By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com
For years, many American manufacturers have set their sights on attaining European levels of luxury, comfort and fit and finish. While there have been many successful luxury cars sold in the United States, very few have seen success among the very cars they wish to imitate.
To compare the level of refinement, the European version of the Honda Accord is sold under Honda’s luxury marque, Acura, as the TSX in the United States. With the 2008 CTS, Cadillac could manage to vastly improve the reputation of American-bred luxury cars.
The first generation CTS can be credited to changing the face of Cadillac in 2003 while the second generation could change the entire midsize luxury market as a whole when it’s released later this year. The 2008 CTS will help Cadillac become a worldwide luxury marque and take on BMW and Mercedes-Benz on their own turf.
Cadillac went all out when it equipped the CTS with a 300 horsepower, direct injected 3.6-liter V6 which should give the base model more than enough power to go toe-to-toe with BMW’s turbocharged 335i. The all-new CTS continues the angular body lines of Cadillac’s Art & Science design theme but does so in a sportier package than its predecessor. The new CTS is longer and wider than the outgoing model and its sharp edges seem less intrusive than the original ground breaking design four years ago.
The spacious cabin of the CTS manages a stylish blend of leather, wood and faux aluminum trim. The stitched leather seats with added perforated inserts should offer a luxurious and comforting driving experience for all five passengers.
In addition to the elegant styling and welcoming interior, the European version of the CTS models will get a 2.9-liter V6 diesel that produces 250 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Furthermore, talks of a coupe and wagon version would allow the CTS to match every 3-series model stride for stride. Even the all-new BMW M3 with over 400 horsepower will not be spared. With a handful of Corvette engines at its disposal, the CTS-V could easily acquire an engine that peaks in the 500-horsepower range.
With talks of an exotic supercar and a Camaro-inspired luxury-sports sedan, it appears that Cadillac’s future could have an answer for anything BMW is willing to throw at it.
To compare the level of refinement, the European version of the Honda Accord is sold under Honda’s luxury marque, Acura, as the TSX in the United States. With the 2008 CTS, Cadillac could manage to vastly improve the reputation of American-bred luxury cars.
The first generation CTS can be credited to changing the face of Cadillac in 2003 while the second generation could change the entire midsize luxury market as a whole when it’s released later this year. The 2008 CTS will help Cadillac become a worldwide luxury marque and take on BMW and Mercedes-Benz on their own turf.
Cadillac went all out when it equipped the CTS with a 300 horsepower, direct injected 3.6-liter V6 which should give the base model more than enough power to go toe-to-toe with BMW’s turbocharged 335i. The all-new CTS continues the angular body lines of Cadillac’s Art & Science design theme but does so in a sportier package than its predecessor. The new CTS is longer and wider than the outgoing model and its sharp edges seem less intrusive than the original ground breaking design four years ago.