Drew Dowdell

because you've driven one right? You have ZERO idea how it will handle. It will be at least as good as the Lacrosse, which while not a 'Ring burner, can certainly hold it's own. With Magnaride, the XTS should be even better. As far as the sound, I would expect a car like this to be silent. Especially with a 2-mode hybrid since it can get up to 30mph in electric only mode. "Intangibles", by definition, are just bunk that BMW drivers use to justify their purchase.

In the case of the XTS, your concerns about the lack of torque in the V6 are mitigated by the 2-mode hybrid system. Hybrid systems make their best torque at ZERO rpm. V8s just aren't necessary for good low end torque anymore. The Ecoboost V6 makes more torque than the Northstar ever did at a lower rpm than the Northstar ever could.

Production began today.

Chevrolet Volt Named Motor Trend 2011 Car of the Year Chevrolet takes home this year's Car of the Year award for the Chevrolet Volt. More details after the jump. Chevrolet Volt take home 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year

Chevrolet Volt Named Motor Trend 2011 Car of the Year DETROIT – Motor Trend magazine, one of the world's premier automotive authorities, today named the Chevrolet Volt the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year. "We expected a science experiment, but this is a moon shot," Motor Trend editors wrote for the January 2011 issue. "The Volt delivers on the promise of the vehicle concept as originally outlined by GM, combining the smooth, silent, efficient, low-emissions capability of an electric motor with the range and flexibility of an internal combustion engine. It is a fully functional, no-compromise compact automobile that offers consumers real benefits in terms of lower running costs." Many of those benefits are due to the Volt's groundbreaking propulsion system. As the world's first electric vehicle with extended range capability, the Chevrolet Volt has a total driving range of about 350 miles. For the first 25 to 50 miles, the Volt drives gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free using electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt's battery runs low, a gas powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range more than 300 miles on a full tank. The Motor Trend Car of the Year award was presented to Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman for Global Product Operations, at the General Motors wind tunnel in Warren, Mich. Aero dynamics engineers there helped develop an equally revolutionary design: With a drag coefficient of .28, the Volt is also the most aerodynamic sedan in Chevrolet's history. Lowering the drag coefficient increases the vehicle's efficiency, as less energy is used to overcome air pressure. As an example, aerodynamics contributes up to eight miles of electric range, and 40 miles of extended range. "Chevrolet is truly honored to receive one of the world's most coveted automotive awards," said Stephens. "The Volt team has worked under extraordinary circumstances to produce this breakthrough vehicle." The full report from Motor Trend appears in the January issue of the magazine (on newsstands in early-December) and online at www.motortrend.com. General Motors last received the Motor Trend Car of the Year award in 2008, for the Cadillac CTS.

Yeah, I found the menu option to change that. The system just doesn't have the woofer to do deep base.

Actually, I'm betting that only the Malibu and Camry couldn't.....

yet. Some of you have the attention span of a fruit fly.

The 2.5 is probably just a 2.4 with a slightly longer stroke and improved valve timing.

Harmon Kardon and on the weak side

And I can still get a flat panel television with that same brand on it.... I wonder if Hyundai will start to include their high end bidet technology in their cars...... say if I'm driving along and I need a bit of a freshening "down there" Hyundai Bidet Catalog

Telling Molly McMansion her new SRX is a FAIL because you don't approve of the drivetrain layout (something she'll have no idea what you are talking about since hers is AWD anyway) is a way of showing concern for Cadillac? The SRX is selling well with new customers that over 50% came from another brand..... like it for what it is... a profit center for Cadillac.

I just took the Regal out on a long trip over some fun roads with another C&Ger, and let me say this, this car is an excellent base for the GS to be built upon. I reiterate my previous statement that only the Mazda6 and Passat CC would likely be able to hang with the Regal in handling. Yet at the same time it's smooth and comfortable on the highway. Accord, Fusion, Camry, Altima, Sonata, Malibu,and G6, would all be in the weeds after some of the turns we took the Regal through today at the speeds we were going. It's very well put together. There are a couple of European things that stand out (like the coin slots in the glovebox that fit 1 Euro coins) We did notice one bit of scratch-your-head interior cheapening, the rear door pulls aren't the faux metallic color of the front door pulls. I can't imagine it would be that much more expensive to make both sets of door pulls match. I like the 110v outlet in the rear seat area and the switchgear is nice. The noise from the sunroof seems oddly loud when it is open. I don't get all the comments I've read in other reviews that the engine is loud....yes it's a 4-cylinder... but it's quieter than most other 4-cylinders I've been in. Most of the time, the engine is utterly silent. The 6-speed auto is swift to shift and the manumatic is usable if you want to have some fun. However on steeper incline passing, it needs two downshifts to gather up enough steam to make it around your obstacle. Fuel economy while we were slamming about was 21mpg. The highway trips were 25mpg with the AC on through the mountains. I personally find the exterior styling very attractive, especially from the rear. I could totally live with one of these on a daily basis if I can get it in AWD, but I'd want the turbo model to make up for the drag of the AWD system. As a true sports sedan, this Regal lacks enough punch to earn that title. But if you're looking for a great handling sedan and aren't concerned with raw 0-60 speed, the Regal should be in the top of your shopping list. If you need both the ability to dance and the ability to run.... well you'll just have to wait for our review of the Turbo Regal. I'll post a full review in about a week along with some counterpoints from the other C&Ger

Bathazar just vents everything I've been try to say, yet so more clearly!

And again, Cadillac has already stated there will be another sedan coming out in 2013 above the XTS that is rear wheel drive. Furthermore, the XTS isn't a V6. It's a V6 Hybrid, same as the S400. Your complaint about the V6 lacking torque compared to a V8 is made up for by the electric drive. Unless Hyundai comes out with a new luxury brand, buying a Hyundai will STILL mean you bought cheapest in the market to get the good warranty. Hyundai will still be pumping out Elantras by the thousands, so don't try to say that someone sitting in their S-Class will be impressed when you pull up in your Hyundai.

Actually, I think the Germans will start coming down market to Cadillac at the same time Cadillac resumes moving up. 4-cylinder XTS-TDI anyone?.... it will go up against the 4-cylinder S-class and A8. However, what if Cadillac's target is no longer the Germans, but most of Lexus?

I've done 33mpg in a '94 Bonneville from NJ to Pittsburgh and back. Not exactly flat. It was my mother's car prior to her current Aurora. The old fish-eye Sable was capable of the same. Did that trip myself also.

And 240hp. If Cadillac put that in the ATS you'd be the first to rake them over the coals for being so low powered. BTW, the LeSabre, 88, and Bonneville could hit 33mpg highway back in 1993 on a 4-speed.

HELOC rates are so low because no one can meet the qualifications for them anymore. GM just surpassed Toyota in quarterly profit on a revenue of $34.1 billion, ...... you think GM's not going to be gearing up for a fight with that?

Why do you guys always look at what Cadillac has on the table today as proof of failure due to some future import? SMK, you were famous for telling everyone how Cadillac was soooo sucky on the CTS because of how much it weighs... and "just you wait, the new 5-series will be here and be even lighter".... then once the day came... Tada! The 5-series is actually heavier than the CTS in certain trims! Sal mentions two future imports as proof of Cadillac's failure while failing to acknowledge that a new top line RWD Cadillac Sedan is coming in 2013 as a 2014 model. If you guys can count future vehicles (that you speculate wildly on) as proof the imports win, than I can use the 2014 Cadillac whatever as proof you're wrong. The only point that Sal might have is on the SRX. But the interior of that vehicle is a move up market over it's predecessor and it's only second in sales in it's class

I disagree that the CTS-V doesn't count just because of the color of the interior trim bits. An AMG63 or M5 is going to run you another 20-30 grand over a CTS-V. What you're really saying is that Cadillac should offer a CTS-57 which is just an LS1 in a loaded CTS body. except looking good..... Had BMW ever made an M7.... you would have been able to make your point.

It took a 21 year old in an M3 to beat an 80 year old in a CTS-V around a track. Don't tell me the CTS-V is only a straight line car. And the rest is Bull crap. None of the models introduced since Lutz came in are 10 years old yet for you to even know that. My CTS was as solid as the day I bought it when I turned it in 4 years later. I'm sure the trim pieces, cup holders, buttons, and switches falling off my ex's Passat were of the highest German quality. The very idea that BMWs or Jaguars don't age is ludicrous.

You should have told him to post the listing here for free!

How come you and SMK can't see the Cadillac with V8 power? I can. And at $62,165 for 556 hp compared to the E550i's $59k and 400hp, it will easily blow the BMW into the weeds. NONE of the other sedans you mention offer CTS-V power for that money. Add on top of that... if your basis that Cadillac is moving down market since they aren't offering a V8 in their soft lux car, well, MB and Audi are ahead of Cadillac on that. Both are preparing to bring out 4-cylinder versions of their big daddy cars.

It's it an '04 CTS in handling ability? Probably not, but I don't know yet. What I can say thus far is that it's a much more willing dance partner than almost any mid-size family sedan out there right now. I've yet to drive a CC, but I'm guessing it's the closest in agility. The Camry handles like a '92 Century compared to the Regal. If you're in the market a better handling family sedan, my guess is that it would come down to the Regal, CC, and Mazda6.