DRIVEN – Cadillac CT4-V GET IGNITED – Andre Norman

DRIVEN

CADILLAC CT4-V

by robert w. paster

THE TERM ‘PERFORMANCE CADILLAC’ used to be considered an oxymoron, but things have changed a lot in the automotive field in the last decade or two, and nowhere more so than at Cadillac. The current line-up offers modern styling, futuristic technology and, particularly in its V-series vehicles, outstanding performance.

Case in point is the new CT4-V, based on the CT4 compact sedan. The CT4-V starts with angular, aggressive good looks that foreshadow the power and performance under the hood and underpin the sporty suspension. Great performance is usually my first priority when reviewing a car, but I’m starting to appreciate some of the luxury features on modern cars as well. Presented in a relatively small package, the CT4 offers all the sybaritic amenities and luxuries one expects from a Cadillac, along with the latest safety nannies.

The heart of the CT4-V’s performance is its 2.7-liter, turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine that pumps out 325 horses to all four wheels. With almost no turbo lag, the engine provides plenty of power throughout the rev band via a 10-speed automatic that includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters if you want to choose gears yourself. Unfortunately, no manual transmission is available. There’s a mechanical rear limited slip differential to prevent wheel spin under hard acceleration, and to reign in all that power, sensitive Brembo brakes provide strong and sure braking power.

Sport and track modes tighten up the steering, brakes, transmission and suspension, turning it into a real performance car that is fun to drive. In less aggressive drive modes, it’s a nice, comfortable car with a smooth ride for around town driving. And it’s small and nimble enough to make it easy to park and maneuver. Though you can tell when the engine shuts off and turns back on, it’s not too obtrusive and can be defeated.

Inside, the CT4-V is all Cadillac, which is to say luxurious with all of the modern amenities, including dual zone automatic climate control, rear seat air vents, manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel, automatic dimming mirror, adaptive cruise control, sunroof, leather seating, and a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel. Room up front is comfortable, but the seats are more sporty than luxurious due to the big side bolsters. Most interactive controls are accessed via a large touch screen that also can be used with a rotary controller between the seats for audio, navigation, car settings and Bluetooth. Thankfully, it has real volume and tuning knobs for the radio. The ventilation system is easy to use with large buttons on the dash.

In back, there’s decent rear seat room, adequate for an average sized person, but legroom is somewhat dependent on the generosity of front seat occupants. The rear seat folds to expand the fairly deep trunk. The CT4-V is big enough for most families until the children are fully grown. The rear window is a little small, but the side mirrors and reverse camera rear vision help.

The list of safety features is exhaustive, including forward collision alert, pedestrian braking, safety alert seat, enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, following distance indicator, lane change alert with side blind zone alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, and a reminder to check the rear seat when you exit the car. This car worries about your safety as much as your grandmother. The heads-up display, which displays your speed and the posted speed limit on the lower corner of your windshield, is a particularly cool feature.

Bill Pastor, sales manager at Elco Cadillac is very enthusiastic about the CV4-V. “I like its performance, ride and amenities,” he says. “It’s a great performance value for the money, and its pricing is actually more competitive than the prior model.” & technicals »

PRICE:

▶ Base: $45,000, including delivery ▶ As driven with options: $55,500

GAS MILEAGE:

▶ 20 city, 28 highway DRIVETRAIN:

▶ Front engine; all-wheel drive ▶ 2.7-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine ▶ 325 horsepower ▶ 10-speed automatic transmission

get ignited

by beth chesterton ANDRE NORMAN

IMAGINE WAKING UP IN

the morning with one goal in mind: How can I be helpful? This is how Andre Norman approaches each day. And Andre delivers. He may be the most charismatic person I’ve met. And, in Andre’s line of work, charisma is critical.

Andre was first invited to St. Louis by Suzie and Dave Spence. The Spences were closely involved with Roosevelt High School, a public school in St. Louis, and invited Andre to come to town to connect with the students. Andre not only inspired the students at Roosevelt, but he also inspired the administration, the faculty and everyone he came in contact with. Andre’s one-day speaking engagement turned into a 10-month project that is captured in the PBS documentary, Saving St. Louis, produced and directed by Dan Curran, founder and CEO of PowerPublish. The film captures how Andre used all of his gifts and talents to bring business leaders, political leaders, educators and gang leaders together to improve life for children in our region.

Andre isn’t just charismatic. He isn’t just a motivational speaker. And, he isn’t just a problem solver. He is someone who became ignited under the most difficult circumstances. As a young man, Andre was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison. He became one of the most notorious gang leaders in the federal prison system. He was so feared by prison officials that they continuously moved him from one prison to another to keep him from exerting his influence. Then, while doing a two-year stint in solitary confinement, Andre had an epiphany: He decided to turn his life around to become a force for good. Since that life-changing moment, he taught himself to read, studied law and earned his freedom. He also set his sights on Harvard.

Andre went from prison gang leader to Harvard Fellow, top YPO speaker and international facilitator with a track record for bringing people together to overcome previously insurmountable obstacles. Today, he uses his innate ability to influence others to assist in crisis situations in the U.S., Africa, Europe, Central and South America, and beyond. He also founded the Academy of Hope, which helps measurably defuse and reduce violence in prison populations, and Second Chance, which helps people escape the cycle of gang involvement. Andre recently authored the book, The Ambassador of Hope: Turning Poverty and Prison Into a Purpose-Driven Life.

Andre is the person you want to see when the world turns upside down. He joined us for a Get Ignited podcast conversation in June of 2020 when racial tension was sweeping the nation after the murder of George Floyd. He started the conversation with this statement: “Let’s agree that, for the next piece of time, we’re going to work together to make the world a better place.” Andre then showed us what’s possible when we cut through the chaos to find the common ground needed to move forward.

To experience a dose of Andre Norman for yourself, tune in to our Get Ignited podcast conversation. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself compelled by his wisdom and feeling more hopeful about the future. As Andre says, it all begins with a simple question: “How can I be helpful?” &