Cadillac moves to trademark LTS, is it for a rear-drive flagship?

Car and Driver is back with more info on the potential future of Cadillac, having discovered that our finest domestic luxury brand has filed a trademark application for the name "LTS." The reasoned speculation: that since Cadillac tends to use the names it files to protect, LTS could be applied to one of the two rear-drive sedans expected to arrive soon – either the eventual successor to the just-introduced XTS or an Omega-platformed top-tier flagship. Another possibility is the name XLS.

More interesting are the dimensional roles that Car and Driver predicts for the coming lineup. With the CTS growing in order to put some girth between it and the ATS, making it a straighter comparison to the BMW 5 Series, the XTS replacement would fit between the 5 Series and 7 Series, and the flagship "would exceed even the long-wheelbase 7 in size." That might leave the flagship no larger than the current DTS, which is already 2.4 inches longer than the 760Li, but if the report is correct it will be interesting to see how Cadillac differentiates that middle sedan from the other two. 

via: Car and Driver

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2013 Cadillac XTS Gets CUE Reconfigurable Instrument Cluster

Cadillac kept some of its best cards close to its chest with the XTS luxury sedan. Sure, it might not be a BMW 5-Series, but it does bring comparable toys to the game. Case in point: a reconfigurable instrument cluster, much like that BMW introduced recently as an option.

Since BMW’s has just introduced the system and it’s not even available yet, you can’t really accuse Cadillac of copying anything, and it’s nice to see they are finding their own luxury voice. This feature is sure to bring in new customers looking for the right American car. In addition, the feature will only become available from Mercedes starting with the next generation of sedans.

Of the four setups available, our favorite has to be the performance model, with a red line at 6,500 rpm and very modern design.

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First drive review: Cadillac XTS

What is it?

Long gone are the days when Detroit dominated the huge American luxury car market. In fact, Cadillac and rival Lincoln are barely also-rans these days. But Caddy is intent on regaining its once-lofty position and the new XTS is aimed at some serious competitors, notably including the BMW 5-series and Audi A6. 

The General Motors division is calling the XTS its new “flagship”, and it will be for a while, though an even more up-market entry is in the works. 

What is it like?

But, for now, the new XTS does a credible job of pointing the brand in the right direction. The new saloon features a more refined and elegant take on the so-called Art & Science design theme popularized by the Caddy CTS, here a bit less edgy, introducing a slight coupe-like curve to the roof that flows into vestigial fins reminiscent of Cadillac’s golden days.

The XTS cabin is handsome and comfortable and here Cadillac gives Audi, the generally perceived interior benchmark a run for its money. The reconfigurable, all-glass gauge cluster is especially appealing. 

And then there’s CUE, Cadillac’s new infotainment system. Think of it as an iPhone on wheels, complete with a Siri-like voice-control system that recognises conventional language rather than requiring a motorist to learn rigid commands. The downside is that on rough roads the iPhone-style touch controls can be a bit difficult to operate.


Some purists will gripe that the XTS is the only front-drive model in the Caddy saloon spectrum. Perhaps, but that hasn’t stopped Audi, and the big saloon proved reasonably nimble manoeuvring through the narrow, winding canyons outside L.A. 

The all-wheel-drive configuration offered a bit more sure-footedness. But this is not a true BMW fighter if you’re measuring success by g-force and 0-60mph times. Our biggest complaint centres around the six-speed automatic which, even in sport mode, is slow to respond when the driver’s foot calls for a rapid double downshift.

Should I buy one?

The XTS might best be thought of as the redefinition of the classic American luxury car. That’s not meant as faint praise. The saloon is solid, well equipped and more than pleasant to drive. It may not be the standard of the world but it is a credible offering for a brand that has long lacked credibility.

Paul A Eisenstein

Cadillac XTS Platinum 

Price: from $44,995 (£29,012);
Price as tested $59,080 (£38,100);
0-62mph; 6.7sec (est);  
Top speed: 130mph;  
Economy: n/a; CO2: n/a;  
Kerbweight: 1950kg;
Engine type: 3.6-litre V6;  
Power: 300bhp;  
Torque: 264lb/ft;
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic with manual mode

via: autocar

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2013 Cadillac XTS Configurator: Build Your Own

Cadillac is giving us the old one-two with information on both the ATS and the upcoming XTS sedan which should US dealers within a coupe of weeks. So, if you’ve got your heart set on buying a big-ol’ Cadillac instead of say an Audi A6, we have a car configurator for you to play with.

The official builder starts with the chose of either a front-drive $44,995 and a $51,835 All Wheel Drive ATS. There are of course four trim configuration available - Standard, Luxury, Premium and Platinum.

Premium and Platinum are the most interesting specs, however, you’ll be looking at something like $60,000 which is German saloon money.

There are only five exterior colors to choose from, three standard and two premium (Chrystal Red and Diamond White). As for the interior, you either go for black with light wheat or cream leather.

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Cadillac XTS configurator ready for your own personal livery

You can now attack the 2013 Cadillac XTS configurator with tame abandon. Why tame? Because there are hardly any options; understandable for a temporary flagship – just about everything is standard or included in a trim package.

The proceedings begin at $44,995 (plus $920 for destination) for the front-wheel drive XTS Standard, rising in increments of about $5,000 through three additional trims: Luxury, which adds ornamentation like dual stainless exhaust tips, LED spotlights and light pipes, and more seat functions; Premium, which upgrades the CUE system to a 14-speaker Bose system and adds the 12.3-inch reconfigurable dash cluster, plus tri-zone climate control; and Platinum, which swaps for 20-inch wheels and installs power and manual rear shades. Step over to the all-wheel drive XTS and the bar moves up to $51,835 and begins at Luxury, moving through Premium to top out at $61,305 for the AWD Platinum.

There are five colors from which to choose, and on all but a few models there are just two cost options that aren't already checked: the $75 engine block heater and the $350 compact spare tire. On the Luxury trim you can add the $1,450 UltraView power sunroof and $795 upgraded CUE system, on the Premium you can add the $250 power rear sunshade. There is nothing else for your fancy to do.

The only shocker we found were interior options: the trims below Platinum get four color options, including a couple of contrasting two-tones like the beautiful caramel and jet black (inset). The Platinum trim only gets two interior color choices, caramel not one of them. Checking all two boxes on the Platinum leaves you with a heady $62,725 for the lot. We'd advise you not to take our word for it, though, and get over to the configurator and start virtually outfitting one for yourself. 

Via: Cadillac

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