After a long wait—the concept debuted at the 2008 Detroit auto show—Cadillac has officially taken the wraps off the 2011 Cadillac CTS coupe. Originally planned as a 2010 model, the release was pushed back as General Motors slogged through bankruptcy restructuring and the sexy 2+2 will now debut at the Los Angeles auto show before hitting the market in the spring. Rear- and all-wheel-drive variants will be available, while a 556-hp CTS-V Coupe also is en route and will debut later in 2010.

Based on the CTS sedan, the coupe rides on the same 113.4-inch wheelbase, yet is about two inches lower and two inches shorter overall. The seductive design includes a more rakish windshield, as well as blacked-out B-pillars, hidden touch-pad door releases, a unique rear fascia with twin center-mounted exhaust outlets, and an integrated rear spoiler.

A 304-hp, direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6 is the only engine for non-V models and will be backed by a standard six-speed manual transmission—with a clutch and flywheel revised from the CTS sedan—or an optional six-speed automatic. Cadillac estimates highway fuel economy will be as high as 27 mpg. The CTS sedan with the direct-injected 3.6 is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway and manual gearbox and 18/27 with the automatic. Eighteen-inch wheels with all-season tires and a sport suspension will be standard on both rear- and all-wheel-drive versions, while a Summer Tire Performance Package will add sportier 19-inch rubber, likely only on rear-drive models. A limited-slip differential is standard, as is electronic stability control.

The CTS sedan is already a pretty posh place to pass the miles, and the coupe will include the same hand-stitched leather accents and attention to detail, along with similar amenities such as a 40-gig hard-drive entertainment system, a pop-up navigation display, active forward lighting, standard keyless access and remote start, a rearview camera, and a Bose audio system. Fourteen-way power adjustable Recaro sport seats, previously only offered on the CTS-V, also will be available on all coupe models.

A cadence of killer Cadillacs is on the way in 2009.

Three new models–the CTS Sport Wagon, a new SRX crossover based on the Provoq concept and the Eldorado-esq CTS Coupe–will launch every few months starting in the first quarter of next year as General Motors’ luxury brand looks to reinvigorate and expand its lineup with fresh, eye-catching products.

The Sport Wagon will be the first new Caddy to hit the market, in the spring. It will be revealed this weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and then hit the auto show circuit this fall.

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“We’re ready. When (customers) want it (the option of smaller engines) – we’ll do it.” That’s a (somewhat mangled) quote from Thomas G. Stephens, GM’s executive veep for global powertrain and quality, speaking at the inauguration of the General’s Powertrain Engineering Development Center last Friday. What Stephens is referring to is the possibility of equipping Cadillacs with smaller, turbocharged engines – specifically fitting the 260-hp (or more) 2.0-liter, turbocharged four in the CTS sedan.

Sounds like a Hell of an idea, but how – exactly – is GM going to determine when consumers are ready for it? How about now?
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