Cadillac’s centerpiece CTS grows up
Longer, lighter and harboring a slew of
firsts for one of the industry’s most historic brands, the 2014 CTS is not just
the centerpiece of Cadillac’s future lineup – it’s a rolling blueprint for how
the American luxury brand plans to fight the most formidable of Europe’s sports
sedans.
Redesigning the CTS was a potentially risky
endeavor for Cadillac. After all, this car almost single-handedly helped the
brand stage a comeback built on performance and design. In simple terms, the
CTS spelled confidence and style when Cadillac was in dire need of both.
Cadillac’s
centerpiece CTS grows up
Caddy officials assert that changing the
CTS became inevitable with the addition of the smaller, sharper ATS, because
the brand now had a true entry against the BMW 3-series and Mercedes C-class.
That freed the CTS to broaden its sights on bigger Bavarian fish-like the
lucrative 5-series.
The CTS going into production this fall
looks like a Cadillac, but now it’s bigger, arguably dressier and has a more
dramatic presence.
The 2014 model grows 5 inches in length,
including 1.2 inches between the wheels, compared with its predecessor. The
hood stretches out like the deck of an aircraft carrier accentuated by the
longer cowl and wider grille. The headlights pop even more, vertically
extending up and back on the hood, and they’re punctuated by Led technology.
The upright theme continues with the bezel Led taillights, now with “Cadillac”
spelled out in script.
The
2014 model grows 5 inches in length, including 1.2 inches between the wheels,
compared with its predecessor
The brand gets aggressive in scope and
technology for the powertrain, offering the CTS with several innovations. The
standout model promises to be the so-called V-sport, with the first twin-turbo
V6 in Caddy history, packing 420 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. It works with
another Cadillac first, an eight-speed automatic. Together, they propel the
rear-wheel-drive sedan to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds en route to a top speed of 170
mph. the Vsport also offers a quicker steering ration Brembo brakes,
track-style cooling pack, and specific settings for the chassis and steering.
In the middle, Cadillac offers the widely
used 3.6-liter V6, which carries over from the 2013 model and is rated at 321
hp and 275 lb-ft. the all-wheel model is paired with a six-speed automatic,
while the rear-wheel variant gets the eight speed.
The base car uses the 2.0-liter
four-cylinder from the ATS, pushing out 272 hp and 295 lb-ft matched up with
the six-speed auto. It will be sold in rear-and all-wheel models.
2014
Cadillac CTS back
The larger cabin features 20-way adjustable
front seats (heated and cooled), a heated steering wheel, electronic parking
brake and remote start. The interior can be configured with carbon fiber, wood
or aluminum trims. The wheel package comprises 17-, 18- and 19-inch aluminum
rollers. Electronics include the CUE infotainment system the CUE infotainment
system and an automatic parallel parking assist.
The
interior can be configured with carbon fiber, wood or aluminum trims
The CTS was revealed in March at the New
York auto show, with pricing to be revealed closer to launch.
