The sheet was barely off the Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept at the 2008 Detroit auto show when members of the Cadillac team were talking about a production model. Just shy of two years later, the rakish 2011 Cadillac CTS coupe is here.
At first glance, you can barely tell the concept and production car apart. And that’s a very, very good thing.
In fact, the CTS Coupe has stayed nearly the same from day one. Back when the concept debuted, exterior design director John Manoogian told us that the concept was almost identical to both the original sketch and the scale models. He then proceeded to make the bold promise that the production car would be nearly identical as well, something that rarely happens in the automotive industry. To his credit, Manoogian was right -- Cadillac didn’t mess with success.
At first glance, you can barely tell the concept and production car apart. And that’s a very, very good thing.
In fact, the CTS Coupe has stayed nearly the same from day one. Back when the concept debuted, exterior design director John Manoogian told us that the concept was almost identical to both the original sketch and the scale models. He then proceeded to make the bold promise that the production car would be nearly identical as well, something that rarely happens in the automotive industry. To his credit, Manoogian was right -- Cadillac didn’t mess with success.
Put pictures of the concept and production cars next to each other and only the eagle-eyes will spot the differences. The production car wears smaller wheels borrowed from the CTS sedan that don’t fill the wheel arches as much, but they don’t look like they don’t fit, either. In front, the lower fascia is unique to the coupe has been revised slightly from the concept with a less-prominent splitter, larger brake ducts and smaller fog lights.
As with most coupes, everything behind the A-pillar is unique from the sedan. It starts with fender vents that are toned down from the concept but differ in size and shape from those found on the sedan. The rocker panels are scaled back slightly from the concept, and aluminum-looking trim frames the side windows on the production car -- a touch not found on the concept.
As with most coupes, everything behind the A-pillar is unique from the sedan. It starts with fender vents that are toned down from the concept but differ in size and shape from those found on the sedan. The rocker panels are scaled back slightly from the concept, and aluminum-looking trim frames the side windows on the production car -- a touch not found on the concept.
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