By now we are aware of the new edginess that the Cadillac division of General Motors possesses. Displaying more sharp creases than a folded origami swan and harkening back to the egg-crate grille of the Cadillac 16 concept car of 2003, GM’s luxury brand unveiled its second-generation CTS to journalists right in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Backstory
In a role which until recently has not been a familiar playground for Cadillac, GM’s luxury division has taken direct aim at BMW, but with scattershot weaponry. The CTS is priced comparably to the 3-Series, but is sized and performs closer to levels of the larger 5-Series.
Cadillac has always been about image. Thankfully, though, in their recent history, they seem to be thinking about performance as well.
Aesthetics (4/5)
Aggressive styling is the hallmark of the new Cadillac line.
From the large bass-like opening of the grille, to the short rear overhang, which certain designers claim “connotes a statement of power and performance,” the CTS exterior displays many interesting views. We like the stacked headlights, and the bold Cadillac Crest that announces, no shouts, the arrival of the CTS. On the other hand, the side gills (in keeping with the large-mouth bass theme) seem a bit contrived. We think they should be larger, or disappear all together. We can only wonder the change of the belt-height character line emanating from the bottom edge of the gills, had they been larger.
Chrome accents — like on side vents and around the greenhouse — give the car a decidedly upscale look and body panel gaps are on par with offerings from other luxury marques.
At first glance, the rear overhang had a slightly short appearance, similar to a dog whose tail was clipped too closely. It’s not bad. It’s just different. Over time, we have grown to appreciate it, in much the same way the “Bangle-Butted” rear of the 5-series has grown on us.
Performance (5/5)
To show the mettle that the CTS possesses, Cadillac met us in San Jose, California. Putting us into the new CTS and sending us on our way to Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley, CA with an intermediate stop at the famed Laguna Seca Raceway, it was clear what an improvement this CTS was over its predecessor.
The heart of the new CTS in its base form is a 3.6-liter V6 with variable valve timing. It’s no slouch at 263-horsepower, and 253 lb-ft of torque. But the real jewel in this line is the 3.6-liter V6 DI, which is fueled by the aforementioned direct injection system. With 304-horsepower, and 273 lb-ft of torque, it’s the ballsiest naturally aspirated V6 the General has ever stuffed under any hood. High technology abounds with aluminum block and cylinder heads, silent chain drives, polymer-coated piston skirts and composite camshaft covers.
With the addition of direct injection comes a new set of benefits. Aside from the 15-percent increase in horsepower, and 8-percent increase in torque, Cadillac also claims a 3-percent improvement in fuel consumption. Add to this, the bonus of running on “regular” unleaded petrol.
The “Standard of the World” is in a shouting mood lately, what with great sounding engines screaming as the variable valve timing kicks in at higher revs and a nicely tuned exhaust note flies out the rear through twin tailpipes.
Handling was crisp, and taut with good center feel. As in other offerings from the RenCen in Detroit, the automatic transmission has the ability to be “slap shifted” in an up-down manner. Slip it between the gates and it takes on the “Sport” mode, which remaps the shift points for more responsive stepping through the gears when in a spirited driving mode. Also making a reappearance is a six-speed manual option, for the DIY crowd. We can’t wait to test it in the upcoming CTS-V.
Handling is improved under the hood by way of a strut tower brace whose usage is probably a first in the entire history of the marque. Beefy Michelin Pilot Sport 2 18-inch tires (P235/50R18) mounted on highly polished bright alloy wheels contributed to the newfound grip of our test model.
Through all the improvements, the result is one of the surest-footed Cadillac sedans in history. With a leather-wrapped steering wheel that gives good driver feedback, and as firm a ride that has ever appeared this side of a bustle-back Seville (remember the eighties?), this sedan signals a day of reckoning for the bloated, pillow-soft rides of the past. Despite this, to our tastes, it’s still not German enough. It’s only nine/tenths there.
Technology (4/5)
Showing off the latest in alphabet soup three-letter describers such as AWD (all-wheel-drive), TCS (traction control systems), DRP (dynamic rear proportioning), and VVT (variable valve timing), the division revealed the latest for Cadillac: DI — Direct Injection.
A new all-wheel-drive system boasts of a track that is two-inches wider than the one it replaces. It lays the grip down by way of a Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic transmission (lifted from the STS-V and XLR-V) that has the ability to be thrashed in Driver Shift Control mode. If you prefer, the Performance Algorithm Liftfoot (Sport) mode, lets the computer downshift the transmission when it senses the driver lifting off the accelerator. In either case, the AWD system has the ability to continually transfer as much as 100-percent of the torque to the front wheels, and an infinitely variable amount of drive force between the front and rear wheels together.
The CTS has all the airbags that you would find in many of the other luxury cars in its competitive set. These include a two-stage driver bag, a dual-depth passenger side, front-mounted pelvic and thorax side bags and roof rail side curtains. It’s a veritable bounce house here, folks!
Cabin (4/5)
The overall design of the interior features a new handsome architecture that maintains a center stack with a retractable video monitor for navigation and audio controls. To our eyes, it appears a slight bit fragile, but only time (and usage) will be the decider on that.
The center stack is handsome and functional, featuring a brushed aluminum face and an upscale looking center-mounted analog clock. The integration of the dual climate control in quite intuitive, with each side having its own LCD screen and controls to adjust temperature, plus redundancies built into the thick-rimmed steering wheel. To all of this add the bonus — at least for those of us in Florida and Arizona — of air-cooled seats.
Speaking of redundancies, isn’t the CTS’s available 40 GB Hard Drive Device, which through the use of a USB cord, enables an owner to download music or audiobooks, a bit redundant in itself, seeing that it duplicates the original intent of plugging in an iPod in the first place?
Bottom line
At the end of the day, the new CTS is about Cadillac attempting to reclaim title to the phrase “Standard of the World.” When my friend, the auto-neurotic Neal, came time to exit his current automobile lease, he started looking around for cars that he thought showed a certain standard he was trying to portray. After considering offerings from Lexus, Infiniti, and Volvo, he directed his gaze at the new CTS. Love at first sight is probably a little overstated, but the reaction to the new entry-level Cadillac, was instantaneous, and exacting. As in just right.
That reaction and the subsequent scheckles that should find their way into the General Motors coffers should be music to Cadillac’s ears.
Words and photos by Mark Elias
03/06, 12:17 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
That’s what happens when you give a damn about you’re cars, Ford you are now on the clock………
03/06, 12:25 PM
posted by:
A4
The new CTS is beautiful
03/06, 12:33 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
Another good review. I haven’t read any bad reviews of the new CTS.
03/06, 12:37 PM
posted by:
Syrax
kick ass interior, but the old exterior was better.
03/06, 12:37 PM
posted by:
atourya
you think this car is better looking than the M3 coupe? (thumbs down)
the 3 coupe is the only good looking BMW right now IMO. But give me a choice between a 3 coupe and a cts? You can have the CTS, the coupe is mine.
Also… I don’t know if you all noticed, but GM can’t get their performance numbers to match the power, aside from the corvette level. as powerful as the 3.5 is, have you seen how slow it is on the quarter, when compared to the MB 3.5?
A 328 coupe will out pace the 3.5 CTS.
03/06, 1:03 PM
posted by:
purdue
i like the car, but when I seem them in public, the nose just out a bit too much. I’d take one if given to me, though. and i’m not in their target market – I choose to save/invest my money, and drive sensible cars.
03/06, 1:06 PM
posted by:
Cyclone of Red
I’m always suprised to hear that people really love the exterior styling of the CTS. Despite it’s great performance, the styling completely turns me off. But then again, I can’t stand hard angles. Like Ferrari vs Lambo, Ferrari wins because they have the sexy curves. But to each his (or her) own.
03/06, 1:29 PM
posted by:
SoLoveLA
The only problems with this car are that it is so much dirtier (in terms of grams of CO2 per Km) and less economical than its European competition.
03/06, 1:59 PM
posted by:
atourya
Cyclone of Red… check out the actual performance data from objective tests… the CTS doesn’t perform that well, actually. Their HP numbers are nice, but that doesn’t necessarily translate when compared to their competitors.
15.1 on the quarter with a V6? The C350 has the same displacement and runs a 14.3!!!!
The CTS does not perform well… The CTS-V is very nice, but it still can’t keep up with the M-3 or C63… especially the C63.
03/06, 2:09 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
Atourya, yeah… umm let’s see the first gen CTS-V with the 400hp LS6, is faster by a hair then the new M3 Coupe is. 04 CTS-V 0-60 4.6 seconds vs 08 M3 Coupe, 0-60 (4.7-4.9) and the new and improved CTS-V with 550hp is going to destroy the M3 coupe and sedan… please….
03/06, 2:16 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
and also in response to your previous posting about taking a 328 Coupe over a new CTS, Why don’t you wait for the CTS Coupe to come out before comparing a coupe to a sedan…
I also priced out a new CTS and BMW 328i on BMWUSA.com, and I did my best to try and compare both the RWD BMW 328i with the 3.6 option CTS, and just to get the same level of performance and luxury offerings on both there was a 6-10k difference between what the CTS offers and the BMW 328i sedan offers.
I’m not dogging the BMW 3 series coupe, because I’d too would take a BMW 3 series coupe over a new CTS, I’ll have mine as a 335i white, with the dark red interior please.
But if the old CTS-V was performing similiarly to the new M3 the 09 CTS-V with the 550hp 550lbstrq supercharged LSA will walk over it. performance wise.
03/06, 2:43 PM
posted by:
sj79
the fastest 0-60 time I’ve seen for the C350 is 5.9. The fastest for the CTS is 5.8 with manual and 6.3 for automatic. That isnt much slower than the C350 and the CTS weighs about 200lbs more than the MB. The CTS is just as fast as the similarly sized E350 and M35.
The CTS-V should be able to get to 60 in the low 4sec range which will be as fast as the much ligher M3 and right on top of the C63. The first CTS-V was just as fast as the old M3 and C55. In fact, it beat the C55 in a C&D comparo in 2005.
03/06, 3:03 PM
posted by:
atourya
Assuming that the 15.1 on the quarter is for the slower automatic (which I don’t think is the case, but whatever) somehow, the CTS loses another 6 tenths of a second off of the c350 when it finishes the quarter mile. That is not a performance car, even by the only standards that you all are trying to prove to me, which is straight line data!
sj79, check out the 1/4 mile data… 0-60 doesn’t show real driving characteristics. Unless you’re a stoplight racer, which is gay. Also, it beat the C55 because of the price redistribution which they always do at the end, if I remember correctly. Look at the track data to see what I mean.
SS4 Life… I’ll believe it when I see it in a more objective platform… again, 0-60 is worthless unless you race on your nearby street corner. What we’re looking for is 1/4 mile times, skidpad, figure 8, take both to laguna seca and see what happens.
Power isn’t everything folks. Mildly modified miatas smoke cars that have over twice the power.
Having good power and a decent 0-60 doesn’t mean good performance by any means.
03/06, 3:08 PM
posted by:
lucklaster
A success by any measure and it looks just great on the street.
03/06, 3:12 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
All this banter about performance and styling may be fun to debate but until Cadilac can brag about their resale value being the same as the European benchmarks, they still have a ways to go. Although I do believe they are being dragged down depreciation avenue by lesser GM product’s bad reputation, they still need to do more to insulate themselves. In other words, stay out of the corporate parts bin.
03/06, 5:10 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
“you think this car is better looking than the M3 coupe? (thumbs down)”
Yes, I do. The new M3 looks nice, but that power bulge in the hood really looks out of place and tacky, like something Mitsubishi would do when they can’t get the hood closed. The M3 sedan has the same Civic looking taillamps as the rest of the 3-series. The interior is no contest – the CTS’ is much nicer and more modern.
The correct comparison anyway is not the M3, but the 328i sedan.
“A 328 coupe will out pace the 3.5 CTS.
Comment by atourya, posted on March6 at 12:37 pm ”
Considering there is no such thing as a 3.5 CTS, I guess you’re right.
03/06, 5:39 PM
posted by:
atourya
ok ok, what is it a 3.6? hahaha! Man, I am ready for the weekend!
03/06, 5:44 PM
posted by:
Htay9500
this car rules.
03/06, 5:47 PM
posted by:
F451
Wow, everyone complains about the Unions, but this is bull****: GM raises CEO’s salary to pre-turnaround level
.
New CTS, or not, GM executives are full of themselves with pay scales like these, loss of profits, and personnel cuts. Hell, cut Wagoner and Lutz.
03/06, 6:56 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Rick Wagoner to the UAW “Im Rich Bitch”
03/06, 7:09 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
The articles are getting better LLN, specifically the car reviews.
For all of you arguing about the CTS vs. 3-Series, the 3-series is smaller and weighs less, same goes for most of the Mercedes you guys are comparing. Regardless, you guys seem to find that it performs the same, if not better than these smaller cars, right? Regardless, I don’t believe any of us have driven it, if they want something fast they’ll buy performance variants.
03/06, 11:14 PM
posted by:
buytheredcar
has the same styling issues as the last one.
the beltline is too high.
too tall and bricklike
looks squashed in, light look better as a larger sedan.
03/07, 12:36 AM
posted by:
AxeHead
I doubt it but…can you get this thing in a 6 speed standard?
This car design kind of grows on you – I used to hate it but now I think it was originally way ahead of its time.
03/07, 1:16 AM
posted by:
Heart64
Its absolute Garbage
)
03/07, 1:18 AM
posted by:
Heart64
The Standard of Luxury is not a Cadillac its a Lincoln if its American and its Mercedes Benz if its German, Lexus if its Japanese
03/07, 1:23 AM
posted by:
Heart64
I guess you might get the impression I don’t care for GM JUNK and you’d be right! Father owned Buicks, Olds, Pontiac, and Chevy and everyone of them was a P-O-S! Not one of them could stand up to the Honda, and all the other Ford Products he owned.
03/07, 8:58 AM
posted by:
Borger
I just love the new CTS!
03/07, 9:12 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
Heart64 and LimpPenis640 = two idiot homosexual loverboys with empty space between their ears.
03/07, 12:34 PM
posted by:
Heart64
Z06 Bite me! Then again don’t. I don’t want to get infected with your AIDS infection. You Scoochie Rat you!
03/07, 12:38 PM
posted by:
Heart64
I’ll Blow your CTS-V,and Souped up-vette’s Doors Off any day of the week Baby! In my Mustang 10,000 HP 10000 FT-LBS of Torque by my Super Small Block Ford !
At Ford we can do without the Displacement and added weight just pour on the Horsepower and Torque Baby! Oh Yeah! Punk. Another Battle Won!
03/07, 2:10 PM
posted by:
hateful83
This car is a huge step forward for Cadillac, for once they have a car that’s a true alternative to the Germans.
03/22, 2:04 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
LLN is late to the party. Everyone else was months ahead in discovering the greatness of this car.
Heart64: You’re a bitter,miserable little man.