2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

Cadillac unveiled the XTS Platinum Concept at the 2010 North American International Auto Show, suggesting a new paradigm for the luxury sedan of the future. The concept showcases Cadillac’s emerging top-of-the-line Platinum series of models, emphasizing new expressions of luxury and technological features, including a plug-in hybrid propulsion system.

-A new study re-imagining the luxury sedan, showcasing the progression of the Cadillac Art and Science philosophy
-Designed from the inside out, featuring a new concept for the interface between the driver and the auto electronics
-Plug-in hybrid system is matched with a 3.6L V-6 and all-wheel drive for dynamic and efficient performance

The XTS Platinum Concept was designed from the inside out, re-imagining the luxury sedan as a personal headquarters, built for efficiency, luxury and connectivity. The concept introduces a new approach to in-car electronics that improves the form and function of the car’s entertainment, navigation and information systems.

“The XTS Platinum concept is the next expression of Cadillac’s Art and Science execution philosophy, reflecting our drive to deliver the latest innovations in the most artful manner,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “We envisioned this concept as an automotive personal headquarters, using advanced technology to enable new levels of connectivity and luxury.”

The XTS Platinum Concept uses Cadillac’s 3.6L V-6 Direct Injection gas engine, paired with a plug-in hybrid system. The plug-in technology enables the battery to fully charge from a standard electrical outlet, enabling pure electric propulsion in many driving situations, especially urban commutes in which fuel efficiency may double that of a conventional hybrid.

Traditional luxury sedans were defined by elegant interiors and Cadillac’s XTS Platinum Concept propels that formula into the future. It delivers new approaches to luxury within a design that combines fine craftsmanship with customer-driven innovation. Like the current Platinum Edition products, such as Escalade Platinum and the STS and DTS Platinum sedans, the interior is based on hand cut-and-sewn materials. The XTS Platinum Concept injects more contemporary forms and themes into the interior design, including the use of Organic Light-Emitting Diode (O-LED) displays in place of traditional gauges and screens.

The concept previews a new integration philosophy guiding the development of future models with respect to in-car electronics. The intent is to progress Cadillac’s intuitive in-car electronics systems, typified by the deployable touch-screen navigation system that has been highly acclaimed in the brand’s CTS and SRX product lines. The XTS Platinum Concept previews this strategy via the minimization of traditional buttons and switches. Designers blended the display screens into a flowing instrument panel. They call it a “dead front” design, because the panels appear black until the car is turned on and the screens illuminate. The instrument panel itself reflects the XTS Platinum’s other focus – uncompromising luxury and attention to detail on the interior.

“The Platinum distinction in Cadillac means the fullest extent of luxury and technology and we’ve tried to reach even further with this concept,” said Clay Dean, Cadillac design director. “Just as the technology pushes the boundaries of what a Cadillac can offer, so do the details that make the XTS Platinum Concept an uncompromising experience.”

The interior takes inspiration from nature, specifically the intricate layers of petals that combine to form an orchid. Cadillac designers translated that into a layered and detailed interior. Light cream is the cabin’s primary color and is contrasted with darker elements, such as the steering wheel and an overhead console motif that runs the length of interior’s roof. The console is made of a richly finished wood and houses lighting features.

Premium leather seats include a new style of automotive suede, with a laser-etched pattern. The patterned material adorns the center sections of the seats and accents the door trim. Thoughtfully detailed stitching is used throughout the interior, including the seats, instrument panel and door panels. Passengers in the spacious rear compartment of the XTS Platinum Concept also have access to the car’s connectivity feature, along with a range of infotainment choices.

“We never lost sight of the fact that a large luxury sedan needs to be spacious and accommodating,” said Dean. “Passengers will find generous headroom, legroom and knee space, along with the technology elements that make the drive more productive.”

A new proportion

The XTS Platinum Concept has a distinctive proportion that transcends the traditional aesthetic of luxury sedans and carries the brand’s Art and Science design in a more progressive manner. The unique proportion supports the “inside out” design priority, while creating a sleek profile that complements the car’s advanced technology elements and necessary aerodynamics.

“The XTS Platinum Concept design artfully conveys its focus on functionality through technology,” said Dean. “It is the antithesis of the conventional three-box sedan, suggesting the active evolution of Cadillac’s design language.”

A sweeping profile culminates in a short, high deck lid that meets the XTS Platinum Concept’s aerodynamic needs – including a rear spoiler mounted on the deck lid, incorporating the center high-mounted stop lamp. A high, sloping beltline gestures the vehicle forward, suggesting motion, while the fenders flare outward wrapping tightly around 20-inch wheels and tires. The wheel-to-body proportion was carefully tailored to visually communicate the car’s all-wheel-drive chassis.

Like the interior, the exterior elements are precisely tailored and elegantly detailed. Brushed billet aluminum trim is used selectively and the 20-inch, 11-spoke wheels feature a brushed aluminum face accented with bright inserts within the spokes. The wheels are wrapped with special Bridgestone tires that were created specifically for the XTS Platinum Concept.

Signature elements essential to Cadillac’s Art and Science design language include vertical headlamp and taillamps, with integrated light pipes and richly detailed lighting components. The headlamps feature light-emitting diode technology for bright illumination that requires less energy, as well as Cadillac’s Adaptive Forward Lighting technology, which turns the headlamps with the direction of the front wheels for greater visibility in turns.

Purposeful and efficient performance

The XTS Platinum concept’s plug-in hybrid electric propulsion system (PHEV) builds on the experience Cadillac has gained with the Escalade Hybrid and Escalade Platinum Hybrid flagship models. The plug-in capability boosts the car’s electric-only driving capability, offering additional battery energy capacity and enabling it to recharge from a standard external electrical outlet. The key benefit of external plug-in recharging is that in many situations – such as overnight parking – the battery can fully recharge in roughly five hours while the car is not in use. The plug-in system operates at maximum efficiency when operating on power the battery has drawn from the electric grid. In some conditions, such as urban commutes, drivers can experience efficiency that doubles that of conventional hybrids.

Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept Pictures and Details

Last week we showed you a concept car by BMW that has a great chance of being produced within the current decade. Well, this weeks concept is going to be made by 2012—how’s that for instant gratification? And we’re actually kind of stoked about it. You see, Cadillac is supposed to be one of America’s premier luxury brands. One of the nameplates that go head-to-head with the European and Japanese big dogs. And as of now, they’re doing a pretty good job. We love the CTS and we just hopped in their redesigned SRX crossover and that’s dope, too. But you can’t compete with the bosses without a top of the line luxury sedan. They did away with their DTS and STS models, leaving the CTS to hold down the fort all by its lonesome. However, at the 2010 North American Autoshow, we saw the car that will take the place of both the DTS and STS: the Cadillac XTS. It looks the part, but is it really the answer? Read on to find out…

EXTERIOR: The XTS Platinum, when produced, will hold court atop Cadillac’s sedan range. Besides the Escalade, it will be the head honcho. The car high-salaried thieves executives will opt for. That’s why it embodies a look of big boy opulence. It’s a couple inches shorter than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and a couple inches longer than the BMW 7 Series—it’s two main competitors. It keeps up with Cadillac’s current design language, but massages it a little, makes it grow up and put on a proper outfit before going out. You can almost look at it and tell where the CTS sedan will be in a couple years. Kind of like when you look at Beyonce and her mom standing next to each other. Caddy says it “transcends the traditional aesthetic of luxury sedans and carries the brand’s Art and Science design in a more progressive manner.” We can’t tell if they’re talking about the whole car, or just the headlamps. We can’t tell how it’ll look on the road, but all-in-all, it seems like they have built a real stunner.
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INTERIOR: Cadillacs are luxury cars. The luxury car of the United States. With their newest models, they seem to want to retain that title by kicking the quality of their interiors up a notch. The CTS and SRX, with their nice woods and supple leathers and, how did we almost forget, their rising LCD screens, sport some of the best interiors we’ve seen. And the XTS carries that on. Again, it looks like Cadillac didn’t go too wild with the design, as most car makers do with their concepts—maybe it’s because they actually plan on making this one?—they kept it realistic, showing a slightly futuristic version of the cabin they already produce. There are organic light-emitting diode display (O-LED) screens in place of the gauges and that rise from the backs of the front seats to provide rear seat entertainment; the center console sloping downward towards the shifter and the elegant but technical steering wheel. Of course, we can’t tell if its Audi or Mercedes comfortable until we get some time in it by ourselves but it sure looks it.

Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

Initially revealed at the Detroit Show last year, this flagship sedan, the Cadillac XTS Platinum, is a conventional hybrid vehicle powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 and an electric drive motor, both of which can be used to propel the car. The car can achieve a total output of 350 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque. The wheelbase is 115 inches, length 203.5 inches and width 74.8 inches.

The design is more mature than the CTS sedan and suitably adapted for a full size luxury car. The chassis is 1.5 inches taller than the older sedans. The car is also armed with a smooth all-wheel drive. On the looks side of things, the car has a powerful presence, with blue-tinted LED headlights flanking the large grille. The interior has a customizable LED screen display that blends well with the wood and earth tones as well as the piano-black finishing. The cabin materials are handcrafted, the backseats have two displays for passenger entertainment and connectivity features.

As of now, the car allows pure electric drive only at speeds below 40 mph. Increased electric power blending can be provided at higher accelerations or at higher speeds. The battery pack can be recharged in five hours. Cadillac scores higher in the aspects of length, height and engine capacity than its rival Mercedes S400 Hybrid. Cadillac’s General Manager Bryan Nesbitt has explained that Cadillac wants the XTS Platinum to be a “personal headquarters.”