2008 Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept
Having earned critical acclaim, industry 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 with the exhilarating Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept, which premiered
at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.
The CTS Coupe takes Cadillac’s acclaimed Art and Science design language and
adds more of both. More expressive, more technical and very personal, the CTS
Coupe extends the dramatic design of its sedan predecessor with all-new sculpted
bodywork aft of the front fenders.
A Design Gem
Among the CTS 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 CTS Coupe uses the
elements, along with 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-looking design in every sense of the term.”
Although based on the sedan, the CTS Coupe shares only the instrument panel,
console, headlamps, front fenders and grille with the production model.
The surfaces of CTS 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.
Personal Passenger Environment
A classic 2+2 interior environment enhances the CTS Coupe’s personal feel. It
shares the hand cut-and-sewn instrument panel and center console with the CTS,
but features unique front and rear seats, a continuous console running between
the front and rear seats, and custom door panels.
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, with yellow ochre-colored inserts. The yellow
ochre color provides dramatic contrast with the black surrounding trim, but is a
subdued hue consistent with 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.
Performance-Bred Powertrain and Suspension Systems
As is the case with its design, the CTS 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 CTS Coupe, of course, ascertains the sedan’s 3.6L V-6 engines, including the
304-horsepower 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
and 406 lb-ft of torque.
A six-speed manual transmission backs the engine, sending torque to an
independently sprung rear axle. The CTS 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.
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