Cadillac CTS test drive since 2007 sedan
Persistent Caddy
In the evening, in the parking lot at the dealership of the dealership, he looked like an alien, who was mistakenly arrived in Los Angeles for Oscar, but in the leaded Moscow for the mercy of journalists. In addition, the red Cadillac was abused about this red Cadillac: he was washed and kicked out in the cold. Therefore, now all his expressive faces, stylish headlights and rear lights, and at the same time, all the glasses were covered with a kind crust of ice. A sad sight, especially when you know that you are now falling into a cold leather seat, like a baptismal font. If you are not a semi -carrier
I sit down, but you have to go! And immediately start the engine. All hope for a quick heating of a mighty V6 with a volume of 3.6 liters, with direct fuel injection and a phase distribution phase change system. The tachometer arrow immediately jerked to one and a half thousand revolutions, and I quickly found the necessary buttons for heating the seat, glass washing fluid (up to 60 degrees, by the way), the posterior and frontal (!) Glass, through which nothing is visible by even account. And then he went out let him inject, redistribute and war, I will wait. In the meantime, out of respect for designers, I clean the headlight with a scraper.
I admit, these almost square headlights with vertical orange rulers of turns are like. And in general, the appearance of the new Cadillac is good every detail is thought out, works for a general expression of power and dynamics. By the way: not every car can afford red, which is very demanding on design. He goes to sportsmen and futuristic machines like CTS. And some Asian soap dish or old Volga will look so that you won’t look at them without tears.
But I, it seems, can throw off the jacket and cap and sit at the wheel of yes, the degree of heating of the seat must definitely be reduced. Despite the fact that the engine worked for only five minutes, the separate climate control system has already begun to supply warm air to the salon. It's time to get comfortable. But it doesn’t work! That is, the range of electro -regulations is wide, the back is comfortable and with normal lateral support, but the lower pillow is simply incredibly short. And so, and Syak tried, and raised his chair, and tumbled back anyway, as if hanging. They definitely made a seat under people of modest complexion, some semi-rings. And this, perhaps, is the only and serious, from my point of view, complaining to ergonomics.
I can assume that the lower pillow was made short to provide more space for the legs of the rear passengers and there really is enough, even with excess. But still, a business class car is more often used not as a limousine. At the wheel of such sedans, as a rule, their owners are wealthy and picky people who provide the level of comfort. This is all the more insulting because in all other respects the salon can only
please. There are no complaints even to the quality of plastic. And the equipment is quite consistent with the car class: there is an excellent Bose musical system with a CD changer for 6 disks, and a convenient three-spoke lamb, and cup holders, and an armrest, in a word all the benefits of civilization. And at will, the panoramic hatch of UltraView, which occupies about 70% of the roof area, and the access system without the help of the Keyless Access key, and other pleasant options. Meanwhile, all the glasses are already transparent, thawed and side mirrors can go.
Quickly and confident
That is how you can move to Cadillac CTS 3.6 AWD. Three hundred and more than 374 Nm is enough to feel behind the wheel of this car with a real driver. But the main thing is these forces and this moment is not spent in vain, as was the case in the old American cars; That is, the potential of the engine is not mixed with either an automatic box, or the settings of pendants and steering. Here everything is, let's say at the level of the tasks. Of course, this is not a sports car (in the end, there is CTS-V), but you can grab it from the heart.
The 6-speed HYDRA-MATIC 6L50 automatic transmission does not suffer from special thoughtfulness, realizing when it is required to go one or two steps down from it. In addition, there is a manual selection mode of the gears are very inactive on slippery roads, I note when it is required to brake the engine.
The pendants, of course, are not too hard, but very elastic, not allowing the body to fall in vihi. In addition, as I understand it, they are equipped with shock absorbers with a variable, depending on specific traffic conditions, rigidity. If my memory does not change me, this Magna Ridge system is called. In general, a successful decision and a successful compromise: comfort, stability and smoothness are ensured.
As for the smoothness of the course, in this regard, it is time to mention the main highlight of this version of the CTS system of all -wheel drive. The smoothness is ensured, including by the fact that under the usual conditions of movement, the rear wheels are transmitted 70% of the torque. At the same time, this scheme makes the car mainly as a rear -wheel drive, making it funny in control. Say, at the entrance to the turn, you feel excessive rotation, the sedan is dashing if you like, then at a decent speed he divers in a turn. True, it should be taken into account that the long -term Borg Warner coupling has electronic control, and only the programmer knows at what point the front wheels will begin to row. But under certain conditions, even all power can be transferred to them under certain conditions. However, the habits of the transmission can be thoroughly studied on some snowy site, and then use all its advantages by 100%. I admit, I had no time for this. But I managed to evaluate two things. Firstly, at excess speed in the turn with the stabilization system, the front wheels get enough moment, and on time to pull the car out of the drift. Secondly, the AWD system works smoothly enough so as not to frighten the driver with too sharply changing the habits. And at the same time he does not grind and does not grunt, which happened in the first versions of such a transmission. Of course, any such exercises require active steering skills. CADILLAC CTS allows you to quickly work with a steering wheel: I would not call an acute steering control, but it is quite intelligible, makes it possible to control the car in any situation. Although the wooden insert at the top of the steering wheel, as it were, hints: you are in a solid car, which does not seem to be to face. Perhaps the way it is. But to know about the capabilities of CTS 3.6 AWD will also not hurt.
Perhaps I have to say about the price and competitors. The most powerful all -wheel drive version of Cadillac CTS is offered for 1,423,364 rubles in the so -called base, although not at all poor configuration. It is clear that the options will have to be paid. However, the price looks quite competitive in comparison with competitors from Germany and Japan.
Well, I, frankly, look forward to the opportunity to try out the hurricane CTS-V, which has already reached Europe
Oleg Osipov
