Dawn of a New Era: The 2017 Cadillac XT5

Since its unveiling last year the automotive world is buzzing with excitement about Cadillac’s newest addition to their stable of award-winning luxury vehicles. In the months leading up to its roll-out, that buzz has been growing and now, the wait is finally over.

The XT5 has arrived and Ron Carter Cadillac has them. Here is just a taste of what to expect with Cadillac’s newest luxury SUV:

• Space, The Luxurious Frontier: The XT5 comes within an inch of the outgoing SRX exterior dimensions while offering even more room in its cutting edge interior.
• Did I say “cutting edge”?  I meant, “tip-of-the-technological-iceburg”.  If you’ve ever heard about it, this baby’s got it. From its review video camera system to exquisite interior materials and an entertainment package that has to be seen to be believed, the XT5 redefines the phrase “fully loaded” in spectacular ways.
• Fuel For Your Horses: GM unveiled their 300 horsepowered 3.6L V6 in their ATS and CTS but before you long for the V8 powered behemoths of yesteryear, factor in the XT5’s 3,999 lbs for the front-wheel drive and 4,277 lbs for the all-wheel trim and you’ll be singing Cadillac’s praises every time you stop at the pump.
• Sport Centered: If you’d still like a few more ponies under the hood, rumor has it Cadillac will be rolling out a sporty version of the XT5 in later model years.  The XT5 V-Sport will most likely be rolling with 350 horses thanks to GM’s 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 LGW engine.

These are just a few of the highlights for Cadillac’s latest creation. Your opportunity to test drive this remarkable vehicle awaits you at Ron Carter Cadillac.  Suffice it to say, the rumors about the XT5 are true. Prepare to enter a new era of luxury driving, courtesy of Cadilllac and Ron Carter.

The Wait Is Over: Meet The 2016 Cadillac CT6

Cadillac’s game-changing vision has been the talk of the automotive industry for a couple of years now and with each introduction of their redesigned line of vehicles, the talk has grown in volume and decibel level.  When Cadillac unveiled the CT6 at last year’s Detroit Auto Show, the noise reached deafening levels.  Industry insiders and car reviewers alike are almost universally praising Cadillac’s impressive display of muscular indulgence wrapped up in the expertly designed CT6 and now the wait to experience Cadillac’s newest luxury sedan is almost over.

Just a quick look at the sedan’s body gives the impression that Cadillac isn’t interested in copy-catting the competition. Sporting a new chassis that GM designed as the foundation for future full-sized luxury cars and crossovers, The CT6 weighs in at nearly 3,700 lbs which makes it one of the lightest vehicles of its class by far. Toss in the magnetically adjustable shocks and four-wheeled steering and you’ve got one of the most unique handling and driving experiences available in a car of this size.

But don’t let the “lightweight” moniker throw you.  There is a beast waiting for you underneath the hood in the form of several drive trains.  The featured player is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that effortlessly runs 400 horses down the highway without breaking a sweat. If this sounds like too much muscle, there are also a 3.6-liter V6 (335 hp) and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (265 hp) options as well. Needless to say, Cadillac’s reputation for putting muscle where their mouths are suffers no setback with the CT6.

The interior is fully stocked with Cadillac’s eye for luxury and technology.  If you’re looking for a spacious cabin with all of the amenities modern drivers demand, you’ve come to the right place.  From the 34-speaker Bose audio system to a wireless charging pad for mobile devices, a 360-degree camera system designed for security both while you’re driving with a recording feature as well as an automatic power-up mode if the car detects anyone hanging around the car to closely when parked. You can add night vision and pedestrian detection to the camera security and safety features.

There’s much more to discover for yourself with this incredible full-sized luxury sedan. Ron Carter Cadillac is excited to be offering these new sedans when they roll into dealerships across the nation later this month. Shop us online or stop by our showroom and schedule your test drive with Cadillac’s newest addition to their game-changing stable of luxury sedans, coupes, SUVs, and crossovers. Just one test drive is all you’ll need to discover no one moves you like Cadillac and Ron Carter.

Turn Out The Lights: 5 Common Reasons Your Check Engine Light May Be Lit

There is nothing on your vehicle that is more important or frustrating then the glow of the check engine light. For all you know, this could mean spending a pretty penny, and in some cases, the anxiety that washes over you could be larger than the expense to fix the issue. The most important thing you can do during this situation is to not ignore the indication and run a diagnostics on your vehicle. Diagnostic tests can be found at your local auto parts store, or if you prefer to have a professional take a look at it, take it to your dealership. The most common malfunctions are often simple to fix, so let’s take a look at 5 issues that you may find.

A Faulty Gas Cap

A faulty gas caps could be one with cracks, or all it could possibly mean is that it wasn’t screwed on tight enough. However, either of these situations allow fuel vapors to leak out which reduces your gas mileage and increases emissions. If your check engine light appears while you are driving and your car doesn’t feel jerky or strange, pull over and take a look at your gas cap. Make sure it is crack-free, if it isn’t, then replace it- If it is, just screw it on tighter, but this time with a few extra turns to make sure it is as tight as can be. If the light doesn’t turn off after attempting to fix the situation, pull over at an auto-parts shop and ask them to run a diagnostics check on your vehicle.

 

A Faulty Oxygen Sensor

The oxygen sensor helps monitor the unburned oxygen from the exhaust and a faulty sensors means that it is not communicating the right data to the computer. When this takes place, again, you will notice a drastic decrease in fuel-efficiency and it is also and increase in emissions. Oil and ash cover the oxygen sensor over time and reduces its ability to change the oxygen fuel mixture. In the event that you have a faulty oxygen sensor, it is important to replace it immediately. Failure to do so can result in a busted catalytic converter which is a pretty penny. Replacing the sensor is typically an easy and cheap fix if you are willing to do it yourself.

 

A Doomed Catalytic Converter

Speaking of a catalytic converter, this vital piece works to reduce exhaust gases by converting carbon monoxide and other toxic materials into harmless compounds. A failing catalytic converter will drastically decrease efficiency and you will notice a halt in acceleration. If you keep your car maintained on a regular basis, your converter shouldn’t fail. However, the main cause of a fated catalytic converter would be from other items on the list, like a broken oxygen sensor, deteriorated spark plugs, etc. When your catalytic converter fails, be prepared to take it to the shop to have it professionally replaced

Worn-Out Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are electrical devices that ignite the mixture of air and fuel through an electric spark, so when the plugs are failing, the spark plugs misfire. A rapid decrease in fuel efficiency, a rough engine idle, misfires, and poor acceleration are all signals of damaged spark plugs. So the best thing for you to do, is get them replaced immediately. Changing out your spark plugs can be an easy task if you prefer to do it yourself. They are considered one of the most abandoned and concealed aspects of a vehicle, as they play a vital role in keeping your vehicle running. So do your part and don’t hesitate when it comes to changing your spark plugs.

Bad Spark Plug Wires

If your check engine light is on and you notice your car idling a lot louder and rougher than before, it might be your spark plug wires. When they start to erode, it becomes harder for the engine to remain running due to the lack of electricity flowing through them.

With all of the factors that could cause the yellow glow, these 5 are among the most common. This indicator has been put in place to notify the you that there is a threat in the automobiles operating system. Neglecting a minor issue could lead to bigger problems and costly repairs down the road. If you are having a hard time figuring out what the issue might be or you just fear your vehicle is too far gone, don’t hesitate to come see us at Ron Carter Cadillac to get behind the wheel of a brand new Cadillac!

Five Things You May Not Have Known About Cadillac

 

 

The Cadillac brand is one of the oldest automotive icons on the market today, and for good reason. For over 100 years, the Cadillac badge has adorned some of the most uniquely and elegantly designed luxury cars ever created.  It’s hard to argue that point after looking through Cadillac’s archives of past creations.  As a case in point, here are a few historical facts about Cadillac that you may not know:

1. WHAT’S IN A NAME

 

 

 

 

 

The city that came to be known as Detroit was originally named Ville d’Etroit by a French army officer, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. When the carmaker’s founder, Henry M. Leland, was searching for a name for his new company, Detroit’s founder seemed the logical choice. The rest is automotive history.

2. CURING THE CRANKS

 

 

 

 

Most people think the phrase “road rage” is the first psychological term associated with driving. But back in the days when drivers had to turn a giant crank to start their cars, the term “cranky” was coined to describe the bad moods those cranks caused. In 1912, Cadillac introduced the first electric starter on their Model 30 cars, much to the delight of every driver since.

3. THE LIFESAVER

 

 

 

 

Leland’s motive for ordering his engineers to start working on an electric starter came after one of his friends, Byron T. Carter, was killed while attempting to start a stranded friend’s Cadillac.  The car backfired causing the crank to violently spin around and crack his skull. He died several weeks later which caused Leland to reportedly proclaim, “I won’t have Cadillacs hurting people that way.”

4. FILL ‘ER UP

 

 

 

 

The 1922 Type 59c came standard with a self-powered air compressor which allowed drivers to fill up the tires anywhere at any time. The suspension could also be adjusted between “comfort” or “performance”.

5. STRONGER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET

 

 

 

 

 

Al Capone was well known for owning Cadillacs for many reasons. One of his more famous Caddys was a custom designed 1928 armored sedan like the one pictured above. The sedan was impounded by the U.S. Treasury department after Capone was captured.

On December 8th, President Roosevelt rode to the senate chambers in Capone’s Caddy to deliver his “day of infamy” speech following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.  When asked where he got the car, the President replied, “I hope Mr. Capone doesn’t mind.”

This is just the tip of the Cadillac history iceberg. Of course, when you’ve been around for 100+ years, you’ll have plenty of stories to tell and you’ll be hearing more of them from your friends at Ron Carter Cadillac.