In sedan, coupe or sport wagon form, the Cadillac CTS has set the new standard in the luxury market for design, performance and passenger comfort. Arriving later this summer, the 2012 model year versions deliver even more power and offer a new Touring Package.
The Cadillac CTS model line, which offers three distinct body styles, two V6 engines and the incomparable high-performance CTS-V models, beckons the luxury buyer with an enticing array of features for 2012. The available 3.6-liter V6 gains power and loses some weight, to take the already exhilarating CTS driving experience to a new level.
Cadillac customers appreciate attention to detail, and they’ll find it in the redesigned front grille, the bold face of a boldly designed machine. Premium finishes set off the new grille frame and mesh combination. If the Cadillac Wreath & Crest badge looks more vivid, that’s due to the sharper colors and raised ridges between colors that give it a three-dimensional appearance.
Think of the redesigned grille as an announcement of what lurks behind it: The enhanced available 3.6-liter V6 engine. The original 3.6 twice landed on the “10 Best Engines” list of the noted automotive trade publication Ward’s, which praised it for “laudable low-end torque and effortless power delivery.” There’s even more to praise for 2012, as numerous engineering upgrades have increased output to 318 hp (up from 304) and torque to 275 lb/ft (up from 273). The driver will feel the difference in performance, but will not pay more at the pump for it; the 2012 CTS 3.6-liter models will retain the same admirable 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway ratings as the 2011 versions, and they’ll do it using Regular gasoline, not the more expensive Premium fuel required by several competing modes.
That’s more power than the 3.5-liter engine available in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class models. The engineering changes that help make the CTS 3.6-liter models more powerful also enhance engine smoothness and durability and reduce engine weight by about 20 pounds. For technophiles who enjoy poring over specification sheets, the changes include larger intake valves and an improved intake port design, revised intake camshafts, an integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold design, a new composite intake manifold, a lighter-weight structural front cover and lighter-weight, high-strength connecting rods.
A new Touring Package available for the CTS enhances the line’s international flavor, outside and inside. The Touring Package grille features an exclusive dark finish. When ordered on a CTS 3.0-liter model, the Touring Package adds 18-inch wheels with a pearl-nickel finish; CTS 3.6-liter models with this package get 19-inch polished wheels.
The Touring Package includes Recaro-brand 14-way adjustable performance seats, which feature luxurious suede inserts matched on the steering wheel and shift handle. The sporty theme continues with metal-trimmed pedals and dark Sapele wood interior trim.
Finally, all Cadillac CTS models for the 2012 model year gain standard Bluetooth phone integration. The 2012 CTS coupe, one of the most stunning designs on the road, will offer available Side Blind-Zone Alert technology.
The Cadillac CTS sedan, coupe and sport wagon continue to offer a segment-leading combination of performance, luxury and standout design for 2012. While other luxury brands seem to mimic each other’s designs, nothing else on the road looks like a Cadillac CTS. Each model embodies the “New Standard of the World” approach to luxury. That includes the Cadillac Shield, which comprises Premium Care Maintenance (covers most factory recommended maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles), a five-year/100,000-mile, no deductible, Transferable Limited Powertrain Warranty (30,000 miles more than Lexus and 50,000 miles more than BMW and Mercedes-Benz) and the Cadillac four-year/50,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty, which includes towing to the nearest Cadillac dealership, if necessary. All Cadillac warranty benefits are fully transferable with no deductible. Cadillac Shield, which also includes corrosion protection and 24/7 Roadside Assistance, the most comprehensive package of customer-care benefits among luxury brands.
Watch for further information on the 2012 Cadillac CTS models, and make a note to come in and see them later this summer.
