Test Drive Cadillac CTS 2013 - NV Sedan

Riding a star

Va-au, Cadillac This magic word produces a rapid flow of associations to the will. Skyscrapers, endless highways, Miami beaches, Texas sands, Atlantic City Casino and so on. Two-hundred percent America. Glamor, Spacious, Rock and Roll. Cheap gasoline and dollars packs. After some time, the warmed fantasy issues a template image: you are in a noisy company carrying Frank Sinatra on a huge open car with a white leather interior. Walking through the desert from Hollywood in Vegas in order to spend an unforgettable electric night surrounded by the croupier and one-hand bandits. Other Life, Other Planet!
 
Stop Stop Stop. God with her, with America. What is Cadillac himself? Irrepressible sizes, naive luxury, swinging chic and shine. Show business with man driving in the lead role. Narcissism extract. This is the secret of its attractiveness. Would you like to ride on such a thing? Sure?
 
What for? Admit: To ensure that others see and fall into the sediment. I do not think that you imagine how Cadillac squeals rubber in turns or overtakes BMW on the left strip. As a Cadillac mechanism, not so attractive: bad, clumsy, voracious. And in general, some old-fashioned. Perhaps this is the most common opinion.
 
And now take a look at the newest Cadillac CTS (Compact Touring Sedan), the most democratic model of the company: from $ 30,500 in the United States and from $ 40000 in Russia. Still show business? Very similar to that. Only this is an aggressive show business of the beginning of the XXI century: the schochatated convective tests on the Nürburgring, shocking militaristic forms in the Spirit of Stealth, shooting in the matrix. From the former valua and relaxed life-having a dust. CTS will never have so many fascisers, as a tailed eldorado end of the fifties. But he has these romantic snot alien: he is so cool that he can do not care whether it is considered to be steep others.
 
However, the change of image has other consequences: this Cadillac wants to make a rubber squeal in turns and taught the attack on BMW. But in the road disciplines, the Yankees were never strong, but CTS technically sinking, like no Cadillac before him. The car is based on the newest rear-wheel drive platform Sigma, and the body frame is manufactured by an advanced hydroforming method. The weight balance of the machine between the axes is optimal 50:50.
 
Six-cylinder power units 2.6 and 3.2 liters of English production, created on the basis of motors from Opel Omega. In North America, the junior engine is not proposed, but there is another 3.6-liter, and a 350-strong V8 from Corvette is expected soon. Two gearboxes: Mechanical getRag (half a century Cadillac did not equip his mechanics machines!) And automatic GM Hydromatic 5L40-E, which until recently was used with a BMW three-liter turbodiesel (installed on 330D, X5 and RANGE ROVER).

  

In the standard CTS climate control, six airbags, a disabled anti-test system and a brake force distribution system between ERBP rear wheels. Of the interesting options, the Stabilitrak 2.0 stabilization system and the TRW SpeedPro hydraulic switch of variable performance.
 
Avoiding a scientific discussion on the design of the car here or love to the coffin, or desperate hatred to be proceeding with the study of the interior. It is not bad, it is done well, however, the influence of foreign culture still affects. Firstly, luxurious chairs are clearly designed for the remedy people who can fill them entirely. Slender citizens will feel the lack of lumbar support and slouch. Secondly, Americans continue to allow themselves to exercise with cheap plastic not only on oak pickups, but also in prestigious sedans. Here, from a similar material, a central console is made, sharply dissoning with a soft finish of the front panel and doors. Thirdly, I understand that the adjustment slider adjust the adjustment of the instruments to the ceiling is boldly, but why so much originality?! Another American rout, which is regulated only on the corner of the tilt. There are problems with visibility. Strongly diluted and thick front racks with a low edge of the windshield create an illusion of armored personnel control. And the sound seems to be a solid audio system with its six speakers and a subwoofer in the back shelf are not ahti.
 
What, naught? Of course, Cadillac CTS does not consist of some misses and shortcomings. For example, it can be perfectly deservedly praise for the competent organization of the on-board computer menu, music, climate control. And in general, here with the buttons. A rotating wheel on the steering wheel, changing the volume of music, in the brilliant find. Very convenient to sit behind. But I want to recover forward, I want to feel self-dependent on how this creation behaves on the road.

  

Wherever CTS appeared, he raises a furor everywhere. First time with this is not easy to get used, and then you begin to get a kind of pleasure. Cadillac remains itself, remains a star! But, fortunately, CTS consists not from alone impressive appearance. This car and the road are created for each other: he generously forgives her many flaws, she firmly and gently holds him as a child's mother. Sustainability stock is stunning! At the CTS limit starts smooth slip side, however, to achieve this limit, you need to keep a really high speed. The steering with its rather low sensitivity was pleasantly surprised by the endlessness of feedback. Write in the asset maneuverability that only the rear-wheel drive can give. Summary This: CTS is not an athlete, but is in a very decent form and in a fight to do not get off.
 
On the Cadillac highway feels a king: it goes great and confident, directly able to keep without human help. In the salon silence. In general, rapid long-distance throws are given to him without straining. But in the city, the swiftness is not so available. In the basic mode, the machine switches the early, not allowing the engine to straighten your wings. Sport mode allows the motor on each transmission to show high revs, which provides more lively overclocking and respectable sound accompaniment. Further upgrade of the speakers is unreal due to the absence of a sequential function in the automaton, but you can order a car with a handle. And drive from the soul. Fortunately, CTS brakes are powerful.
 
Cadillac returned to us! So far, only two models from seven manufactured today are presented in Russia: CTS and Seville today. But we are antipatriotically hope for the expansion of the American contingent primarily due to the SRX light SUV.

   
The car is provided by Laura.
 
Text: Leonid Klyuev
Photo: Roman Stunnin
 


   
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: Magazine "Wheels" [№71 / 2003]