Posts tagged cadillac
2015 LA Auto Show Recap: Hits and Misses
Nov 23rd
With the 2015 LA Auto Show behind us, we figured it was time for a quick recap to talk about some hits and misses from the show. There were roughly 20-25 new vehicles revealed at the show and while we won’t cover everything, there was a lot to see. It’s easy to show up at these big auto shows and get sucked up into all of the hype and excitement but we’re here to cut through the bullcrap and break down what was really cool and what was just show floor fodder.
Alfa Romeo Giulia: HIT
Alfa Romeo Giulia
With 505 hp and the fastest production sedan lap record at the Nurburgring, this BMW M3-fighter has us rummaging through our couch cushions and smashing every piggy bank in sight to scrape together the estimated $70,000 to buy one. Seriously, how can you not fall in love with this thing!?! It looks fantastic inside and out, is available with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, and offers rear or all-wheel drive. And this shade of blue looks particularly dashing as well.
Cadillac XT5: HIT
Cadillac XT5
The Cadillac XT5 is the highly anticipated replacement for the SRX, which is currently the oldest model in their lineup. With a fresh new look and updated materials, the XT5 is a very important launch for Cadillac since the SRX it replaces was the company’s most popular model. With a nearly 300 lb diet, and an updated CUE infotainment system that offers Apple CarPlay, the XT5 is bound to be a strong seller for the brand yet again.
Fiat 124 Spider: MISS
Fiat 124 Spider
We want to like it, we really do, but the new Fiat 124 Spider takes the already gorgeous new Miata and somehow manages to make it look just a bit frumpy. While we can appreciate some of the styling cues of the original 124 Spider of the 1970′s in this car, it doesn’t really work when it’s scaled up on a modern car. Kudos to Fiat for using the 500 Abarth engine in this car though! It should sound pretty wicked and with turbos make everything better, even if the 124 Spider only comes with 160 hp.
Fiat 500e Stormtrooper Edition: HIT
Fiat 500e Stormtrooper Edition
We’re a sucker for Star Wars so while this fun little collaboration panders to our fellow nerds just a bit too much, we can’t help but love it all the same.
Hyundai Elantra: HIT
Hyundai Elantra
While we heard some rumblings from fellow show-goers that the new Elantra just ripped off styling cues from a bunch of other cars, we feel they borrowed some inspiration from some of the best designs out there. The headlights remind us slightly of the Jaguar XF while the grille looks like a mix of Ford Fusion and Audi TT, but these shapes have all been tweaked to fit the new Elantra in a cohesive way that works better than you might at first think. The rear reminds us of Hyundai’s own Genesis which certainly isn’t a bad thing either. Who said a cheap car has to look cheap?
Ford Escape: HIT
Ford Escape
Given how good the current Ford Escape already is, the 2017 update is sure to be even better. The new look, with styling cues taken from the Edge, really works on the scaled down Escape too. Black accents and a sportier looking front grille don’t look bad, but we wish they would’ve taken more of a chance with the styling like they did in 2012. No doubt it’ll still be one of the top compact crossovers on the market when it becomes available later next year.
Lincoln MKZ: HIT
Lincoln MKZ
Lincoln has had a tough go of things over the last few years. The current lineup’s styling is a bit hit or miss, but we got excited when we saw the stunning Continental concept in New York earlier this year. Now we appreciate Lincoln taking that breathtaking look and applying it to the MKZ. Not only does the new front end look fresh and luxurious, but the MKZ also offers a new Lincoln-exclusive 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 400 hp mated to all-wheel drive. Inside, the MKZ is finally on track for offering a level of luxury that at least matches that of its direct competition. If Lincoln can keep rolling out cars like this, their future is beginning to look brighter.
Mazda CX-9: HIT
Mazda CX-9
Mazda has been on a hot-streak lately with their whole lineup, but the CX-9 had been starting to show its age. Thankfully, Mazda adapted their Kodo styling language to the new 7-seat crossover and heavily upgraded the interior and driveline. The new interior is now much more luxurious than it’s ever been in the past with rich and vibrant leather seats and plenty of safety and infotainment tech. The new 2.5-liter turbocharged SkyActiv 4-cylinder offers 250 hp and plenty of torque.
Jaguar F-Pace: HIT
Jaguar F-Pace
The all-new Jaguar F-Pace made its US debut at the 2015 LA Auto Show and we fell in love with the styling immediately. This is going to be volume seller for the Jaguar we see it being pretty successful for the British manufacturer. But really, who cares how many they sell. It looks beautiful and that’s pretty much all that matters to us. That, and we’re holding out hope that they offer the super aggressive 5.0-liter V8 from the F-Type R at some point down the road. Yes, please!
Range Rover Evoque Convertible: WTF?!?
Range Rover Evoque Convertible
We don’t even really know to categorize this. It’s ridiculous and useless and stupid and yet, we applaud Land Rover for having the stones to build it. This one can definitely be filed away in the same dark corner as the Nissan Murano Crosscabrio in a folder named “Weird Vehicles You Never Actually Thought Existed”.
Audi’s Booth: HIT
Front to back: Audi R8 V10 Plus, S8 Plus, RS7 Performance
We couldn’t pick just one favorite from Audi’s booth so we picked them all. They all have over 600 hp, they all go like stink, and they all look amazing. You just can’t go wrong.
Porsche 911 C4S Targa: MISS
Porsche 911 C4S Targa
Welcome to the 328th obscure version of the Porsche’s 911 lineup. This one is the latest 911 with the new twin-turbo engine that isn’t technically a Turbo. It has all-wheel drive, wider rear fenders, and a roof panel that folds down compared to the regular, plain-Jane 911. For those who don’t like this *exact* iteration, it can also be had with a fixed roof, or a full convertible top. Or with less power, or less driven wheels, or with more power, or pretty much any way you could possible want it. Yes, it’s still a 911 so it’ll be amazing to drive but the 911 lineup has become so bloated now that it’s hard to get excited about any new iteration at this point.
Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport: HIT
Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport
Although the Boxster/Cayman lineup has plenty of different versions, all with minor tweaks, we love Porsche’s approach to the GT4, and they went somewhere really exciting with this, the GT4 Clubsport. This track-only model takes a largely stock Cayman GT4 and adds a roll-cage, beefed up suspension, and a unique 6-speed version of their PDK gearbox. While it’s largely targeted at a one-make racing series, we’d love to get our hands on one for some track days!
Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept: HIT
Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept
We love the design of the Impreza Sedan Concept and really hope the production version will look this good. While most other manufacturers have given up on building concept cars these days, it’s nice to see that Subaru still likes to wow us. Keep your fingers crossed!
Nissan Sentra: HIT
The Nissan Sentra has been a staple of the Japanese automaker’s lineup for decades and this new model, although largely a refresh, is a handsome car. Beyond the fresh new look, Nissan has added some real substance through technology like intelligent cruise control, blind spot detection, forward emergency braking, and rear cross traffic alert. NissanConnect is also available now with navigation, Siri Eyes Free integration, and plenty of apps and services above and beyond what you might expect in this segment.
What’s to Come at the 2015 LA Auto Show
Nov 11th
Not that any of us needed an excuse to get out of Minnesota just as it starts getting cold, but the Los Angeles International Auto Show will be a welcome change of scenery next week. It’s not just the warm weather we’re looking forward to, but the cars too. While we don’t know everything that will be debuting at the auto show this year, it’s sure to be a star-studded show with big debuts from Cadillac, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and many more.
Cadillac is going to be debuting their SRX replacement – the XT5 – in LA this year. We’ve already seen a handful of photos that have leaked and the midsize crossover is quite beautiful. Being Cadillac’s highest selling vehicle in their lineup, this is a very important vehicle for the automaker and we have high hopes.
Hyundai is going to show off the new 2017 Elantra at the show, as well as possibly debut the Equus-replacing Genesis G90 in concept form. Hyundai is also aiming to split the Genesis name off into its own separate luxury brand, something the automaker has been planning with various degrees of success for a number of years now.
Mazda is taking big steps to replace their aging CX-9 crossover SUV that has remained largely the same for the last 9 years. We expect the new CX-9 to keep the 7-seat layout and offer fresh styling and more of the safety and infotainment technology, such as Mazda Connect, as we see on the rest of Mazda’s lineup.
Nissan will be debuting the updated 2016 Sentra in LA and although details have been scarce, we’re excited to see for ourselves just how Nissan has revised and refined the compact sedan for next year.
Subaru is also going to be rolling out their new Impreza Sedan concept after debuting the 5-door hatch version at the Tokyo Auto Show last month. This will show the design direction of the next generation Impreza that we’ll likely see sometime around 2017 or 2018.
Other notable vehicles that we’re looking forward to seeing include the new Porsche Cayman GT4 Club Sport, a new Mercedes-Benz SL convertible, a lightweight, rear-wheel drive Lamborghini Huracan, the Range Rover Evoque Convertible, an all-new Honda Civic Coupe, the Infiniti QX30 in production form, the new Buick LaCrosse sedan, and lastly, the new Fiat 124 Spider that is based on the new Mazda MX-5 platform. Surely there will be plenty of other interesting debuts at the show and we look forward to capturing them and sharing them with you later next week.
2015 New York International Auto Show in Pictures – Day 1
Apr 2nd
Morrie’s Automotive Group is on the ground this week at the 2015 New York International Auto Show to bring you the latest information on new cars and concepts as they debut. Day 1 of the show was a huge success with some major reveals from Ford, Lincoln, Subaru, and Cadillac, among others. Here’s a quick recap in photos of some of the highlights from the first press day at NYIAS and make sure to stay tuned to our YouTube channel for al the latest video news from the show.
2015 Twin Cities Auto Show in pictures
Mar 11th
The 2015 Twin Cities Auto Show kicks off this week and Morrie’s Automotive Group made sure to hit the show floor earlier this week to show you some highlights from the show. If you haven’t found time to make it to the show yet, visit our 2015 Minneapolis Auto Show website to get a pair of complimentary tickets from any Morrie’s location of your choice.
Also, be sure to check out our YouTube page for some video footage from the show this year!
Cadillac’s ‘Dare Greatly’ Campaign: What it means for the brand.
Feb 20th
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better – the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood … who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
So proclaims Cadillac in their new ‘Dare Greatly’ spot, a significant departure from the narcissistic bravado displayed in the ‘Poolside’ ELR commercial they released just a short year ago. This understated, almost ethereal visual accompaniment to a portion of Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 “Citizenship in a Republic” speech seems to indicate a complete shift in mindset. Gone are the claims of superiority, the displays of arrogance, and the assertions of self-importance. Instead, Cadillac seems to be acknowledging past failures indicating a change in core values.
Rather than portraying themselves as a purveyor of goods for the exorbitantly wealthy, Cadillac are seeking to forge a strong emotional connection with viewers (all viewers) - à la Chrysler’s Eminem-powered ‘Imported From Detroit’ campaign. Whether or not ‘Dare Greatly’ resonates with viewers on that level remains to be seen, but the raw emotion and authenticity of this spot is undeniable.
In any case, we’re excited to see the rest of the campaign roll out this weekend at the Oscars – check out the 90-second spot that has already been released below.
Morrie’s Auto Group covered the 2015 North American International Auto Show – Day 2
Jan 14th
After a bunch of big reveals from Nissan, Ford, Hyundai, Acura and more on the first day of the 2015 North American International Auto Show, we were excited for day two! Braving the cold temperatures and a food coma from the previous night, we tackled the show floor for another flurry of press conferences from the likes of Cadillac, Lincoln and others.
2014 Cadillac ATS – First Drive
Jun 11th
I spent my week driving and riding around in the new 2014 Cadillac ATS and the only word that comes to mind is ‘wow.’ This isn’t grandpa’s old 73′ Coupe Deville anymore. Between the Touchscreen CUE system and lane departure warning that vibrates the seat when you accidentally leave your lane, this car was more than I could imagine. The all wheel drive isn’t exactly a new thing for Cadillac but within a few short years they have this car nailed down to how a sport sedan should drive. With the 3.6L or the 2.0 turbo version there is no shortage of get up and go or fun to be had on the open road – the ATS almost seems to anticipate acceleration and responds beautifully. The interior is, of course, classic Cadillac luxury. Hand stitching, leather and sleek styling abound inside the ATS, giving you the difficult choice between going fast for the sake of speed, or taking your time and cruising in comfort. If you’re looking for a new sedan that provides luxury, comfort and style I would highly suggest you run not walk to Morrie’s Cadillac and drive the ATS today.
L.A. Auto Show | Day 2
Nov 21st
It was another busy day at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the 2013 LA Auto Show! We made sure to get plenty of coverage of all the Morrie’s brands, plus more to share with you. Here are more pictures and information from the latest debuts here at the show.
Nissan had quite the presence at the Auto Show this week with multiple Nismo performance vehicles including the all-new Nissan Sentra Nismo concept, the 2014 Juke Nismo RS, which will be available in January and finally the showstopper, the 2015 GT-R Nismo!
Nissan Sentra Nismo concept
2014 Juke Nismo RS
2015 GT-R Nismo
Ford’s main attraction this week at the Auto Show was the 2015 Edge Crossover Concept and it sure drew a lot of attention. We were excited to be able to see the concept that will hopefully pave the way for the future of the production model Edge. 
We were very excited to be able to get a closer look at both the 2015 Subaru WRX and the Subaru Legacy concept! The WRX stole the show this week as auto enthusiasts have been waiting for the production model to be unveiled since the concept debuted last year in New York. The Legacy concept was just as beautiful as we had anticipated with menacing headlights and a low sleek roofline.
2015 Subaru WRX
Subaru Legacy Concept
Kia’s k900 luxury sedan also debuted this week which gave us a better idea of the direction that Kia is headed with their transition to a full luxury lineup. Stay tuned for more information on when we will have one on our show floor at Morrie’s Kia.
We also got to see some excitement at the Hyundai booth where they brought an all-new Tucson hydrogen fuel-cell crossover, the 2014 Hyundai Elantra and a Veloster Turbo R-SPEC! Check out our pictures below.
Tucson hydrogen fuel-cell
2014 Hyundai Elantra
Veloster Turbo R-SPEC
Cadillac brought the Elmiraj concept to the Auto Show this week and it was constantly surrounded with individuals trying to get a gander. This vehicle is easy on the eyes with it’s long sleek sweeping hood, elegant look and gorgeous interior. This vehicle may not make it into production but we are keeping our fingers crossed. As well as the concept, Cadillac also had their recently revealed 2015 Cadillac Escalade on display.
Morrie’s is proud to bring you the latest news as it happens live from the LA Auto Show. Make sure to check our YouTube page soon for videos on all these great new models!
The 2014 CTS arrives at Morrie’s Cadillac!
Oct 17th
The All New 2014 Cadillac CTS has just landed at Morrie’s Cadillac! Be the first to come test drive the completely redesigned CTS! In this video, Morrie’s Cadillac General Manager, Pat Kyes, gives you a brief look at this hot new sedan. Don’t wait, call us at 763-449-4000 or stop by to check out the hottest new model in the Cadillac lineup!
The Next Generation Cadillac CTS
Sep 17th
The arrival of the all-new Cadillac CTS is approaching quickly and we have received a few more updates from Cadillac that we wanted to share with you. The current model Cadillac CTS is larger than a compact sedan but smaller than a mid-size sedan, since the ATS has taken the spot in the compact segment and the XTS has taken the spot in the full-size sedan, the all new CTS will be strictly competing with other luxury mid-size sedans.
The new CTS is not just a restyled version of the current CTS. It will be larger and will have more standard technologies. Some that were either just options or not available on the current CTS. With the departure of the DTS and STS and the replacement with the XTS, it is difficult for many to understand that the CTS will be completely different with no name change. Cadillac is referring to it now as the ngCTS which stands for New Generation CTS.
The exterior on the all-new CTS will be 5 inches longer with a roomier interior, 1 inch lower for a more athletic look, 7% lighter than the current CTS, and will have a refined grill finish. The interior will contain the new CUE infotainment system, a 5.7 inch reconfigurable driver information center similar to the XTS Premium and Platinum models, 11-speaker Bose audio system, Genuine Sapele wood trim, Push-Button start, a passive entry, and 14 or 20-way power adjustable seats.
As far as engine options, there will be a 2.0L Turbo 4 cylinder emitting 272 HP, a 3.6L V6 emitting 321 HP and a 3.6L V6 Twin Turbo on the CTS V-Sport emitting 420 HP that will debut at the end of 2013 or early 2014. The new generation CTS will also contain Magnesium Paddle Shifters, Run Flat Tires, Front Brembo Brakes (same as on the current ATS and CTS-V), and Dual Exhaust outlets.
We will be sure to let you know as soon as the New Generation CTS rolls onto our show floor. We are highly anticipating this great new addition to our line-up within the next month or so and hope you are too! Stay tuned for updates!
