Carsales Staff•2 Apr 2013
NEWS
NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Cadillac CTS larger, lighter for 2014
Mid-size Caddy gains Germanic styling and moves upmarket but sheds weightCadillac's CTS for 2014 is the GM prestige brand's best prospect yet of taking sales away from BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The new car, around 130mm longer than the car it replaces, is also lower and lighter – by something like 110kg.
Cadillac unveiled the car at the New York motor show last week, and there was nary a word of 'Art & Science', the strong but sometimes confronting design theme introduced by the CTS sedan in 2004. If anything, the style of the new CTS appears to owe more to Mercedes-Benz and BMW. It's clearly aimed at capturing sales in parts of the world other than North America.
That's one of the principal objectives of the brand, but it's not all about the styling alone; Cadillac's weight reduction program for the CTS has left the new model "more than 200 pounds lighter than the comparable BMW 5-Series," according to Mark Adams, executive director, Cadillac Global Design, speaking at the motor show last week.
"Our engineering team led by Dave Leone significantly grew the dimensions of the car, while reducing its weight at the same time," Adams said. "That's an achievement we're very proud of."
According to the Cadillac styling chief, the new CTS "will deliver the most engaging and agile driving dynamics in its class – allowing the performance hardware to really shine."
Two V6 powerplants, one a twin-turbo engine and the other naturally-aspirated, both displace 3.6-litres and drive to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles. Peak power and torque figures are 239kW/373Nm (atmo) and 313kW/583Nm (turbo). Cadillac is also offering buyers a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 203kW/400Nm. The turbo four-cylinder drives through a six-speed automatic.
The American press predict that, following the introduction of the smaller ATS, the CTS will effectively move upmarket, with price increasing markedly from the current entry level of US $39,990. But there's more kit offered across the range, including Magnetic Ride Control, 20-way adjustable front seats, motorised cupholder in the centre console, heated/cooled front seats, heated steering wheel, electronically locking glovebox, electronic parking brake, adapative remote starting with integrated climate control function, Bose 11-speaker audio system.
Safety features comprise a Driver Awareness Package, full speed range adaptive cruise control, Panic Brake Assist, Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Collision Preparation, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, reversing camera with guidelines, adaptive headlights and active pedestrian protection system.
The CTS was to be introduced to Australia some years ago, but plans to bring the Cadillac brand here were thwarted at the last moment by the Global Financial Crisis. Could it be that the newer entry point for the CTS will leave room for Chevrolet's new made-in-Australia SS when that car goes on sale in the US late this year?
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Written byCarsales Staff
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
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