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• Cadillac To Unveil All-New 2003 Cadillac CTS At Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance
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News of  August 01, 2001

Cadillac To Unveil All-New 2003 Cadillac CTS At Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance

Cadillac CTS

Photo: GM

With styling beyond bold, the new 2003 CTS - the first 100 percent application of Cadillac's art and science approach to passenger car design - will make its debut Aug. 18th at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey, Calif.

CTS builds on Cadillac's 100-year tradition of engineering excellence and design innovation. Its chiseled body is lean, with sheer forms, sharp edges and crisp intersecting lines. The design philosophy hearkens back to a time when Cadillac routinely made bold design statements. This design heritage began in 1927 when Harley Earl, who later became General Motors' first design vice president, created the LaSalle as the smaller companion car to Cadillac.

"In our first century of existence, many memorable designs have set Cadillac apart from the other luxury cars in the crowd," said Mark R. LaNeve, Cadillac general manager. "CTS will turn heads in a segment that typically refines, rather than defines, automotive styling. It's a modern interpretation of the strikingly beautiful cars for which Cadillac became famous. In short, it's a classic Cadillac for the 21st century."

In addition to its expressive design, CTS connects to Cadillac's storied past with its performance. Built on an all-new rear-drive architecture, Cadillac's new performance sedan will be available with a manual transmission mated to a 3.2-liter V6 that powers it from 0-60 mph in less than seven seconds.

CTS also represents a sea change in Cadillac nomenclature. Although Cadillac has christened some of the most instantly recognizable car names in automotive history, the time has come for its vehicles to truly reflect the global presence of Cadillac.

"As part of our global initiative, this car will sell alongside other Cadillacs in showrooms in Europe and Asia," LaNeve said. "Customers in other parts of the world are accustomed to alphanumeric names for their vehicles, and, eventually, all our vehicles will have names that reflect our global nature."

Crafting a Design That Puts the 'Art' in 'Art and Science'

When GM began work on the CTS, it didn't want to do a 'me, too' design. The Cadillac design team gave CTS a look all its own - a look that's uniquely American. It reflects the current Cadillac design philosophy first showcased on the Evoq concept car, one that communicates American technology and science. From computer-generated forms to high-tech, aerospace-influenced materials and textiles, these designs will showcase technology and an overt expression of craftsmanship. For CTS, the result is a standout exterior design that features crisp intersections, a short front overhang and sharp edges that produce a diamond-like quality, yet in a clean, simple, uncluttered presentation.

The CTS design team had two objectives for the profile view: Use the feature line as the dominant theme, and accentuate the stance of the vehicle. The rear track of CTS is a fixed design point, as is the fender flare. The vehicle sides were tucked in slightly to enhance that flare for a more tailored look. The sail panel also enhances the "fast formal" look, giving CTS a sportier appearance.

Simple but dramatic, the hood kicks up into the fender line for a sweeping, dynamic look Cadillac's traditional vertical headlights and taillights first appeared on Cadillacs in 1965. CTS' integrated headlights convey the high-tech image of optical instruments and high-end camera lenses. Thin and tall, they create more space for the large louvered egg-crate grille - another Cadillac staple, this one dating back to 1934. The shield-shaped grille houses the new wreath and crest and has a V-shaped bottom. The rear view complements the front, with a full-color wreath and crest on the center line and a full-width V-shaped CHMSL.

The interior provides all the amenities that luxury customers have come to expect, with the emphasis on comfort and convenience. It makes use of warm, rich, inviting materials and colors, using wood only in areas where the customer will contact it, such as on the steering wheel, shifter knob and door pulls. Interior designers evaluated different interior possibilities to determine how best to optimize harmony and customer accommodations. The emphasis is on craftsmanship and contemporary luxury.

New Powertrain and Nürburgring Chassis Development Brings Performance to Run With the World's Best In developing the new Cadillac CTS into a true world-class sports sedan, General Motors engineers benchmarked the competition's best, including the BMW 528i sedan and tested where they test. CTS required bold performance to match its exterior design.

Designed from the ground up with an exclusive rear-wheel-drive architecture, dubbed Sigma, the new CTS was tested extensively and refined on the most challenging race circuit in the world, Germany's famed Nürburgring.

The new 3.2-liter V6 powering CTS in North America is a completely re-engineered version of the 3.0-liter V6 in its predecessor. The engine makes 220 hp at 6000 rpm and 218 lb-ft of torque at 3400 rpm. The engine has been fully revised to improve driveability, power, torque and emissions. While most V6 engines use a 60-degree inclination, the CTS team chose a 54-degree bank angle to accommodate the packaging requirements of CTS. The 54-degree angle between the cylinder banks is unique among GM four-camshaft V6s. This compact packaging makes it appropriate for both transverse and longitudinal applications.

The engine is mated to either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. The five-speed manual from Getrag, evidence of Cadillac's commitment to making CTS a true driver's car, uses a rod-actuated shift linkage and is characterized by its durability, its smoothness and its accurate shift feel. Once the Getrag unit was decided upon, the CTS team began adapting it for service and to meet the quiet operation required in a Cadillac.

The five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, the 5L40-E Hydra-Matic, is a first for GM. The same transmission is also used in the BMW 5 Series and X5 SUV. A state-of-the-art transmission, the light and compact 5L40-E features a full complement of advanced electronic control capabilities. These include a shift mode button that allows the driver to select between "Sport," "Winter" and "Economy" modes, shift patterns that adapt to driving conditions and driver style, traction control capability, engine torque management during shifts, and powertrain protection capabilities. Another electronic feature is also a first for GM: engine braking in all five gears, giving the automatic the same sporty feel as a downshifting manual. The 5L40-E also has the unique ability, in Sport mode, to identify high-performance inputs from the driver and hold a gear indefinitely through a corner after the driver's foot is lifted off the accelerator pedal.

Quality as a Selling Point

When you're benchmarking the best, you have to match their quality as well, otherwise the rest is a moot point. With that in mind, Cadillac has set out to build CTS to be the best it can be, taking advantage of its new architecture, and its brand new, state-of-the-art $560 million assembly plant, Lansing Grand River (LGR) in Lansing, Mich.

The Sigma architecture has been especially designed for rear-wheel drive vehicles, and can accommodate all-wheel drive as well. It's a robust, versatile foundation for CTS.

LGR, GM's first new assembly plant in the United States since 1986, brings the best manufacturing practices from around the world to one facility. GM sought input from its United Auto Workers partners in the design of tools and equipment for the plant to help enhance ergonomics and performance. GM is committed to a collaborative partnership with the UAW Local 652 in helping to implement manufacturing processes that will enhance both quality and competitiveness. The plant is projected to employ 1,500 people once it is fully operative.

"Lansing Grand River is a world-class facility, which will help us realize the vision of making CTS the world-class car it was designed to be," said LaNeve. "The CTS is very significant, but it's just the beginning. Our Centennial year is upon us, and more exciting products will follow CTS into the marketplace in the very near future."

(July 30, 2001)

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