The new Cadillac XTS Premium Sedan was uncovered just before the opening of the 2011 LA Auto Show this week. The newest addition to Cadillac’s short-reaching lineup is a much anticipated and needed vehicle to fill the gap that the outgoing STS and DTS sedans left. The new XTS features new technology innovation such as a new CUE (Cadillac User Experience) infotainment system, standard Magnetic Ride Control and an optional Haldex all-wheel-drive system with electronic limited-slip differential.
Cadillac’s new XTS is touted by GM to be the “most technologically advanced production car in history.” There is no doubt in my mind that they will accomplish this but the big-car question remains to be “at what cost?”
The new XTS, slated to hit showroom floors as early as Spring 2012, will be initially powered the 3.6-liter (LFX) 300 horsepower engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The same configuration will be available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive. The XTS will use Brembo brakes directly from the CTS-V. Interior dimensions are astounding providing 18 cubic-feet of trunk space (more than the Audi A8L) and 40-inches of rear seat legroom (more than the BMW 5 Series and Benz E-Class).
The Cadillac XTS will be taking its typical luxury midsized competitors head-on which will make for an interesting battle. Prices and options will be announced at a later date closer to launch.
Cadillac XTS Quick Highlights
- Advanced Haldex all-wheel-drive system with electronically controlled limited-slip differential
- Magnetic Ride Control, rear air suspension, HiPer Strut front suspension and Brembo brakes – all standard
- Standard 19-inch wheels and available 20-inch wheels
- Direct-injected 3.6L V-6 with lightweight features, including integrated cylinder heads/exhaust manifolds
- Capless fuel tank filler for easier, cleaner refueling
- Folding rear-seat headrests that enhance rear visibility
- Safety Alert Seat that vibrates to alert the driver
- Intervening braking system that lessens or avoids potential collisions
- Short- and long-range radar systems that support:
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Front and Rear Automatic Brakes
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Highlighted Safety Features
- Front and Rear Automatic Brakes – Using “virtual bumpers” that rely on short-range radar technology and ultrasonic sensors, this feature helps prevent front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that extends to complete braking if necessary. For example: If the vehicle is headed toward a small pillar inside a garage or a lamppost on a city street, the system will alert about the hard-to-spot item and stop the vehicle to help prevent an impact.
- Adaptive Cruise Control – Using radar technology, this feature can apply limited braking or acceleration to maintain a selected following distance to the vehicle ahead.
- Intelligent Brake Assist – Detects a panic-braking situation and assists the driver by applying brake force more quickly to help stop sooner.
- Forward Collision Alert – Radar and camera technology detects a possible collision threat and alerts the driver, giving him or her time to stop and/or change course.
- Safety Alert Seat – A vibration on either the left or right side of the driver’s seat cushion, depending on the location of the impending concern, alerts the driver to a potential collision threat.
- Automatic Collision Preparation – When the XTS senses a collision is imminent, braking is applied to lessen the severity or perhaps even enable the driver to avoid the incident.
- Lane Departure Warning – A camera-based lane detection system that warns the driver of unsignaled lane changes. The camera, mounted near the inside rearview mirror, identifies traffic lane markings and provides audible alerts or activates the Safety Alert Seat.
- Side Blind Zone Alert – Using radar sensors on both sides of the vehicle, the system “looks” for other vehicles in the blind zone areas of the XTS and indicates their presence with LED-lit symbols in the outside mirrors.
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert – Using radar sensors of the side blind zone alert system, it warns the driver of oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking spot – including angled parking. Visual and audible alerts are triggered if moving vehicles are detected.
- Adaptive Forward Lighting – With adaptive forward lighting, the headlamps swivel with direction of the front wheels to maintain forward lighting in concert with vehicle steering.
- Rear Vision Camera With Dynamic Guidelines – With a display in the center stack, the camera provides a view of objects directly behind the XTS, with dynamic guide lines laid over the video image to assist in parking maneuvers.
2013 CADILLAC XTS PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS:
Overview
| Model: | 2013 XTS FWD/AWD |
| Body style / driveline: | front-drive/all-wheel-drive, front-engine, four-door, five- passenger sedan |
| Construction: | integral |
| EPA vehicle class: | full-size sedan |
| Manufacturing location: | Oshawa, Ontario |
Engines
| Type: | 3.6L V-6 VVT DI |
| Displacement (cu in / cc): | 217 / 3564 |
| Bore & stroke (in / mm): | 3.7 x 3.37 / 94 x 85.6 |
| Block material: | aluminum |
| Cylinder head material: | cast aluminum |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC with four valves per cylinder; continuously variable valve timing |
| Ignition system: | individual coil-on-plug; individual cylinder knock control |
| Fuel delivery: | direct injection |
| Compression ratio: | 11.5:1 |
| Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm): |
300 / 224 @ 6800 (est.) |
| Torque (lb.-ft. / Nm @ rpm): | 264 / 358 @ 5300 (est.) |
| Recommended fuel: | regular unleaded |
| Emissions controls: | dual close-coupled catalysts and single underfloor catalyst; variable valve timing, evaporative system |
| Estimated fuel economy (city / hwy): | FWD: 17/28, AWD: 17/27 |
Transmission
| Type: | Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic |
| Application: | 3.6L V-6 |
| Gear ratios: (:1): | |
| First: | 4.48 |
| Second: | 2.87 |
| Third: | 1.84 |
| Fourth | 1.41 |
| Fifth: | 1.00 |
| Sixth: | 0.74 |
| Reverse: | 2.88 |
| Final drive ratio: | 2.77 |
Chassis / Suspension
| Suspension (front): | Hi Per strut coil-over-spring; twin-tube dampers with gas-charged valving; hollow direct-acting stabilizer bar |
| Suspension (rear): | Linked “H”-arm with air shocks and Magnetic Ride Control |
| Steering type: | hydraulic power; variable-effort rack-and-pinion |
| Steering ratio: | 15.3 |
| Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock: | 2.64 |
| Turning circle (ft / m): | 38.7/11.8 |
Brakes
| Type: | split, dual-circuit four-wheel-disc with power assist |
| Rotor diameter x thickness (in / mm): | front: 13.6 x 1.2 / 345 x 20 (vented) rear: 12.4 x 0.9 / 315 x 23 (solid) |
Wheels / Tires
| Wheel size and type: | 19-inch painted aluminum with chrome inserts 19-inch polished aluminum 20-inch premium-painted aluminum 20-inch polished aluminum with chrome inserts |
| Tires: | P245/45R19 all-season blackwall P245/40R20 all-season blackwall |
Dimensions
Exterior
| Wheelbase (in / mm): | 111.7 / 2837 |
| Overall length (in / mm): | 202 / 5131 |
| Overall width (in / mm): | 72.9 / 1851 |
| Overall height (in / mm): | 59.1 / 1501 |
| Track (in / mm): | front: 61.7 / 1567 rear: 62 / 1576 |
| Curb weight (lb / kg): | FWD: 3995/1812, AWD: 4180/1896 |
I nt erior
| Seating capacity: | 5 (2 front / 3 rear) |
| Headroom (in / mm): | front: 39 / 990 rear: 37.8 / 960 |
| Legroom (in / mm): | front: 42.1 / 1069 rear: 40 / 1016 |
| Shoulder room (in / mm): | front: 57.9 / 1470 rear: 56.3 / 1430 |
| Hip room (in / mm): | front: 55.1 / 1400 rear: 54.3 / 1379 |
Capacities
| EPA interior volume (cu ft / L): | 122.2 / 3458 |
| Passenger volume (cu ft / L): | 104.2 / 2949 |
| Cargo volume (cu ft / L): | 18 / 509 |
| Trailer towing maximum (lb / kg): | 1000 / 454 |
| Fuel capacity (gal / L): | 18.6 / 70.5 (FWD) 19.5 / 74.0 (AWD) |
| Engine oil (qt / L): | 5.5 / 5.2 |
| Cooling system ( qt / L): | 9.9 / 9.4 |
