9.1.2003
Cadillac SRX brings strong performance, bold design, and flexibility
The all-new Cadillac SRX luxury utility makes its official debut at Detroit's North American International Auto Show, with production start-up to follow in mid-2003.
Cadillac's SRX brings a heightened level of performance and flexibility to the medium luxury utility segment. It's a utility vehicle with a towing capacity of up to 3500 lbs. that drives like a sport sedan.
The SRX is the latest model to express Cadillac's bold new design form vo-cabulary. It echoes the crisp, creased look of its concept vehicle predecessor, Vizón (2001) and is the first of Cadillac's S-series.
Available in both rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) applica-tions and based on GM's acclaimed new Sigma architecture, SRX is designed to deliver superior driving dynamics.
A luxury utility with the heart and soul of a sport sedan
Many attributes set SRX apart, but at the top of that list is performance. CTS proved the Sigma architecture is the right underpinnings for a driver's car. Now, that flexible architecture has been modified for SRX, featuring the longest wheelbase in its class and helping to provide superior ride quality and dynamic stability.
A near 50-50 weight distribution, a low center of gravity, an outstanding power-train combination and a host of the latest vehicle stability technologies contrib-ute to making SRX a rare utility vehicle that is, at its core, fun to drive.
Northstar power and sophisticated chassis management
SRX is powered by a duo of new engines, including the next-generation 4.6L Northstar V-8 VVT (Variable Valve Timing) and the all-new 3.6L V-6 VVT. The 4.6-liter, 32-valve V-8 Northstar engine, extensively re-engineered and mounted longitudinally, is a sophisticated, technically advanced powerplant that generates 315 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 310 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4400 rpm. The engine incorporates a host of technical innovations, including electronic throttle control and phasers on all four camshafts to control valve timing throughout the entire operating range.
At first glance, SRX is instantly recognizable as one of the "new" Cadillacs and yet is unlike anything else on the road. The family resemblance to CTS and Es-calade is immediately evident; the SRX visually bridges the gap between per-formance sedan and full-size SUV. Its Cadillac bloodline shows through in its chiseled vertical tail and headlamps and V-shaped grille. At the same time, the dramatically styled SRX clearly stands out from its European and Japanese competitors.
SRX seats up to seven passengers with the optional third row seat engaged. The second row seat, with the most legroom in its class, folds virtually flat, and the third row seat power-folds into the floor at the push of a button - a first in the medium luxury utility segment. Vehicles not equipped with the optional third-row seat can have a cargo management system integrated into the rear floor.
UltraView roof
Nearly all of the vehicle's interior space can be illuminated with daylight by the largest sunroof system available in the segment. The optional "UltraView" roof provides the thrill of an open-air driving experience. It extends to provide more than five square feet of open air over the first and second row seats and inte-grates a retractable power shade. The "UltraView Plus" includes a vented glass roof over the third row seat.