“Cadillac is a natural fit for GM’s next step in developing the E-Flex platform,” says Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. “Cadillac, at its very essence, is about premium luxury, design and technology, so it’s fitting that Cadillac would be propelled by the most elegant solution. This signals Cadillac’s intent to lead the industry with alternative-fuel technology.”

Fuel-cell variant of the E-Flex system

The concept can drive 300 miles (483 km) on a single fill of hydrogen – with 280 miles (450 km) from hydrogen and 20 miles (32 km) on pure, battery electric energy.

A pair of 10,000 psi (700 bar) composite storage tanks beneath the rear cargo floor hold 13.2 pounds (6 kg) of hydrogen to feed the fuel cell stack, located under the hood. There, hydrogen mixes with oxygen to generate electricity – up to 88 kW continuous power. A lithium-ion battery pack can store up to a total of 9kWh of electrical energy and also provides a peak of 60 kW of power for additional performance.

The electricity generated by the fuel cell is distributed to a 70 kW co-axial drive system for the front wheels and individual, 40 kW wheel hub motors on the rear wheels, giving the Cadillac Provoq its all-wheel-drive traction and great driving dynamics. Its 0-60 mph (approximately 100 km/h) speed of 8.5 seconds is a more than 30-percent improvement over the previous-generation fuel cell system and with instantaneous torque to the wheels, it feels even faster. Provoq has a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).

“This is a vision of what comes next – a fuel cell electric vehicle that delivers the driving characteristics Cadillac customers want and allowing them to do it without using a single drop of petroleum, while emitting only water vapor,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president for research and development. “This is proof that alternate fuels and advanced technologies create even greater opportunities to satisfy the luxury buyer.”

Key Features

With sleek, signature Cadillac bodywork, the Provoq concept redefines luxury crossovers, offering uncompromising passenger and cargo space to match its performance and cruising range. Additional vehicle features include:

• Solar panel integrated in the roof to help power onboard accessories, such as the interior lights, audio system and more
• Brake-by-wire technology
• Front grille louvers that close at highway speed to enhance aerodynamics, and open at low speed to provide maximum cooling to the fuel cell stack

Purposefully Dynamic Design

The Provoq has a sleek, athletic shape that builds on the second generation of Cadillac’s design renaissance, led by the 2008 CTS, with dynamic and purposeful features that support the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain and contribute to the vehicle’s overall efficiency.

“All the people- and cargo-carrying capability customers expect in crossovers and SUVs is available in the Provoq, along with the premium attributes expected in a Cadillac,” said Ed Welburn, vice president, Global Design.

Highlights include:

• Active front grille, with grille louvers that open when the fuel cell stack requires cooling
• Full underbody aerodynamic cover
• Left- and right-hand charging ports incorporated in stylish front fender vents
• Flush door handles that feature push-to-release operation
• Wind tunnel-shaped outside mirrors with integral turn signals
• Center high-mounted rear stop lamp incorporated into full-width, wraparound spoiler
• Signature vertical taillamps with subtle fin design
• Side glass mounted flush with pillars
• Wheels with clear-covered space between the spokes, creating a sleeker profile while maintaining Cadillac’s signature bold wheel design
• Low-drag roof rack

“From the strong, shield grille and vertical headlamps to the crisp body lines, the Provoq is instantly recognizable as a contemporary Cadillac,” said Hoon Kim, exterior lead designer. “Like the new CTS, it is bold and expressive, but there is enhanced shape between the edges – it’s a new proportion for crossovers, with a fast, almost coupe-like rear.

“Everything about the vehicle reinforces the notion that great style and environmentally conscious transportation can go hand in hand,” said Kim. “We didn’t sacrifice proportion, stance or Cadillac’s iconic design cues; we used them to support the efficiency of the vehicle.

“They are the features customers expect,” he said. “The adaptability of the E-Flex architecture enabled the designers to create a great-looking vehicle, regardless of its alternative-fuel powertrain.”

Kim points to the fender-mounted charge ports as prime example. They allow overnight, plug-in charging that extends the driving range. The ports have a satin-chrome appearance that incorporates an amber light to indicate the system is charging and a green light to indicate when charging is completed.

“The ports are functional, but rather than hide them, they are design elements of the Provoq,” he said. “Sweeping body lines that culminate at the top and bottom edges of the ports suggest forward thrust, even when the vehicle is stationary.”

The vertical, neon-lit taillamps blend style with functionality, too, as their finned shape was designed to make the Provoq as aerodynamically efficient as possible.

Indeed, the Provoq has short overhangs and a sporty ride height that is complemented by large, 21-inch wheels.

The wheels are wrapped in custom Michelin tires incorporating Green-X technology. These low-rolling resistance tires feature a tread pattern that mimics the “H20” notation for water.

The tire designers and engineers at Michelin North America enthusiastically accepted GM’s challenge to create a custom low-rolling resistance tire to complement the energy efficiency and reduced environmental footprint of the Cadillac Provoq. During the past 15 years, the tire maker has developed four generations of Michelin green energy-saving tires, and the team’s no-compromises approach to the project helped reduce the Provoq’s overall fuel consumption without sacrificing road performance, grip and safety.

When used in conjunction with the other energy-efficient solutions featured on the Cadillac Provoq, the benefits of Michelin green energy-saving tires include:

• A reduction in the consumer’s overall cost of ownership
• An extended vehicle range through a more efficient use of on-board energy and its storage capacity
• A reduction of vehicle impact on the environment through lower CO2 and particulate emissions.

Uncompromising interior

Like the exterior, the Provoq’s interior blends style with function. It seats five and incorporates the comfort, convenience and infotainment features Cadillac customers seek. Most importantly, the fuel cell powertrain does not intrude on passenger or cargo room.

The hydrogen fuel tanks are mounted beneath the cargo floor, with the storage batteries located at the center of the chassis. The fuel cell stack is located under the hood, giving the Provoq the interior layout of a conventional crossover – including a full cargo area and a 60/40-split folding rear seat.

“The interior is roomy, well-equipped and offers the space people want in a crossover,” said Matt Erdey, interior lead designer. “There are no compromises inside the Provoq to accommodate the fuel cell powertrain and fuel tanks – a factor that proves the technology and real-world feasibility are growing closer together.”

There may not be compromising reminders of the powertrain in the interior, but the Provoq carries the instantly identifiable hallmarks of a contemporary Cadillac interior, with an expressive, well-crafted design.

“It picks up the cues, refinement and attention to detail of the new CTS and takes them to the next level,” said Erdey. “A contrasting color scheme, extensive use of ambient lighting technology and elements such as cut-and-sewn, hand-wrapped leather with French seams are elements seen in current Cadillac models, but they are amplified in the Provoq. ”

The interior has a contrasting, dark gray and light gray color scheme, with chrome and satin-chrome accents throughout. Ambient lighting extends across the instrument panel and into the door panels, as well as the foot wells, sills and under the seats.

A unique instrument cluster with large, reconfigurable LCD displays offers a multitude of vehicle information readouts, including fuel cell information and vehicle performance. Like the CTS, the Provoq has a prominent center stack that houses the audio and climate systems, as well as a navigation system that rises out of the top of the instrument panel. Also like the CTS, there is an integrated hard drive that stores navigation maps, thousands of songs and more.

Between the front bucket seats is a large center console with a fully enclosed storage compartment that is home to ports for USB-connected devices and other electronics. The console also has a cell phone holder with built-in Bluetooth and inductive charging. The compact shifting mechanism on the console uses shift-by-wire technology to engage the gears, resulting in more storage space within the console.

A variety of recycled and recyclable materials were used, as well. Highlights include:

• The headliner is wrapped in a fully recyclable soy-based material
• The carpet is made of recycled polyester and jute
• Leather used to cover the seats and instrumental panel is free of harmful chemicals
• Xorel material used on the door panels and instrument panel; treated to perform as a carbon-fiber-type material
• Chrome trim made with less-harmful materials

The earth-friendly interior components blend seamlessly with the more conventional materials inside the Provoq, enhancing the vehicle’s integrated, customer-focused environment. The same goes for the cargo area, which features an auxiliary power outlet and a load floor that is level with the hatch opening.

“The integration of the features and technology is remarkable,” said Erdey. “If you didn’t know there was a hydrogen fuel cell stack under the hood, you’d never know it was anything but a roomy, functional crossover.”

Specifications

Vehicle type:	four-door crossover
Wheelbase (in / mm):	114.4 / 2906
Length (in / mm):	180.3 / 4580
Width (in / mm):	72.8 / 1850
Height (in / mm):	67 / 1703
Track (in / mm):	64.5 / 1639 (front and rear)
Powertrain:	88 kW fuel cell w/ co-axial electric front drive; independent rear wheel motors
Suspension:	four-wheel independent; MacPherson-strut (front), multi-link (rear)
Brakes:	four-wheel disc; brake-by-wire; regenerative electric
Wheels:	21-inch x 6.5-inch aluminum
Tires:	205/60R21 Michelin Green X energy-saving

Concept vehicle shown. Not available for sale.

Cadillac offers their Escalade as the EXT, their crossover pickup truck model. Being young, the EXT still has various improvements being made regularly. Featuring an open pick bed that is extendable and the ESV’s longer wheelbase, the EXT is full of little subtleties that make it an innovative wonder.

Let’s start with the cargo space. The cab’s midgate can fold forward to open up the back cargo bed to the interior. The 60/40-split second-row bench seating can fold as well and increase cargo space of the pick-up bed to an impressive 101 cubic feet of volume. The luxury for the five-person interior is striking as well. Automatic climate control, leather seating, a Premium Boss® 5.1 audio system and a Rear-Seat DVD Entertainment System really mask the fact that you’re inside a car. The driver also gets some supplies. Some of these supplies include a DVD-Based Navigation System, a fully equipped DIC and backlit instrument panels.

What trucks really excel at is power and the EXT delivers there quite nicely. The 6.2-liter Vortec V8 VVT engine can generate 403 horsepower, and it teams with a Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission, complete with Driver Shift Control manual mode. The standard AWD helps all of this to supply a 7,600-towing limit to the EXT. Cadillac makes sure its drivers are safe with all that power and provide dual-stage frontal airbags, head side-curtain airbags and rollover protection to all rows. Also standard are antilock brakes and an electronic stability system that senses driving conditions to alter input.

The Escalade is a nice alternative to fans of the SUV version who want more storage space. It drives well, stores well and pleases the passengers better than any other. The 2008 Escalade EXT is a must have this year.

Cadillac further dazzles its customers with its luxury Roadster, the XLR. This miniature powerhouse can hold its own on the road all while providing the occupants with that extra special something that makes you fall in love with a car.

The sporty exterior is definitely a vision. The retractable hardtop takes under 30 seconds to draw back. The top is made of durable materials, has composite exterior panels and a heated back window with rear-quarter windows. The luxurious wood and aluminum accent-ridden inside can occupy two passengers at a time. These two seats have the option to be heated or cooled, depending on the conditions. Dual-zone climate control and an Air Filtration System keep the confines of the XLR pristine when the hood is up. Also included is 6.5” LCD touch screen that controls the Bose Audio System, Navigation System and the DVD entertainment system. The entertainment system only works in park, for the safety of the vehicle occupants. The side-impact airbags, frontal airbags and Passenger airbag suppression system further contribute to this safety. Other securities built into the car include all-disc antilock brakes and an electronic stability system.

This eloquent vehicle uses a 4.6-liter Northstar V* with VVT to power it up. It teams with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift mode. The XLR-V model is graced with the supercharged 4.4-liter V8 that can generate 443 horsepower and 414 lb. ft. of torque at 3,900 rpm. This engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that uses Performance Algorithm Shifting and a Driver Shift Control that allows some semi-manual operation.

Everything about the XLR shines on the road. It accelerates like a bullet and the amount of comfort the interior provides makes it hard to believe this is a sports vehicle. The steering is responsive and very tight and the built-in systems do a fine job of picking up slack. The 2008 XLR is a road warrior ready for you to get behind the wood accented and heated steering wheel.

The Cadillac STS, or “Seville Touring Sedan,” is a full-size luxury car capable of supreme satisfaction. The STS comes in a V6, V8, Platinum and the high-performance V-Series models. From the inside to the out, many changes were made for 2008. On the inside, the wooden trims give hint to the luxury of this automobile. The five possible passengers will really enjoy their ride; how could you not with leather seating, heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a DVD-capable Navigation system and a premium audio system? The list goes on. The driver gets an electronic cruise control feature, backlit instrument panels, a multi-lingual DIC with complete vehicle status, one-year OnStar service and more! To provide safety to drivers, the STS sedan comes with a head-up display that projects various parameters on the windshield so the driver never takes their eye off the road. Further safety comes from the frontal airbags, side airbags, antilock brakes and the new Land-Departure Warning and Blind-Spot Alert systems; Blind-Spot alerts you on the side mirror when other vehicles are in that zone. The Intellibeam headlamps are another safeguard and regulate their brightness based on surrounding traffic.

The base STS model runs on a 3.6-liter V6 with direct injection so it can produce 298 horsepower and 268 lb. ft. of torque. This engine teams with a six-speed automatic transmission and the StabiliTrak stability system; this works with the antilock brakes to maintain the vehicle when track is lost. The powerful STS-V model is propelled by a supercharged 4.4-liter V8 that can produce 469 horsepower and works with a six-speed automatic transmission. According to Cadillac, this configuration allows the V-series edition to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in under 5 seconds.

Whether you chose the V-series model or one of the other three, the STS is an exceptional buy. It provides a flawless performance on the road, has little to no external noise on the inside, excellent handling and the appearance of a true champion. The 2008 STS is the luxury sedan of the year.

Cadillac has a contender in the crossover SUV market with their SRX mid-size luxury crossover. Being Cadillac’s first crossover, much care was taken to ensure that the SRX takes the convenience of a sedan with the power of an SUV and combing it into a deluxe package.

The interior of the SRX is what really illustrates the versatility of a crossover. The 60/40-split second row bench seat can fold down and increase the cargo volume significantly. Buyers can opt to include the third row seat that ups the maximum capacity to seven passengers and can fold flat for cargo space purposes. The luxuries provided to vehicle occupants are seemingly endless. Exceptional audio systems, dual-zone climate control and an UltraView roof further delve the SRX into a lap of luxury. This crossover also gets an available backseat DVD entertainment system, a navigation system, the OnStar Communication system, DIC with complete vehicle status, cruise control and much more! Also on the inside are dual stage frontal airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags and head-curtain airbags for each row. Further safety stems from the standard antilock brakes and electronic stability systems.

The SRX has two available engines. The 3.6-liter V6 teams with a five-speed automatic transmission and provides a solid performance. The 4.6-liter V8 teams with a six-speed automatic transmission and it delivers the same success as the V6 but with a little extra boost of power. With the driver and passengers lower to the ground and a 50/50 weight distribution, the SRX provides an excellent driving experience. With Magnetic Ride Control, it’s almost impossible to drive disappointingly in this crossover.

The 2008 Cadillac SRX brings you the best of the sedan and SUV worlds, and it does so with style. With a host of colors to choose from, an aesthetically pleasing exterior style and its various performance features, the SRX will woo you.

“When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?” With the 2008 CTS, I can confidently say yes. Not only does the car feature exceptional passenger and cargo space, more technology than ever and more muscle that most mid-size luxury sedans out there, but it does it all with sensuous style.

Wooden accents around the center console give the interior a refined touch of class. Above the shift stick and audio controls sits a pop-up navigation screen. Not only does this LCD screen feature traffic updates and maps, but also it houses a 40 GB hard drive media system; it can play all of your favorite MP3 tracks and even display your MP3 player’s playlist on the radio display. The “Pause and Play” feature allows you to stop, pause, rewind and fast-forward on any song from any media you desire; this includes live AM, FM and XM broadcasts.

The 3-person back seat has a drop down cup-holder between them for when only passengers are present. All seats are graced with dual-zone automatic electronic climate control as well, so the passengers will not only have more room, but they’ll be at optimal temperatures. Driver and front passenger front-impact airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and head curtain side-impact airbags for all rows come standard as a safety guarantee.

Another big improvement to the CTS is its powerful new engine. The 3.6-liter V6 engine now uses direct fuel injection, and it can generate 304 horsepower at 6400 RPM and 273 lb. ft. of torque at 5200 RPM; the original 258 horsepower engine is the base gear. The standard transmission is a manual six-speed transmission, with mechanical shift linkage; the optional transmission is a six-speed automatic. All-Wheel Drive is also an option, and only adds to this vehicles grandiose performance.

There really seems to be no end to the marvels that the 2008 Cadillac CTS can provide. Adaptive headlights rotate in the direction in which your car is turning, remote starting, USB connectivity, and a sonar system for the vehicle rear only make this vehicle further adapt in any situation; not to mention it drives like a dream. The 2008 CTS really does “return the favor.”