- Responsive 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine
- Seats lack support
- Distinctive styling and exclusivity
- SIDI engine susceptible to carbon deposits on intake valves
- Firm ride
- Steering lacks precision
- Poor rear visibility
Overview
Initially planned to be released in Australia in late 2008, the second-generation Cadillac CTS was an executive sedan. The planned release, however, was initially deferred (to early 2009) and then cancelled in the wake of the global financial crisis. Despite the cancellation, eighty-nine (89) right-hand drive Cadillac CTS vehicles had been delivered to Australia in late 2008.
Manufactured in Lansing, Michigan, the rear-wheel drive CTS was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine that was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission (GM’s 6L50 unit). The 3.6-litre LLT V6 engine had an aluminium block and cylinder head, direct fuel injection, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable inlet and exhaust valve timing and a compression ratio of 11.4:1.
Underpinned by GM’s Sigma II platform, the CTS was 4860 mm long, 1842 mm wide, 1441 mm tall and had a 2880 mm long wheelbase. Furthermore, the CTS had independent double wishbone front suspension and multi-link, rear suspension (with Nivomat self-levelling shock absorbers); a limited slip differential was also fitted as standard.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTS | 3.6-litre LLT petrol V6 | 6sp auto | 227 kW at 6400 rpm | 370 Nm at 5200 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the CTS included dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, brake assist, electronic stability control (Cadillac’s ‘StabiliTrak’), traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.
The CTS was also fitted with a ‘Pedestrian Protection’ system which used front bumper sensors to detect a collision with a pedestrian and activate a mechanism that raised the bonnet to provide additional clearance to hard points in the engine compartment.
Features
Standard features for the CTS are understood to have included 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/50 R18 tyres, a 300 watt Bose sound system with 10 speakers, 5.1 channel surround sound, a CD player, 40GB hard drive, auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/iPod) and MP3-compatibility, a retractable eight-inch touch screen with HDD navigation (including 3D maps), DVD player and TV tuner, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, eight-way power adjustable front seats with heating, leather upholstery for the seats, dashboard and door trims, cruise control, front fog lights, bi-xenon headlights, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers with heated washers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, driver’s seat memory settings, a push-button hand brake, tyre pressure monitoring, ambient lighting, a trip computer and immobiliser.
The bi-xenon headlights also included an Adaptive Forward Lighting function which could automatically adjusts headlamp direction – by up to five degrees inboard and 15 degrees outboard – for improved night-time visibility.
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