Custom "Pink" Cadillac Autographed by Aretha
Franklin Up for Auction at the 2008 MusiCares® Person of the Year Gala
During GRAMMY® Week
When the auction gets underway at the 2008 MusiCares® Person of the Year Gala during GRAMMY®
Week, one lucky bidder will be able climb behind the wheel of a
one-of-a-kind Cadillac to drive down the "Freeway of Love" as stylishly
as the "Queen of Soul" herself. A Cadillac CTS - the 2008 Motor Trend
Car of the Year™ - has been customized with a special pink hue and
hand-signed by Aretha Franklin for live auction in Los Angeles on Feb.
8, 2008.
Franklin, a 17-time GRAMMY-winning recording artist and Detroit native, will be honored at the 18th
annual MusiCares Person of the Year dinner and concert. Proceeds from
the annual GRAMMY Week gala provide essential support for MusiCares,
which ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of
financial, medical and personal need.
"Cadillac
is tickled pink to provide a unique auction item celebrating Detroit
native Aretha Franklin at this year's MusiCares gala," said George
Doss, regional divisional marketing manager for Cadillac in GM's
Western Region. "Cadillac is proud to return for the fourth consecutive
year as a major sponsor of this prestigious GRAMMY Week event."
The
"pink" hue was chosen in the spirit of Franklin's memorable lyrics
"Goin' ridin' on the freeway of love in my pink Cadillac" from her hit
song "Freeway of Love" that earned her a GRAMMY Award in the "Best
R&B Vocal Performance - Female" category at the 28th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 1985. The custom CTS will be hand-signed by Franklin.
The
all-new 2008 Cadillac CTS includes a level of new features and
technologies, including (but not limited to): a 40 gigabyte hard drive
that allows pause and rewinding of live radio, and is tailored for MP3
players, iPods, and other digital devices; a 304-horsepower 3.6 L
direct injection V-6 engine; an all-new redesigned cabin with
handcrafted accents; a "double" sunroof enabling both front and rear
passengers a sky view; heated leather seats; a retractable navigation
system with real-time traffic and weather data; OnStar; XM Satellite
Radio; a BOSE eight-speaker sound system; and a six-speed automatic
transmission. With direct-injection technology, the CTS is fuel
efficient and produces 25 percent fewer hydrocarbons. The multiple
award-winning 2008 CTS achieves a remarkable combination of luxury,
technology and performance in a sedan aimed at creating the desire and
head-turning quotient normally reserved for sports cars.
The
50th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Feb. 10, 2008 at STAPLES
Center in Los Angeles. The show will be broadcast live by the CBS
Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), supported on radio via Westwood
One worldwide, and covered on the Internet at GRAMMY.com.