The Cadillac CTS

Designed in North America as a global market vehicle (some 40% of annual sales are expected to be outside of North America), the new Cadillac CTS was extensively tested in key market areas, including a rigorous series of performance and handling tests on the famed Nürburgring race circuit.

“The Cadillac CTS represents a significant advance for the Cadillac range globally and in South Africa. It is a vehicle that will suit buyers who think out of the box and want to enjoy a high quality performance motoring experience and break out of the traditional brand profile associated with this experience,” says Alf Bennett.

Motor Trend named the Cadillac CTS as its Car of the Year for 2008

Motor Trend named the Cadillac CTS as its Car of the Year for 2008 with the magazine’s writers enthusing over this newcomer from the Cadillac stable, stating that it “made them grin like lottery winners every time they drove it”. In its overview of the CTS Motor Trend could find little fault with the vehicle, suggesting that it deserved a place in the elite listing of the world’s finest cars. Performance, ride and handling, and interior layout were rated high on the list of impressive attributes of this new mid-sized Cadillac.

The all-new Cadillac

This all-new Cadillac broke cover in North America in late 2007 and soon won acclaim from influential motoring writers and leading industry publications.

Ward’s AutoWorld magazine named the 3,6 litre engine of the CTS in its top ten engine list published in January 2008. The Wards “Ten Best Engines” list is the only awards programme honouring powertrain excellence in the USA and is regarded as an industry benchmark.

In assessing the 37 engines nominated for this year’s awards, Wards editors scored engines against each other in a number of objective and subjective parameters. In naming its top ten engines for the year Wards AutoWorld drew attention to the fact these latest generation engines reflected the automotive industry’s success in improving fuel economy and emissions without compromising performance. This latest crop of engines is evidence of the enormous advances in powertrain engineering being realised as the public demands ever more fuel efficient vehicles. Significantly General Motors was the only manufacturer to have two engines in the top ten list and only one of two North American manufacturers represented.

Cadillac CTS

Luxury comes standard on the Cadillac CTS with just a single “Sport Luxury” specification level available that includes a full-house of executive luxury interior appointments for a refined and comfortable driving experience. Two option packages are offered to further enhance the already comprehensive specification.

The Luxury Level 1 package adds “Rainsense” automatic windscreen wipers and accent lighting LED spotlights with lighting pipes to the list of features. The Luxury Level 2 package adds heated and ventilated front seats, power adjustment for steering wheel tilt and reach, and GM’s EZ-key passive entry system with remote start. A further specification option is the Power Ultraview two-panel electric sunroof with express-open and sunshade that opens up 70% of the roof area to provide both front and rear passengers with an open-top driving experience.

Cadillac CTS Enters South African Market

The new and exciting Cadillac CTS (Compact Touring Sedan) has been released in South Africa by General Motors as an addition to the Cadillac range of the BLS, STS, and SRX models placed in the market over the past 18 months. This all-new luxury sports sedan fits neatly in between the BLS family sedan and the flagship STS and offers an ideal solution for buyers wanting to step up from an entry-level luxury sedan into a medium sized luxury vehicle.

“The Cadillac CTS becomes available in South Africa at the same time as it reaches dealerships in the UK and Europe,” says Alf Bennett, GMSA’s Premium Channel Manager. “The CTS is really in a market segment of its own and boasts technical innovation, dramatic exterior styling, a hand-crafted lavish interior, great performance and intelligent technology.”

Power comes from a 3,6 litre V6 direct injection petrol engine with variable valve-timing mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Maximum power is 229kW @ 6400 r/min with peak torque of 374Nm @ 5200 r/min. The silky smooth V6 red lines at 7000 r/min. This makes the Cadillac CTS good for acceleration from rest to 100 km/h in just 6,3 seconds and a top speed of 241 km/h. This is achieved with a combined fuel index of 11,1 l/100km.

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