Cadillac CTS
The Cadillac CTS is an executive luxury medium size car, designed, developed, manufactured and marketed by General Motors. General Motors introduced Cadillac CTS in 2002 as a 4-door sports sedan, succeeding Cadillac Catera. The Cadillac CTS is available in three body styles: sedan 4 door, 2 door coupe and 5-door Sport Wagon. The first and second generation are based on the Cadillac CTS GM Sigma platform; CTS third generation is based on an extended version of GM Alpha platform.
Wayne Cherry and Kip Wasenko designed the exterior of the first generation Cadillac CTS and this vehicle marked the debut production design language “Art and Science” first time in Evoq concept car. The Bob Boniface and Robin Krieg designed the exterior of the third generation Cadillac CTS. The variants of the Cadillac CTS have been named to Car and Driver 10Best list six times and won Motor Trend Car of the Year award twice. From February 2014, the 2014 model number one ranked among exclusive medium Cars by US News & World Report.
Cadillac CTS First Generation (2003-2007)
Introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model, the Cadillac CTS was built on the new Sigma rear-drive platform GM and sported a fully independent suspension. It marked a return to rear-wheel drive cars for the brand, and was first Cadillac to be offered with a manual transmission since the 1988 Cimarron. The Cadillac CTS was designed as the replacement for Opel Catera. Wayne Cherry and Kip Wasenko designed the exterior of the first generation CTS and this vehicle marked the debut production design language “Art and Science” first time in Evoq concept car. CTSs are manufactured at the Lansing Grand River plant GM’s Lansing, Michigan. The Cadillac CTS was also assembled in China in 2006, and production was subsequently suspended.
Originally powered by a 3.2 L LA3 that produces 220 horsepower (164 kW) V6 received an upgrade CTS 3.6L VVT DOHC V6 in 2004, producing 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 252 lbs · ft (342 N · m) of torque. The 3.2 L engine went out of production in 2005, when a new version 2.8 L DOHC V6 debuted in entry-level version of the CTS. In Europe, the 2.8 L L engine replaces the previous entry level 2.6. The Cadillac CTS was originally offered either 5L40-E five-speed automatic transmission GM in the company or a five-speed Getrag 260 manual transmission. For 2005 model year, the Getrag was replaced by an AY-6 six-speed Aisin.
In 2004, GM introduced the Cadillac CTS-V a high-performance version of the Cadillac CTS intended to compete with luxury sedans like the BMW M3 / M5, Audi S4 / S6, and Mercedes-Benz C and E-Class AMG. The Cadillac CTS-V 2004 and 2005 were equipped with the LS6 5.7L V-8, a Tremec T56 6-speed manual transmission, 14+ “rotors and 4-piston Brembo front and rear suspension upgrades, and subtle exterior changes. As the LS6 was removed, the CTS-V 2006 and 2007 received the LS2 6.0L V-8 , leading to the same qualifications hp and torque (maximum torque of 400 rpm come before).
Cadillac CTS Second Generation (2008-2013)
On April 2, 2006, in a 60-minute interview with Bob Lutz, part of a Cadillac prototype was unveiled to the public. The car featured design influences interior and exterior of the 2003 Cadillac Sixteen concept car. GM unveiled the 2008 Cadillac CTS at the North American International Auto Show in January 2007. The base model included a variable valve timing (VVT) 3.0-liter V6 with 270 horsepower (201 kW) and 252 lbs · ft (342 N · m) of torque. A second motor, a new direct injection V6 VVT engine 3.6-liter with 304 horsepower (227 kW) and 274 lb ft (371 N · m) of torque is also offered. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on the second generation CTS and 6-speed Hydra-Matic 6L50 automatic transmission GM was available as an option on all variants. On-demand all-wheel drive is offered with two engines when equipped with an automatic transmission. Suspension, brakes, steering and improvements of the previous generation Cadillac CTS-V were designed in the new standard for CTS.
The second generation Cadillac CTS was wider and longer than the original, in measuring 191.6 (4867 mm) long, 72.5 in (1841 mm) wide and 58 high. Wheelbase remained at 113.4 (2880 mm), but with a wider front / rear pathway 61.8 / 62.0 inches (1575/1585 mm), donated by larger STS. Other changes include a new exterior, with a new grille, larger, sleeker headlights and taillights, side vents air extractors located forward of the front doors, and new nine-spoke wheels, 18 inches, surrounding large tweezers and rotors high performance brakes. The functions available in the second generation CTS include Bose 5.1 Surround Sound System, ESC GM StabiliTrak system, a system for monitoring tire pressure, navigation system with traffic data and real-time weather, a system composed of 40 GB hard drive for storing music, rotating beacons and remote start.
In 2008, General Motors chose the Cadillac CTS to relaunch the brand in Australia and New Zealand. However, in early 2009, amid the global financial crisis, last minute decision was made not to proceed with the launch. As a result, a small batch of cars that had been sent to Australia had to be returned to the factory. During the 2010 model year, GM badges declined, although early 2010 models still had GM badges.
Cadillac CTS Third Generation (2014)
On March 26, 2013, Cadillac introduced the third generation of the Cadillac CTS. The 2014 Cadillac CTS uses the 2.0L turbo I4 and 3.6L V6 ATS and also offers an entirely new twin-turbo V6 that produces 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 430 lb · ft (583 N · m) of torque. The twin turbo engine is only available in the CTS Vsport, a new setting that serves as a passage between 3.6 liter V6 and high performance Cadillac CTS-V. Bob Boniface and Robin Krieg designed the exterior of the third generation Cadillac CTS. Eric Clough designed the interior. General Motors began assembling 2,014 CTS sedans for sale to customers on 16 September 2013. Sales began in October 2013.
In a comparison of four pathways in the December 2013 issue of Car and Driver 2014 CTS 3.6 placed second overall. The article praised the handling of the CTS which says “is the only car in this group not just put up with the hard drive, in fact urged his driver to go faster.” and praised the ability to stop, rigid structure and light car. The article criticizes the motor for being “thick in the upper ranks”, the acceleration, fuel consumption and entertainment system CUE.
Cadillac CTS Awards
In its first year of production, the first generation CTS was nominated for the 2002 North American Car of the Year. The gene-2 CTS / CTS-V won Choice Awards conductor MotorWeek for “Best Sedan Sport” in 2008 and 2009. The second generation CTS won the 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year and was selected as one of the cars and 10Best Driving cars.
Cadillac CTS Wagon
In 2009, the second generation Cadillac CTS and Cadillac CTSS-V were elected to the Car and Driver 10Best list, making the first Cadillac CTS elected twice in consecutive years. In 2010, the second generation Cadillac CTS and Cadillac CTS-V returned to the Car and Driver 10Best list under the sub-heading “Perhaps the best American car ever made”. The Cadillac CTS-V made the Car and Driver 10Best list again in 2011 and 2012. The third generation Cadillac CTS won the 2014 Motor Trend Car of the Year and was named to Car and Driver 10Best list.
Cadillac CTS Marketing
The success of the Cadillac CTS has been attributed in part to the placement of the car in the science fiction film The Matrix Reloaded 2003. The producers of the film were looking for a car that would complement the atmosphere of the film. General Motors suggested the then unpublished Cadillac CTS for filmmakers, who accepted; ten prototypes damaged to varying degrees were used to represent car star of the film, one silver Cadillac CTS.
