 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |
Image credits: © Cadillac. GM Corp.
2009 Cadillac CT Coupe Concept news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
CT COUPE CONCEPT CELEBRATES CADILLAC'S DESIGN RENAISSANCE
Having earned critical acclaim, awards and brisk sales, Cadillac CTS has moved into the vanguard of contemporary design. In doing so, Cadillac designers faced the question of what to do next. Their answer celebrates that design legacy wîth the exhilarating Cadillac CT Coupe Concept, which premiered at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.The CT Coupe takes Cadillac's acclaimed Art and Science design language and adds more of both. More expressive, more technical and very personal, the CT Coupe extends the dramatic design of its sedan predecessor wîth all-new sculpted bodywork aft of the front fenders.
'The CT Coupe Concept is a dramatic design statement,' said Ed Welburn, VP, GM Global Design. 'We did not create it as the result of sifting through reams of market data, nor is its shape trimmed to suit the input collected at a consumer clinic – it is emotion on four wheels and the very essence of what defines Cadillac today.'
The CT Coupe Concept has a classic 2+2 interior layout, highlighted by black leather and Alcantara microfiber trim that is complemented by yellow ochre-colored seat inserts and leather stitching. It is designed to accommodate a range of engines for the global luxury market, including Cadillac's popular 3.6L Direct Injection V-6, as well as a new 2.9L turbo-diesel currently in development.
'This Coupe Concept is a natural extension of our design language, and of the CTS itself,' said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. 'Very simply, the dramatic design of the sedan begged the question of what it would look like in the unbridled form of a Coupe.'
Generated from the spark of the CTS design team's imagination, the CT Coupe casts a profile unlike anything else on the road. Its fast-rake styling – it has the same wheelbase as the CTS, but an overall height that is approximately four inches (101 mm) shorter – blends wîth hand-sculpted bodywork that bulges around the wheels, giving the vehicle a ready-to-pounce stance that is dramatic, powerful and sleek.
'Just about every decade, Cadillac designs a breakthrough car that becomes synonymous wîth the brand's character of the period, such as the 1938 60 Special, the 1959 lineup, the 1975 Seville and the 2003 Sixteen Concept,' said Clay Dean, global director of design, for Cadillac. 'The CT Coupe Concept is the next great design, carrying the baton from the Evoq Concept that ushered in the Art and Science era in 1999.'
A design gem
Among the CT Coupe Concept's signature design cues are a number of elements that suggest the look of a carefully cut diamond – particularly at the rear. These elements are seen in everything from the chrome header above the rear license plate holder to the indents that comprise the basic form of the rear fascia.
'The diamond-cut elements enhance the sleek profile of the car,' said John Manoogian II, director of exterior design for Cadillac. 'The CT Coupe uses the elements, along wîth other nods to classic Cadillac cues – such as vertical headlamps and taillamps – to acknowledge the brand's heritage without resorting to nostalgia. It is a forward-lòòking design in every sense of the term.'
Although based on the sedan, the CT Coupe shares only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders and grille wîth the production model. Únique elements include:
• Classic hardtop styling, wîth no B-pillar
• CTS production windshield laid at a faster angle to create a sleeker profile
• Chrome, split seven-spoke wheel design; 20-inch front wheels and 21-inch rear wheels
• Sculpted lower front fascia wîth unique brake-cooling vents
• Slim-profile outside mirrors
• XLR-type hidden door handles wîth proximity remote opening
• Únique front fender vents
• Diamond-cut rear fascia wîth mesh lower grilles and center-outlet exhaust
• Taillamps wîth a subtle fin profile and are highlighted wîth LED lighting technology wîth light pipes
• Rear spoiler integrated into the center high-mounted stop lamp
• Sculpted roof-mounted antenna for OnStar, XM Satellite Radio, etc.
'The cliché is to say that there were no compromises in the design, but that is absolutely accurate in the case of the CT Coupe,' said Manoogian. 'Each line and angle of the bodywork was carefully honed, and the final design's proportions were judged by the eyes of the design team, not computer-generated math data.'
The surfaces of CT Coupe Concept are complex, inviting careful inspection. The rear fenders, for example, were sculpted by hand in the design studio until they provided a perfect, muscular form that wrapped tightly over the wheels. At the top, the rear fenders are beveled – owing to the diamond-cut theme – and become part of a horizontal plane that runs from the leading edge of the taillamps and merges into the roof.
'At first glance, the design appears effectively simple, because there are no extraneous moldings, spoilers or other protrusions, but the more you look at it, the more complex it becomes,' said Manoogian. 'The angles and bevels were carefully carved to enhance the car's sleek shape, but aren't 'busy' or distracting – there's really nothing quite like it.'
Personal passenger environment
A classic 2+2 interior environment enhances the CT Coupe's personal feel. It shares the hand cut-and-sewn instrument panel and center console wîth the CTS, but features unique front and rear seats, a continuous console running between the front and rear seats, and custom door panels.
'The CT Coupe is a personal car – something a customer would choose to reward him or herself – and the passenger environment reflects that,' said Eric Clough, interior design director. 'The interior uses the already excellent CTS design and takes it to a new, bolder level.'
Custom-trimmed sport seats from Recaro are located in all four positions. They support the grand-touring nature of the car and are covered in rich, black and suede-like microfiber material, wîth yellow ochre-colored inserts. The yellow ochre color provides dramatic contrast wîth the black surrounding trim, but is a subdued hue consistent wîth the interior's overall feeling of refinement. Yellow ochre stitching also is used throughout, including the seats, instrument panel, shifter knob and more.
Black microfiber fabric covers the front armrest, as well as an armrest located between the rear seats. The armrests are part of a continuous console that stretches from the instrument panel to rear seats. Carbon-fiber trim accents the console. The interior also features ambient lighting throughout, creating a distinctive environment at night.
Like the sedan, the CTS Coupe Concept's interior is home to a host of technologies, including a premium Bose audio system, 40-gigabyte hard drive and XM Satellite Radio. OnStar wîth Turn-by-Turn Navigation enhances the vehicle's onboard navigation system, which – like the CTS – features a screen that rises out of the center of the instrument panel.
Performance-bred powertrain and suspension systems
As is the case wîth its design, the CT Coupe extends the acclaimed capabilities of the sedan in terms of performance technology. This includes the capability to support a broad engine range of gasoline and diesel engines.
The CT Coupe, of course, ascertains the sedan's 3.6L V-6 engines, including the 304-horsepower (227 kW) Direct Injection power plant. The Coupe Concept also is designed for a new 2.9L turbo-diesel being developed for international markets. This new engine, tailored for use in the CTS, will deliver an estimated 250 horsepower (184 kW) and 406 lb.-ft. of torque (550 Nm).
A six-speed manual transmission backs the engine, sending torque to an independently sprung rear axle. The CT Coupe's sport-tuned suspension gives it a slightly lower ride height than a production CTS – a look enhanced by the car's rakish shape and large, 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels.
Behind the chrome, split-spoke, aluminum alloy wheels is a set of high-performance brakes, featuring cross-drilled rotors. Six-piston calipers clamp down on the front rotors, while four-piston calipers grab the rear rotors. All of the rotors have a distinctive, yellow-painted finish.
| Land Rover Celebrates 65 Years Of Technology And Innovation | |
 | SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF LAND ROVER From our earliest days, the desire to create a vehicle that will tackle any terrain has made Land Rover famous around the world. Over the past 65 years, the Land Rover family has grown into the highly respected range of vehicles that are sold in record numbers today. As Land Rover continues to go from strength to strength, we thought it was time to look back at the milestones in our history that have got us here. The last 65 years have been an adventure. ...[Read more...] |
| VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TURBO AND JETTA GLI RECEIVE POWER BOOST | |
| - New EA888 Gen 3 engine, produced in Silao, Mexico, makes its U.S. debut - Engine offers 10 hp increase over previous Gen 2 powerplant - Beetle models have a manufacturer estimated fuel economy improvement of up to eight percent on the combined cycle - Beetle R-Line® coupe will be priced from $30,135 with the six-speed manual transmission Herndon, VA - The Volkswagen Beetle Turbo, Beetle Turbo Convertible, and the Jetta GLI receive a number of running changes to 2013 model year car...[Read more...] | |
| 2014 Corvette Stingray Starts At $51,995 | |
 | The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe will have a suggested starting retail price of $51,995, and the Corvette Stingray Convertible will start at $56,995. Both prices include a $995 destination fee but exclude tax, title, and license. 'The 2014 Corvette Stingray perfectly embodies Chevrolet's mission to deliver more than expected for our customers,' said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. 'The Corvette Stingray delivers a combination of performance, design and technology t...[Read more...] |
| MINI AT THE 83RD GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 2013 | |
 | The passion for extreme driving fun, a richly varied model range and the wide selection of personalization options for which MINI is renowned form the centerpiece of the British premium brand's stand at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show. As part of its ongoing model push, MINI is introducing further additions to its portfolio of attractive design models. Indeed, this year's Geneva Show will host the world premiere of the MINI Clubman Bond Street. Generously equipped and with a searching e...[Read more...] |
| In the slipstream of the DTM winners: BMW M Performance at the Essen Motor Show 2012. | |
 | Just a few weeks after the triple triumph at the German Touring Car Masters (DTM), the BMW appearance at the Essen Motor Show 2012 is inspired by the brand's sensationally successful comeback season. The current BMW M Performance range is presented at the international tuning fair, celebrating the success of BMW in the driver, team and manufacturer rankings. The retrofit products from the program of Original BMW Accessories perfectly exemplify the intensive transfer of technology from motor raci...[Read more...] |
2009| Similar Automakers | |
| Chevrolet | Chrysler |
| Dodge | Ford |
| GMC | Hummer |
| Jeep | Lincoln |
| Mercury | Pontiac |
| Saturn | |
| Cadillac: 2001-2010 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Cadillac History |
| Other models by Cadillac |
| Manufacturer Website |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| 2008 New York International Auto Show |
| 2008 North American International Auto Show |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© 1998-2012. All rights reserved. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
