Car Sight

The Cadillac division of General Motors introduced the CTS in 2002 for the 2003 model. The CTS is built on the Sigma rear wheel drive platform. One notable feature of the CTS is its manual transmission, as it is the first Cadillac manual since 1988! The CTS replaced the Catera in the Cadillac lineup and soon was nominated for the North American Car of the Year. The CTS was one more vehicle that took on the acronym names that are very popular with Cadillac now. For example there is the STS, the XLR, the DTS, and the SRX.

For the first model year in 2003, the CTS was outfitted with a 3.2 liter V6 engine that could produce 220 horsepower. While this engine seemed more than enough, in 2004 Cadillac powered the CTS with a 3.6-liter V6 with variable valve timing that could produce 255 horsepower. The 3.2-liter V6 engine was kept in the base model until 2005 when a 2.8-liter dual overhead cam engine replaced the first engine used.

When the CTS first hit the market, it was offered with a 5L40-E automatic transmission or a 5 speed Getrag 260 manual transmission. In 2005, the Getrag 260 manual transmission was replaced with an Aisin AY-6 six-speed manual, which provided a better fit for the CTS.
The interior of the CTS features very little wood trim like many Cadillac vehicles do. The CTS is more of a serious vehicle and isn’t about warm trim features like wood. The instrument panel is very straightforward and easy to use and was last updated for the 2005 model year. While warmness isn’t abundant in the CTS, the vehicle does feature beautiful leather seats that are very comfortable for long days of driving and are of a quality that they will withstand much use. The CTS also offers plenty of cabin space, so that even the tallest drivers and passengers will feel comfortable driving or riding in this vehicle. The cabin room in the CTS is often a selling point for the vehicle because it offers more space than European competitors can. The back seat can comfortably seat two to three people, though there is not as much support in the back seats as there are in the front seats.

Great features such as the three spoke steering wheel with buttons and controls for the sound system and cruise control make driving this car a delight. The steering wheel is also padded for comfortable steering capabilities. The dash is designed in such a way that adjusting audio or climate control is very simple. There is also a navigation system that is optional that is also in a portion of the dash that juts out a bit more than the rest for easy and convenient access.

There are options for an awesome Bose audio system as well as XM Satellite Radio, which will give you premium sound as well as access to all of the sounds that you would most like to hear on your jaunts across town or across country. OnStar Telecommunications is also available on the CTS, which will enable you to get help should you need it while on the road. OnStar is a huge selling point for the CTS, as many purchase such vehicles when they travel long distances and such a system provides added security.

Cadillac also offers a CTS-V, which is a more sporty CTS. The CTS-V is powered by a 5.7 liter LS6 V8 engine that provides 400 horsepower. This powerful engine is coupled with a six speed manual transmission and has been available since the 2004 model year. The CTS-V is a vehicle that is suited for the luxury car consumer that wants a bit more performance for their dollar. The CTS-V will be updated for the 2007 model year. A Super V-series CTS is also planned for the 2007 model year, which will offer consumers a fantastic 505 horsepower.

Cadillac is reportedly planning on showing the 2008 CTS at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. The Cadillac CTS has been a success thus far and has many people excited to see the new CTS that will be unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. With good things being seen in the past by consumers, the CTS is bound to be a success.