Click above for a high-res gallery of the Cadillac CTS Coupe

The launch of the Cadillac CTS Coupe, which was supposed to be shown at last year's LA Auto Show, has been pushed back to the summer of 2010. Cadillac's director of communications cited "changes to the overall portfolio" as the reason, which is understandable, but doesn't make us somewhat less happy about having to wait. The CTS Wagon is still on schedule for this spring, as is the SRX for this summer. When the CTS Coupe does arrive, it could either exist a 2010 or 2011 model.

Gallery: Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept - Live Reveal

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Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fiat 500

Since the announcement of the Chrysler-Fiat partnership last week, speculation has swirled about what models would come out of the American-Italian venture. Automotive News got the skinny on what's on the way, and according to their unnamed sources, we can expect seven new vehicles in North America – four under the Chrysler brands and three as Alfa Romeos or Fiats.

The plan covers vehicles on four platforms, spanning from a micro-car to a mid-size sedan, by plants in North America being tasked with building most of the new models. Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant, which current builds the Dodge Journey and not-long-for-this-world PT Cruiser, will begin producing the Fiat 500 under the alliance.

Chrysler's executive vice president for product development, Frank Klegon, said, "We don't have an A-segment vehicle, and we don't have a B-segment vehicle, and our C-segment vehicle [Dodge Caliber] is in the next stage of renewal. That creates some opportunities for us." So what's on the way? Hit the jump to find out.

Gallery: Fiat 500

The agreement involves two new minicars (A-segment) that share the same platform. The first is the aforementioned Fiat 500 and the second, a five-door hatchback based on the Fiat Panda, will likely be badged as a Chrysler or Dodge. This should help both automakers with the 2011 U.S. fuel economy standards and give Chrysler a serious sub-compact offering.

Moving up to the B segment, Chrysler could get the next progeny Fiat Grande Punto, Alfa could make a beginning selling the MiTo and the same platform could be used to create a small crossover for Chrysler. There's also talk of Chrysler being afforded access to Fiat's 1.4- and 1.8-liter four-cylinder direct-injection engines. Chrysler could produce both at one of its own factories, likely in turbocharged guise at its Dundee, Michigan plant, but a source indicates that Chrysler is only interested in the 1.4-liter variant.



On the mid-size front, Chrysler – which is in desperate need of both C- and D-segment models to replace the Caliber/Compass and Sebring/Avenger, respectively – could utilize Fiat's new C-Evo architecture to create a new sedan and a more respectable compact car. The C-Evo underpinnings will be used first on the Alfa Romeo 147 replacement, currently codenamed project 940, which takes some stylistic cues from the 8C Competitizione.

And what's Fiat get out of altogether this? An inexpensive entry into the North American market, manufacturing capacity and a sizeable distribution network. And grant that you think Chrysler is getting all the goods, Fiat plans to distribute the Dodge Journey and Dakota pickup in South America, and will be able to utilize Chrysler's new Phoenix V6 in its own line of products. Not quite balanced, but hardly a bad deal.

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GM is out to win hearts and minds, one OnStar-equipped vehicle at a time. The General is talking to other carmakers about offering OnStar, that would be a return to previous practice. The service was linked with six other brands in the past, including Audi, Acura, and Lexus, but the ties were cut around the time cellular communications switched to digital from analog.

Now OnStar is ready to start adding friends to its profile again, and not just in the U.S. and Canada: the General is looking at expanding into other countries. GM says the driver aid has been getting more profitable for GM over the years, and that's in spite of reduced car sales. About 20% of used car buyers have been adding the service, which has kept the six-million-strong subscriber base growing. This looks like a good situation all around: GM makes money, customers become services, call centers put on't need to be replicated. We just hope that the partners keep in-car navigation as well -- that turn-by-turn stuff is for the birds.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

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