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2008 Cadillac CTS SIDI Road Test
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2008 Cadillac CTS SIDI Road Test
by Rob Rothwell / Auto123.com
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Rivaling the Europeans?
The Cadillac CTS was first introduced in 2003 as Cadillac's entry-level, premium sports sedan. 2008 finds us with a completely new version of this atypical Caddy, more inline with its European rivals.
Cut and chiseled outside, flowing and ergonomic inside
As if spending time in the gym while on the juice, the latest CTS is far more muscular in both appearance and performance. It presents a wider stance and a more athletic figure through its sharply defined lines and bold front grille- something akin to Cadillac's wild, Sixteen concept car.
 | | This new iteration sports a more aggressive fascia. |
I was pretty much nonplussed with the edgy, boxy appearance of the first generation CTS however that's all changed. To my eye the less angular body of the 2008 version, with its dramatic lines and stubby trunk projects a stronger sense of power and symmetry while not going over the top style-wise. Cadillac seems to have got it right.
Notable revisions apply to the CTS cabin as well. Here one will find a much more flowing theme than previous. I used to think of the original instrument panel as some sort of snap-together arrangement, not unlike that found in a child's plastic car model. Today's instrument panel is covered in leather, which as with Jaguar products, is stitched together- a very nice touch indeed.
Also worth praise is the pop-up navigation/audio interface screen. When retracted, only the top portion of the screen is visible, displaying audio presets. Raise the touch-sensitive screen and the navigation system along with numerous other functions and settings, including audio, can be addressed.
Seating in the CTS is vastly improved for 2008. Not only are these seats supportive and wonderfully comfortable, they provide better sight lines for driving than I recall from previous CTS experiences. Two aspects of the Caddy's cabin I find particularly appealing are the gauge cluster and the centre stack, the latter of which morphs seamlessly into a sculpted centre console. On the negative side, too many small buttons are clumped together for me to intuitively decode.
New V6 power and 6-speed autobox
The base engine for 2008 is a 263-horsepower 3.6 litre V6. The optional engine, and the mill powering this week's tester, is a 304-horsepower 3.6 litre V6 featuring Variable Valve Timing (VVT). This is GM's latest V6 powerplant, and it's a huge improvement over previous units. Accompanying the mass of 304 ponies is 273 pound-feet of torque.
 | | This engine emits a smooth and exhilarating sound. |
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