Drop Top Customs Gets to Work on 2013 Cadillac XTS Convertible Sedan

If it rolls on four wheels, has a roof and it's made by Detroit, then Drop Top Customs will gladly turn your ride into a convertible, regardless of the number of doors.

Not too long after we brought you news on the Florida-based company's open top interpretations of the redesigned Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans, Drop Top Customs released two images of a 2013 Cadillac XTS being stripped down in preparation of its transformation into a convertible.

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Consumer Reports Tests Dodge Dart, Says Close Enough, But No Cigar; XTS, MKS & ES Also Rated

The Dodge Dart compact is the first completely new product to come out of the Fiat-Chrysler alliance and it has just been tested by Consumer Reports (CR). While buyers don’t necessarily adhere to what the motoring press has to say, CR’s tests still command enough heft in the U.S. market to make a carmaker dread its verdict.

So, how did the Dart do? The good news is that CR, which tested two versions of the Dart, the US$20,680 2.0-liter SXT and the US$24,490 1.4-liter Rallye, praised their quiet cabin, nimble handling and taut yet compliant ride. The bad news is that, neither of them scored high enough to earn the coveted “recommended” tag.

“The Dart is the first decent compact car from Dodge in decades,” said CR’s Auto Test Center director Jake Fisher. “It has some solid positives. But overall it can’t yet measure up to the best in class.”

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2013 Cadillac XTS Sedan Experiences its First Recall

General Motors has issued the first recall for its 2013 Cadillac XTS saloon that was launched in the U.S. market in the second quarter of the year.

The Detroit automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that on certain models, the rear seat head restraints might not lock in the upright position after being folded forward.

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Software Glitch Causes Delays in Deliveries of Certain 2012-2013 GM Models Including Cadillac ATS

General Motors may have increased its US sales in August by 10 percent compared to the same month in 2011, but last Wednesday it notified its dealers to stop deliveries of some of its most popular models.

The reason is a software glitch on the OnStar communication system that affects the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze, Equinox and Volt, the Cadillac ATS, SRX and XTS, the Buick Verano plus the GMC Terrain.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said that the issue has been identified as the system failing to alert the OnStar call center in an accident that the vehicle’s airbags are not deployed, like a rear-end collision.

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Cadillac's Plans for the 2013-15 Model Years Reportedly Include New Flagship Limo and Escalade

The next 24 months will be a busy time for Cadillac in terms of new products as the Detroit automaker has plenty on its plate including the presentation of a flagship limousine loosely based on the well-received Ciel convertible sedan concept.

A report from Automotive News (sub. required) citing sources from within General Motors outlines Cadillac's plans for the 2013-15 model years.

According to the insiders, GM has given the green light for the development of a full size, rear-wheel drive luxury sedan that will sit atop of the range rivaling the Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, Jaguar XJ and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

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Watch the 2013 Cadillac XTS's Reconfigurable Instrument Cluster in Action

Someone alert the hipsters; there is a new fad going around the auto industry and it's called reconfigurable instrument clusters.

Just last month, BMW announced that it will offer a customizable digital instrument display on the 2013 model year 5-Series and facelifted 7-Series, while recent spy photos prove that the next Mercedes-Benz S-Class will also have this future.

For once, Cadillac is not trailing behind its rivals in features introducing an available Reconfigurable Gauge Cluster on its new top sedan model, the 2013 XTS that just went on sale in the States.

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New Gallery of 2013 Cadillac XTS Sedan with More than 50 Pictures

It is only a matter of weeks, if not days, before Cadillac begins U.S. sales of its new flagship XTS sedan model that will hits dealerships with a starting MSRP of $44,995, including destination.

Today, we have a fresh batch of high-resolution photos to share with you, which preview the Cadillac sedan in new shades and from different angles.

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Cadillac to Offer iPad with Special Apps on all 2013 XTS Sedans

General Motors is lifting a page from Hyundai's initiative to replace the traditional owner's manual book with an Apple iPad on the Equus, by offering a standard iPad on the new 2013 Cadillac XTS full-size sedan to assist owners with the CUE infotainment system.

What differentiates Cadillac's move from the Korean automaker is that the XTS's iPad is more interactive as it will come pre-fitted with several special apps including one that replicates many of the controls and features of the CUE center stack along with the MyCadillac App and OnStar RemoteLink.

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GM Wants Cadillac to Follow in the Successful Footsteps of Buick in China

Last year, Buick sold 177,633 vehicles in the States and 645,537 cars in China, with the Excelle, which is the local version of the Verano sedan, taking the first spot overall in the passenger car segment.

Cadillac, on the other hand, delivered 152,389 vehicles in the U.S. but only about 30,000 in the world's most populous country, despite an increase of 73 percent over 2010.

Given China's thirst for luxury products, it is no wonder that General Motors would like to repeat the success of Buick with its flagship brand.

According to General Motors CEO Dan Akerson, who was speaking on the company's first quarter earnings call for 2012, there is a plan in motion to boost Cadillac's sales in China six-fold in the next few years.

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Cadillac XTS Features Capless Fuel Filler, will be Produced in China as Well

This week, we learned two new things about the 2013 Cadillac XTS, the first being that it features a new capless fuel filler assembly and the other that General Motors has plans to build the full-size sedan in China for the domestic market.

We will begin with the new capless fuel filler system that replaces the traditional twist-off cap, with Cadillac promising a cleaner and safer experience.

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Cadillac Jumps on the Driverless Bandwagon, Says Tech Could be Ready for Production by 2015

These days, a number of automakers including Audi, Volkswagen and BMW are testing various semi-autonomous driving technologies. In fact, even internet giant Google has given it a shot, so it should not come to a surprise that GM's flagship brand Cadillac is also heavily investing in this field.

Cadillac's semi-autonomous technology is named "Super Cruise" and it is capable of fully automatic steering, braking and lane-centering in highway driving under certain optimal conditions. The automaker said that the system could be ready for production vehicles by 2015.

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2013 Cadillac XTS to Start at $44,995 in the U.S.

When the brand-new 2013 Cadillac XTS full-size sedan arrives at U.S. dealerships later this spring, it will have a starting MSRP of $44,995 (€33,980) including destination, GM announced today.

The XTS will be offered exclusively with a 300HP 3.6-liter V6 engine linked to a six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheel, with an all-wheel drive system using Haldex technology to transfer power front-to-back, and side-to-side along the rear axle, being an option.

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2013 Cadillac XTS will Jiggle Your Buttocks to Warn of Imminent Crash Threats While Driving and Parking

After learning that the all-new Cadillac can squeeze in four adults with all their golf gear, General Motors is now informing us about an innovative safety feature that will make its debut on the full-size sedan when it launches later this Spring.

The patented Cadillac Safety Alert Seat is an industry first system that uses directional tactile sensation, or to put it in Layman's terms, the driver's seat base vibrates, to warn of crash threats while driving and parking.

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It's Official: The New 2013 Cadillac XTS Sedan can Fit Four Adults and Four Golf Bags

We just wanted to show you a few new pictures and a video of the brand-new 2013 Cadillac XTS but since General Motors went to all that trouble to convince us that its full-size sedan is compatible with the life-style of golfers, we opted to share the company’s thoughts.

Mind you, young and enthusiastic gearheads aspiring to be designers or engineers may want to skip this post altogether.

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Cadillac Plans to Take Over the Limo Market from the Lincoln Town Car with its New XTS

General Motors has revealed new details on its plans for the limousine variants of the 2013 Cadillac XTS, which made its world premiere at last year's Los Angeles Auto Show.

The XTS will replace the DTS sedan not only in the passenger car market but will also take its place in Cadillac's professional vehicle lineup.

At the upcoming 28th Annual International Limousine, Charter and Tour Show that takes place February 13-15 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Cadillac will unveil the XTS "W20 Livery Sedan Package" for professional use, which from what we understand, will retain the regular XTS' wheelbase length.

However, GM said it is currently working on two more versions of the XTS, the extended sedan and limousine, which Cadillac Master Coachbuilder (CMC) licensed manufacturers can build for the chauffeured transportation market by the end of the year.

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