Cadillac CTS test drive since 2007 sedan

Rhombus from America

I wonder if Cadillac, founder of Cadillac, Henry Leland a hundred years ago, suggest what exactly the products of his company would look at the turn of the millennia?
If Sir Henry lived today, he probably would not have been ashamed of a new business class sedan named CTS. At least the appearance of this model was met by journalists and critics very friendly.
This is not to say that Moscow streets are breaking from an immense amount of Cadillac, but from time to time the cars of this legendary American brand are still pleasing to the harsh Russian eye
As a matter of fact, in its centenary history, Cadillac has repeatedly surprised the world with technical innovations and diverse know-how. Take at least one of the achievements of the company system of electric ignition, introduced already in 1910. This is now the turning of the key in the ignition lock or launch of the motor from the button we perceive for granted, and more than a century ago we had to twist the handle, which, of course, was not the most convenient and clean activity.
Despite the fact that the CTS model has been produced since 2002, the new car, which has recently been presented recently by the GM corporation in Moscow, only at first glance has slightly differences. A single corporate style and exterior design with its chopped by a saber, from now on, complements the interior made in the same spirit.
The rhomboid surface of the torpedo and the central tunnel, as it were, continues inside the car, coming from the street. In general, journalists jokingly nicknamed CTS with a faceted glass, which to some extent corresponds to the image and appearance of the model. As one of my colleagues put it, for the first time seeing CTS, he seemed to be cut down with an ax from a whole piece of iron. Indeed, looking closely, you begin to catch yourself thinking that CTS really looks like a monolith. The vertical front headlights move into the same fog -tunnel shape, and the huge vertical rear lights again shine with bright LEDs, looking through transparent plastic.
Unlike its younger brother, the BLS model, which has a common platform with SAAB 9-3 (the Swedish automaker, recall, is part of the GM concern), the older CTS shares the chassis with the more muscular Saab 9-5, and this fact cannot be called a disadvantage. Indeed, despite the American name, origin and design, the new Cadillac CTS is much closer to the concept of a European car. Yes, the suspension is soft, but comfortable.
Yes, the car is unlikely to be suitable for annealing, but the brakes are no longer so American. In addition, the products of the Swedes, which have combat aviation roots, and the SAAB cars actually has yet canceled, no one has yet canceled everyone
In general, Hollywood played an important role in the PR company Cadillac CTS. It is in the super -blockbuster of the Vachovsky brothers Matrix. Reloading one of the main automobile roles was played only by CTS, on which the hero pursued the villains from the other world.
The 2.8-liter 210-horsepower engine does not turn to call a nuclear bomb, although you will not feel the CTS inferior to the damage quite confidently and is well controlled. Do not expect Ferrari agility from this sedan, because Cadillac was not created for that. You must admit that most of us with the word CADILLAC will appear long-luminous movie stars limousines or huge dreadnoughts of the 70s with a low-set stern and gigantic size with two sofas, which, as they say, are conceived by almost half a American. And today the Cadillac brand works rather for itself, because to this day for the average American, like many years ago, this brand remains the limit of dreams and unrealized fantasies
There is a power output of the CTS model and a more powerful 306-horsepower power unit in the line, however, with it, fuel consumption is significantly higher, and the annual transport tax is more tangible, and the price of a car can make the belt tightly. CTS, of course, will go faster if an automatic box allows it. On the one hand, the automatic transmission created by General Motors specialists will certainly be cheaper in maintenance, and on the other, you will have to come to terms with some kind of thoughtfulness of the machine gun
By the way, the so-called chopped car style itself takes its roots from the Vizion concept, which was shown several years ago at the Detroit motor show. It was then that bold design solutions, sharp edges and clear vertical lines were to the taste of many fans of the brand. The concept remained a concept, but its achievements were introduced into a new generation of almost all Cadillac, and CTS is no exception, but rather the leader of his faceted segment.
Despite the solid appearance and fashionable cut, places for the rear passengers in CTS still leave much to be desired. More precisely, it would not hurt to have more space for their riders that claim to be leaders in the class of business sedans. After all, if Cadillac CTS claims the right to be in the same line with such venerable competitors from Mercedes, BMW and Audi, then the Americans will have to try a lot, because such serious concerns will not give their niche just for anything. In addition, in this class, the convenience of the rear passengers is one of the most important elements, because many business people, but people who do not want to stand out, prefer to ride from behind in a dignitarous place
In the 90s of the last millennium, Cadillac cars were considered prestigious and expensive, but still their sales did not reach European competitors. In addition to gluttony and feuds, it seemed that the expensive and solid American car surprised and discouraged frankly cheap plastic, coupled with white skin, for example, or the gaps between some details in the cabin openly resembled the products of other consumer Russian plants. Such a disgrace already seemed to be in the fly, however, in today's Cadillac you can find such flaws. No, you will not find really low -quality Chinese plastic here, but the adjustment of certain details still leaves much to be desired. However, we will not find fault, after all, the salon is really made up, beautifully and high quality, especially since CTS is ready to move in price compared to the same merchants, for example
In any case, Cadillac CTS, although it has become much closer to Europe and Asia, was still, is and will always be a real American car, even if not a gigantic size. The fact that modern Cadillac has become not only aesthetically more attractive, but also much more reliable, which, frankly, was a weak point of the vast majority of American cars. Well, times are changing, and it pleases.
It should be added that Cadillac CTS also offers good sound insulation. It would seem, what is there?
But only a few motorciers are capable of evaluating this fact, because it is nice when even at high speed in the car you do not need to increase the voice when talking with a colleague that today only a certain class of four -wheeled iron horses is able to offer. Moreover, this very class, as a rule, stands on a step higher than our rhomboid friend.
Be that as it may, no matter how much the hopes of the GiMovites will be justified in their new brainchild, time will tell. And already pretty soon.
The bets are made, gentlemen!
Cadillac CTS is far from the only representative of the legendary American brand. In addition to it, potential buyers are offered models BLS, STS, SLS, DTS, XLR, SRX and, of course, Escalade SUV.
The latter, by the way, is a sales leader from the company. Extreme lovers can tickle nerves on the mighty forced CTS-V and STS-V 557 horsepower are quite enough for this ...
By the way ...
Once only the most prestigious models of Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Mazerati could boast of expensive analog hours at the central console ... Today, a neatly implanted watch can be found even in Hyundai. But in the interior of CTS the modest and stylish clock fit successfully.
In addition, few will deny that the presence of large and clear hours in the car is very useful.
Alexey Gusev
Photo author: Armen Meetarjyan
 

Source: MKOMBILA magazine [August/2008]