GMC Granite, Lincoln MKX, Cadillac XTS Platinum debut at Detroit

By Tim Beissmann | January 13th, 2010

After a tumultuous 18 months, the Yanks are regaining their confidence, getting creative again and celebrating the Detroit Motor Show in the best way possible: with a floor full of new production and concept vehicles.

The GMC Granite Concept does all the things a concept should: it turns heads, it breaks new ground for the manufacturer, and it’s got suicide doors. Or “French doors”, as GMC is calling them.

But the rest of the Granite is all rock hard and industrial, aiming to put tough, square edges back on the boxy design recently urbanised by the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube.

Under the bonnet is a 1.4-litre turbocharged inline-4, but for now that doesn’t so much matter, as the Granite is significantly more than a stone’s throw from production.

Something that will make its way to the showroom is the 2011 Lincoln MKX – a neatly styled SUV with perhaps the largest gnashing teeth (or the most well-maintained moustache, depending on how you personify cars) in the motoring world.

The MKX will become the first vehicle from Ford Motor Co. to offer the new “My Touch” driver interface system, which features an iPhone-style touch-screen.

Improved safety features including adaptive cruise control, collision warning, blind-spot information and cross-traffic alert systems can vary the vehicle’s speed, give the driver warnings and ready the car and passengers for a collision.

The 2011 MKX also gets a slightly larger 227kW/380Nm 3.7-litre V6, which Lincoln claims still returns fuel economy of 9.4 litres/100km combined.

Cadillac has joined the high-performance V6 party with the unveiling of its XTS Platinum Concept.

Combined with a plug-in electric system, the all-wheel drive XTS concept is capable of producing 261kW and 400Nm.

The production XTS will be sized between the DTS and the STS and will replace the former in around two years time.

Despite the set-square styling, the exterior of the XTS Platinum flows more elegantly than recent designs, but it’s the interior that Cadillac wants people to pay attention to.

Fitted with organic LEDs, illuminating panels and creamy, wooden colours, Cadillac says the cabin “takes inspiration from nature, specifically the intricate layer of petals that combine to form an orchid”. Wow.

That’s probably enough from America for now.

(with Edmunds Inside Line)

Indy

I wonder whether that Lincoln MKX would be seen as a replacement for the ageing Territory especially with all the current talk of the demise of the Falcon?

smokin’R32

It’d wanna have a nose job first
s5driver

Could possibly…

If the Territory were to die off, I think the replacement (if any) would most likely be the Ford Edge (Ford’s own version of the MKX)…

Myke

The Edge isn’t a bad looking car, it looks better than the MKX. The only problem is the current Edge/MKX is a five-seater only, if you want a 7-seater you have to go for the ugly Flex. That may change for the next-gen Edge/MKX.

birdie

you obviously havent heard there is no demise ,as you put it , of the falcon its going to share a new rwd platform with the mustang from 2016

Mitch

I think there is something wrong with this sentence

“The MKX will become the first vehicle from Ford Motor Co.”

Safety First

Sorry Mitch but the sentence is actually
[The MKX will become the first vehicle from Ford Motor Co. to offer the new “My Touch” driver interface system, which features an iPhone-style touch-screen.]

THe punctuation mark behind the Co is because it’s an abreviation so they writer has used correct punctuation… Unless, of course you are Questioning whether Lincoln admits to being a FoMoCo company and the the answer is yes. THey aren’t Lexus you know;-p
(slight light hearted humour ppl)

Golfschwein

I love the GM cars, but the Lincoln looks like its maker has learned nothing.

America finally does interiors!

Callous Aussie

I couldn’t agree more and was thinking exactly that. They are not learning. American vehicles all have that same box shape and headlight design and it’s bloody aweful.

At least as you have said, the interior is smart looking.

Valet Dabess

wow… both the SUV’s look great, well they look better then german and jap rivals anyways. best looking van i’ve ever seen
Baddass

I wouldn’t completely write off the Granite for a unrealistic concept. It looks pretty production ready, and would make business sense to introduce it as it brings younger customers to the brand, leaves the company image intact (read, not too wussy) and would bring down GMC’s average emssions (like Aston is doing with the Cygnet). I think the Lincoln looks spot on, and as much as I love it, the Caddy’s styling is too evolutionary. It needs to slightly break the mould to attract new customers.
http://www.caradvice.com JJ

The Cadillac XTS is awsome looking true luxury sedan!!!!!!!!!!!! Heads will turn when this baby comes down the street!
Shak

The XTS being unveilied just makes me even sadder that GM chose not to introduce Cadillac into Australia. Oh well at least i have pictures to look at.
spellbound

Ford looks smooth , the GM product , very average they will date very quickly .

Sure glad we did’nt get the caddy’s here , looks cheap , in fact the xts looks like a tarted up cruz , maybe thats who styled it , very far east look about it .

johnny

Looks better than a Caprice mate, I’m all for the XTS, Cadillac has more appeal than the Lion Badge “Oh let’s make a four door with v8s, yeah we all want that!”, Australias car market is so bland.