The Kennedy family is one of the most iconic in American History, and it’s shown in Cadillac’s relationship, so to speak, with Jackie Kennedy.

A truly classic Cadillac model inspired by Jacqueline Kennedy went up for auction on February 5th in Paris.  The estimated selling price was judged to surpass the $250k mark, as predicted by Bonham, the outfit overseeing the auction of this beautifully styled Cadillac model.  As of the writing of this post, the actual priced paid at the event had not been released.

1961 Cadillac “Jacqueline” Coupe

This vehicle was a special edition designed the same year that John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States.  It was made by an Italian coach designing company, Pininfarina.  If you are unfamiliar with this auto designer, they have been around since the 1930′s and have worked with many auto companies to design special edition autos, many of which are current collector’s items or may be found in museums, etc.  During the period of 1958 to 1961, Pininfarina designed several Cadillac models, including the one inspired by Ms. Kennedy.

Shortly after its manufacture in the early 1960′s, this model became a fixture in the Pininfarina museum, where an esteemed car collector eventually purchased it.  In the mid-90′s, the president of Cartier purchased the Jacqueline coupe and sent to the United States where some restoration was done to make it drivable on America’s roadways.  What is even more noteworthy about this Cadillac is that it hardly has any mileage on it and is fitted with the original interior.  Even though it’s a vehicle you won’t likely ever see at a Chicago Cadillac dealership, it’s undoubtedly a stand-out model of its time, inspired by someone who is very much a part of American culture even today.

Other features of the 1961 coupe

The Jacqueline coupe was a two door model that featured no back seating and two, front bucket seats.  Like the current Chicago CTS coupe on the market, there’s clearly a preference for Cadillacs that feature a two door styling.  The 1961 model also had a brushed steel roof and a very large grille that held the headlights. 

Check out the attached picture and give us your impression of this classic car.

The new 2010 Cadillac SRX is everything a crossover should be, and then some. For those of you who have been waiting for quite some time now for its release, now is your time. This summer you will be able to visit your local Cadillac SRX Chicago dealership to test drive one, as the SRX is set to be released mid-summer.

As a crossover, many drivers (including myself) would expect the new SRX to act more SUV-ish than it really does. Rather, smartly-designed crossover offers the best of both worlds. It rides high, with the stance of an SUV, has the driving capabilities of a car, and features all the luxury you would expect from a Cadillac. So whether you are an SUV devotee or a member of team-car, this year’s model of the SRX will satisfy your driving desires as well as your people- and cargo-space needs.

Equipped with a V6 engine, this 5-passenger crossover has retained all of its Cadillac class and has brought its own modern, bolder attitude to the family. The new SRX has more aggressive lines but still manages to keep the elegance of its predecessors. Cadillac’s attention to the details is, as always, impeccable. With illuminated logos on the doors, a fast design and a pop-up navigation system, it is plain to tell that every part of the 2010 SRX has been well-planned and meticulously crafted.

Thanks to an all-new AWD system, the 2010 SRX will not only look beautiful, it will drive beautifully as well, no matter the road conditions. This new system allows even amounts of torque to be delivered to the back and front tires, creating the best possible handling and grip on the road. It also enhances the safety on this vehicle, by making driving in icy, rainy, or snowy conditions easier to handle.

Not only is this new SRX as luxurious and functional as ever, according to Cadillac SRX Chicago dealers, it’s also as affordable as ever. In the midst of a recession, Cadillac has decided to reward its buyers and drop the price $7,000 dollars from the 2009 model. And through all the troubles GM has been facing, this could be a model priced to help get them back on track.

So keep checking in with your Cadillac dealer in Chicago, because these sleek rides should be popping up any day now, and they are not something to miss.

Cadillac has gone hybrid in a big way with the Escalade Hybrid.  I make it a point to test drive and review any hybrid vehicle on the road because I want to encourage people to look at hybrids as a serious option, and I want to encourage auto makers to continue to invest in hybrid technology.  So I went to a Cadillac dealer in Chicago, Patrick Cadillac, to take a spin in the Escalade Hybrid.

The first thing that is obvious is that this vehicle is an Escalade.  Nothing you can see will tell you otherwise (except for a lot of badges and logos that say “Hybrid).  It possesses the same luxurious design and swanky attitude as the regular Escalade, but with major differences under the hood that make the vehicle a real winner when it comes to going green.

The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid shows an overall 33% improvement in fuel economy.  And it is amazingly city-friendly, managing to best the city fuel efficiency of the MINI Cooper S.  The city fuel efficiency of this hybrid is nearly 70% better than than its non-hybrid brother.  That’s a major, major difference helped quite a bit by the Escalade hybrid’s ability to run on electric-only power at speeds up to 25 mph.  It’s great news for drivers who spend a lot of time stuck in traffic or navigating stop-and-go city streets.

On to the road.  As soon as I pulled out of the Chicago Cadillac dealership, I was impressed with the responsiveness as I accelerated into traffic.  Sure, the hybrid version loses some of the giddy-up the traditional Escalade features, but with hybrids, acceleration isn’t really the point.

And other than the slight drop-off in acceleration , I can’t tell the difference between the way the hybrid drives and the way the regular Cadillac Escalade drives.  On the inside the major difference is the navigation-integrated fuel-efficiency information display that tells the driver how optimally the engine is performing at any given time.  This is something that is both fun and important, as a driver will enjoy watching gallons of fuel being saved before her eyes and be able to adjust driving style to increase fuel efficiency.

As I pulled back into the Chicago Cadillac dealership, I made sure to look at my mpg for my nearly 30-minute test drive.  I managed 20 mpg, and I probably could have done better if I had not horsed around at a couple of stop lights to see how fast I could take off.

Here is a good, quick video review from Cars.com’s Mike Hanley:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vHh_tbPReI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

If you’re looking to purchase a Chicago Cadillac Escalade but are concerned about fuel economy, you’ll want to take a close look at opting for the Escalade Hybrid.  You’ll enjoy it every bit as much as a regular Escalade but save big money on gas, and most importantly, greatly reduce your impact on the environment.