The 2013 Cadillac ATS was recently named the winner of the North American Car of the Year award.  This is just one of a long list of recognitions the luxury sport sedan has won.

The award was announced at the opening of the 25^th annual North American International Auto Show.  The ATS was chosen by a jury of 49 automotive journalists.  Every new car released in the past year was considered and the ATS came out on top.

“This is a very meaningful honor for the entire Cadillac team, especially the men and women

who build the ATS in Lansing, Michigan, and our dedicated and talented designers and engineers,” said Bob Ferguson, GM vice president, global Cadillac. “A car like ATS is the result of incredible commitment and focus. That’s the only method for creating a great performing luxury car.”

At less than 3,400 pounds, the ATS is the lightest car in its class with a unique design aimed at nimble driving performance.  In addition to this award, the ATS has been named Car of the Year by Esquire and the Motor Press Guild, as well as many other accolades.

The ATS is a compact sport sedan.  It is offered in rear- and all-wheel drive versions and with a choice of powerful yet efficient four- and six-cylinder engines.  It earned a 5-Star overall crash test rating in the New Car Assessment Program run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Driving the Cadillac ATS is a treat.  Cadillac owners can choose from a 2.5-liter

four-cylinder engine that produces 202 hp and 190 pound-feet of torque, a 2.0 Turbo model with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 272 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque or a 3.6-liter V6 that cranks out 321 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque.  All come with a six-speed automatic transmission except the 2.0 Turbo, which has the option of a six-speed manual transmission.

With these engines, the ATS has a knack for speed.  In tests, the ATS with the manual transmission went from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.  The rear-drive ATS 3.6 Premium with an automatic transmission went from zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds.

Despite its performance, the ATS is all fuel efficient.  EPA-estimated fuel economy for the ATS 2.5 is 22 mpg city/33 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined.  The V6 is estimated to get 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined.

If performance and fuel efficiency are on your wish list, check out the ATS at Crossroads and see why it is earning awards and praise across the board.

In the automotive industry, technology is always changing, but some technological features are less obvious than others.  This is where the new capless fuel filler assembly on the new Cadillac XTS luxury sedan comes in.  It helps to keep hands clean and the car’s paint scratch-free since there is no swinging, dangling gas cap.

On most cars, fuel systems must be completely sealed.  A loose gas cap can cause your vehicle’s “check engine” light to come on, leading to an unnecessary service visit.  Since there is no gas cap on the 2013 Cadillac XTS, you don’t have to worry about this problem.

Also, since the XTS doesn’t have a traditional twist-off cap, the fuel door does not need to be large enough for a hand to fit inside.  The 2013 Cadillacv XTS has a door that is smaller and less noticeable.  It also keeps fuel and grime off your hands since there is no gas cap to handle before filling up.  This is especially handy if you stop to fill up on your way to dinner.  The new system also makes it easier for older drivers to fill up since there is no cap to twist off.

Even though it is capless, the system meets all fuel system sealing requirements.  When a gas pump nozzle is inserts, it pushed open a set of two doors, each of which locks fuel in with a rubber seal around its edge.  The doors assure the system will be air-tight.  Some other capless systems have just one door, which makes them vulnerable to leaks.

There are other advantages to the capless system.  The absence of a gas cap means that there is no risk of leaving the fuel pump with a dangling cap, which can lead to paint damage and messy dripping fuel.

The XTS uses an advanced V-6 engine with direct-injection and lightweight innovations like exhaust manifolds integrated into the cylinder heads and a next-generation six-speed transmission.  All of this combined means great fuel efficiency and fewer stops at the pump.

Chief engineer Sheri Hickok noted, “We ignored no detail in making XTS the most advanced Cadillac sedan yet.  Even things taken for granted, like a fuel cap, deserved and received a full rethink.”

The Cadillac XTS will make its debut at Crossroads in a few short weeks.  Check it out for yourself and see all of the innovative technology Cadillac engineers have included in this luxury sedan, like CUE infotainment and vibrating alert seats.

With airfare prices and fees on the rise again, chances are you will be hitting the road sometime this summer.  If you are looking for a  family-friendly car that will make packing for a long weekend or road trip easy, the Cadillac SRX crossover is your best bet.

SRX engineers designed the Cargo Management System with Cadillac customers in mind.  They thought about the kinds of things SRX drivers would need to pack and where they would want to put them.  Their goal was to maximize total space but have a place for everything an SRX driver would need.

The SRX has a unique Cargo Management System in the rear compartment.  It uses a U-Rail track system that has an adjustable cargo fence that segments the area to keep your gear contained while the vehicle is moving.  The fence is sturdy, but is easy to move around the U-shaped track to adjust it to a variety of positions to allow for a range of items and packing arrangements.  The cargo fence can be removed, retracted, and store under the load floor when not in use.

The cargo area’s load floor has a latch that reveals a 26” x 12” x 8” waterproof bin that is ideal for storing wet or dirty items from a beach trip or it can be used as a cooler or to just keep smaller items under the floor and out of view.  A smaller bin houses the SRX’s tire inflator kit that can also be used as a pump for bike tires and beach toys.  There are two additional covered compartments that are intended to be used to store small tools such as a tire pressure gauge.

The passenger area of the SRX has several additional storage areas.  Each door and the glove compartment have upper and lower bins that can cool fruit and beverages when the air conditioning is on.  The center console has an area for small items like MP3 players or a mobile phone, and a lower level for larger items.

Even the cup holders are unique in the SRX.  They are dual-level and have a retractable floor that allows the driver or passenger fit a small or large cup with just the flip of a switch.  The false floor also creates a secret compartment that can hide a wallet or wristwatch.

Behind the SRX’s rear programmable liftgate is more than 29 cubic feet of storage space behind the second row seating.  That is plenty of room for up to four rolling suitcases, sports equipment, or other gear.  Fold the 60/40 split rear seats flat to expand the cargo area to more than 61 cubic feet to fit a bike or baby stroller.

Check out the SRX at Crossroads before your next road trip.  It will help keep your gear stowed so that you can concentrate on getting to your destination with ease.

The accolades keep coming for the Cadillac CTS.  Recently, the CTS-V was announced as the winner of About.com’s 2012 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Performance Car.  Another GM vehicle, the Chevrolet Corvette was also in the top-five in the awards.

In its fifth year, the About.com Readers’ Choice Awards honor products, features, and services in several categories ranging from technology to hobbies to parenting and more.  The winners are selected by the site’s readers.  Cadillac CTS-V was chosen by About.com readers over several other performance vehicles.

This year’s Readers’ Choice Awards program had a record number of nominations submitted across dozens of categories and featured hundreds of finalists, according to Margot Weiss, managing editor for About.com.

The CTS V-Series performance models include a sedan, coupe, and wagon.  All model sport a supercharged 6.2L V-8 that provides 556 horsepower and is backed by either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.  Also included in the CTS-V’s arsenal are Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 performance tires on 19-inch forged aluminum wheels.

“It’s no surprise to me that readers chose the CTS-V,” said Aaron Gold, Guide to Cars, About.com.  With its mix of power, precise handling, and awesome styling, it is one of the best performance cars in GM’s history.

The CTS-V features a unique grille that doubles front-end airflow to help its high-performance capabilities.  In addition to its performance features, the CTS-V comes standard with high-intensity headlamps with Adaptive Forward Lighting System, fog lamps, heated and power-adjustable outside mirrors, Rainsense automatic windshield wipers, audio system with navigation, SiriusXM Satellite radio (three-month trial), Bluetooth phone connectivity, dual-zone automatic climate control, ultrasonic rear park assist, rearview camera system, side blind zone alert, and more.

The CTS-V series is designed for great road-holding performance while keep the look and feels of a luxury car.  The CTS-V quickly established itself among the world’s highest performing luxury cars when it was released.  It was the first production four-door vehicle on street tires to break the eight-minute barrier at Germany’s Nurburgring.

The current CTS-V is the model’s second generation and was first introduced in 2009 and received many performance upgrades over the older generation.

Come down to Crossroads and test drive a CTS-V coupe, sedan, or wagon and see for yourself why it was named the Readers’ Choice for performance vehicles.  You’ll be blown away by its might V8 engine and its luxury features.

Cadillac’s customer service has shown through again.  J.D. Power and Associates has recognized the luxury car maker as a 2012 Customer Service Champion.  Cadillac was one of only 50 companies out of 800 studied to earn the award.  To qualify, a company was required to excel within its own industry and stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries assessed by J.D. Power and Associates.

Winners of the award were identified based on customer feedback, opinions, and perceptions gathered from J.D. Power’s research in 2011.  The 50 Champions, including Cadillac, represent the highest-performing U.S. companies that deliver excellent service both within their particular industries and across all of the industries that were evaluated.

Cadillac’s mission is to enhance each interaction a consumer has with the luxury automaker, according to Kurt McNeil, vice president of Cadillac Sales and Service.  Cadillac is committed to customer satisfaction.  The 2012 Customer Service Champions award is confirmation of the company’s efforts.

Recently, Cadillac has initiated sweeping changes to enhance the luxury customer experience.  From comprehensive customer experience training for dealership personnel to developing an enhanced group of owner benefits called Cadillac Shield, Cadillac Shield includes 5 year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty protection, 4 year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty protection, prepaid maintenance, protection with OnStar, and roadside assistance.  Cadillac has committed itself to providing the best service possible to its customers.

The Cadillac Escalade received the highest honors in the Large Premium Crossover/SUV category of the J.D. Power 2011 Initial Quality Study.  The study measures the number of problems consumers experience during the first 90 days of ownership.  As a brand, Cadillac ranked in the top 10 on the Initial Quality Study (IQS).

Escalade’s highest-in-segment leadership shows Cadillac’s commitment to its customers.  Cadillac’s goal is to continue to expand quality improvement in every segment in which is competes with the hopes of adding more top rankings in customer satisfaction.

The 2011 IQS was based on responses from more than 70,000 purchasers and lessees of new vehicles for the 2011 model year.  The participants were surveyed after 90 days of ownership.  The study includes a 228-question survey designed to provide manufacturers with information they can use to quickly identify problems and work toward improvement.

Cadillac continues to produce quality luxury automobiles, but now has added customer service accolades to its belt.  It’s no wonder the Cadillac brand is one of America’s favorites.  See for yourself why Cadillac keeps racking up the awards by checking out a CTS coupe or sedan, Escalade SUV, or SRX crossover.

According to results of a market research test by a company that studies emotional connections, Cadillac is the most-desired automotive brand and the second overall most-desired brand in any category in the United States by men.  The 2012 “Most Desired Brands in the U.S.” survey was conducted by the firm Buyology Inc and uSamp, which measured personal and emotional connections to 220 well-known brands across 10 industries.

Cadillac saw sales growth of 6.8 percent in 2011, led by the CTS, which was up 19 percent over 2010, and the mid-size luxury SRX crossover, which increased sales by more than 9.6 percent last year.  Cadillac is hoping to further extend sales in 2012 with the release of the XTS full-size luxury sedan, which is to be released in the spring, and the ATS compact luxury sedan, which is to be released in the summer.

The research test was conducted with a sample of 4,000 people representing the U.S. population and it analyzed their responses to the brands that were presented.  Personal and emotional connections of both men and women associated with each brand were studied.  The study used quantitative tools that got to the root of the consumer’s deepest, non-conscious connections and relationships with the brands.  The firm’s researchers say that 85 percent of the decisions people make every day occur on a nonconscious level.

According to Gary Singer, Buyology’s chief executive and founding partner, if a person has a strong relationship with a brand, he or she is going to pay attention when that company introduces new products.  “Everything they do, you see through a particular lens,” Singer said.  “Cars have mattered to men as long as they’ve been around,” Singer, explained.  He also said that successful car brands, like Cadillac, have capitalized on what they represent to men: freedom, control, status, and power.  Cars are something that people build relationships with.  Cars are depended upon to get us to work on time, to take a road trip to visit family, or just for a relaxing drive.

Cadillac has a long history of being tops among the most sought-after auto brands.  Cadillac often ranks among the leaders in customer satisfaction surveys as well.  Even U.S. Presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Ronald Reagan to Barak Obama have ridden in Cadillacs.

Cadillac has been a leading luxury car maker since 1902.  Come in to Crossroads today and see for yourself what makes it the most-desired auto brand in the United States.

Last month, Cadillac CUE (Cadillac User Experience) was honored with a Popular Mechanics “Top Gadgets of CES 2012: Editor’s Choice Award” at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.  Cadillac CUE is the new user experience for intuitive in-car connectivity and control.  Cadillac was the only automaker chosen for an award.

Each year at the CES, Popular Mechanics selects its top picks based on three criteria: level of innovation, potential industry impact, and overall appeal.  CUE was presented along with thousands of new products and innovations in the consumer electronics showcase.

Debuting in the 2013 Cadillac XTS and ATS luxury sedans and the SRX luxury crossover, CUE is intended to be unique for each driver.  Based on four years of input from prospective owners, CUE includes a full collection of infotainment, navigation, and communication features that keeps the driver fully connected.  CUE doesn’t replace a smartphone or iPod, but it integrates them with the vehicles controls.  It can sense the driver’s presence and provides tactile feedback from a bright 8-inch LCD touch screen, allowing the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road.

CUE offers several features that are firsts in the auto industry, including proximity sensing on the screen layout that helps to keep the screen clean and uncluttered; use of the gestures used on smartphones and tablets such as tap, flick, swipe, and spread; and natural voice recognition that allows the driver to speak conversationally.

CUE also boasts Bluetooth connectivity for up to 10 devices and a motorized concealed storage compartment.  The system runs on an ARM 11 3-core processor on a Linux open-source HTML5-based software platform.

“After seeing an earlier demonstration of the system at the Los Angeles Auto Show, I knew it would be a strong candidate for an award at CES,” said Andrew Del-Colle, assistant editor for Popular Mechanics.  “The show offered a great opportunity to compare the CUE with many other OEM and aftermarket systems, and it stood out to us for its innovative use of new standards such as HTML 5, as well as for its intuitive use interface.”

CUE is just one of many innovative features that Cadillac is unveiling on the 2013 XTS and the 2013 ATS.  Lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and more will also be available on these models.  Look for them this spring (for the XTS) and summer (for the ATS).