Among the plethora of information gleaned from the viability plan submitted by General Motors to the U.S. government this week is the first image of the production 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe, which will be built alongside the sedan and Sport Wagon in Lansing, Michigan, starting in 2010. The shapely two-door that debuted as a concept at the 2008 Detroit auto show originally was to be released later this year as a 2010 model, but the automaker recently delayed the project as a means to save development funds. While the coupe is expected to be available with a range of powertrains, including a possible 556-hp CTS-V variant, GM’s documents only confirm the direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic will be the most fuel-efficient combination offered.
GM also confirms it will eventually rid itself of the Hummer, Saab, and Saturn brands, all of which are under strategic review. Hummer and Saab are being shopped around to interested parties—which are few and far between—with Saab possibly entering reorganization as early as next month if a buyer is not found and a bailout deal fails to materialize with the Swedish government. Saturn, however, likely will remain in operation for several more years. GM says it is open to a spin-off or sale of Saturn during that time, but plans to phase out the brand at the end of its existing product lifecycle. With GM’s weakest brands gone, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC will receive the bulk of the company’s attention, while Pontiac will soldier on with a limited lineup of niche models in the essences of the current Solstice roadster and coupe and the G8 sedan. The automaker’s overall U.S. dealer count is expected to drop from 2008’s 6246 to 4700 in 2012 and 4100 in 2014. For more details click here.
GM also confirms it will eventually rid itself of the Hummer, Saab, and Saturn brands, all of which are under strategic review. Hummer and Saab are being shopped around to interested parties—which are few and far between—with Saab possibly entering reorganization as early as next month if a buyer is not found and a bailout deal fails to materialize with the Swedish government. Saturn, however, likely will remain in operation for several more years. GM says it is open to a spin-off or sale of Saturn during that time, but plans to phase out the brand at the end of its existing product lifecycle. With GM’s weakest brands gone, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC will receive the bulk of the company’s attention, while Pontiac will soldier on with a limited lineup of niche models in the essences of the current Solstice roadster and coupe and the G8 sedan. The automaker’s overall U.S. dealer count is expected to drop from 2008’s 6246 to 4700 in 2012 and 4100 in 2014. For more details click here.