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2008 All-New Cadillac CTS: Caddy That Soars?
Cadillac is doing a smart thing by building on the success and exterior branding (see front fender side air extractors) of the Escalade and STS that took the streets by storm. General Motor’s luxury division needed a boost of adrenaline to stem the tide of foreign automakers increasing sales on American soil. Not to sound like that is a bad thing, Japan and Europe are making inspiring products, but US based GM needed to bring something to the table that carries some cachet and excitement. GM has brought the all-new 2008 Cadillac CTS luxury performance sedan to the fight.
With aggressive and bold exterior dimensions, the little brother to the Cadillac STS and DTS is hoping its new upgraded performance attributes can compete with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus in the crowded near luxury market.
 To get the point across, Cadillac invited us to Laguna Seca Raceway in Northern California for some track time in the CTS to put it through the paces. The CTS comes with the choice of two engines: a base level 3.6-liter V6 VVT (Variable Valve Timing) producing 263 horsepower and an uplevel 3.6-liter DI (direct injection) giving a solid 304 horsepower output. Both engines are available on the RWD (rear-wheel drive) and AWD (all-wheel drive) models and are mated to available six-speed automatic and manual transmissions.
I drove the curves hard all day, but the professional racecar driver on hand showed us how the dreaded corkscrew turn at Laguna Seca should be driven. Three CTS suspension packages along with a wider stance and suspension refinements made for confident handling. Suspensions levels differ and are designated by ride characteristics desired by the CTS driver. Available are the FE1 (RWD/AWD, 17” wheels, all-season tires) package tuned for a balanced ride and handling, FE2 (RWD/AWD, 18” wheels, all-season tires) for better handling and FE3 (RWD, 18” wheels, summer tires) which is performance tuned and track ready by GM standards.
 Day two was for us to put the CTS through everyday driving conditions most Americans experience. Though driving through the Napa Valley wine region of California is not like any day driving in DC or Atlanta, the CTS showed off some of its improved technologies. Standard on all CTS models are anti-lock brakes), traction control and stability control, hydraulic brake assist and more.
Driving characteristics varied from good acceleration and performance in the direct injection model to sloppy shifting in the tester with the base model engine. Engine noise is prevalent at high revs, though the ride in both models was smooth and quiet for the most part.
Inside is where the CTS stepped up its game. From a hand sewn and wrapped leather instrument panel, center console and door trim to pop-up navigation screen to “UltraView” sunroof, the CTS has an interior that competes well with foreign competitors. The buttons and knobs have a basic style, but the look was an overall breath of fresh air. CTS’ big plus is its “Infotainment Center” which includes iPod/MP3 capability but also includes a USB port that charges equipment and allows playlists to show on the navigation screen. CTS also houses a 40-gigabyte hard drive that allows driver/passengers to rip music from CDs and even records live radio. The nav system includes “real time” traffic and weather data. The Bose 5.1 cabin surround system also performed well as we blasted tunes from rock to reggae to Latin sounds; all crisp even at the highest volume settings.
Adaptive headlights, easy key and remote start, dual-stage front air bags (plus pelvic/thorax side bags), side curtain air bags, tire pressure monitoring system and more round out the safety attributes. What CTS is missing is a way to open the trunk from the outside of car. There is no keyhole or button/latch to pull up which seemed a little inconvenient to me. GM communication reps cited safety as a reason for the omission.
Overall, Cadillac has done a good job with the design and performance of the CTS. Time will tell if they can surpass an Audi or Lexus in luxury characteristics but Caddy is getting closer. The CTS is being sold with option packages called “collections.” Base pricing starts at $34,290 and with Luxury, Performance and Premium Collections, prices ranging from $36,890 to $42,455 all with a $745 destination charge.
Though Cadillac officials were hush-hush about it, look out for the CTS-V version if you really want to fly. It will possess the automotive performance that rivals its international competition.
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