Cadillac CTS Thread: Rumors of Duramax Power Return...

[YSSMAN]

These photos were just posted on GMI:

Word on GMI is that this is a base or mid-range model, but the good news is that they're out, and Cadillac clearly means business with the car.

First a few things:

- They build them just down the highway, and I'm proud of that.
- The side scoops are function on these cars, and do cool the engine. Thats what Cadillac says.
- There will likely be a few more chrome pieces made available on higher-level models, and furthermore, presumably better leather options as well.

Thoughts?

 

[TheCracker]

I caught some 2008 CTS's on The Ring webcam the other week - they look to be higher spec than this one, with bigger wheels, a lower stance and deeper chin spoilers.

 

[Wolfe]

That might be the best american interior I've ever seen. The exterior also gets my approval, though it'd be better with a larger greenhouse-to-car ratio. I like how the slats meet the mesh in the grille.

The DI engine is impressive, too.

 

[Omnis]

I think it's hideous. An analog clock? What were they thinking? The outside of it is completely warped and out of proportion. Screw phi, this thing follows the tarnished ratio.

I stand by my word from even the old CTS: They need to chop this thing in half and take 8 inches of height out of the fenders. They also need to lose the chrome on that stupid side-vent. Audi's designs don't work with simple polygons.

 

[YSSMAN]

They will be selling you a smaller CTS by the close of the decade, but the 5er size is about all we have for now. Cadillac won't have its true 3er competitor until the Alpha platform is worked out, then they will use the BLS name to sell that here in the states.

Still, I really like the interior. It seems like a cross between an Audi and Infiniti design in there, which works out pretty well if you ask me. It just needs some wood trim...

 

[McLaren]

Great interior, but they completely bucthered up that plastic surgery on the front. It's not even mildly attrative with those little rims either.

 

[TopHat]

Oooh.... I like it. It's so much better than the current CTS, I can see it selling much better too.

 

[1X83Z]

Thoughts?

I love it - everything except GM's consistent desire to put the absolute ****tiest wheels on base model cars which typically get the most sales. Hey Buick, ever wonder why you didn't sell any Rendezvous Ultras? It's because the base ones all had HUBCAPS and no one was going to spend $40k on a car whose base model has hubcaps. Well aside from Evo drivers anyway.

OVERALL

I love this car - more than I loved the old one because it has Tiptronic.

 

[YSSMAN]

I hear you on the wheels. Even if they would just make the crappy Pontiac-grade chrome wheels standard, it would look a lot better. I've always wondered why people get chrome trim on a car, and then alloy wheels to go with it.

 

[1X83Z]

I hear you on the wheels. Even if they would just make the crappy Pontiac-grade chrome wheels standard, it would look a lot better.

Yeah. They got the message with the Solstice and the Sky and screwed up with every other car.

 

[YSSMAN]

The funny thing was how quickly the GMI guys pointed it out, calling it "Same ol' GM" stuff.

But then again, how often are we really going to see relative "stripper" models of the CTS such as this?

I rarely ever see them not optioned up, and I'm pretty sure it would be much the same this time around.

As for me, I'd be content with the basic stuff, add the manual box option, and go for the optional 17" chrome wheels while I'm at it.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

It looks pretty good to me, until the close-up of the front. But I think it will grow on me.

The interior looks nice as well and I like the colors in this particular one.

 

[Bram Turismo]

I really like the interior, despite the weirdo clocky thingy...I also like the rear of the car, double exhausts are always nice and the taillights remind me of Cadillac's Cien. However, who designed that front grill? That person needs to be shot, that's without any doubt, one of the most horrific grills I've ever seen...


I'm not really a fan of American cars, most of you will know that (Toyota FTW!) but I wouldn't say no to this...

 

[V1P3R]

Love the interior but ****... it's like it's confused now between "edge" and curved. At least the old CTS was solid Cadillac looking. Side scoop functional? Well my ass is functional too.

 

[Omnis]

They will be selling you a smaller CTS by the close of the decade, but the 5er size is about all we have for now. Cadillac won't have its true 3er competitor until the Alpha platform is worked out, then they will use the BLS name to sell that here in the states.

Still, I really like the interior. It seems like a cross between an Audi and Infiniti design in there, which works out pretty well if you ask me. It just needs some wood trim...

No way. Audi actually makes nice interiors. It's more of a complete infiniti/tribeca ripoff. This car looks bloated and pompous, much like most of its driver-base will be.

 

[Dave A]

I really, really, don't like the look of that car. The front looks hideous, the grille is an abonimation of car design. And I really don't like the cream and black interior, it doesn't look too bad quality, but it doesn't look that nice style wise imo. However good/bad it ultimately turns out to be, it's just not a nice looking car in any way at all imo.

 

[Pebb]

I really, really, don't like the look of that car. The front looks hideous, the grille is an abonimation of car design. And I really don't like the cream and black interior, it doesn't look too bad quality, but it doesn't look that nice style wise imo. However good/bad it ultimately turns out to be, it's just not a nice looking car in any way at all imo.

I agree, because I don't like how the bumper and the headlights mould together, I also hate the rims.

 

[///M-Spec]

That might be the best american interior I've ever seen.

Ditto. That's actually one of the best interiors I've seen on a new car, period.

The design is clean, sophisticated... really top notch. I like white interiors so this color combo really does it for me. The exposed stitching on the upper dash is a nice touch and looks very classy. Not sure the digital temp indicator placement on either side of the stack is the way to go, but it does add some character.

The buttons and switchgear will have to pass the all-important touch test, but its nice to see there are no overly large, cheap looking 'Chicklets' style buttons that have given GM switch gear that Playskool feel for the last 20 years. The center stack is looking great without them. I hope they offer the option of aluminum, piano black or wood grain trim. Obviously CF is the way to go with the V model.

The gear lever for the autotragic looks a little too big for the console. Not a big deal, but it seems too hulking next to an otherwise elegant and refined looking center stack.

The exterior is a mixed bag. Its clearly a cautious evolution of the outgoing car, but has visibly bulked up. The new car isn't bad looking to me, the sheet metal seems a little watered down, like the edges have been dulled. It strikes me as a 'styling by committee' car. Maybe its better in person like many new cars.

@ LA GUNS - Kiss my love goo


M

 

[YSSMAN]

Not sure the digital temp indicator placement on either side of the stack is the way to go, but it does add some character.

I believe that is the temperature display for the dual climate control.

 

[///M-Spec]

I believe that is the temperature display for the dual climate control.

I'm certain that's what it is.

I don't know that separating them is such a good idea. Judging by the picture, the driver can barely see what the passenger has his/her temperature set at. If you are driving alone and want the car to cool off or heat up ASAP, having the two systems next to each other is convenient. If Cadillac did not offer a "dual zone OFF" switch (my wife's Nissan has this), it could be somewhat awkward for the driver to see the passenger side display and operate the switch, given the angle.

Of course, it could just be a perspective thing from the photo. Might be fine when you're actually in the car.


M

 

[TopHat]

Of course it has dual zone off... Any car with dual zone climate should.

 

[///M-Spec]

Of course it has dual zone off... Any car with dual zone climate should.

If the outgoing CTS has the feature, then the new one probably does. I don't know for sure. The pics are too small to see for sure.

Now, you might THINK every car has it, but not always. It seems the Japanese are better at providing this feature because most of the Japanese cars I've been in has it.

BUT none of my BMWs have it. In fact, I'm not aware of a single BMW that does. My mother's old E-class did not and I'm fairly certain newer ones do not have it either. My father's Volvo does not.

Just to clarify what we're talking about, I'm talking about a switch that disables the passenger side temp control so that the driver's setting is used for the entire car.


M

 

[Jim Prower]

I couldn't believe that interior. "Wow, that's a Cadillac?" I told myself. "It's Incredible!"

the exterior's okay, i think the grille might be a little too big, not, and, of-course, the wheels should be a little bigger, but, otherwise, a well-done to G.M.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm sure GMPD will be happy to sell you a fancy pair of in-house 17", 18", 19", and probably 20" wheels.

GM is getting really good about offering decent accessories on their new products.

 

[harrytuttle]

Well, it's an attempt. You can't say GM isn't being brave. The interior is a definite improvement, but there are a few bits and peices that don't really work (like how it's still all fiddly buttons, regardless of how nicely they're laid out, and the cheap, circular clock is just that -- circular and cheap). The grille is also wrong. The previous one, especially with the mesh inserts, worked so well for them. Overall, it's not worse, but it's not better. It needs to cook for another 5 minutes.

 

[1X83Z]

BUT none of my BMWs have it. In fact, I'm not aware of a single BMW that does. My mother's old E-class did not and I'm fairly certain newer ones do not have it either. My father's Volvo does not.

My 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo had dual zone automatic climate control, but not dual zone off. I've been in a 2007 Nissan Murano which had the feature and included dual zone off. I have no preference.

 

[YSSMAN]

We had dual-zone climate control in the Lincoln Town Car we had down in Florida. I'm not sure what the benefits were in that car (the A/C was ALWAYS ON), but I could see the difference in other cars.

I do love the VW commercial with the dual-zone controls in the Eos:



Pretty much sums up a lot of Volkswagendom for me...

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Hmm, looks promising, but still not convinced. Everytime I see a GM-made interior on the photos always looks good, but I always get the impression once I see it on person, I will be dissapointed.

-> All I say is not bad for a mid-grade model, the overall shape is balanced just like the bigger STS/SLS twins. But I don't know about that grille, it looks too big for the car, that they should have slap that on the SRX.

 

[Tornado]

You know, I always though GM had fired all of the Aztek designers long ago, but a close up of the abominable front of that car just says that isn't the case. Its not even like Audis or Peugoets, either, in that the cars are otherwise nice looking but have that hideous grills slapped on. This is like GM started with the terrible grill first, and then wrecked the rest of the front end to follow suit. For that reason alone I can't say I would ever recommend the car, regardless of its improvements.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> For me as for the current date, still, the Holden's are still the best styled automobiles that GM ever created. Whoever designed the Commodore series should be given some credit and replace Bob Lutz. So far, out of all the cars GM has come out over the years, only 5 came out good (Enclave/Outlook (Arcadia excluded), the Holden's, Opel/Vauxhall Vectra (not the round-back Saturn Aura), GMC Sierra-series, Cadillac STS/SLS, and the new-gen Avalanche/Escalade EXT).