April 12, 2002
Cadillac and Chevrolet at the AMI in Leipzig
Technical Innovation and Automotive Attractions from the USA
Focus on Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Corvette
Leipzig. "Dreams, Brands, Technology" – the motto of the 12th Auto Mobil International (AMI) show perfectly reflects the presence of the two General Motors marques Cadillac and Chevrolet in Leipzig. Germany's biggest motor show this year (April 13 – 21, 2002) will witness the Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Corvette – two particularly innovative and fascinating cars from the USA. The brand-new sedan and the legendary sports car will be at the heart of the GM stand in Hall 1.
An unmistakable form vocabulary and a European-influenced chassis designed for sporty, agile handling make the Cadillac CTS an individual alternative in the luxury mid-size sedan segment. The sumptuously fitted rear-wheel-drive car will hit the European market later this year. Since its US launch at the beginning of the year it has already become the third best-selling model of the American luxury marque after the DeVille and Seville.
The 4.83-meter long CTS is available with two modern V6 gasoline engines with 2.6 and 3.2-liter capacities and 136 kW/185 hp and 160 kW/218 hp. The two powerful six-cylinder units are mated with a five-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. This makes the CTS the first Cadillac for almost twenty years to offer a manual shift option.
The Corvette Racing team kicked off the new motorsports season with a victory in Sebring/Florida in mid-March, impressively following up on the triumphs in last year's endurance race season. The C5-R racing Corvette with start number 3 crossed the finish line after a little more than twelve hours and exactly 317 laps, with drivers Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell and Oliver Gavin emerging as winners in the GTS class.
Although not as fast as the C5-R, the production Corvette is also a quick mover. Next to the Cadillac CTS it is the second highlight at the General Motors stand in Leipzig. The Corvette will also be a crowd-puller in the central glass hall where the best-looking sports cars in the world will be on display.
The American legend is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 with 253 kW/344 hp. Mated with the six-speed manual transmission, the engine spurs the Corvette from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and gives it a top speed of 274 km/h. Innovations such as the head-up display – current speed and other crucial information is projected directly onto the windshield, allowing the driver to keep his eyes on the road – or the electronic tire pressure control system underline the high technical standards of the GM sports car.
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