2014 Cadillac CTS Preview: New York International Auto Show

The 2014 Cadillac CTS is the third and final piece (flagship notwithstanding) of the luxury brand’s recent sedan restructuring.  The new Cadillac CTS slots in between the compact ATS and the full-size XTS – both introduced last year – and it rides on a new, slightly larger platform to help it face off against mid-size rivals from BMW and Audi on more event terms.  Make no mistake, however: Cadillac did not merely ape the dimensions of its European competitors but rather worked to create an alternative premium car family for those of the more domestic bent.  In addition to its larger dimensions, the 2014 Cadillac CTS also gains a pair of new engine options and a new high performance trim.

What’s New for the 2014 Cadillac CTS:

• All-new platform
• Two new engines
• Eight-speed automatic transmission
• Vsport high performance model
• Stretched in almost every dimension to better fill mid-size role
• CUE interface

New 2014 Cadillac CTS: Styling and Design

The 2014 Cadillac CTS expands the brand’s Art and Science design language without straying too far from the template set by the smaller Cadillac ATS.  A bolder front grille avoids the overly-toothy look of the full-size XTS while still speaking to the additional size of the CTS.  Large LED running lights define the edges of the sedan’s front fascia, and the rear of the car comes across as more understated than the previous model, with twin exhaust pipes tucked discretely under the bumper and the trunk lid calling to mind the long-departed early-2000s STS.  The Cadillac is also roughly 200 lbs lighter than the previous model, depending on which trim level is ordered.

Inside, the 2014 Cadillac CTS gets the full CUE treatment, which means most its control surfaces have been replaced by a combination touchscreen / touch panel on the center stack.  The vehicle’s seats are now more supportive, and despite being listed as just over half-an-inch smaller in terms of rear legroom, the car’s packaging defies its numbers and provides ample interior space for passengers and offers better comfort than the model that precedes it.

New 2014 Cadillac CTS: What’s Under the Hood

The 2014 Cadillac CTS takes a big step forward in the drivetrain department thanks to the availability of two new turbocharged engines to complement its carry-over V-6.  Base model CTS sedans are now motivated by the same 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder unit that can also be found in the ATS, and in the larger Cadillac it generates an identical 272 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.  A 3.6-liter V-6 that puts out 321 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque is available in mid-tier editions of the car.  The four-cylinder is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, as is the all-wheel drive version of the V-6.

The rear-wheel drive V-6 model makes use of the eight-speed automatic transmission (complete with paddle shifters) that is the exclusive gearbox for the new Vsport trim level.  The CTS Vsport is where performance fans will find a beastly twin-turbo, 3.6-liter V-6 that churns out 420 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque.  Intended to be an extension of the V brand that Cadillac has built via the V-8 powered CTS-V, the Vsport also comes with a magnetically controlled suspension system, Brembo brakes, enhanced engine cooling, faster steering, and an electronic limited-slip rear differential.

New 2014 Cadillac CTS: Features and Technology

In addition to the introduction of the CUE interface, it’s also possible to order an LCD gauge display in the 2014 Cadillac CTS to replace the traditional analog speedometer.  A raft of safety equipment has also been loaded into the car, including automatic braking both front and rear, the safety alert vibrating seat technology (to transmit information from the blind spot monitoring system as well as notify drivers of potential forward collisions), adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and in some markets a pedestrian detection system.  The Vsport model also gains a driver-selectable track mode for the suspension and electronic stability control systems.

New 2014 Cadillac CTS: What Autobytel Thinks

The up-sized 2014 Cadillac CTS doesn’t make as big a splash as the ATS did, but what it does do is better position the mid-size luxury sedan within its segment.  The car’s lines are now more mature, it’s interior is more comfortable, and the availability of the CUE interface ups the technology quotient of what will be Cadillac’s best-selling four-door automobile.  The Vsport trim is a definite surprise, and although Cadillac wasn’t clear as to the fate of the fire-breathing CTS-V model, one can hope that the expansion of the V family to include a less potent, but still powerful sibling won’t affect the evolution of the high performance sedan.