The Cadillac CTS is a luxury car, manufactured and marketed by General Motors from 2003 until 2019 across three generations.
Initially available as a 4-door sedan using the GM Sigma platform, GM offered the second generation CTS in 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, and 5-door sport wagon, and the third generation as a sedan, using a stretched version of the GM Alpha platform. High performance sedan variants were offered for each generation, as the CTS-V—with wagon and coupe variants offered for the second generation.
In a 2003 report titled The 90 days that shaped Cadillac, Automotive News noted that the first generation CTS marked a $4B investment by General Motors to set a new course for Cadillac styling, introduce a new rear-drive platform, and importantly, re-establish the brand's relevancy.[4]
Wayne Cherry and Kip Wasenko designed the exterior of the first generation CTS, marking the production debut of its "Art and Science" design language first used on the Evoq concept car and developed with key contributions from Thomas Kearns and Mike Torpey.[5] John Manoogian II directed the second generation CTS design, as initially conceived by Robert Munson.[6] Bob Boniface and Robin Krieg designed the exterior of the third generation CTS.
The CTS ended production in 2019 and was replaced by the CT5, which shared its platform with the third and final generation of the CTS in addition to the smaller CT4.
First generation (2003)
Introduced in January 2002 as a 2003 model, the CTS sedan used GM's new rear-wheel drive Sigma platform and a fully independent suspension. It was the first Cadillac offered with a manual transmission since the 1988 Cimarron. All models were manufactured at GM's Lansing Grand River Assembly in Lansing, Michigan.
The CTS replaced the Opel-based Catera, the acronym "CTS" standing for Catera Touring Sedan.[10] Wayne Cherry and Kip Wasenko designed the exterior of the first generation CTS — the coupe variant having developed from a sketch drawn by Robert Munson, selected by Michael Simcoe and developed into a model by Paul Sciluna.[6]
The coupe marked the production debut of Cadillac's design language, marketed as "Art and Science," first seen on the Evoq concept[11]
Second generation (2008)
GM presented the 2008 CTS at the North American International Auto Show in January 2007. The 2008–2009 base model featured a 3.6 L LY7 V6 with 263 hp and 253 lbft of torque carried over from the previous generation. A second engine, a new 3.6 L direct-injection V6 VVT engine with 304 hp and 273 lbft of torque was also offered.[13] For 2010, the base engine changed to a 3.0L variable valve timing (VVT) V6 with 270 hp and 224 lbft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission was standard equipment on the second generation CTS and GM's 6-speed Hydra-matic 6L50 automatic transmission was available as an option on all variants. On-demand all-wheel drive was offered with both engines when equipped with an automatic transmission.[14] Suspension, braking, and steering improvements from the previous generation CTS-V were designed into the new standard CTS.
The second generation CTS was wider and longer than the original, measuring 191.6 in long, 72.5 in wide and 58 in in height. Wheelbase remained unchanged at 113.4 in, but with a wider front/rear track of 61.8 /. Other changes included revised exterior, grille, headlights and taillights, side air extractor vents located forward of the front doors, nine-spoke 18-inch wheels, and high-performance brake calipers and rotors. Available features on the second-gen CTS included a Bose 5.1 surround sound system, GM's ESC system marketed as Stabiltrak, tire pressure monitoring system, navigation system with real-time traffic and weather data, integrated hard drive for music storage, swiveling headlights, and remote starting.
Third generation (2014)
On March 26, 2013, Cadillac unveiled the third generation of the CTS. The 2014 CTS uses the 2.0L turbocharged I4 and 3.6L V6 from the ATS and also offers an all-new twin turbocharged V6 producing 420 hp and 430 lb.ft of torque. The twin turbocharged engine is only available in the CTS Vsport, a new trim that serves as a step between the 3.6L V6 and the high-performance CTS-V.[43]
Despite carrying the CTS name, the third generation model is actually closer in size and market position to the former STS.
Awards
In its first year of production, the first-generation CTS was nominated for the 2002 North American Car of the Year award.[9][56] The gen-2 CTS/CTS-V won MotorWeek's Driver's Choice Awards for "Best Sport Sedan" in 2008 and 2009. The second-generation CTS won the 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year award and was chosen as one of Car and Driver's 10Best cars.[57][58]
In 2009, the second-generation CTS and CTS-V were chosen for the Car and Driver 10Best list, making the CTS the first Cadillac to be chosen twice in consecutive years.[59] In 2010, the second-generation CTS and CTS-V returned to the Car and Driver 10Best list under the sub-headline "Maybe the best American car ever made".[60]
Marketing
The CTS was featured in the 2003 sci-fi action film The Matrix Reloaded, its producers seeking a car that would complement the film's atmosphere.[67] General Motors suggested the then-unreleased CTS to the filmmakers. Ten prototypes, damaged to different extents, were used to represent the film's hero car, a silver CTS.[68]
Motorsports
The CTS-V is raced in the SCCA World Challenge series. The first generation CTS-V sedan competed from 2004 to 2007, winning the manufacturer's championship in 2005 and 2007.[69][70] Starting in 2011 the second generation V competed as a coupe, winning Cadillac back-to-back manufacturer's championships in 2012 and 2013.[71][72] The 2011 coupe race car is built by Pratt & Miller. For the 2015 season, the CTS-V was replaced by the Cadillac ATS-V.
Production and sales
Total combined sales of all Cadillac CTS models by year.
CTS-V Production by model year
External links
References
- Aaron Mamiit. 2016 Cadillac CTS-V: First Drive Impressions Of Experts Tech Times, August 3, 2015^
- 2019 Cadillac CTS-V essentials: An American hot rod sedan Autoweek, February 6, 2019^
- Dan Neil. Cadillac CTS-V: The world's least sedate sedan?