Category Archives: CTS Coupe

Meet the Current Cadillacs

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I have been a Cadillac fan, and follow developments and plans closely.  I know some people don’t — they gave up on American made cars years ago and never returned, or simply don’t focus on automobiles.  Now that Cadillac IS making some very intriguing, exciting Automobiles, you may not be familiar with the current Cadillac line-up.

Cadillac has a good consumer site here, among other sites, but it may be too MUCH information.  This blog entry is intended as a primer on what Cadillac is up to these days in one easy page.  I have included links from each model to the portion of the Cadillac site with more info on that model.  To look in depth at each model there, choose “build your own”; that lets you see it in the various colors available, and select option sets.

The CTS is the best selling Cadillac through Oct 2009, followed by the Escalade Family.  With no further adieu, let’s meet the current Cadillac Line-up:

Cadillac CTS Family:

Cadillac CTS

Cadillac CTS Sedan (4 door)

CTS Sedan:  a fullsize luxury performance sedan available either as a Base model with 3L, 270 hp V6 or as a Performance or Premium model with a 3.6L, 304 hp V6.  Available in rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive (good for cold climates).  Current platform released in 2008 as an update to the 2003-2007 model.  Starts at US$36,730.

CTS Sport Wagon

CTS Sport Wagon (Stationwagon)

CTS Sport wagon: the goodness of the CTS Sedan, but in Sport Wagon format for those who need a bit more room and utility.  Drives like a luxury performance sedan, hauls like a Wagon.  New for 2010.  Starts at US$39,830.

Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac CTS-V

CTS-V Sedan:  a Cadillac Supercar.  A CTS with a Supercharged, 556 hp 6.2L V8 engine, Brembo performance brakes, Magnetic Suspension, and other go-fast options/touches.  One of the fastest sedans in the world.  Great riding, excellent comfort, faster than fast.  The best car in the world for its price (around US$65K).  Available only in rear-wheel drive, with manual or automatic transmission.  Drive to the track, race, drive home — the definition of a Sports Car.  Cadillac will release a CTS-V Coupe, and may even release a CTS-V Sport Wagon.  If you have the means, this is the best luxury performance sedan bargain in the world.  Starts at US$62,020.

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

Coming Soon:  CTS Coupe: a highly stylized, updated 2-door model of the CTS Sedan.  The CTS Coupe will be optioned and marketed as a personal luxury vehicle.

Cadillac DTS

Cadillac DTS

DTS:  Traditional full-size luxury.  Front wheel drive, for good all-weather handling.  4.6L Northstar V8 engine.   Last major update in 2000, but year to year evolutionary changes.  Due for replacement, along with the discontinued STS, by the expected new XTS.  People keep buying them, and GM is happy to keep selling them.  The DTS has more rear seat leg room, and has a more ‘traditional’ Cadillac look popular with some buyers.  Perhaps the softest / smoothest riding Cadillac.  Starts at US$46,280.

2010 Cadillac SRX

2010 Cadillac SRX

SRX: Mid-size luxury SUV. Economic, efficient, and attractive.  New for 2010.  The previous SRX ran from 2004-2009, and was a ‘tall wagon’ based on the CTS Sigma architecture.  This new model is on a new platform.  Cadillac still refers to the new model as a cross-over. Available with 265 hp 3L V6 or 300 hp 2.8L V6 Turbo engines.  Front wheel drive (FWD) or All wheel drive (AWD).  Good all-weather, carry-all luxury SUV. Starts at US$33,330 (how cute is that?).

Escalade Family:

Cadillac Escalade

Cadillac Escalade

Escalade , Escalade Hybrid,  Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT:  full-size SUV.  The Escalade Hybrid has a 2-mode hybrid powerplant, and gets 50% better fuel economy.  Escalade ESV is an extended length variant, with more storage space.  Escalade EXT has a pick-up truck like rear section, with a 4-seat front section.  Available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

Discontinued after 2010:

  • XLR : a 2-seat Cadillac personal luxury car.  Corvette chassis, Cadillac Northstar V8, or in the XLR-V Supercharged V8.
  • STS:  a larger version of the previous CTS.  Excellent Sedan, and offers the 302 HP 3.6L V6 or a 320 hp Northstar V8.  Rear wheel drive or All wheel drive.  Higher standard features and more high end options available than on the CTS, but not visually as striking, although much improved with the last update.  STS and DTS to be merged into the upcoming XTS.

Certified Pre-Owned:  The Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned program gives you the advantage of purchasing a “known good” used Cadillac directly from a Cadillac Dealer with an extended warranty.

Also coming soon: (Future Models):

  • Cadillac Converj an extended range electric Cadillac coupe
  • Cadillac ATS or Alpha is a new model that will be smaller and less expensive than the CTS
  • XTS:  [UPDATE] large sedan replacement for the STS and DTS. The XTS has been given the code P1LL, and a 2012 model launch year.

Power target for next Cadillac CTS?

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The current Cadillac CTS sedan has all the right ingredients to be a very hot dish.  The Performance variant of the CTS Sedan makes a handy 304 hp at 6,400 rpm and 273 lb-ft at 5,200 rpm.  It has a direct injection 3.6L V6, FE3 tuned sport suspension, and performance brakes.  So is it as quick as it should be?

I know, if you want really quick, buy a CTS-V.  Got it.  But is the CTS Sedan putting up the numbers that it should?

Cadillac claims a 0-60 time for the current CTS of under 6.5 seconds.  Magazine tests of the FE3 Performance model have confirmed a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds.

Let’s compare the CTS Sedan performance to the BMW 335i Sedan.  Yes, I recognize that the CTS is larger than the 335i, more the size of the BMW 5-series.  But I think that BMW 335i performance is really what Cadillac needs to be achieving with the CTS Sedan.  BMW are also masters at magazine numbers / comparison tests, so they are a good benchmark for benchmark racing.

Cadillac CTS BMW 335i
HP: 304 hp at 6400 rpm 300 hp at 5800 rpm*
Torque: 273 lb-ft at 5200 rpm 300 lb-ft at 1500 rpm
Car weight: 4,063 lbs 3,620 lbs
0-60 mph 6.3 sec 5.1 sec
0-100 mph 16.1 sec 12.7 sec
Skidpad 0.87 g 0.89 g
Power/Weight: 13.37 12.07

*Dyno Tests: Automobile Magazine dyno tested a 2007 BMW 335i and found that it was making 340-350 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque, much better results than BMW specs this engine for.  The Cadillac CTS’ LLT engine is SAE certified at 304 hp, so we know that is the true and accurate result.

Weight: weight is a side-effect of larger size. The CTS carries an extra 400 lbs compared to the BMW. Generally 0-60 mph times in this size car are effected at 0.1 sec per 100 lbs, so that is 0.4 seconds of disadvantage.  Given that the CTS Buyers want the CTS to be a fullsize sedan, and want all the luxury and safety features, Cadillac needs to add some power to the 3.6L.

Power: At the current weight, to achieve the same (Mfr claimed) power to weight ratio of the 335i, the LLT 3.6L engine needs to produce around 337 hp.  How can Cadillac achieve this?  The new 3L V6 makes 270 hp; if the 3.6L were tuned to achieve the same hp/liter as the 3L is doing now, or 90 hp/liter, the 3.6L would produce 324 hp instead of 304 hp.  Then for the Sport model of CTS I would specify a performance-tuned exhaust, and a performance-tuned intake.  Together those should put the Performance model above 345 hp normally aspirated.

However, if the BMW is actually making 345 hp, then to overcome the weight difference Cadillac needs a 380 hp powerplant.  Given choices, I would release a Turbo 3.6L as a mid-CTS model.  Such an engine might make 400 hp in production based on GM’s showcars claiming 425hp from that configuration.  That would solve the power/weight issue nicely for the CTS sedan or the upcoming CTS coupe.

Gearing:  I am interested to see how the upcoming CTS Coupe does with a more aggressive final drive ratio

Summary: Is the current Cadillac putting up the proper numbers? With equal power to the BMW claimed HP but at the current weight disadvantage, the CTS should do 0-60 mph in around 5.5 sec.  However, the BMW 3L Twin-turbo, at least the ones presented for comparison testing, is producing around 40 hp more than the Cadillac.  Again, by thumb rule 10 hp makes about 0.2 sec difference in 0-60 times.  So a 40 hp difference can change the 0-60 time by 0.8 sec if all goes well.  Therefore the current CTS if it were as efficient as the BMW at 0-60 mph, but at the current CTS weight, and down 40 hp compared to the BMW test models, should be able to do 0-60 mph in around 6.3 sec.  And it turns out, that is approximately what it does do.

Conclusion — Targets: I suggest that the target for the CTS however should be 0-60 mph in 5.5 sec.  That would put it squarely in the mid-range of what is considered sport sedan territory these days.  That probably means a tune-up to the LLT V6, send in the Supercharged Version, or release a V8 option below the CTS-V that gives the base sedan close to 400 hp.

Re: Cadillac CTS Coupe set to do battle with European brands

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Reading this article on LuxVelocity.com: Cadillac CTS Coupe set to do battle with European brands.

The Cadillac CTS Sedan was introduced in 2003.  It has been a successful keystone of the current Cadillac Renaissance.  Cadillac has been ‘bringing it’ with the Escalade, CTS, CTS-V, and now the new redesigned 2010 SRX.  However, they also had sales misses with the RWD STS from 2005, and the first generation SRX.

In person the Cadillac CTS Coupe is a jewel, and is visually magnetic.  I think it will do VERY well in sales.

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

I have always felt that looks were the cause of poor sales of the 2005-2009 Cadillac STS.  Specifically, the front hood is flat and really gives the vehicle a plain look.  Certainly NOT what you want in an upmarket luxury sedan.  Compare the STS with the CTS or peaked hood of the STS-V below; and this is after the STS was ‘freshened’.

I mean after all, the STS is basically an upmarket, better optioned CTS with more rear leg room; what’s not to like?  It is an oddity of sales that very simple things make or break the success of a car model.

Cadillac STS

Cadillac STS

Cadillac STS-V

Cadillac STS-V

2003-2007 Cadillac CTS

2003-2007 Cadillac CTS

Cadillac CTS Coupe:  The CTS re-invented?

From the article:

This new CTS is will do battle with German competitors to get buyers looking for a mid level luxury coupe. The new Cadillac CTS Coupe is edgy and attractive from every angle. Most notable is the rear design with the mid form lay out of the exhaust which is super aggressive. The stance of the car sits two inches lower than the Cadillac CTS sedan which provides a more sporty stance for the vehicle.

“Cadillac has always been an emotional brand – it’s about delivering art regardless of body style,” said Max Wolff, director of exterior design for Cadillac. “With the CTS Coupe, it was about taking something very strong – the CTS Sport Sedan – and extending its potential.”

I totally agree — Cadillac Style is not just about delivering the best technology, a great Cadillac should also be a work of art.

Read more on LuxVelocity.com: Cadillac CTS Coupe set to do battle with European brands.