USA - Cadillac readies All-New CT6 with a range topping Platinum model to boost Luxury and technology.

NEW RANGE INCLUDES CT6 STARTING AT $53,495; CT6 PLATINUM PRICED FROM $83,465

Cadillac extends the top of its range with the 2016 Cadillac Touring 6 sedan, which begins production in Detroit in January, with initial shipments to dealers in March. Through the integration of new technologies, the first-ever Cadillac CT6 creates a new formula for the range-topping sedan and substantially expands the Cadillac portfolio.

Thanks to pioneering new vehicle manufacturing and design methods, the CT6 achieves dynamic performance, efficiency and agility previously unseen in large luxury cars. The CT6 product line similarly aims to refresh and broaden the range of consumers in the prestige class of luxury sedans. In the US market, the 2016 Cadillac CT6 sedan is priced from $53,495, with the highest level CT6 Platinum model starting at $83,465.

“The CT6 is an entirely new approach to prestige luxury, adding driving dynamics and technology while reducing the bulk of traditional large sedans,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac. “With the CT6, Cadillac has a competitive edge: our use of advanced lightweight construction and innovative technology, it is prestige luxury reimagined.”

Offering three engine choices, and a broad range of high-technology systems and luxury amenities, the first-ever CT6 presents a wide range of options and price points to draw new buyers.

• CT6 2.0L Turbo – Starting at $53,495
• CT6 3.6L V6 with AWD – Starting at $55,495
• CT6 3.0L Twin Turbo V6 with AWD – Starting at $64,395

Customers can place orders now with dealers and view additional product information at cadillac.com.

The Cadillac CT6 sedan takes drivers to a higher threshold of involvement, with technologies to enhance situational awareness, chassis systems – including active technologies – that make the most of control in all conditions, and powertrains led by an all-new Cadillac Twin Turbo engine. 

The Cadillac 3.0L Twin Turbo V-6 engine is rated at 400 horsepower (298 kW) and 400 lb-ft of torque (543 Nm); an all-new, 335-horsepower 3.6L V-6 and Cadillac’s award-winning 2.0T four-cylinder engine are also available. All engines are paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions.

The rigid, lightweight architecture provides a crucial foundation for the sedan’s segment-challenging agility, enhanced by active-on-demand all-wheel drive, active rear steering and Magnetic Ride Control on the available Active Chassis System.

Cadillac has made technological strides with in-cabin advances, as well, including the Rear Camera Mirror, Enhanced Night Vision technology and the pioneering 34-speaker Bose® Panaray® audio system.

Cadillac this spring announced that the CT6 will be available with plug-in hybrid electric technology, as the company continues its development of highly capable alternative powertrain vehicles. Further details for the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid model will be announced closer to that vehicle’s launch.

The 2016 Cadillac CT6 will be built at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant on the east side of Detroit. Cadillac in April auctioned the first retail production CT6 to benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

GERMANY - Opel is investing in the engines of the future.

• A seven-story building dedicated to the design, development and testing of the engines of the future
• The investment of 210 million euros in Rüsselsheim on schedule
• Dan Nicholson, one of the top executives of GM in the area of ​​engine development, highlights the global responsibility of Opel

Opel is investing in the engines of the future. 210 million euros have been allocated for the construction of the new and ultra-modern power units currently under construction center in Rüsselsheim, where it will be developed and tested efficient drive systems. 

The construction of the center proceeds within the timescale envisaged: the ceremony for the completion of the roof took place today, and the center will be inaugurated in 2017.

The Group CEO Opel, Karl-Thomas Neumann, and the head of the Opel works council, Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug, he joined during the official ceremony Dan Nicholson, chief expert of engine development and vice president of GM Powertrain Division World . 

It was present among the guests also the Mayor of Rüsselsheim, Patrick Burghardt, when Sascha Göbel, representative of the construction company in charge, gave the traditional speech that usually accompanies such occasions.

Karl-Thomas Neumann stressed the importance of this investment for the future of the brand. "We take very seriously our responsibility to the climate and the environment and we are on track to meet the target set for 2020 for emissions of CO2. 

The new center Thrusters make our work more efficient. Not only strengthen Rüsselsheim, but also the entire network of development of GM, Opel ensuring a leading role in the scope of the propulsion with low environmental impact. "

"The Centre Thrusters is a strategic investment of extreme importance for the company. GM has decided to create this structure in Rüsselsheim for a very good reason, because here is concentrated the development of gasoline engines for small and medium size. 

GM recognizes therefore the skills and expertise of highly qualified engineers to Opel, "said Dan Nicholson.

This is the comment of the head of the Opel works council, Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug: "The negotiations on the collective agreement of Opel formed the basis for the decision to invest in a new center Thrusters here in Rüsselsheim. 

This will ensure and broaden the employment opportunities in the center of development. I am therefore particularly pleased to participate today in the ceremony of the roof of the building. "

"The new center will further enhance the Thrusters primary role of the International Center of Technological Development of the plant in Rüsselsheim and the considerable expertise of Opel in R & D. 

Beyond that, Rüsselsheim remains synonymous with innovative technology and pioneering projects, "concluded Patrick Burghardt, mayor of Rüsselsheim.

In addition to the workshop and area dedicated to offices, the new complex will include three wings with test benches and a technical center. 

The complex will cover a total area of ​​about 36,000 square meters. Among other things, the new center will also host 43 test benches of the latest generation to measure the performance of the engines.

The ceremonial start of work was held last summer and since then construction activities continued without incident for a total of 180,000 hours worked.

The new complex is part of a series of investments of total value of 230 million euros for the construction of new facilities development and testing at the International Center of Technological Development and testing center of Rodgau-Dudenhofen. 

Most of the amount allocated, or 210 million euros, will be invested in the site in Rüsselsheim. The complex will cover an area of ​​about 13,000 square meters to the south of the railway line and west of Gate 45 of Rüsselsheim, parallel to Rugbyring. 

This is the largest investment made in the construction of the new opening Rüsselsheim

production plant, in 2002.

The site is integrated into the global network engineering of GM Powertrain. The international synchronization of software and test methods, therefore, allows to analyze the results and implement the solutions optimally.

USA - General Motors to build next generation Cruze in Mexico.

General Motors Co will build its next-generation Chevrolet Cruze small car in Mexico, the company said on Monday, as automakers look to expand there to take advantage of low labor costs and free trade agreements.

GM will invest $350 million to produce the Cruze at its plant in Coahuila, as part of the $5 billion investment in its Mexican plants announced last year.

GM also said it will continue manufacturing the model at its factory in Lordstown, Ohio. GM so far has identified only three plants globally that will make the next-generation Cruze, including in China.

A GM spokesman in the United States said the company's assembly plant in Gunsan, South Korea, will continue to build the current Cruze model to meet demand in domestic and export markets. However, as part of a new wage deal last summer, GM agreed to build the next-generation Cruze in Korea starting in 2017, according to a GM proposal seen then by Reuters.

Automakers are looking to move to Mexico for its low labor costs and access to the U.S. market. Toyota is finalizing plans for its first passenger car assembly plant in Mexico, people familiar with the matter previously said. Volkswagen recently announced a $1 billion investment in its Puebla plant.

It is the first time the Cruze will be made in Mexico, a GM spokeswoman in Mexico said, and production will be mainly for the domestic market. The Cruze is currently imported to Mexico from GM's plant in South Korea, she said.

South Korean tensions

GM has encountered tensions with its South Korean workers.

In April 2013, then GM CEO Dan Akerson angered union workers in Korea ahead of annual labor talks when he warned the automaker could shift operations from South Korea in the longer term. Union activists in South Korea in the past have threatened "a war" if output was shifted from their plants.

The GM spokesman declined to say whether added Cruze production in Mexico meant that the Coahuila plant's capacity would expand or was simply shifting among models it builds.

Eleven plants globally make the current Cruze model but some, including a plant in Australia where GM is shutting down assembly operations, will not build the next generation model, he said.

GM's plant in Coahuila currently makes the Chevrolet Sonic car and Captiva Sport SUV, and Cadillac SRX SUV.