Cadillac unveiled the new XTS luxury saloon in Los Angeles, revealing a proper Cadillac packed with modern features.
This new Caddy is big, posh and plush. It gets rear air suspension, 19-inch chrome polished wheels – 20s available – chrome grille, chrome detailing, an interior full of leather and wood, and a smug look on its face. Those are the traditional qualities every Cadillac should have. The car offers 40 inches (1,016 mm) of rear legroom and 18 cubic feet (509 L) of trunk space beating all the German rivals.
Fortunately though, traditional stuff end there. The rest of the car is flatteringly modern. Especially in terms of features and equipments the new XTS raises the bar in this segment.
The XTS gets HiPer Strut front suspension and Brembo brakes, and Magnetic Ride Control as standard. That MRC will make it a great handling car, while giving it a nice and comfy ride. It also features Haldex all-wheel-drive system – with an electronic limited-slip differential that splits torque between the rear wheels, StabiliTrak electronic stability Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission with tap-shift control.
That gearbox, also offered in the Camaro, is used to deliver the power of a 3.6L V-6 LF engine to the wheels. It makes an estimated 300 horsepower (224 kW).
The XTS is the first Cadillac to get the new CUE infotainment system. CUE features several industry firsts, including capacitive-touch control with proximity sensing, gesture recognition and natural voice recognition. It’s big touchscreen display reduced the number of buttons in the center console remarkably.
What’s more, you also get 12.3-inch (312 mm) reconfigurable cluster. It features vibrant graphic displays showcased among four driver-selectable themes, ranging from minimal to extensive information.
The car also excels in terms of safety. It comes with two Enhanced Safety Strategy (ESS) packages. ESS I includes: Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Safety Alert Seat, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Reflected LED display. The ESS II adds Head-up display (in color), Front and Rear Automatic Brake, Adaptive Cruise Control and Automatic Collision Preparation. It also comes with OnStar system as standard.
Cadillac has got it spot on this time with the XTS. It is a pure, full-blooded Cadillac. And it’s got all it needs to become a serious player in this busy segment of the market. Production begins in Spring 2012.
It is the perfect car for those fed up with German saloons obsession with handling, and looking for a more luxurious, majestic alternative. You will enjoy this car more at 50 mph than you do a BMW at 150.
