Virginia Beach/Outer Banks – Cadillac XLR Trip – May 3-9, 2015

“Surfing the Mid-Atlantic 2015”

Amy & I would like to invite everyone to come along on a trip through the Virginia Beach/Outer Banks, N.C. area for May 3-9, 2015. A rough itinerary we’ve come up with is as follows:

Sun., May 3: Start in Virginia Beach with a welcome dinner

Mon., May 4: Visit the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, http://www.virginiaaquarium.com in the morning, & in the afternoon the Virginia Beach Aviation Museum (focuses on keeping historical planes actually flying), http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org

Tues., May 5: In the morning, visit the Mariner’s Museum (can see the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor), http://www.marinersmuseum.org. When we’re done, stop by our Cadillac dealer, then head on to Nauticus (naval/nautical/sea museum) and tour the battleship Wisconsin. http://www.nauticus.org/visitor-info/index.

Wed., May 6: Relocate to Kitty Hawk, N.C./Outer Banks. Visit the Wright Brothers Memorial, http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm; Corolla Wild Horse Tours, http://corollaoutback.com

Thurs., May 7: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, http://www.nps.gov/caha/historyculture/cape-hatteras-light-station.htm; Roanoke Island Festival Park (historical exhibits about the first attempt of the English to settle in America), http://roanokeisland.com.

Fri., May 8: “Whalehead” historic 21,000 square foot vacation home of the Knights, http://www.visitwhalehead.com/?doing_wp_cron=1409458541.5641009807586669921875.

Sat., May 9: departure day

There’s LOTS of stuff to do around here, and the above schedule will be fine tuned as we do some recon and sort out how long things will take. Also, others on here might have some better ideas of things to do & places to go that might get plugged in instead. We plan to fit in some scenic drives as well. Anyone can come along for all or any part of the week or trips that we do, or just hang out on the beach. “Day trippers” – folks who live nearby & want to just come along from the day – are more than welcome too. We’ll be happy to have along whoever wants to come!

Accommodations: For Virginia Beach, we’ve reserved a block of oceanfront rooms for $115 a night at the Hampton Inn Oceanfront South, 1011 Atlantic Avenue, www.virginiabeachoceanfrontsouth.hamptoninn.com. They have an attached parking garage and will be reserving parking spaces for our group. Make your reservations by calling 757-965-2300 and ask for the XLR Club block to get the rate.

For the Outer Banks, we’ve reserved a block of side ocean view rooms for $159 a night at the Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk, 5353 N. Va. Dare Trail, http://www.hiltongardeninnouterbanks.com/. We are getting a BIG discount from the regular rate and they are used to dealing with car clubs, and will also have reserved parking set up. Make your reservations by calling 252-261-1290 and asking for the XLR Car Club block.

Looking forward to seeing a bunch of XLR’s!

Mike

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3000 HP Cadillac XLR vs Corvette C6 Drag Race

Watch a Pro Line-powered C6 Corvette battle a Moran-powered Cadillac XLR on the dragstrip. Both cars have twin turbochargers and produce around 3000 horsepower. Video summary: Scott Lowery in his Moran powered Twin Turbo Cadillac vs Mark Woodruff in his Proline powered Twin Turbo Corvette from the Throwdown in T-Town at Tulsa Raceway Park.
More Cadillac XLR Videos:  http://www.xlr-net.com/forums/vbtube.php
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Cadillac Achieves Best Total September Sales Since 2007

Led by strong sales of Escalade SUV and SRX Crossover

2014-10-01

DETROIT – Cadillac achieved its best September U.S. sales since 2007, led by the next generation 2015 Escalade SUV and 2014 SRX crossover.

“Sales growth is important, and at the same time we are improving the quality of our business overall,” said Jim Bunnell, U.S. vice president of Cadillac sales. “The desirability of our new products is elevating our brand and attracting new buyers.”

Retail sales of the Escalade SUV soared 115 percent year over year and are 33 percent higher calendar year to date. The Escalade reached its highest segment share level since June 2005 in September, outselling corresponding entries from Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Infiniti combined.

Cadillac’s SRX crossover remains a consistently strong performer. Through the first three quarters of 2014, SRX sales in the U.S. stand at 41,708, an all-time record, and 3 percent above the record set in 2013.

In September, Cadillac achieved a milestone in average transaction prices, an important measure of luxury market desirability and business success. Average transaction prices for Cadillac crested the $50,000 mark, an all-time high for the brand and a level outpacing competitors such as Audi and BMW in the U.S. market. Cadillac’s average transaction prices for September were more than $8,000 higher than the same period a year ago.

Global Cadillac sales are up 10 percent from 2013 levels, led by growth in China.

The majority of Cadillac’s September buyers in the U.S., 57 percent, did not trade in a Cadillac, making them converts  from competitors such as Lexus or Mercedes, or “move ups” from mainstream brands into luxury.

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

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Cadillac planning its own engines, halo cars

By: Noah Joseph
AutoBlog.com
Posted: Sep 30th 2014 6:00PM

Cadillac is in the midst of some big changes. It’s got a new chief executive. It’s taking some distance from parent company General Motors and moving to a new headquarters in New York. And it’s instituting a new naming scheme that will allow not only for a more clear progression in its lineup, but also for more models. But that’s not the end of the story. Not by a long shot.

Speaking with Automobile magazine, Cadillac’s new president Johan de Nysschen revealed his intention to develop several new models and powertrains. For starters, he does not want Cadillac to continue borrowing engines from the GM parts bin, but intends to develop a new range of engines specifically for the luxury automaker. The program will likely start with smaller-capacity engines but eventually lead to new V8s as well, taking the place of the long-serving Northstar engine that finally ended its lifespan a few years ago after some two decades of production. Along with other technologies, de Nysschen envisions possibly sharing these powertrains with other GM divisions, but developing them first and foremost for Cadillac.

Full Story:  Cadillac planning its own engines, halo cars

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Cadillac’s Cut-and-Sewn Interiors Fuse Art and Science

Careful handcraftsmanship combines with advanced technology for interiors

2014-09-30
GM Press Release

DETROIT – Cadillac is the only full-line automaker constructing all of its models’ interiors via Cut-and-Sew, a technique combining the precision of advanced technology with the care of handcraftsmanship in which materials for major interior components are literally joined by hand stitching.

“Put simply, Cut-and-Sew is people sitting behind sewing machines and sewing the material together,” said Eric Clough, director of design, Cadillac interiors. “We use Cut-and-Sew in Cadillacs because it is distinctive and a very premium process.”

Before pieces are sewn together to form the coverings for various interior components, materials and hides are hand-inspected and the patterns “nested” by a scrap-reducing computer-automated machine. These pieces are transferred to different stations for the hand-sewing of functional and decorative stitching. Application to the various interior parts – such as dashboards, door panels and center consoles – are also done by hand.

Lasers that cut the perforation for the airbag door and three-dimensional computer mapping that determines the best way to fit materials onto a certain interior piece fuse state-of-the-art technology with the human touch.

“Cut-and-Sew shows a level of craftsmanship and a level of care taken in creating a product,” said Erin Crossley, design manager, Cadillac color and trim. “It gives something for the customer to connect with. You see the same kind of material detailing in other items luxury consumers value, like high-end furniture and leather handbags.”

While many luxury carmakers have used this technique for top-end models, no other brand applies them to all its cars. Cadillac offers Cut-and-Sewn interiors from its entry ATS product line up through to the Escalade SUV.

The Cadillac design and engineering teams work with several suppliers to craft the interiors, which are installed during final vehicle assembly.

“There are other mass-produced processes that are less expensive, more efficient and don’t require as many people, but when you see the real thing you know that it’s genuine,” Clough said.

About Cadillac
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

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Cadillac Expands to Become Separate Business Unit, Adds New York Headquarters

2014-09-23
GM Media

NEW YORK – As part of the continued expansion of Cadillac, General Motors today announced a strategic realignment that will establish the flagship brand as a separate business unit. In addition, the new Cadillac organization will expand to New York with a new global headquarters opening in 2015.

The realignment affirms Cadillac’s importance to GM’s strategy. Creating a new Cadillac business unit enables it to pursue growing opportunities in the luxury automotive market with more focus and clarity.

“With the relentless upward repositioning of successive new-generation Cadillac products, the next logical step is to provide Cadillac more freedom to cultivate the brand in pursuit of further global growth,” said GM President Dan Ammann.

“Cadillac’s mission is to reinstate the brand to a pre-eminent position among global luxury brands, a bold challenge requiring a distinct and focused new organization,” Ammann said. “More than a division or brand, Cadillac is becoming a center of excellence for our company.”

Johan de Nysschen, who joined Cadillac as its new president in August, will be responsible for the brand’s overall operational performance.

Cadillac’s leadership council is headed by de Nysschen, and consists of Jim Bunnell, vice president of sales and service; Uwe Ellinghaus, chief marketing officer; David Colasinski, chief financial officer; David Leone, executive chief engineer, and Andrew Smith, executive director of design. Further expansion of the Cadillac leadership team will be announced later.

Expansion Includes New York Headquarters

The plan includes expansion to New York City in the form of a multipurpose brand and event space in conjunction with modern loft offices located in the heart of a city renowned for establishing trends and setting standards for the global luxury market.

While the majority of functions with oversight and responsibility for both global and U.S. operations will be located at the new global headquarters, there will be no change to technical product development teams located in Michigan, nor does the plan impact manufacturing or assembly operations. Cadillac management is reviewing options for which specific staffs will be based in New York and which will remain in current locations in the Detroit-area or elsewhere.

Cadillac has operations in more than 40 countries. The brand’s ongoing growth has been driven by an expanded product portfolio, leading to 28 percent global growth in 2013 and an increase of about 10 percent so far this year. Cadillac sales in China have grown 75 percent year to date.

“We are very proud of our Detroit roots and heritage, and the majority of the Cadillac workforce will remain in Michigan,” de Nysschen said. “But there is no city in the world where the inhabitants are more immersed in a premium lifestyle than in New York. Establishing our new global headquarters in Soho places Cadillac at the epicenter of sophisticated living. It allows our team to share experiences with premium-brand consumers and develop attitudes in common with our audience.”

Company officials thanked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his active support of and involvement in establishing the creation of Cadillac NYC.

“As the media and advertising capital of the world, New York is the ideal location for Cadillac to move its marketing operations to enhance their brand and spur future growth,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said.

“From Day One, our administration has been creating a more business-friendly environment that encourages new investments and job creation, and today is another example of how that approach is delivering results for New Yorkers. I welcome Cadillac’s marketing team to New York and commend them on their decision to invest personnel and resources alongside our world-class workforce.”

Said U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer: “To have an iconic American brand like Cadillac choose Manhattan for its global headquarters is another example that this city is a growing hub of innovation. New York continues to be a magnet for the best and the brightest companies and workers alike, and as Cadillac continues on its impressive growth trajectory as a global brand, I’m thrilled it will do so based in New York City.”

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at Luxury Cars, SUVs, Sedans, Coupes, and Crossovers | Cadillac. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

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Cadillac to Introduce Advanced ‘Intelligent and Connected’ Vehicle Technologies on Select 2017 Models

Super Cruise and V2V technologies slated for production in about two years

2014-09-08

DETROIT – Cadillac will begin offering advanced “intelligent and connected” vehicle technologies on certain 2017 model year vehicles, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said Sunday during her keynote address at the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) World Congress in Detroit.

In about two years, an all-new 2017 Cadillac vehicle will offer customers an advanced driver assist technology called Super Cruise and in the same timeframe the 2017 Cadillac CTS will be enabled with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology.

“A tide of innovation has invigorated the global auto industry, and we are taking these giant leaps forward to remain a leader of new technology,” Barra said. “We are not doing this for the sake of the technology itself. We’re doing it because it’s what customers around the world want. Through technology and innovation, we will make driving safer.”

Super Cruise, the working name for GM’s automated driving technology, will offer customers a new type of driving experience that includes hands-off lane following, braking and speed control in certain highway driving conditions. The system is designed to increase the comfort of an attentive driver on freeways, both in bumper-to-bumper traffic and on long road trips.

V2V communication technology could mitigate many traffic collisions and improve traffic congestion by sending and receiving basic safety information such as location, speed and direction of travel between vehicles that are approaching each other. It will warn drivers and can supplement active safety features, such as forward collision warning, already available on many production cars.

As the world becomes more congested and new populations need access to personal mobility, accidents continue to be a global concern. A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study estimated that the economic and societal impact of motor vehicle crashes in the United States is more than $870 billion per year.

“Advancing technology so that people can more safely live their lives is a responsibility we embrace,” Barra said.

About Cadillac in Canada

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. More information on Cadillac can be found at Cadillac Canada | Luxury Cars, SUVs, and Crossovers.

About General Motors in Canada

Headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, General Motors of Canada Limited (GMCL) employs more than 9,000 people across the country and is a recognized leader in green manufacturing. GMCL markets the full range of fuel-efficient Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles and related services through Canada’s largest automotive dealer network. More information regarding GMCL models can be found at GM Canada | Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and Crossovers | General Motors, or by following @GMCanada on Twitter.

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Site Update: 2006 Cadillac XLR and XLR-V Information Added to Tech Center

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