BrandWikiReturn

Cadillac DTS

The Cadillac DTS (an initialism of DeVille Touring Sedan) is a full-size car that was built by the American company Cadillac from 2005 until May 2011.[6] It is a four-door sedan that comes in five- or six-seat variants. The DTS debuted at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show and was manufactured at GM's Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly factory. It uses GM's G-platform for front-engine, front-wheel-drive automobiles.[7] The DTS was a very mildly revised iteration of the eighth-generation Deville, using the brand's new naming convention, set by the CTS and STS. Writing for the Los Angeles Times, noted reviewer Warren Brown called the DTS "a large, exceptionally comfortable front-wheel-drive luxury sedan." [8]

Production and specifications

Compared to its Deville predecessor, the DTS was mildly restyled rather than fully redesigned, featuring revised front-end sheet metal, front fascia, as well as rear decklid, rear quarter, and rear fascia.

The DTS used GM's G-platform,[1] as denoted by the 4th letter in the VIN), and was powered by a transverse[9] 32V Northstar V8, which produced 275 bhp in "Standard", "Luxury" and "Premium" trims. The DTS Platinum was equipped with 292 bhp version.[5] The base MSRP for the DTS at time of introduction was US$41,195 which was over 10% lower than the DeVille model it had replaced.

The DTS offered front bucket seats with overall seating for five passengers, and six passenger (i.e., front bench) seating available as an optional feature.[10]

Standard features included multiple airbags, bi-functional xenon high-intensity discharge HID headlamps, leather seating surfaces, and power seats. Optional equipment included heated and cooled front seats and a heated rear seat, rain-sensing wipers, Bose audio system, DVD navigation, automatic dimming headlights, adaptive cruise control and Magnetic Ride Control suspension.[11] A Platinum package became available in 2007 with special interior trim, badging, and other amenities.

GM phased out its small GM fender badges for all its vehicles, starting during the 2010 model year, including those on the DTS.[12]

DTS-L

Especially for the limousine market, the lightly stretched DTS-L was released in November 2006 for the 2007 model year. Developed and finished by Accubuilt, this version was being touted as having greater rear legroom.[14] Early DTS-L Cadillacs are easily recognized by the wider rear C-pillar, similar to the one used on the older Fleetwood 75 Series. This was necessitated by the use of the standard length DTS rear door, which left a strange-looking space between the rear wheelwell and door. In 2008 a new version, with longer rear doors, was introduced. This change also meant that the C-pillars became considerably slimmer. Despite these efforts, the low production DTS-L soon disappeared from the marketplace.

Other uses

The DTS was available as a 'coachbuilder' chassis for aftermarket conversion into either limousines, or hearses. The limousine model was designated V4U, and the hearse model was designated B9Q. These were only available to manufacturers named as Cadillac Master Coachbuilders, meaning they were certified by General Motors to modify them. The coachbuilder chassis are an incomplete car, with no rear doors, trunk, rear windshield, and other parts not used during the conversion. These models also included 8 lug wheels, upgraded suspension components, as well as a transmission cooler.

Other uses

The DTS was available as a 'coachbuilder' chassis for aftermarket conversion into either limousines, or hearses. The limousine model was designated V4U, and the hearse model was designated B9Q. These were only available to manufacturers named as Cadillac Master Coachbuilders, meaning they were certified by General Motors to modify them. The coachbuilder chassis are an incomplete car, with no rear doors, trunk, rear windshield, and other parts not used during the conversion. These models also included 8 lug wheels, upgraded suspension components, as well as a transmission cooler.

Presidential State Car

A specially designed and outfitted armored vehicle with Cadillac DTS styling (actually a modified medium-duty GMC truck four-wheel drive chassis) with extra high-roof was debuted in the second inauguration of U.S. President George W. Bush, which also served as the debut for the DTS before its official debut at the Chicago Auto Show. While details of the modified vehicle, codenamed "Stagecoach", remain classified, previous such vehicles indicate that it would have been upgraded with advanced armor and safety features in order to protect the president from various threats.[15]

Shorter-wheelbase armored DTSes are also cars used by the Vice President of the United States at least since 2010.[16]

A modified DTS was also used by former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper.

Yearly American sales

Next generation

The next full-size front-wheel drive Cadillac sedan was the XTS which went on sale in June 2012 as a 2013 model. A second full-size sedan, the rear-wheel drive CT6, was added to the lineup in 2016.[22]

Prior to bankruptcy, GM had considered a rear-drive sedan, powered by the new Ultra V8 engine (replacement for the Northstar), to bow for 2010.[23] GM later stopped development of new North American Zeta-based models and canceled the Ultra V8 engine.[24][25]

External links

References

  1. Phil Frame. GM H CARS MOVE TO G PLATFORM Automotive News, 16 January 1995, retrieved 17 May 2013^
  2. Cadillac DTS -L Specs ultimatespecs.com, retrieved April 12, 2020^
  3. Stephan Newbury. The car design yearbook 4 Merrell, 2006^
  4. 2007 CADILLAC DTS / DTS sedan LWB specifications & performance www.automobile-catalog.com, retrieved 2025-10-25^
  5. 2011 Cadillac DTS official specs Cadillac.com, retrieved 2011-06-24^
  6. Andrew Ganz. Last Cadillac DTS rolls off line… and into Bulgari Collection Leftlanenews.com, 2011-05-27, retrieved 2012-01-06^
  7. Cadillac DTS Awaits Place in Bulgari Collection GM Media, 2011-05-27^
  8. Warren Brown. Let the youngsters drive something else Los Angeles Times, September 7, 2005^
  9. 2006-11 Cadillac DTS 17 June 2014, retrieved 8 December 2018^
  10. GM Fleet Cadillac DTS specs Prod3.gmautobuilder.com, retrieved 2011-06-24^
  11. Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman. Cadillac DTS embraces big-car formula as DeVille replacement Motorway America^
  12. Chris Shunk. REPORT: GM dropping corporate emblems for 2010. Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges... Autoblog, August 25, 2009, retrieved June 28, 2022^
  13. Cadillac DTS specs @ V lane Vlane.com, retrieved 2011-06-24^
  14. 2007 Cadillac DTS-L Car and Driver, November 2006, retrieved 2008-07-31^
  15. General Motors. Cadillac Unveils the 2006 Cadillac DTS Presidential Limousine for George Bush's Inauguration Automobile, April 2006, retrieved 2011-04-02^
  16. Better With A Drone. The Vice Presidential Limousine - Chicago 10/12/10 13 October 2010, retrieved 8 December 2018^
  17. Cadillac DTS Sales Figures GCBC, retrieved 2025-10-25^
  18. Deliveries December 2009 retrieved 2012-01-06^
  19. DeliveriesDecember2010 retrieved 2012-01-06^
  20. Sales: December 2011 - General Motors Cheers & Gears: Forums, 4 January 2012, retrieved 2012-01-06^
  21. GM's U.S. Sales up 5 percent in December media.gm.com, 2013-01-03, retrieved 2013-01-03^
  22. Ralph Hanson. Cadillac exec confirms sub-CTS model and STS/DTS replacement Motor Authority, 2009-04-10, retrieved 2009-07-19^
  23. GM could use Zeta platform for large Cadillac Left Lane News, 2007-02-26, retrieved 2009-07-19^
  24. Holden cutbacks: Holden cuts design and engineering jobs as GM abandons global RWD projects GoAutoNews Issue 449, 2008-09-03, retrieved 2009-07-20^
  25. John Neff. GM cancels new DOHC V8 engine program Auto Blog, 2008-01-03, retrieved 2009-07-19^