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CES opens with fewer big wheels, including carmakers

There are some grumblings that the annual CES is becoming less relevant in this era of 24-hour news and instant globalization of information on the internet. And you can make a good argument that the relevance of the world's largest consumer electronics show is at least evolving, for carmakers as well as for other industry giants. It has always been an industry only show, with no public -- the “consumers” in "consumer electronics" -- allowed.

Cadillac XTS 'choreographed' LED lighting explained [w/video]

The introduction of LED lighting into vehicle lamp graphics has seen manufacturers strive to create their own identifiable lighting signatures. Cadillac, for example, is looking to take this one step further with the introduction of LEDs throughout the XTS, rather than just within its light clusters. Designed to greet drivers through a choreographed sequence, 20 separate light sources begin their routine once the key fob is pressed.

Cadillac ELR

Cadillac has revealed the ELR: a production version of the highly-acclaimed Converj concept revealed at the 2009 NAIAS in Detroit. The new luxury coupe will be equipped with extended-range electric vehicle technology – essentially a T-shaped lithium ion battery powering an electric drive unit mated to a a four-cylinder engine-generator, which propels the car when the battery's energy is low. "There's no mistaking it for anything but a Cadillac, an aggressive, forward-leaning profile and proportion showcases a uniquely shaped, modern vision of a personal luxury 2+2," said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design. Welburn also stated that the Converj concept sparked the idea of combining the desirability of a grand touring coupe with electrification.