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2003 Cadillac CTS Sports Sedan
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Inside a spacious cabin crafted for five passengers, the exterior theme of chiselled forms and angular features is expressed in a monochromatic treatment on CTS that looks contemporary. Analog instruments and the dashboard center stack of controls borrow the clean and compartmental look of a personal computer, as warm materials like leather-clad seats contrast against the high-tech demeanor of a cool computer.
Extensive safety measures apply, including air bags surrounding front-seat riders and stretching like curtains in concealment above front and rear side windows.
All CTS sedans destined for North America draw from a V6 engine produced by General Motors at Ellesmere Port in England. It displaces 3.2 liters and makes 220-hp at 6,000 rpm and torque numbers of 218 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm.
Standard transmission is a manual five-speed by Getrag with dual-mass flywheel added to isolate engine torque pulses and smooth the neutral gear rattle.
Also available is a sophisticated four-speed electronic automatic transmission out of a GM plant in Strasbourg, France. This shifter, which also appears in deluxe BMW products, adds driver-selection toggles for "Sport," "Winter" and "Economy" modes.
Three issues of CTS segment by tone through equipment and suspension tuning. The base edition and a version with luxury gear added skew toward the plush end of motoring while CTS with a sport package has firm suspension settings and StabiliTrak controls.
Base MSRP for CTS comes in at $29,990, but the typical transaction price is projected for $35,565.
