The US firm is aiming high with its
new, Europe-bound CTS executive saloon.
General Motors claims that it has enabled
the Cadillac CTS to “challenge the world’s best” executive saloons such as the
BMW 5-series with this all-new model, which makes its debut at this week’s New
York motor show.
Cadillac
Guns For 5-Series
The rear-drive CTS is based on a larger
version of the architecture that underpins the 3-series-sized ATS. It will
enter production in the US this autumn before going on sale in Europe in early
2014.
However, Cadillac says there are still no
firm plans to make the model in right-hand-drive form or offer it with a diesel
engine, saying only that it “expects the line-up to be expanded within its life
cycle”.
Cadillac says the new CTS will be the
lightest car in its class in North America. It will weigh about 90kg less than
an equivalent US-market BMW 528i, at 1640kg. This is in spite of it being 67mm
longer than the 5-series, at 4966mm. The new CTS is also 127mm longer than its
predecessor, 30mm of that extra length coming in the 2911mm wheelbase.
The CTS is instantly recognizable as a
Cadillac and incorporates the latest evolution of its ‘Art & Science’
design theme. The front grille is wider and the angular front end is flanked by
strips of vertical LED lights.
The engine line-up includes a new 414bhp
twin-turbo 3.6-litre V6, mated to Cadillac’s first eight-speed automatic
gearbox. This set-up is sold in a CTS Vsport model, which gets a quicker
steering rack, upgraded brakes, improved cooling, magnetic dampers and an
electronic limited-slip diff. A 0-60mph time of 4.6sec is estimated.
The
top CTS model will have 414bhp and an eight-speed auto
Other engines include a 268bhp turbo
four-cylinder and a 317bhp 3.6-litre V6. A six-speed auto is standard, with the
eight-speed optional. All-wheel drive is also offered.
Luxury
cabin features a 12.3in touchscreen
