LAP OF LUXURY
New Cadillac CT6 leads posh debuts in New York.
Luxury car reveals stole the spotlight at this year’s New York Auto Show. As the last major auto show of the season, one would think most headline car reveals would have happened already at Detroit and Geneva, but there were still some pretty significant debuts in New York. Here are some of the highlights:
2016 LEXUS RX
What is it? The fourth-generation of the Toyota luxury brand’s wildly successful midsize, five-passenger, all-wheeldrive four-door RX crossover. Like before, there’s the Ontario-built gas-V6 RX 350 (now with direct-injection and making 300 horsepower) and the Japanese-made gasolineelectric RX Hybrid. New for 2016, the F-Sport package will be available on both.
When is it coming? Expect Lexus’s bestseller to go on sale later this year in Canada as a 2016 model.
Why does it matter? Maybe you’ve been living under a pile of smouldering tires for a while, but luxury crossovers continue to be gold for automakers. Last year in Canada, 45% of Lexus sales were RXs. So, yeah, the new RX matters because it’s a huge seller.
Should you buy it? For 2016, Lexus has not messed around too much with the RX’s basic formula. So it all comes down to if you love or hate the new Lexus crossover’s more aggressive style. — John LeBlanc
MERCEDES-BENZ GLE
What is it? At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MercedesBenz revealed the GLE, the crossover that replaces the M-Class in its lineup. It was a coupe-like version of the SUV aimed squarely at BMW’s X6. Now comes the more traditionallooking two-box model — essentially a reworked MClass. It gets a bolder look, revised headlights, LEDs and a nicer cabin. Inside, the GLE gets a larger central infotainment screen and M-B’s updated Comand system with a touchpad. The latter allows the driver to scribe numbers and letters when inputting a phone number or address. Why does it matter? The GLE’s powertrains pretty much carry over. Each is teamed with a seven-speed automatic transmission and M-B’s 4Matic all-wheel drive. The big change is found in the new plug-in hybrid. It employs a twin-turbocharged V6 with 329 hp and a 114-hp electric motor. The combination provides a net system output of 436 hp and an electric-only range of 30 kilometres. Finally, there’s the AMG tuned GLE 63 and its all-wheel-drive system. It splits the power, sending 40% to the front and 60% to the rear. It also packs a hefty punch — 550 hp and a heady 516 pound-feet of torque. As with the new C 63, there will also be an S model. It ups the power output to 577 hp and 560 lb.-ft. Talk about in-yourface, BMW! When is it coming? The Mercedes-Benz GLE will arrive late summer 2015, badged as a 2016 model. Should you buy it? What’s not to love about a versatile family hauler that can, should the driver desire, go compete in a lapping session at one’s local track? — Graeme Fletcher
CADILLAC CT6
What is it? Long rumoured, much awaited, but perhaps not quite as bold as pundits were hoping/expecting, the CT6 is Cadillac’s new flagship.
Powered by the same twinturbocharged 3.0-litre V6 as the CTS Vsport (a 2.0L turbocharged four and an all-new version of Cadillac’s naturallyaspirated 3.6L V6 will be offered as well), the CT6 is Cadillac high-tech run amok.
Besides Magnetic Ride Control suspension, there’s Active Rear Steer, Active all-wheeldrive and something called Active (yes, you are noticing a we’re-younger-than-you-think theme here) Vehicle Hold.
The CT6 also boasts what Cadillac is calling the industry’s first surround-view video security system that can record front and rear views while driving and 360 degrees if the security system is activated. There’s more high-tech in the form of another industry first, a rear camera mirror that projects streaming video from the rear lens onto the traditional inside mirror for a completely unobstructed view behind you.
Why does it matter? As the company’s first flagship since the demise of the Fleetwood in 1996, the CT6 is crucial to Cadillac’s resurgence (as are the M3-baiting ATS-V and the newly-rejuvenated, M5-skewering CTS-V). When is it coming? Sooner than you think. General Motors Canada says the CT6 will be in dealerships sometime in the fourth quarter of this year. Should you buy it? Cadillac abandoned the upper luxury segment to the Germans long ago and it will take more than a few “Active” electronic gadgets to convince the wealthy to trade in their Mercs for something American. That said, the CT6 is stylish, well accoutred and built to perform. — David Booth
JAGUAR XF
What is it? Launched in 2008, the Jaguar XF earns a total remake for the 2016 model year — it’s all part of a total portfolio revamp. The secondgeneration XF is the next of Jag’s new products due in the coming year or so — it will be joined by the XE sports sedan and F-Pace crossover. Why does it matter? Aside from bringing better proportions and a 51-millimetre stretch in the wheelbase (most of which is dedicated to the rear seat riders) it’s the XF’s all-new aluminum structure that makes the biggest difference. A full 75% of the car is constructed from aluminum and the rigidity takes a 28% step in the right direction. The weight savings are significant — 120 kg for the all-wheel-drive models coming to Canada.
The XF’s diet promises significantly better performance from its 3.0-litre V6 supercharged engine — in base form it produces 340 horsepower and 380 hp in the up-level version (it now runs to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds). Both are married to an eight-speed manumatic.
Inside, the highlight is Jaguar’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system and its 10.2-inch touch-sensitive screen. It now uses a solidstate drive and a quad-core processor, which speeds up the retrieval of information (the outgoing system was famed for its truculence). When is it coming? The aluminized XF goes on sale in January 2016. Should you buy it? Once a rather pudgy-looking sedan, the new coupe-like XF brings significantly more road presence, sleeker looks and a range of advanced technologies that were lacking in the outgoing model. It all bodes well for the storied British marque as it goes about the business of reinventing itself. — Graeme Fletcher
2016 RANGE ROVER
What is it? Land Rover is growing its portfolio by adding three very different versions of the Range Rover. The HST Limited Edition slots between the Sport and the new range-topper, the outré SVAutobiography. There’s also a new diesel engine option — it’s about time! Why does it matter? The Range Rover Sport HST Limited Edition is differentiated from the other RR’s by its blacked-out look — a mirrorlike black upper cabin, smoked lamps and dark grey 21-inch wheels. The bigger news is found under the hood — the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 earns an extra 40 horsepower for a total of 380 hp.
Next up is the SVAutobiography. It’s special and features a unique exterior with a Sant ori ni black upper body
(fender well up) and nine colour choices for the lower section. It also earns a longer 3,120-millimetre wheelbase, beautifully crafted leather-lined interior along with a 550-hp 5.0L supercharged V8 engine that twists out 502 pound-feet of torque. It’s also priced at a very special $220,000.
And so to the really big news — a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel engine makes its Canadian debut. It makes a healthy 254 hp and, more importantly, 440 poundfeet of torque. Land Rover says this new engine option delivers a provisional combined rating of 25 miles per gallon, which converts to 9.4 L/100 km. When is it coming? The revamped 2016 Range Rover lineup hits Canadian dealers this fall. Should you buy it? The addition of an uber-powerful supercharged V8 with a slick interior almost paled in comparison to the launch of diesel power in Canada. The latter is going to have an enormous impact on Range Rover’s sales potential. — Graeme Fletcher