?2014 Cadillac CTS moves ahead entering third generation?

Cadillac bowed with the first CTS in 2008, with two available engines, two transmissions, and offering both Rear-Wheel drive and All-Wheel drive configurations. Both 3.6-liter engines were in a V6 configuration. Both were DOHC, 24-valve engines. One was a VVT motor that produced 263 horsepower and 253 pound feet of torque, while the other featured Direct Injection with an advanced fuel pump that delivered up to 1,750 psi, cranking out 304 horses and 273 pound feet of torque. There were also two 6-speed transmission choices ? one a manual, the other? That was Gen One ? enter Gen Three ? the 2014 Cadillac CTS.

This latest iteration CTS is a longer, lower and leaner sedan, based on Cadillac?s ATS rear drive architecture, and delivers a bolder and more athletic persona that evolves Cadillac?s Art & Science design philosophy. The 2014 Cadillac CTS has grown five inches in length, which includes a 1.2-inch longer wheelbase, and the roofline and cowl, along with the base of the windshield ? are roughly an inch lower – dimensions that complement the longer exterior and accentuating the car?s lean, fit form.

Adding to the bolder visual impact of the new CTS are the larger, evolved Cadillac shield grille which is wider, and appears with a more detailed texture and signature vertical lighting elements, including LED front signature lighting detail, while the headlamps flow upward in conjunction with the hood line, and? incorporating crystalline LED light guides for a technologically advanced appearance with more uniform illumination. Active grille shutters are included on some models, improving aerodynamic performance on the highway and enhancing fuel efficiency.

Inside, the cockpit is roomier, and focused on the driver, with the interior featuring integrated technology and hand-crafted appointments that complement the exterior design, supporting the CTS sedan?s driving experience including: Cadillac?s first 20-way adjustable front seats; a motorized cup holder lid in the center console; heated and ventilated front seats and heated steering wheel;?an electronically locking glove box and electronic park brake; an adaptive remote start feature that activates the climate control system; a standard Bose eleven-speaker sound system and available Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound system with 13 speakers.

The new CTS sedan also offers Automatic Parking Assist, enabling the car to park itself in parallel spaces utilizing ultrasonic sensors to locate a suitable space and then to maneuver the car into the space, with the driver only required to engage reverse and apply the accelerator and brake pedals. Ultrasonic rear park assist is standard.

Ultrasonic sensors, as well as radar and cameras, support the CTS?s advanced safety features helping to prevent crashes. Among the most sophisticated is Front and Rear Automatic Braking, which relies on short-range radar technology and ultrasonic sensors to help the driver prevent front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that extend to complete braking when? necessary.

A Driver Awareness Package includes Cadillac?s patented Safety Alert Seat technology, using vibrating pulses in the driver?s seat to alert the driver of an imminent collision or to vehicles in the car?s blind spot. The seat vibrates on the left or right side, or both sides simultaneously, depending on the direction of the risk.

GM?s first application of automatic safety belt tightening is offered in the new CTS, automatically taking the slack out of safety belts when buckled and offering real-time, active adjustments during driving, ensuring optimal tension and comfort. Additional available safety features include: Full Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control; Panic Brake Assist; Forward Collision Alert; Automatic Collision Preparation (with brake pre-fill); Lane Departure Warning; Side Blind Zone Alert; Rear Cross Traffic Alert; Rear Vision Camera With Dynamic Guidelines; Adaptive Forward Lighting; and active pedestrian protection system (in global regions where required). The latest CTS sedan features 10 standard air bags.

Eight available interior environments are offered, each trimmed with authentic wood, carbon fiber or aluminum. Leather seating is available, including available full semi-aniline leather, with handcrafted, cut-and-sewn executions.

Powertrain choices for the 2014 Cadillac CTS luxury sport sedan will include three engines: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four cylinder that makes 272 horsepower and 295 pound feet of torque; a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 that delivers 321 horsepower and 275 pound feet of torque; and a 3.6-liter Twin Turbo V6 that pumps out 420 horses along with 430 pound feet of torque. The 2.0-liter motor mates to a six-speed automatic transmission and is available in either rear or all-wheel drive. The naturally aspirated 3.6-liter engine is coupled to a six-speed automatic (AWD) or an eight-speed automatic with manual shift (RWD). The Vsport CTS 3.6-liter Twin Turbo motor comes only in a rear-wheel drive configuration and eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The CTS Vsport also features 18-inch aluminum wheels with Pirelli summer-only performance tires (19-inch wheels with all-season tires are optionally available),?sport-tuned suspension with enhanced spring rates and stabilizer bars, one-inch-wider rear wheels with P275/35 R18 tires, a quicker steering ratio with sport-tuned steering efforts and response, Brembo disc brakes with aluminum calipers and available high-performance brake pads, a Heavy-duty track cooling package, a Driver-selectable track mode with specific steering rate and Magnetic Ride Control calibrations for enhanced track performance, and an electronic limited-slip differential that enhances capability on the track ? including optimal acceleration out of turns.

During the national press launch, I was able to experience time behind the wheel in all three powertrain versions of the CTS over three challenging drive routes, covering roughly 170 miles. Trim levels include a standard or base model, Luxury, Performance and Premium. I drove a Radiant Silver CTS Vsport with a Jet Black interior and a price tag of $70,095, which included semi-aniline leather and performance brake linings. Next up was the naturally aspirated V6 with a White Diamond exterior and Kona Brown and Jet Black interior priced at $66,500, and finally, I piloted the 2.0-liter also with a White Diamond exterior and a Jet Black interior. It?s sticker as tested totaled $53,000.

SUMMARY: Each of the three model CTSs that I tested were finely honed examples of a sport sedan package, blending both sporting and luxury elements in a vehicle that?s capable of doing battle successfully with many, more expensive Asian and European luxury sedans.

Acceleration is on a par delivered by many V8-powered rolling stock, delivering instantaneous propulsion via the electronic throttle. The automatic gearboxes are capable of providing the same level of performance as many manual gearboxes ? crisp and positive. The ride quality with the FE3-level suspension is firm but not offensive, and the car sticks like glue even when tossed about in a spirited manner. StabiliTrak is a godsend without being intrusive, and the car is exceptionally well balanced.

Cadillac?s infotainment system – CUE, that uses smartphone and tablet-influenced controls and voice commands to access information and entertainment data is at the core of the car?s intuitive technologies. An eight-inch, high-resolution color touch screen with haptic feedback allows users to swipe and drag preferences. Bluetooth connectivity with natural voice recognition is standard with CUE, along with USB and SD card ports. An available 12.3-inch high-resolution, configurable LCD instrument cluster display complements the CUE display and supports active safety features, offering drivers four different layouts ? from basic to performance-oriented ? each delivering bold, crisp graphics tailored to the level of vehicle information desired. A full-color, configurable head-up display is also available.

Additionally, OnStar is standard for one year. It can use GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of a crash. OnStar service also includes myCadillac and OnStar myCadillac mobile apps, which offer vehicle information, controls and OnStar services via the customer?s iPhone or Android smartphone.

In addition to being an impressive performer, the CTS is comfortable, with its rich, quiet interior, boasting highly supportive seats that cradle one firmly during spirited maneuvers. To be succinct and to the point, these latest iteration CTSs are so good, that it?s hard to imagine how much better a CTS-V ?might possibly be.

The Twin-Turbo V6 powered CTS is clearly the leader of the pack in terms of performance, with the most power-dense six-cylinder engine in the segment. A pair of smaller turbochargers helps to provide more immediate power on demand, with approximately 90 percent of peak torque available from 2,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm, giving the engine a broad torque curve that also helps the CTS Vsport reach 60 mph in an estimated 4.6 seconds. The 2014 Cadillac CTS definitely takes the marque?s resurgence to the next level with what may well be the ?Baddest? non V production Caddy ever.

 
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?[wptabtitle] SPECIFICATIONS: 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport Sedan [/wptabtitle]
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Base Price:	$69,070.
Price as Tested:	$70,095.
Engine Type and Size:	3.6-liter DOHC, 24-valve Twin Turbo V6 with Direct high-pressure fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing.
Horsepower (bhp):	420 @ 5,750 rpm
Torque (ft./ lbs.):	430 @ 3,500-4,500 rpm
Transmission:	Electronically-controlled 8-speed automatic with overdrive, torque converter clutch and paddle-shifters.
Drive Train:	Longitudinally mounted front engine / rear-wheel drive.
Suspension:	Front – FE3: MacPherson-type with dual lower ball joints, direct-acting stabilizer bar and Magnetic Ride Control with monotube-inverted struts. Rear – FE3: independent five-link with Magnetic Ride Control with monotube shocks.
Brakes:	Power-assisted four-wheel vented discs. Front: 4 piston Aluminum Brembo fixed calipers; Rear: Single piston cast iron sliding calipers; four-channel ABS/TCS with DRP and Ferritic Nitro Carburized process for corrosion resistance; single-piston, cast iron sliding calipers.
Tires:	Pirelli Cinturato P7 P275/35R18 summer tires mounted on 5-double spoke alloy wheels (9.5” rear wheels).
Wheelbase:	114.6 inches
Length Overall:	195.5 inches
Width:	72.2 inches
Height:	57.2 inches
Curb Weight:	3,616 lbs.
Fuel Capacity:	19.0 gallons
EPA Mileage Estimates:	17 mpg city / 25 mpg highway
Drag Coefficient:	Not listed.
0 – 60 mph:	4.6 seconds

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