A couple of years ago, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Cadillac was having a nice little press conference. At the end, it was announced they had one more surprise that had somehow evaded detection by the bloodhound automotive media. Visions of a new flagship sedan came to mind just before we could see the nose of a CTS. That wasn’t very exciting. But, then this stunningly beautiful two-door coupe rolled onto stage and began to rotate on a turntable. This was a surprise, indeed – better than Christmas. As this prints, the CTS Coupe is rolling into dealerships nationwide.
“CTS Coupe is a compelling new alternative for luxury and performance-minded drivers,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “The addition of a Coupe, especially one this dramatic, provides an important entryway for new consumers to experience Cadillac Art and Science.”
The CTS Coupe is kinda like a mullet: All business in the front, but a party in the back. Not quite as radical as the CTS Sportwagon, the coupe is still a nice piece of design. A lower roofline, shorter body, and wider track than the sedan give the coupe an aggressive stance. Corvette-style touchpads are used to open the doors for a sleek appearance. Hard top styling that dispenses with the conventional center pillar is a classic touch while large alloy wheels and center-exiting exhaust pipes propel the car into the future.
As with CTS sedans, coupes will come stoked with power to propel them nearly straight up. The base engine is a smooth direct injection (DI) 3.6-litre V6 that produces 304 horsepower. Step up to the CTS-V Coupe to wallow in the 556 horsepower produced by its supercharged 6.2-litre V8 that is basically a de-tuned version of the rocket propellant stashed under Corvette ZR-1 hoods. Judging from the sedan, drivers will find sweet joy stomping the fun out of the coupe.
Since the current-generation CTS debuted, Cadillac earned a reputation for providing highly-crafted interiors with quality leather and wood. Standard CTS coupes have stitched coverings for the dash, doors, and center console. CTS-V models are even more luxurious with suede and leather covering almost everything. Heated steering wheels are available. Everything you touch or smell will likely have come from some portion of a cow, tree, or chrome plant.
Beyond top-grade materials, the CTS Coupe comes loaded with high-tech toys. Bluetooth phone connectivity, USB ports to connect iPODs to the cars controls, Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround audio, and an on-board 40 GB hard drove flash the electrons. Glide-up navigation screens, dual-zone, automatic climate control, and OnStar add convenience and comfort. Safety is enhanced with dual front, side, and side curtain airbags – not to mention a rear vision camera.
Sophisticated performance will not stop at the engine block. Buyers will have a choice of six-speed automatic or manual transmissions. The automatic with manual gear selection mode is smooth and works great to get the most of available power. However, and you better buy the CTS-V with it, the manual transmission is really the fun one to handle. Rear and all-wheel-drive configurations will be available to tame city streets and fast road tracks. Brembo Disc Brakes and Magnetic Ride Control on the CTS-V work as they do on Corvettes to provide incomparable performance with civil on-road comfort. These are cars that can be driven hard, but enjoyed completely on very long trips and while running household errands.
“CTS Coupe is designed to bring new energy and allure to the luxury coupe category,” Butler said. “In addition to the emotional appeal of its design, CTS Coupe delivers advanced technology and world-class performance.”
Providing peace of mind, and the level of service Cadillac customers expect, the luxury division announced that owners of all 2011 models will be provided frequently required maintenance service at no cost for the first four years or 50,000 miles. Provided customers take GM up on the offer, they can be assured of many years of faithful service. The CTS’ Lansing, MI assembly plant topped all U.S. plants in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Initial quality Survey. Additionally, the CTS ranked in the top 10 of all vehicles in the quality survey. It has earned a spot on Car and Driver’s coveted Ten Best list for three straight years.
Cadillac made a good effort with the first-generation CTS, but it never quite reached the level of a Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3-Series, or Audi A4. This generation of CTS models, available as a sedan, wagon, and now a coupe, proves Cadillac is dead serious about making no excuses. These are fine automobiles, comparable to anything in their class. However, the new coupe’s styling is beyond compare and will make grown men vibrate like teenagers. Prices start at $39,990 for V6 coupes or $62,990 for the CTS-V coupe.
