Cadillac XTS

The Cadillac XTS is a full-size luxury sedan with an eye on the upper end of the German and Japanese luxury competition. One of Cadillac's range of new sedans, the XTS aims to continue the brand's return to its former "standard of the world" status. The XTS has recently been joined by the smaller ATS and mid-range CTS sedans.The XTS is a front- or all-wheel-drive sedan, intended as a replacement for the former DTS four-door. Derived from some of the same running gear as the Buick LaCrosse and upcoming 2014 Chevrolet Impala, the XTS promises full-size interior space that should keep Cadillac's hold on the town-car market strong, while its new Art & Science-themed styling brings it more into line with the current Cadillac family.

A size class larger than today's mid-size CTS, the XTS is initially offered with a single drivetrain, a 3.6-liter V-6 with 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. It's similar to the one coming in the 2014 Impala. Fuel economy is estimated at 17/28 miles per gallon for the front-drive XTS, while all-wheel-drive models should be rated at 17/27 mpg.

As for ride and handling, the XTS bridges the gulfbetween the old DTS and the crisper Caddys with a new suspension that features standard Magnetic Ride Control, an adaptive set of shocks that use a magnetically charged fluid that changes shock rigidity according to road conditions. Performance struts and Brembo brakes are also be included.
Cadillac says the XTS' interior space matches many full-size sedans, though its dimensions are be more comparable to some mid-size four-doors. In the rear seat, for example, the XTS has 40 inches of leg room--less than today's VW Passat but more than a short-wheelbase Jaguar XJ. The XTS' trunk is large, at 18 cubic feet, though it's down a few cubes on the storage bin on the Ford Taurus, which checks in at 20 cubic feet.

The XTS has some of GM's most advanced infotainment technology built into its cabin. It was the first Cadillac to offer CUE, which uses a fully capacitive touchscreen with proximity sensing and multi-touch gestures like those used with smartphones and tablets to control secondary functions. Though CUE has received some criticism for its complexity, Cadillac is alreadyplanning a range of updates to improve the experience.

Along with the in-cabin electronics, Cadillac is introducing new short and long range radar systems with the XTS. These systems are used for adaptive cruise control, front and rear automatic brakes, and rear cross traffic alert. Another new feature is a safety alert driver seat that vibrates to alert the driver. Combine these electronic safety features with the standard 10 air bags, and we can see Cadillac is looking to satisfy both the gadget loving and safety conscious crowd.