GM's financial woes have thrown its carefully-planned 2009 product launch program into a tailspin. Cadillac's sexy CTS coupe was to have hit showrooms mid-year, but it's now been pushed back until summer 2010. GM might be contemplating bankruptcy, but the CTS coupe is safe -- the car is done, and Cadillac is likely to survive any restructuring of the company's brand portfolio.
The coupe rolls on the same 113.4in wheelbase as the sedan, helping slash development costs, but achieves coupe-like proportions thanks to an ultra-fast backlight, and a rear overhang that's 4.6in shorter. GM insiders acknowledge the CTS coupe's rakish design has compromised rearward visibility, but to compensate, Cadillac will offer a backup camera as standard equipment.
Standard engine will be the quad-cam, direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6, with up to 304hp. Standard transmission will be the six-speed automatic. The coupe also gets significant improvements in ride, handling and refinement, all of which will be shared with the 2010 CTS sedan and the new CTS Sport Wagon. A CTS-V coupe has also been developed, sharing the mighty 556-hp supercharged V-8 and upgraded suspension and brakes with the impressive CTS-V sedan, although it's not clear whether this car will survive GM's product crunch.
Bottom Line: Great car, bad timing
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