Test drive Cadillac CTS 2002 - 2007 Sedan
Mechanical Cadillac
Cadillac, in connection with the adaptation of the brand to the tastes of European consumers, continues to mutate. And today we get acquainted with the youngest representative of the Europeanized CTS line. Attention, this is it Caddy without a machine gun, the first in 20 years! Caddy, which, as they say in the driver, is steering! It is just right to recall the front sofa, the lobger under the wheel and Elvis Presley from the speakers. And also turn off the stabilization system and start CD from the Progressive House. Short Sample Voice of the King Rock-n Roll in the stream of electronic sounds will be the thin thread that connects the old and new generation Cadillac ... This Caddy is not the imposing dad that was on our test (see motor 11, 2003). This type is much more important, it is on the handle (curious: in the press release its box is positioned as a mechanical sports, that is, in relation to Cadillac, this is already sports, so it turns out?), Together with the rear-wheel drive, an engine of 3.2 L (218 hp) guarantees much more emotional driving. It is quite, by the way, in American, we will recall the shots from the militants: the car, having a tail and viciously sparkling with headlights, passes another crazy turn.
By the way, sparkling with headlights is generally one of the main tasks of CTS, because the car looks just bewitching! And the blue color, which in most cases makes the car more boring, the faceted body of the Euro-American as possible. Dark plastic edging of anterior lighting equipment practically does not stand out against the background of the body, as it would, for example, in the case of a silver color, and the front of the machine is perceived as a whole, as one large part. The gloomy look of vertical farm gun, a huge false radiator grille is pompous, but stylish ... The enormous amber of a broken shape shine from behind. Handsomely! The chrome 17-inch wheels give the car a special charm, is still a non-standard performance for Europeans, but, you see, logical, since we are talking about Cadillac. Even in a static position, the car radiates energy, and in the movement of not the first freshness, the model still closes the views of passers -by.
In general, the appearance of CTS is multifaceted. This car manages to look at the same time both sports and strictly. On this, you can safely go to a business meeting at the wheel or drive up to the office with a driver (quite comfortable and spacious from behind), roll up to a fashionable nightstand in the evening, and grasp the free high -speed highway on weekends. The exterior CTS is ideal for any purpose. Inside is pretty pretty. A very low landing, well -defiled leather chairs with electric drives, an original design of the front and door panels, an abundance of various keys. A high window line gives rise to a sense of security, and good noise insulation protects from the bustle and noise of Moscow streets. Plastic is pleasant to the touch and soft almost everywhere. But it looks not very natural Hard-Look. This is not good for a car whose actual classmates are brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. However, if you go to a similar price category, then with Nissan Maxima, Toyota Camry or Chrysler 300M it may well be pulled. And equipment in perfect order, almost a complete set: electric package, separate climate control, lighting sensor, heating, etc. There is no TV, and even parking sensors. It is understood that the driver who selects Cadillac with a manual checkpoint is more sophisticated and multi -permanent? Well, quite likely.
The glove box in the CTS opens with the meaningfulness of the bank safe. A noble (perhaps even unnecessary) click of the castle, and the heavy cover slowly sinks down, unequivocally allowing to understand something valuable inside. What? This is the stabilization system disconnection button. It is not just hidden in a box, but also disguised. So as not to be naughty. Everything, there is no strength to endure! On the instrument panel, the red icon is anxiously light up the system deactivated. That's wonderful! At our disposal the spaces of the Khodynsky field and wet asphalt, bringing the threshold of the beginning of slipping. Gas to the floor!
The CTS is accelerated with a manual gearbox more aggressively than with a machine gun. And let the real gain finds himself in the area of \u200b\u200bthe half -second, in the movement of the mechanic allows you to feel much more energy -related, and the composure is higher. You experience emotions completely different. Naturally, you change the manner of passing turns.
I must say that the Stabilitrak stabilization system, which is equipped with a car, does not doze off even in a disabled state. It just allows you to do more interferes only when the driver is too carried away, and after a moment CTS can stand sideways (of course, if you managed to overcome a distinct insufficient rotability of the car). Say, why such pranks? Do you want to slide in the corner of the rear axle? So do it competently, combine effectiveness with effectiveness. You can still fail CTS in a deep skid, but there will be no pleasure from a sharp poke along the rear axle and rough stabilization. Therefore, Kin will not be. In trivial rolling, you can more accurately determine the moment of turning on the system, and over time, riding on the verge of its activation turns into pleasure. Such is the simulation of a computer simulator. The suspension is one example of a very successful compromise setting. Elastic and energy -intensive, well practicing irregularities in corners, she, nevertheless, does not even think of tiring with excessive rigidity. There are, of course, there are rolls, but within the permissible limits. When accelerating and braking, the car does not stand on its hind legs and does not peck with his nose that for a stock suspension an indicator of a decent level of quality. Thanks to the rear -wheel drive layout, the car is very maneuverable unfolds on the heel.
But the steering wheel seemed too large and excessively wooden for cars with sports ambitions. The severity of the steering wheel is about three revolutions from the stop to the stop. In the movement, the steering wheel is not empty, and in the turns it becomes more informative, which allows you to accurately control the trajectory of the car.
No matter how regrettable, the highlight of CTS has become the main target for critical attacks. We are talking about a sports mechanical gearbox. The fact that it is five -speed (although the definition of sports has long implies the presence of six programs) is more plus, because the engine with such a flat characteristic is enough. The gear rates are noticeably stretched, in the city you can turn on the third or fourth and, until the moment of complete stop, even forget about the checkpoint. The power unit is able to untwist even from 1000 revolutions at the fourth stage! And everything would be fine, but only when you begin to operate with mechanics, does some disappointment come like some kind of barrier prevents the transmission normally! And with high -speed switching, in order to avoid loss of seconds, quite serious physical efforts are required. By the way, it will also be necessary to get used to the heavily dedicated gas pedal (electronic). Environmental norms require sacrifice.
The brake dynamics is worthy of accelerated. It was not possible to bring the brakes to overheating in the conditions of urban movement, despite the fact that the testing mode could not be called soft. Dry road or wet, even or bad CTS preserves the trajectory and remains controlled.
CTS running qualities were brought on nurembergings, and the car was indeed endowed with a European driver breed. This is a harmonious finished image, and there can be no parallels with old Caddy. The mechanical box fit here organically. Like the whole car as a whole, it successfully provides moderate sports and comfort.
CTS in Russia is offered with two engines (the second six with a volume of 2.6 liters, with a capacity of 181 hp), the cost of a more modest version starts at $ 42.500, but the top version starts from $ 49.900. The car, which visited the test, cost $ 53.650 due to the decoration of the cabin with leather and wood, as well as the sports package, which includes the Stabilitrak system, 17-inch wheels and xenon headlights.
By the way, in the light of the appearance of mechanical Caddy it will be very interesting to get acquainted with the extreme modification of CTS, indicated by a modest letter LV. However, the GM supplies to Russia are not yet presented. However, we did not hear unequivocal either. We hope that this frantic Caddy will still get to Russia someday.
In addition to versions with six cylid engines 2.6 (181 hp), 3.2 (218 hp) and 3.6 (258 hp) in the CTS family there is also a sports modification of CTS-V, in Which under the hood is installed from the engine from the Chevrolet Corvette sports car. 5.7-liter V-shaped. issues 405 hp. and 536 Nm of torque, leads the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox. With such data, the business class sedan can already be considered a competitor to solid machines such as the BMW M5, Audi S6 or Jaguar S-Type R. Dynamic indicators. American. They look quite worthy against their background. It accelerates up to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds, and the maximum speed exceeds the standard for. A mark of 250 km/h. It is unlikely that such Cadillac will give in to the mentioned grands on a winding highway, because the controllability of his experienced racers on the German highway in Nurgurgring brought him to mind. And recently there were rumors that General Motors are preparing even more in the bowels of the General Motors. version. CTS-V Plus, the power of which will exceed 500 hp ... 
The CTS-V model also exists in the racing version developed by the GM Performance Division department to participate in the SCCA Speed \u200b\u200bWorld Challenge. At the heart. The lightweight serial frame of the body, the same design of the suspension, steering, the same transmission and engine, only, of course, all this economy passed a series of improvements. Under the hood, the CTS-V Race Car forced 5.7-liter V8 with an aluminum cylinder block. Motor power over 500 hp Leonty Tyutelev
Source: Motor magazine [October 2004]
