Cadillac Escalade First Review 2015

Think about this for a second: It's been 15 years now since Cadillac took a chance on the Escalade. It was a radical move for a traditional domestic luxury car brand, but it's a gamble which continues to pay off. The Escalade's path to success hasn't been easy, it faces increasingly stiff competition from import and domestic rivals. And a dated interior didn't help its case. For 2015, though, Cadillac has upped its game with an all-new design featuring a cabin fit for a class-leading full-size luxury SUV. Cadillac was aiming for "world class quietness" through new additions like inlaid and triple-sealed doors, redesigned mirrors, and acoustic laminate glass for both the windshield and front row

The all-new interior is a major leap forward but other refinements further Cadillac's assertion of being best in class. A more powerful and fuel efficient 6.2-liter V8 engine is now rated at 420 horsepower and an impressive 460 lb-ft of torque (up from 403 hp and 417 lb-ft, respectively). The EPA has rated the 2015 Cadillac Escalade with standard rear-wheel drive at 15 city, 21 highway, and 17 mpg combined while the optional four-wheel drive model checks in at 14 city, 21 highway, and 16 mpg combined. The Escalade ESV with two-wheel drive is on par with the shorter wheelbase model while the ESV with four-wheel drive sees its highway fuel figure dip slightly to 20 mpg, still an improvement over the previous generation. Our time with the 2015 Cadillac Escalade demonstrated that General Motors' luxury brand fixed everything necessary to once again be considered a proper full-size luxury SUV

Buttoned Up

There's the obvious exterior styling tweaks including redesigned front and rear treatments, and fully-function LED lighting fore and aft, but the real star is the all-new interior.  Now with cut and sewn materials and real wood accents, the 2015 Escalade's interior is luxurious and comfortable. Climb into the driver's seat and it's easy to see that the interior has been harmonized with the rest of Cadillac's portfolio. Once a sore spot for Cadillac's largest offering, now the interior is one of the Escalade's strongest attributes thanks to the new materials, the restyled dashboard lay-out, and the addition of CUE giving it a distinct personality apart from its Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Denali siblings. Cadillac's on-board navigation and infotainment system, paired with the ability to customize the instrument cluster, now gives the Escalade a more technologically advanced feel

On the road 

After picking out a 2015 Cadillac Escalade Premium with four-wheel drive (and a staggering sticker price of $83,790, including a $995 destination charge), we were on the road in no time. This model came with available options such as 22-inch wheels ($600), power assist steps with LED lighting ($1,695), Majestic Plum Metallic paint ($495), and a second-row bench seat. Normally, the 2015 Escalade rolls on standard 20-inch wheels. The Escalade's 6.2-liter V8 engine provided spirited performance. On more than one occasion, our rural back road route had us caught behind farm tractors but a quick tip in of the throttle hustled the Escalade around slower traffic with ease. Moving 5,840 lbs is never an easy task but the Escalade's new V8 had little trouble doing so sounding great in the process

Controlling nearly three tons of mass isn't easy, so Cadillac unleashed its latest form of magnetic ride control on the 2015 Escalade with different modes available on the lower left-hand side of the CUE infotainment system screen. Our drive route snaked through a small, two-lane road that ran through a park and we battled our fair share of traffic along the way as well but we were able to handle the Escalade in a confident and controlled fashion. Improved brakes allow the 2015 Escalade to stop 9-feet shorter from 60 mph than the previous model. Other steering and suspension improvements include selectable, electric power steering and retuned, hydraulic engine mounts

Ready to Rumble

Cadillac faces an increasingly competitive set that includes the Lincoln Navigator and Infiniti QX80, but its most formidable challenger is the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, which bowed in 2006. However, unlike the Escalade, which only offers the 6.2-liter V8 engine, the Mercedes offers up three different engine choices - one of which is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6. There's also a high performance option in the GL63 AMG powered by a 5.5-liter biturbo V8 engine. We asked Cadillac's engineers about an AMG-fighting Escalade V-sport, and while it was considered, the idea never really progressed beyond the talking stage

We can't blame Cadillac for deciding to stay away from a V-sport variant of the Escalade. The way back to the top for Caddy's full-size SUV runs through higher quality interiors, a pleasant driving experience, and tons of cabin space. There are three different trims for the 2015 Escalade including the Standard ($72,690), Luxury ($76,690), and Premium ($81,190), all of which include a $995 destination charge. The long-wheelbase Escalade models will go for about $3,000 more than its regular wheelbase counterparts

The Verdict

The full-size luxury SUV segment has a lot to offer but with an all-out redesign for the 2015 model year, the Cadillac Escalade has climbed back to the top. With bold styling, seating for up to eight, a ton of storage space, and a towing capacity of up to 8,300 lbs, the 2015 Cadillac Escalade speaks volumes. We recommend you listen

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Cadillac ATS Coupe makes Detroit debut 2015

Presenting its own unique take on an elegantly efficient design formula that has earned the ATS Sedan kudos around the globe, the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe boldly rolled into the limelight in Detroit. With its first compact luxury 2-door model, the automaker hopes to entice a new group of young affluent enthusiasts to slip behind the wheel of a vehicle it claims will deliver the best power-to-weight ratio and the most engaging driving dynamics of any player in its segment

While retaining all of the distinctive visual cues introduced on the ATS 4-door, this new coupe is even more aggressively styled and proportioned than its sedan sibling with the only shared sheetmetal being the hood stamping. Both ride on a 109.3-inch wheelbase, but the coupe is slightly lower and wider - the latter reflecting its more expansive track dimensions. In addition to a faster roofline and shorter front/rear overhangs, the ATS Coupe also has unique fascia treatments that include the first application of Cadillac's new-look crest. Primary illumination for base ATS Coupes comes from projector beam headlamps, but the Luxury, Performance and Premium collections all feature bi-xenon HID units with signature vertically stacked LED running lamps. LED rear lighting is standard across the lineup, as are 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 225/40 all-season run-flat or regular tires

The new ATS Coupe offers two sophisticated engines with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing, both also used in the sedan. The base 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gets a boost bump for 2015 that will also benefit the sedan. While its horsepower carries at 272, torque rises by 13 percent to a heady 295 lb-ft -- 90 percent of which is on tap from just 2,100 rpm. Cadillac projects the revamped engine will let the ATS Coupe sprint from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds and will return 21 city/31 highway EPA numbers. The step-up alternative is the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 that continues to make 321 horses and 275 lb-ft of peak twist while netting 19/28 mph EPA figures. Both engines are backed by a standard 6-speed automatic transmission, but the 2.0-liter turbo also can be paired with a 6-speed manual should the buyer choose

Like the sedan, the ATS Coupe is based on GM's sophisticated Alpha platform and will be available in rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive configurations. Here too, the crisply tuned and responsive FE2 conventional sport suspension includes StabiliTrak stability control and Brembo brakes, but can be upgraded to FE3 spec that brings driver-adjustable Magnetic Ride Control variable damping, a mechanical limited-slip differential, faster-ratio power steering and a high-capacity engine cooling system as well as staggered-width (225/40 front and 255/35 rear) 18-inch summer performance tires

Sharing all of its basic styling cues with the sedan, the well-finished, well-appointed cabin the ATS Coupe features seating for four not five, although passenger space in the aft quarters does go well beyond typical 2+2 levels. Leather, aluminum, carbon fiber and real wood highlight the upscale character of this realm and a Bose premium audio system with Active Noise Cancellation helps eliminate unwanted road din while augmenting the actual sound of the engine. Optional on the base model but standard on all other ATS Coupes, Cadillac's CUE infotainment system benefits from several upgrades for 2015 including a new Text-to-Voice feature with Bluetooth profile and Siri Eyes Free that works with iPhone. The OnStar system also is enhanced with the availability of new 4G LTE connectivity and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Other primo standard or optional features include a 12-speaker Bose audio upgrade, navigation system and head-up display

Like the sedan, the ATS Coupe comes with a comprehensive array of safety features including eight air bags and carries a NHTSA 5-Star safety rating. It also offers Driver Awareness (Safety Alert Seat, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Intellibeam high-beam control, front/rear park assist, rear-vision camera) and Driver Assist (full-speed-range adaptive cruise control, Automatic Collision Preparation, motorized safety belts, electronic park brake, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, head-up display) packages

The 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe arrives in showrooms this summer. Pricing will be released closer to the actual on-sale date, but expect a starting price in the mid-$30,000 range

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BMW X4 xDrive35i First Review 2015

If all vehicle purchases were completely based on practicality and rationality, the automotive landscape would look very different. Not everyone buys the car they need; in many cases, they buy the car they want. That idea, the thought of a car as an emotional purchase, is what brings cars to market that may not seem to make a lot of sense at first. But for buyers, it's always better to have more vehicles to choose from. That's where the X4 comes into play. Looking rationally at things, someone who wants a car that drives like a BMW 3 Series with a lot of cargo volume should probably buy a 3 Series wagon. Those who want increased ground clearance and a better view of the road can consider the X3 SUV. But for people who want the driving experience of a sport wagon with the seating position of an SUV, there's the 2015 BMW X4

The X4 is built on X3 underpinnings, which gives the X4 higher ground clearance than a traditional wagon, but lower than an SUV. When looking at it, there is no doubt the X4 is not quite an SUV and it's not quite a car. Whether someone is a fan of the styling is a matter of personal taste. It wants to be a 4-door coupe, but to keep the 5-passenger X4 capable of toting up to 49.4 cubic feet of gear, BMW opted to keep the roofline closer to that of an SUV in the rear. The new model comes with a choice of turbocharged engines, either a 240-horsepower I4 or a 300-horsepower I6. Both engines use an 8-speed automatic transmission. Our test vehicle for this drive was the turbo I6-powered X4, equipped with the M Sport package and donned in a Melbourne Red. It had a price tag of just over $61,000. The interior was an attractive combination of white leather seats with bright red stitching, part of the M Sport package. That, plus the brushed aluminum trim, served as a pleasant color contrast to the black dash and headliner. The front M Sport seats provided snug bolstering and proved comfortable on long drives. In back, the legroom was tighter than in the X3, but better than expected

Street Smarts

The most pleasant surprise about the BMW X4 is its demeanor when driven like a sport sedan. It is not a light vehicle, weighing in at over 4200 pounds with the I6 and standard all-wheel drive, yet the excellent power the turbocharged engine puts out makes the X4 feel spry. Adding to that feeling is the way the X4 handles. Taking it on curvy roads, the Sports Activity Coupe (BMW's term) was nimble and genuinely fun to drive. It also has a lower center of gravity than the X3, making the X4 feel more confident in turns

Each of the four driving modes--Sport+, Sport, Comfort and Eco Pro--have a unique feel. Sport+ is the most performance-minded, and Eco Pro the most frugal, with Sport and Comfort splitting the difference. Driving modes change transmission shifts, steering, throttle response and suspension. The steering is nicely responsive in Sport. The ride in our M Sport-equipped X4 was firm, which is fun in turns, but also let in a lot of road feel. Steering isn't as tight and precise in Comfort, and the vehicle feels a little more relaxed. Eco Pro mode, which optimizes throttle and transmission to help a driver achieve the best fuel economy possible in the X4, works with Auto Start-Stop and brake energy regeneration to squeeze every ounce of fuel efficiency out of this vehicle. (EPA ratings have not yet been released, but BMW estimates that the xDrive28i will achieve 21 mpg city, 28 highway and the xDrive35i should get about 19/26 mpg.) In the European-spec X4s we drove, the display on the dash showed the distance in kilometers saved by driving in Eco Pro mode. In all modes, the brakes worked well, feeling natural and linear

Who would the X4 potentially steal sales from? There is always the risk that it could take away from X3, X1 or 3 Series wagons, but it will also appeal to people who prioritize unique style and handling prowess over the functional practicality of an SUV. Possible competitors could include the Range Rover Evoque and Mercedes-Benz GLK. This is not a vehicle that is meant to be a high-volume seller. When it goes on sale in July, those people who want something that fills the gap between luxury wagon and crossover, but want something smaller than the X6, will have a new option to consider

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BMW M4 2015

Making its first public appearance in New York, the all-new 2015 BMW M4 Convertible is the al fresco alternative to the equally new coupe version that debuted last January in Detroit. Save for offering a wind-in-the-hair motoring experience, the two are design clones, which guarantees this hard-core cabrio will have no problem living up to BMW's Ultimate Driving Machine legacy

Building on a pedigree of performance 

Like its 2015 BMW M4 Coupe counterpart, the new convertible packs a 425-horsepower/3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 engine that cranks out 406 lb-ft of peak torque. More potent and more fuel efficient than the naturally aspirated V8 used in the previous M3 Convertible, this new TwinPower Turbo unit is backed by either a standard 6-speed manual transmission or optional 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission with a Launch Control function. Top speed is limited to 155 mph with either trans, but the 0-60 mph sprint requires 4.4 seconds with the manual and 4.2 ticks with the auto. While roughly 0.3 seconds slower to that benchmark than an M4 Coupe, those stats mean this new drop-top is still blisteringly quick

Mechanically, the M4 Convertible also ticks all of the other high-performance boxes as its coupe sibling. A full M suspension, Active M Differential, multi-mode Servotronic steering and upgraded brakes are all standard with Adaptive M suspension and M carbon ceramic binders on offer as options. Weight-saving efforts include aluminum body panels, a CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) driveshaft and front strut tower brace cut curb weight to 4,055 pounds - about 90 less that its predecessor

Styled for speed

The visual parallels continue on the exterior of the new M4 Convertible. It sports a bolder front end with aero-enhancing M gills, Air Breathers and Air Curtains set off by flared fenders and an edgier tail that has a subtle decklid spoiler and a functional diffuser housing dual-paired exhaust outlets. The new M4 Convertible has a three-piece power retractable hard top capable of cycling in 20 seconds and at speeds of up to 11 mph. This new one-touch lid is better able to block out ambient noise when raised and gives more usable trunk space (13.0 cu ft) than the outgoing M3 cabrio

Like the new M4 Coupe, the 2015 BMW M4 Convertible will arrive in showrooms this summer. Pricing will be announced at the car's actual reveal in New York

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BMW M3 and M4 First Review 2015

Hours of rain had made a slippery mess of the famous Road America racetrack near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The stability control light on the 2-door 2015 BMW M4 I was driving flickered constantly, even when accelerating in a straight line, and the rear end kicked out on every upshift from the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The combination of bad weather, a powerful car, and an unfamiliar track with a notorious lack of runoff room had put my naturally cautious nature into overdrive

At least it had stopped raining, and three laps in, I was feeling more comfortable. I was already well into the long, sweeping, downhill right hander known as the Carousel Turn when I realized the rear end of the M4 was sliding. The car's nose suddenly pointed inside the corner; it was the beginning of a spin, yet before my conscious mind had even registered enough of this to pick out the proper swear word, I had already caught it by pointing the front wheels where I wanted to go and keeping the throttle steady, turning the skid into a drift, and holding it until the M4's stability control could find traction on the slick surface

That unconscious reaction speaks volumes about the underlying excellence of the M4 and, by extension, the 4-door M3. When you hear enthusiasts talk about "communicative steering" or a suspension that "talks to you," this is what they mean, and the 2015 BMW M3 and M4 -- the M4 replaces the M3 Coupe -- have it in spades. These are more than just 3 and 4 Series BMWs with bigger engines; they're reengineered with an eye on maximum performance. For example, changes like the rear suspension subframe that's bolted directly to the chassis, with no vibration-absorbing bushings in between the two. The ride's stiffer, but that direct connection likely played a part in helping me keep the car on the track

The Tech

The 2015 BMW M3 and M4 are based on the current-generation 3 and 4 Series, with an upgraded suspension, all-new engine, better steering, and a host of other changes to turn the luxury sedan and coupe into a multi-passenger Corvette fighter; seriously, BMW estimates the M3 can accelerate to 60 mph in just under 4 seconds, about the same as a Corvette

The heart of the new M3 and M4 is a new 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 cylinder engine with 425 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Respectively, that's an improvement of 2 percent and a whopping 38 percent over the V8 it replaces. It's connected to either 6-speed manual, or the more popular 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The M3 and M4 are exclusively rear-wheel drive, this year aided by a new electronically controlled locking differential. You can choose between the standard 4-piston brakes with cast-iron rotors, or a new track-ready $8,150 6-piston carbon-ceramic braking system that increases resistance to brake fade. The throttle, suspension, stability control, and transmission can each be individually set up for your personal tastes -- those hard-hitting shifts on the track were easily tamed by selecting a less aggressive setting -- with two programmable presets on the steering wheel for your favorite settings. Despite being bigger than last year's car, the new M3 and M4 lose about 180 pounds thanks to the carbon fiber trunk lid, driveshaft, roof, and more

The Street

The rainy weather prevented the kind of at-the-limit handling BMW had probably hoped for, but it at least proved valuable for testing stability at triple-digit speeds, and how well those new carbon-ceramic brakes hauled it down something sane again in the blink of an eye. Plus, the full-throttle wail of the new engine anywhere other than the track would likely have scared enough cows to ruin a year's worth of Wisconsin cheese, and there was no way I wanted to be responsible for that

Nonetheless, part of the M3's magic is that it's equally adept on the streets as it is on the track, so I headed out in a Marina Blue M3 to the nearby Henning's Cheese factory to purchase some of Wisconsin's finest. With the M3's suspension, steering, transmission and throttle sensitivity in their most relaxed modes it was docile, with the suspension absorbing all but the sharpest of bumps, albeit with a slight graininess to the ride. With a decently sized back seat, standard navigation with BMW's iDrive infotainment system, and even an Efficiency mode that shuts off the engine at stops, this new M3 is a model citizen that can burst to super-legal speeds in an eyeblink

At just under $63,000 for the M3 sedan, and $65,000 for the M4 coupe they aren't cheap, especially when you start adding option packages. We want some time with them on our local roads, but even a brief rain-soaked experience tells us that there's no doubt that the 2015 BMW M3 and M4 uphold the tradition of combining race track performance with everyday civility

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