Popular Mechanics Chooses Cadillac CUE over the Competition

Luxury Automaker’s New Infotainment System Earns Honors at CES

RAYNHAM, Mass., Feb. 13, 2012 – This year, Cadillac was the only automaker to receive an Editor’s Choice Award from Popular Mechanics magazine at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The annual January show gave Cadillac a chance to show off its new CUE infotainment system, which earned praise from Popular Mechanics editors in advance of its upcoming spring debut at Cadillac dealerships in the all-new 2013 XTS luxury sedan.

As winner of a Popular Mechanics Top Gadgets of CES 2012: Editors’ Choice Award, Cadillac’s CUE was welcomed by the publication as the new benchmark for in-car computing systems. The new technology will feature a fast processor capable of powering two screens, including an LCD touchscreen in the center of the dash and another available LCD screen that can act as a customizable gauge cluster. While it might seem like a feature destined only for Cadillac’s most expensive vehicles, CUE will be available in the all-new 2013 ATS sport sedan, which will be priced below the Cadillac CTS as the most affordable model in the lineup when it debuts this summer.

“Unlike some automakers, Cadillac didn’t rush to market with a half-baked computer system that is hard to use and doesn’t fully work a lot of the time,” said Greg Connor, general sales manager of Raynham, Massachusetts Cadillac dealer Mastria Buick GMC Cadillac. “The extra time that Cadillac engineers spent on the design of CUE is clear, from the vibrant displays to the ease with which you can use the system.”

One of the keys to Cadillac CUE’s early accolades is the capacitive touch capability of its control screens, which use the same technology found in the most popular smartphones. The screens feature electrodes that sense the conductive properties of objects like fingers, tailoring its responses accordingly. Controlling navigation, hands-free phone calls and audio functions, the system is also capable of accessing data from up to 10 media devices, including Bluetooth-enabled phones and MP3 players.

With the debut of its new ATS, Cadillac is looking to connect specifically with fans of other entry-level luxury cars like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Once again, the American automaker turned to new technology to improve performance, fitting the car with an optional Magnetic Ride Control typically reserved for the suspensions of exotic sports cars, as well as new drivetrains that provide power and fuel efficiency.

A new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine will produce 270 horsepower in the 2013 ATS, while Cadillac’s 320-horsepower V6 will also be an option. Cadillac says the ATS will return peak highway fuel economy of more than 30 mpg, and it will also be available with all-wheel drive, giving Massachusetts Cadillac fans a sporty choice for winter-weather driving.

“It’s tough to stand out in the increasingly crowded luxury market, but Cadillac is doing an impressive job distinguishing itself from the world’s top luxury automakers,” Connor noted. “With powerful, fuel-efficient engines and the new CUE system, the ATS is sure to earn new business from former BMW and Mercedes-Benz owners looking to escape the status quo.”

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Cadillac Combats Escalade Theft with New High-Tech Security Features

RAYNHAM, Mass., Jan. 10, 2012 – The royal size and sleek styling of the Cadillac Escalade SUV have made it a popular choice for luxury buyers in recent years, but those same features have also made it a target for car thieves. Cadillac is addressing that issue head on with new state-of-the-art anti-theft technologies in its 2012 Escalade.

According to a Highway Loss Data Institute study released last August, the Cadillac Escalade is the vehicle most likely to be stolen or broken into, and has been the case for the last four years. To help ease the minds of buyers considering an Escalade at Cadillac dealers, the automaker is implementing new systems aimed squarely at preventing drive-away, push-away, tow-away, property and wheel thefts.

“The Escalade has all the amenities you could want in an SUV, from heated seats and mirrors to a premium navigation and sound system, but that can make it an object of desire for thieves,” said Greg Connor, general sales manager of Raynham, Massachusetts Cadillac dealer Mastria Buick GMC Cadillac. “Cadillac worked hard to come up with a whole slew of technologies that will make the 2012 Escalade a much tougher target for those who want to do more than look.”

While the Escalade already houses a host of drive-away theft deterrents, new for the 2012 model is Cadillac’s PASS Key 3+ encryption system, which works with the key, key cylinder and ignition system to further protect the vehicle from potential hot wiring attempts. To deter push- and tow-away thefts, Cadillac strengthened the steering column-lock system to make it more difficult for thieves to maneuver the SUV onto a flatbed and added an available inclination sensor that sounds the alarm when the angle of the vehicle is changed drastically.

However, theft is not limited to the vehicle itself, and the Highway Loss Data Institute’s report outlines how SUVs like the Escalade are also targeted for what is inside or attached to them. That is why Cadillac is also offering buyers an optional shock sensor, designed to sound the alarm when the SUV is “shocked” from something like a smashed window or a push-away attempt. Meanwhile, a new wheel-lock system, like the inclination sensor, is intended to deter theft of the Escalade’s tires and wheels. 

Although the 2012 Escalade will bring a variety of new security measures, current models already come with OnStar, which helps stop theft in its own way. In the event that an Escalade is stolen, for example, OnStar is able to lock the vehicle’s ignition and track its whereabouts.  

“Security measures evolve as thieves’ tactics do, and Cadillac has really stepped up its level of protection,” added Connor. “Now, the features don’t just help recover the vehicle after it’s stolen, but help make stealing an Escalade a daunting task for even the most skilled car thieves. That peace of mind is priceless.”

Thanks to its numerous security and safety features, as well as its high reliability and performance scores, the 2012 Cadillac Escalade is currently ranked number one in the Luxury Large SUVs category of the ongoing U.S. News & World Report Best Cars & Trucks rankings.

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GMC Acadia Is King of the Conquest Sale
Crossover Earns Buyers from Other Brands and Recognition for Resale Value

RAYNHAM, Mass., Dec. 12, 2011 – GMC’s family of drivers has been growing rapidly this year as vehicles like the Acadia full-size crossover attract buyers from other brands. GMC says more than half the buyers of the stylish utility vehicle at GMC dealers are new to the brand, helping the Acadia post an 18.6 percent sales increase this year through November compared to the same period last year. 

While interior space and all-weather capability are the immediate strong points of the 2012 GMC Acadia, consumer-information agency ALG recently presented the crossover with one of its 2012 Residual Value Awards. Recognizing its lasting value and low running costs, ALG gave the Acadia the win in the Fullsize Utility segment based on its predicted high retained value after three years of use. 

“GMC has continued to produce great vehicles, and more people are rediscovering the brand every day,” said Greg Connor, general sales manager of Raynham, Massachusetts GMC dealer Mastria Buick GMC Cadillac. “The Acadia holds its value better than anything else in its segment, and during tight economic times Massachusetts drivers want to be sure they will get some cash back for their vehicle should they ever decide to sell it.”

Value is no doubt a plus, but a full-size crossover has to be useful to earn praise, and the Acadia has a number of features that help it climb to the top of the class. The Acadia can swallow 116.9 cubic-feet of cargo space with the two back rows folded flat, 68.9 cubic-feet with the second row still upright, and it even maintains 24.1 cubic-feet of space when all eight passengers are present. Those numbers easily beat foreign competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander.

With a towing capacity of up to 5,200 pounds, the Acadia is fit for hauling a boat to the lake or a camper up to the White Mountains for a getaway vacation. The ability to haul comes courtesy of a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 288 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Coming standard with a six-speed automatic gearbox and available with all-wheel-drive, the Acadia is built to handle the slickest boat ramps and steepest snow-laden mountain passes.

For all that power, the GMC vehicle has a surprisingly limited thirst for fuel, returning 24 mpg on the highway with front-wheel-drive and 23 mpg with all-wheel-drive. That mix of performance and fuel economy, in addition to a 2011 IIHS Top Safety Pick, has made the Acadia a popular choice for families. Filling that demand means a full production schedule at GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant, which recently produced its millionth vehicle, a Crystal Red Tintcoat Acadia Denali.

“Massachusetts families love the Acadia because it ticks the three important boxes: power, space and safety,” Connor noted. “From hockey practice and ski trips to holiday shopping, the Acadia can fill all the roles a busy family needs.”

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Cadillac’s CUE Sets Infotainment on Its Ear
Innovative In-Car Connectivity System Delivers Touchscreen, New Levels of Interaction

RAYNHAM, Mass., Nov. 14, 2011 – Cadillac isn’t the first automaker to produce a high-tech entertainment and information system, but intuitive, industry-first features on its upcoming offering may one-up the competition. Coming to Cadillac dealerships next year, the luxury automaker’s CUE (Cadillac User Experience) system will aim to shift the way drivers interact with their vehicles, combining a fully capacitive eight-inch touchscreen with a 12.3-inch customizable LCD gauge cluster.

The CUE system will first appear in the all-new Cadillac XTS luxury sedan, which will debut at the LA Auto Show later this month before going into production next spring. Following its launch in the XTS, CUE will also be incorporated into the 2013 Cadillac SRX crossover and the upcoming BMW 3 Series-challenging Cadillac ATS. Cadillac says all vehicles in its lineup will feature CUE by 2015.

“If you’re not going to be the first, you should be the best,” said Greg Connor, general sales manager of Massachusetts Cadillac dealer Mastria Buick GMC Cadillac. “Cadillac has taken its time and created a system that is more than a match for the offerings from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. CUE is going to change the way we look at vehicle interfaces as a whole.”

As the first of its kind in the auto industry, the CUE’s touchscreen is equipped with a proximity-sensing, haptic-feedback interface. When the screen isn’t in use, it fades to reduce the chances of distraction, but the system’s real trick is sensing when the driver’s hand is within eight inches of the screen, bringing the screen back to life. The screen also provides pulsing feedback when touched to give users a clear indication of movement when scrolling, and zooming and swiping controls will be similar to the multi-touch motions used on smartphones.

While touch technology has been put at a premium in the Cadillac CUE, the system also makes voice commands easier than ever. CUE is able to recognize natural speech, which means that users can speak logically and use fewer commands when entering addresses for navigation or picking music playlists. When connected to a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, Cadillac will offer Pandora and Stitcher radio integration, as well as 30 more internet apps within the first year.

Because CUE is capable of so many functions, Cadillac is able to reduce the number of physical buttons in the cockpit, creating a clean, modern appearance in line with the luxury automaker’s well-received Art & Science design theme. The elements of Art & Science come to life in CUE through the customizable gauge cluster, which can display as much or as little information as desired. Drivers can view turn-by-turn directions, phone call information and music playback details directly behind the steering wheel, allowing them to keep their eyes closer to the road.

“Once again, Cadillac is raising the bar,” Connor noted. “While some automakers have rushed to get similar hardware out just to say they have it, Cadillac has spent years refining the design and function of CUE. The result is a system that is more usable and integrated better than anything the competition offers.”