Summary
The Cadillac CTS is virtually all-new for 2008.
Cadillac has moved the style, performance and in-car electronics way
upmarket from the original CTS in an effort to be more competitive
with the best of the imports, namely the BMW 530i, Mercedes-Benz
C-Class, Lexus GS, Infiniti G35, and Audi A4.
Engine Performance
The 2008 Cadillac CTS boasts major changes to
the engines and chassis that upgrade performance. The CTS offers a
choice of two V6 engines and a choice of either a newly designed
six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual, making it the only
American luxury car still available with a manual. The CTS comes
with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The front and rear tires are a full two inches
farther apart in track width for 2008, so the general body shape is
wider, and a great deal more aggressive looking, with exaggerated
front and rear wheel flares.
In addition to the traditional 3.6-liter V6,
there's a whole new 3.6-liter, 24-valve V6 engine with direct fuel
injection that makes 15 percent more power. Styling changes include
a huge new grille and larger, more in-your-face light elements front
and rear.
Trims
The new 2008 Cadillac CTS comes standard with a 263-horsepower
V6. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard; a six-speed automatic
($1,300) is optional. The CTS is rear-wheel drive, but
all-wheel-drive is optional.
Every CTS comes with a basic package of 32
luxury, comfort, convenience and safety items including all the
normal power assists, XM satellite radio, OnStar with turn-by-turn
navigation, and a Bose eight-speaker sound system with CD, MP3 and
auxiliary capability.
The big one, called the Premium Luxury Collection includes a pop-up navigation and audio screen, a
10-speaker Bose 5.1 sound system with a 40-gigabyte sound storage
system, an iPod interface that will operate your iPod from the touch
screen and display artist and title info, 10-way heated and cooled
leather seats, split folding rear seats, a huge sunroof panel, sapele wood trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, power tilt/telescope wheel,
remote starting and keyless entry, and a few odds and ends.
Other options include an 18-inch wheel package with P235/50R18
tires, HID headlights and washers, limited-slip differential, sport
suspension, heavy-duty cooling and fog lamps; metallic paint,
heavy-duty anti-lock brakes; and a compact spare tire. A performance
tire package is available with P235/50ZR18 performance tires and
alloy wheels, upgraded ABS, and the FE3 performance suspension.
Safety features that come standard on all
models include front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, traction
control, and Stabiltrak electronic stability control. All-wheel
drive improves safety further.
Exterior Look and Interior Design
Cadillac has completely redesigned the CTS
front end for 2008, with a much larger eggcrate grille that fits
with the Cadillac family look of the DTS, STS, and Escalade. The new
grille provides more incoming air for the engine cooling, brake
cooling and transmission cooling functions. The large lighting units
at the front and rear make very good use of light-emitting-diode or
LED technology, lots of light and lots of style for little
electrical load.
Likewise, the taillights, rear quarter panels
and decklid have been redone, and the rear bumper has been
rejiggered to feature exposed dual exhaust tips.
We really appreciated the range of adjustment
offered by the power seats and the power steering column
adjustments; we've always felt that all cars should have
tilt-and-telescope columns for ultimate comfort and proper driving
position. The instrument package is complete, easy to read, and
graphically pretty.
Our car had the AM/FM/XM Bose 5.1 sound
systems, the 40-gigabyte hard-drive, iPod connector and USB port for
ultimate musical enjoyment. We think it's one of the best overall,
most fun to use sound systems we've ever used in a car.
First Drive 2008 CTS
The 2008 Cadillac CTS is a responsive sports
sedan with excellent handling and high-speed stability yet it's
smooth and quiet when cruising.
The difference in performance feel and sound
from this engine compared with the standard 263-hp V6 is amazing.
With optional all-wheel-drive waiting to leap in whenever you decide
to go a bit too fast through the corners, as we did in central
California, the car feels very, very stable and inspires the
confidence you need to go faster and faster through those corners. For all its newfound steering, cornering and
handling prowess, the new CTS doesn't seem to exact any penalties in
quietness or harshness over the road.
2008 Conclusions
The new 2008 Cadillac CTS looks great and is
relatively roomy inside. "Boiled down to what matters most to the
basic car, the new Lansing, Michigan-built 2008 Cadillac CTS, with
its excellent powertrain, great handling, substantially improved
interior and dramatic new styling, succeeds on all levels." says Road
and Track. It's got lots of poke for the performance
enthusiast with the bigger engine and available all-wheel drive. For
those who don't need or want the extra stuff, there's lots of style
with the standard V6 and rear-wheel drive.