Cadillac is redefining luxury. It has shifted gears, transforming itself from an old man’s nameplate into a cool and contemporary ride. Proof is in the all-new 2008 Cadillac CTS. The aggressive sedan is the driving force behind Cadillac’s campaign to woo younger buyers and women to the brand. And it’s definitely working.
The Cadillac CTS’s new design is riveting; it blends sharp geometric angles with elegant curves beautifully. My tester’s black cherry exterior colour is a stunning shade that changes depending on the time of day.
The 2008 Cadillac CTS starts at $38,900. For the first time ever, an all-wheel drive version has been added to the mix. It costs a few thousand more ($41,400), but be wary of the extras. My AWD tester has $16,940 worth of optional equipment, which pushes the price to nearly 60 grand – well, $59,860 to be exact. But keep in mind you’ll have all the comforts of home behind the wheel.
Loaded with technology, you’ll barely need to lift a finger. A remote start function lets you fire up the engine and turn on the heat from up to 60 metres away. Don’t worry, though: If you’re running late and not in the car within a few minutes, the system automatically turns off so you’re not idling your car needlessly. Walk up to the CTS and a remote keyless entry system unlocks the doors. You’ll love the cool vanishing act from another gadget – the DVD based navigation system ($3,900). When you start the car a high-resolution touch screen telescopes up from the instrument panel. When not in use, the screen lowers into the panel for a clean, uncluttered look.
The cabin is a dramatic improvement over the previous CTS. It’s welcoming and inviting. You’re surrounded by elegance and high-end materials. The front bucket leather seats fit like a glove. 10-way power adjustments guarantee you’ll find a suitable driving position. Once you have it, you can store it along with the exterior mirror settings so you don’t have to waste time and fiddle with adjustments every time you get behind the wheel. Heated and cooled front seats are also nice touches.
One of my favourite features is a super-sized sunroof, which costs an extra $1,660. It extends across most of the roof for front and rear passengers to enjoy. A power-retracting sunshade is useful when the sun’s rays are too hot to handle.
My CTS AWD sedan is fitted with a 3.6-litre V-6 engine; it delivers 304 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. It’s very smooth and responsive. The handling is agile and quick. Steering isn’t as tight as a BMW, but it’s still quite nice. The CTS also absorbs bumps and other degradations in the road well.
Standard safety features include four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, traction control, stability control, six airbags, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Another bonus is the five-year or 160K limited power-train warranty.
The 2008 Cadillac CTS is a showstopper. Compared to its predecessor, it’s a marked improvement inside, outside, and under the hood.
Petrina Gentile is an award-winning automotive journalist - one of the few females covering cars in Canada.
Image courtesy Cadillac
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