When General Motors held its annual media new product preview, oddly, there was no mention of Cadillac, especially odd since Cadillac is launching two all-new vehicles this year. Questions were put to rest, though, during a unique event, “Cadillac’s Culinary Media Tour,” an afternoon combining food from the area’s top chefs and test-driving the latest offerings from the automaker.
Our afternoon began with a walk-around of the fastest production sedan built – the supercharged 550hp Cadillac CTS-V. Did I mention we were driving the vehicles from one venue to the next? My early arrival was rewarded with the first turn behind the wheel of this demonic luxury sport sedan. The updated navigation system came in handy as I am not that familiar with the Las Colinas area. I’m not one for voice recognition systems, but it does work well, as does the adjustable sport/tour suspension and, of course, the hotrod engine – a 6.2-liter V-8 with Eaton supercharger backed by choice of six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes – capable of making 0-60 runs in under 4 seconds. (Yes, it does.) I would say this CTS-V is my new favorite sedan. They start at about 36 grand, but expect to pay northward of 60 large for the V-series.
Next stop: the La Cima Club atop the tallest building in Las Colinas with a gorgeous view, including Jerry Jones’ old and new stadiums. The culinary treats here, courtesy Chef Mark Pappas, included duck and brie taquitos—Yum! The vehicle walk-around at this stopover was the new SRX from Cadillac. The 2010 model replaces the wagon-ish SRX previously offered, with the new model on GM’s great new crossover platform already utilized by the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. The SRX is powered by a direct-injected 3.0-liter V-6 making 265hp or, coming soon, a turbocharged 2.8-liter six cranking out more than 300 ponies in all-wheel-drive format. The new SRX is living up to its marketing hype as being “the Cadillac of crossovers.” It takes what I enjoyed about the Equinox to the next level and then some. Pricing starts at around 33-and-a-third. The vehicle takes what I enjoyed about the Equinox to the next level and then some.
Next stop: the Four Seasons. Chef Christof Syre served his wonderful butternut squash soup with eggnog froth and chocolate and crème brulee mousse dessert. The vehicle we enjoyed at this stopover was the new wagon from Cadillac, the CTS Sport Wagon. Wagons haven’t gotten much love over the past few decades and Chevy Chase didn’t do them any favors in his vacation movie. Make no mistake – the 2010 CTS Sport Wagon is no family “truckster.”
The vehicle is very stable on road, even when tossing it through some corners and curves. And none of the usual rumble from road noise given all the rear glass. This baby is tight – rock solid. This is a CTS sedan with more cargo room and a power-lift gate. It comes with identical power-train choices as its sedan counterpart and offers roof rails, fold-flat split rear seats and a unique cargo management system. Pricing begins at 40 grand, but can climb to the mid-50s when loaded to the gills.
Our final destination brought us back to our starting point--Via Real restaurant. A delicious slice of scallop over a fried mash of potato began our afternoon and a perfect hunk of tenderloin served on a flaming plank of wood tableside finished it (I almost dialed 911 when I saw the flames coming towards the table). When anyone combines two of my favorite things in the same event, you’ve won me over.
Cadillac and Crème Brulee 
