Merc1

Ready To Compete on a World Stage



I want to see everybody down at the cathedral with me tonight — praying." The Cadillac executive is nervous, and who can blame him? We're here in Germany to drive the all-new 2008 Cadillac CTS, and tomorrow he's going to turn us loose on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the 12.9-mile, 73-corner racetrack through the forest of the Eifel Mountains.

Cadillac engineers spent countless hours on this very track massaging the suspension, six-speed manual transmission and direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 of the substantially revised 2008 Cadillac CTS, and now they're confident enough to show us the result.

Our friend the Cadillac executive is less certain about the drivers, however. When he asks whether any of us have been to the track before, only a couple of hands go up. Ours is not among them. The worry lines on his forehead deepen. If he only knew how many virtual cars we've wadded up on the Nürburgring while trying to take Flugplatz flat-out with our Xbox video-game console....

Sweet Sixteen

Just in case anything gets pranged against a guardrail, we spend a few moments memorizing the new sheet metal of the 2008 Cadillac CTS. The angular design language is familiar, as is the 113.4-inch wheelbase, but there are some important changes.

Dominating the front is a striking grille inspired by the Cadillac Sixteen concept car. A strategically placed duct below the bumper increases the grille's overall vertical impression, so it has the prominent look so popular among German cars.

Meanwhile, aggressive fender flares visually indicate the track is 2.0 inches wider than before, and the contrast between the flares and the unchanged dimensions of the body give the CTS a new, considerably tougher stance.

As a whole, there are more chrome details and a flush, finished look to the bodywork, evidence of a new spirit of refinement.

Ironing Out the Suspension

This substantial 2.0-inch track increase improves handling, as it's easier to manage body roll and weight transfer. The new ZF Servotronic steering forward of the axle (a packaging measure largely related to the availability of all-wheel drive) improves steering precision.

Extensive use of aluminum for the front suspension reduces unsprung mass and improves weight distribution, a worthwhile attribute for high-speed handling on the Nürburgring. There's a front strut tower brace, and the new Bilstein dampers incorporate rebound springs.

There are now three suspension grades offered for the CTS. Base FE1 models feature Michelin P235/55R17 all-season tires and modestly specialized tuning for the Bilstein dampers and the stabilizer bars. The FE2 model adds a limited-slip differential, P235/50R18 all-season tires and stiffer stabilizer bars. Once you step up to the FE3 package, there are bigger brakes, aggressive damper valving (the rears have a self-leveling feature) and Michelin Pilot Sport summer performance tires.

'Ringing It Out

It all looks good on paper, and our rear-wheel-drive CTS in FE3 trim works well on the graffiti-covered asphalt of the Nordschleife.

An endless stream of corners through the trees proves the accuracy of the CTS's steering. Directional changes are suitably quick, yet the rear end of the CTS never slews off line. At the limit, the CTS hints at understeer, but the car responds willingly to a lift of the throttle for midcorner course corrections.

But for track work, the steering effort still feels a little light, probably a legacy of Cadillac's past preference for low-effort refinement rather than high-speed precision.

Three driver-adjustable settings for the stability control (Normal, Competitive and Off) are available to suit either your mood or skill level. Competitive mode proved just fine for on-track hustling, and it only intruded when we drove the racing line around the famously banked ditch at the Carousel.

This thing is fun. The CTS lives up to everything you expect from a car developed at the Nürburgring. It's so good, we're thinking the chassis can handle much more power. It'll get it, too, when the 500-horsepower CTS-V debuts for 2009.


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I'm not really feeling this car like I was back in January at Detroit, the interior especially. It just looks cheap and plain now.

M

CarGuy

I think it looks very bulky and solid. The front looks very aggressive and big like a shark's mouth. The overall shape from the side reminds me of the Lexus GS. The interior looks ok, but the center console reminds me somewhat of a Honda Civic. I also see a lot of elements from previous concept cars like the Cadillac Cien.

YoUhimhER

i can't believe i am saying this, but i was impressed by the first picture, the car actually looks good.
but the interior is sad.