Cadillac has released pricing for arguably its most important (by the numbers) model to date. The all-new 2017 model year XT5 that will replace the current SRX will start at $38,995 (excluding a $995 destination and handling fee) when it goes on sale in the U.S. this April.
Styling, interior refinement, and technology are the highlights of Caddy’s new crossover, with carry-over design cues from its sedan and SUV siblings to pair with its own unique touches.
The XT5 debuted at the LA Auto Show this past November with a mix of dramatic lines and muted features (like its less showy grille). Customers will be able to choose from 18 or 20-inch wheels and those fancy LED daytime running lights will be standard.
From the ground up, the XT5’s new platform cuts 278 pounds compared to the old SRX, Like the SRX, the XT5 will be offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the latter using a new “twin-clutch” design that can send 100 percent of its power to either the front or rear axle. The rear axle can also vector torque side to side, or decouple completely to save fuel.
In the U.S., the only powertrain option (to start) will be a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. That motor will pair with an eight-speed automatic exclusively. In China, the XT5 will be sold with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
More big changes occur inside the cabin, where high quality materials and a modern design replace the SRX’s drab fittings. Customers can choose from aluminum, carbon fiber, or wood trim to match the leather seats. Tech goodies include the Rear Camera Mirror system that debuted on the flagship CT6 sedan, wireless phone charging, a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and ambient interior lighting.
And for almost double the entry-level cost, buyers can fork over $62,500 for the range-topping XT5 Platinum that gains all-wheel as standard equipment and a slew of luxury and technology features.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.