was refined carefully, so excess material that didn’t contribute to function or strength was eliminated,” said Masch.
The aluminum-intensive powertrains not only helped minimize overall weight, they are instrumental in favorable power-to-weight ratios that contribute to the ATS’s willing feeling of performance. With the 3.6L V-6, for example:
But for all their gram-shaving initiatives, engineers were careful to balance the ATS’s mass to ensure Cadillac’s signature refinement wasn’t sacrificed. Thinner door glass, for example, would have saved a few pounds, but at the expense of increased road noise. Weight was even put back into aluminum wheel castings during the development process to enhance strength and reduce road noise.
Likewise, the rear suspension cradle for the five-link independent rear suspension is made of steel, which helps reduce noise and provides counterweight to the engine and transmission at the front of the car to help the ATS achieve its nearly 50/50 weight distribution.
The 2013 Cadillac ATS goes on sale during the second half of 2012.
2013 2.5L I-4 with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing for Cadillac ATS. (01/08/2012)
DETROIT – A trio of power-dense engines, including two new four-cylinders and Cadillac’s renowned 3.6L V-6, gives the all-new 2013 ATS a strong balance of performance and efficiency. All three feature direct injection technology and lightweight components.
The engine lineup starts with a standard 2.5L four-cylinder; a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder and the V-6 are available. The four-cylinders are next-generation engines, with the 2.0T offered with a manual transmission – a choice that’s unavailable in some luxury cars.
Increased efficiency was a priority for the new four-cylinders. It was achieved partly through lower engine friction, which was reduced by up to 16 percent using new technologies such as a variable-displacement oil pump and, with the 2.5L, an actively controlled thermostat. Cadillac proprietary computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis techniques were used to develop an all-new combustion system with a higher compression ratio, which also helps boost efficiency.
The 2.5L is rated at an estimated 202 horsepower (151 kW) and 191 lb.-ft. of torque (258 Nm), while the 2.0T – the latest in a series of technologically advanced, high-output turbo engines – is estimated at 270 horsepower (201 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm). The award-winning 3.6L V-6 is rated at an estimated 315 horsepower (235 kW) and 267 lb.-ft. of torque (362 Nm).
All of the engines feature direct injection and dual overhead camshafts with continuously variable valve timing, which help optimize power and efficiency, as well as reduce emissions. And all of the engines are matched with six-speed transmissions, including the Hydra-Matic 6L45 automatic with tap-shift control, and a six-speed manual available with the turbo engine.
“The ATS is all about balanced performance, and that’s exactly what the powertrain systems are designed to provide,” said Mike Anderson, global chief engineer for the Cadillac four-cylinder engines. “They are also refined, which enhances the driving experience with smoothness and predictability that inspires confidence as the revs climb.”
All three engines support the ATS’s agile and lightweight driving dynamics. With an estimated curb weight of less than 3,400 pounds (1,542 kg), it offers a more favorable power-to-weight ratio than key competitors. With the 3.6L V-6, for example, there is 1 horsepower for every 10.8 pounds of vehicle weight. That’s better than a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350’s 11.9:1 ratio or the 2012 Audi A4 sedan’s 16.6:1 ratio.
The optimized balance of power and low vehicle weight enhances fuel economy, too, as the engines don’t have to work as hard.
“There are plenty of powerful sports sedans on the market, but they can feel ponderous and heavy – that’s not the case with the ATS, which feels light on its feet and immediately responsive when you put your foot down,” said Anderson. “Best of all, it’s efficient, guilt-free driving satisfaction, because the power-dense engines and low vehicle weight combine for good fuel economy.”
The ATS will deliver peak highway fuel economy of more than 30 mpg.
Performance and refinement
Features of the four-cylinder engines’ new combustion system deliver improved knock resistance and higher-flowing intake and exhaust ports in the cylinder head, helping increase efficiency, power and torque. The new engines also have increased-authority cam phasing to minimize any compromise between efficiency, performance, emissions and drivability.
The 2.5L is tuned to deliver more of its torque at lower rpm, giving the ATS a stronger feel at launch and during on-demand maneuvers, such as passing or accelerating on a freeway entrance ramp. It is also expected to be one of the quietest and most refined engines in the segment.
Engineers also evaluated the quality of sound in the 2.5L. That means a quieter driving experience and a more refined sound as the engine revs to its 7,000-rpm peak.
Some of the elements that contribute to the refinement of both four-cylinder engines include:
The 2.5L is paired with the Hydra-Matic 6L45 six-speed automatic with tap-shift control.
Production for the 2.5L and 2.0T engines takes place at GM’s Tonawanda, N.Y. facility.
New 2.0L turbocharged
An all-new 2.0L turbo engine debuts in the ATS, advancing a legacy of high-performance turbo engines with greater efficiency and more technology. Along with its 270 horsepower (201 kW), the 2.0T’s torque curve is broad and robust, delivering 90 percent of its peak 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm) from 1,500 rpm to 5,800 rpm – for a great feeling of immediate power at all speeds.
The turbocharger generates up to 20 pounds of boost and its twin-scroll design helps optimize the usable power from the engine, virtually eliminating turbo lag and helping deliver a broad power band. It also gives the engine the rapid throttle responsiveness associated with a higher-displacement, naturally aspirated, high-performance engine. Electronically controlled supporting components, including the wastegate and bypass, help optimize performance and efficiency.
The engine features durability and technological features familiar in premium engines, including low-friction hydraulic roller-finger valve operation and an electronic throttle. A hydraulic tensioner keeps the timing chain adjusted for life, and extended-life spark plugs deliver 100,000 miles (160,000 km) of service. Additional engine features include:
A Hydra-Matic 6L45 six-speed automatic with tap-shift control is offered with the 2.0T, along with a new Tremec TR3160 six-speed manual. It is similar in design to the high-performance Tremec TR6060 transmission found in the CTS-V series, delivering the same balance of smooth and refined shift performance and short, precise gear changes. The transmission features carbon synchronizers for reduced shift effort, hard-finished gears for greater refinement and gear ratios tailored to the turbocharged engine’s broad torque band.
The Tremec transmission also contributes to the ATS’s low curb weight, with hollow gears, strategically formed castings and optimized gear profile cross sections. Even the oil volume is optimized for minimal weight.
Powerful and lightweight 3.6L
The ATS’s available 3.6L V-6 is the same, powerful and technologically advanced LFX-code engine introduced in the 2012 CTS. It is rated at an estimated 315 horsepower (235 kW) and 267 lb.-ft. of torque (362 Nm).
Although it is the largest engine in the ATS powertrain lineup, it still contributes to a low overall vehicle weight, with low-mass features that help maintain the car’s favorable power-to-weight ratio and an excellent front-to-rear weight balance of nearly 50/50.
The lightweight features include:
Other engine features enhance performance, efficiency and refinement, including:
Like the 2.5L, the 3.6L V-6 is matched exclusively with the Hydra-Matic 6L45 six-speed automatic transmission with tap-shift control.
