Production XTS Sedan revealed today at LAIAS.

[Rich S]

FYI:  Today, at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, Cadillac Motor Division introduced the production version of the XTS Sedan (previously only shown as a concept) and although there are some changes from the concept, it very closely resembles the concept vehicle. Here is the link to the Cadillac site:

http://www.cadillac.com/xts-luxury-sedan.html

and more:

http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Nov/1116_xts_overview

Note the addition of a small window in the C-pillar area. There is a Platinum trim level available (with ultra plush leather and a suede headliner), all-wheel-drive and the 3.6 liter Direct Injection V-6, magnetic ride control suspension and Cadillac's class-leading CUE infotainment system, among other outstanding safety features. Although we love our bigger old Cadillacs, this car was largely shaped to help achieve the government mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.

[Davidinhartford]

Sigh..... no cornering lamps.   

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

Sorry but I don't like it.  Same "jelly bean" shape as a hundred other
sedans.  Reminds me of an old Ford Tarus.

The last one I really liked was the DTS that was discontinued this year.
Now that is one that I will look for as a "used car" in a couple years for
a daily driver.  It looked like a Cadillac should.

Maybe I'm jaded but Cadillac has to do better to get my $$$$ for something
new.  BTW, I DO like the Escalade and I have one, but the wife needs
a car like the DTS as she doesn't like "trucks" as she calls them.  Her Seville
SLS is getting a little long in the tooth.

Mike

[Roger Zimmermann]

The front end and rear are OK, I don't like the form of the roof. I'm glad I bought a '11 DTS!
Anyway, I hope that Cadillac can sell a lot of them, the suvival of the brand needs it.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Unfortunately, it seems like Cadillac in it's infinate wisdom has been producing a line of cars that they want their customers to want, rather than providing cars the customers actually do want.  I too was looking forward to the "announced" rebirth of the DTS in a rear wheel drive version. 
Guess that I'll keep my old cars running another couple of decades.
Greg Surfas

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

The trouble these days with vehicle designs is that once all the parameters have been met, that is the Pollution, Aerodynamics, "Pedestrian Friendly" and Financial, they all look the same.

Never again will we see the masses of chrome, protrusions and personally designed shapes and features, that make a vehicle stand out, because the base Dollar wins all the time.

The only way odd stuff can be installed is at the rear, where pedestrians cannot be impaled, but then, these days, the speeding cyclists have to be taken into account.    Can't have their intestines being torn out by sharp rearward-facing fins.

Take Robots and Computers away, and only then will cars be built by humans to what humans want.

The best way for us, the buying public, to get cars we want, is to not buy the ones the makers are selling us, and tell them why.

Bruce.

[Series75]

Sometimes seeing something new in person changes your degree of like/dislike.   I sure hope I say, wow it's huge.   If not I believe it will be disappointing.    I like my extended wheelbase Cadillac DES, it's proportions look "natural" for Cadillac's largest sedan but even these cars lack the affiliation with the great Cadillac lineage.
Unfortunately, the last traditional Cadillac sedan produced was the 1999 Fleetwood Limited and the new XTS appears to fall way short of BOLD styling delivered years ago.   
PS:   for those of us whom cherish our classic Cadillacs I hope you agree that I can't wait until model naming with 3 letters is out of vogue.
Tom CLC # 6866

[jock82]

I really don't like this thing.  I hate the roof line and that ugly cab forward design.
I hope they sell a lot of them for Cadillac's sake.  But I won't be buying one.  I'm glad I bought a DTS last year.   It reminds of a Hyundai, or whatever.  I hate these jelly bean shaped cars.  That roofline makes the car look like an economy car.  I have 3 Cadillacs, DTS, 1994 Concours, and a 1989 Sedan de Ville, and a 1976 Olds 98.  At least these cars look like luxury cars.
     .

[robailey]

I might own one someday but I will let the price drop $20,000 or so. I really think I have owned my last "new" car. I would love to find a 2009-10 STS. I also cant wait until cars have names. It hasn't been the same since we lost our beloved DeVille

[Antoni Deighton]

Bruce,
I agree with you!!! We no longer drive cars, but appliance-like transportation pods. Regulation and aerodynamics have removed every last vestige of design from the automobile.
I love my old cars. The other day I was driving one of my old caddies, and a kid (about six years old) was staring out of the back seat window of his econo-blob at it in fascination. Even without knowing what it was, he recognized it was a car with presence and design.
I hope that we can inspire future generations to return to good-old-fashioned car design!
Antoni

[Aaron Hudacky]

I agree that the XTS doesn't look like a Cadillac should and that the name is annoying because it isn't really a name. What does XTS stand for? STS, SLS, ETC, ESC, DTS, and CTS made sense although I thought Seville, Eldorado, deVille and even Catera were more memorable names.

Integrating the exhaust manifold with the head sounds like a great cost saving idea, but I'm curious how it will impact longevity. Building a basic V6 sedan and expecting it to sell at a high profit margin because it has a trendy infotainment system and AWD sounds like a recipe for lightning quick depreciation.

New cars don't have to be ugly. The Mustang, Camaro, Challenger and newest 300C show that. The irony is that now, the more affordable Camaro has better proportions than any new Cadillac, has the same V6 engine that comes in many Cadillacs but still undercuts the Cadillac variant by over $20k. Sure, the Cadillac has a nicer interior. For that price difference, I want better proportions, styling, interior, and an exclusive engine, not a "corporate" engine with exclusive fuel mapping.

I agree with Bruce regarding consumer complacency. In the 70s, consumers sued GM for putting Chevrolet engines in Oldsmobiles. It is unfortunate Olds is dead and now many people think its ok for a Cadillac to have a Chevy engine, as long as the brand logo is huge and surrounded with chrome plated plastic. 

[Terry Wenger]

The XTS looks like more of the same old styling with a different roof. Now if they took the Ciel and made a sedan out of it, they would have a luxury car. Those clean sides remind one of the 60's Fleetwoods. They have even brought back curved surfaces. Imagine a Ciel sedan, in black or dark blue with red leather interior or dark maroon with a dark saddle tan leather or real tan broadcloth!


Terry Wenger

[C.R. Patton II]

Fellow Members

I may be a neanderthal but I agree with the chances that the Cadillac design engineers are taking in this global market.

You can't hope to meet the challenges of today with yesterday's tools and expect to be in business tomorrow.

The V16, 60 Special and my beautiful LaSalle were worth the risk. Evolution is the penalty of leadership and success is the result.

Cadillac is the Standard of the World.

[Davidinhartford]

I think Cadillac is playing it safe and just making the XTs nothing more than a big CTS.  The CUE infotainment system is clearly geared towards the iphone generation. 

I think however that Cadillac has missed an opportunity to make everyone one happy.    DTS owners (and former Fleetwood Deville owners) want an impressive looking car.    We have ALL been begging Cadillac for several years to build us a sedan with styling influenced by the Sixteen showcar.   Long hood, short deck, chromed exhaust ports on the bumper ends like they had in the 50s.  you know;  "stylish".




The XTS doesn't even have cornering lamps.    Cadillac even pioneered them in 1962!    By the early 80s you could order them on just about every car made from Dodge 600s, Ford Taurus to Monte Carlos.    The DTS was the last Cadillac made with them.   So sad.      I guess the marketing group thinks foglamps are better even though most of us only use them a few times a year.   Forgot about the fact I use my cornering lamps several times a night on my way home from work.    They are sooo practical lighting my way into my dark driveway.  Not to mention when making a lane change at night.    Nothing like throwing a blinding beam of light into the lane next to you to warn that fool along side of you that you are swinging Port, not Starboard.   

I lamented the loss of the fiber optic lamp monitors.   But the addition of the Signal mirrors (red arrows in the outside mirrors)  kinda made up for part of the loss.    I still miss the glow of the amber and white indicators on the fender ends and the twin red bat eyes glowing at you in the rear view mirror.

I don't mind progress.    But going backwards p*sses me off.

[RobW]

When I first saw the current hyundai sonata I thought they were copying mercedes. When I look at this caddy it looks like they're copying hyundai!

[Series75]

I hate that Cadillac has made me feel awfull about saying this  but...................have you seen the cool interior features on the Hyundai Equus?   Why didn't Cadillac pioneer this stuff?    Tom CLC#6866

[Don Boshara #594]

The Cue infotainment gadget has me wondering: When does one have time to drive the car?

[Rich S]

Here is a link to an informative video of a presentation at the San Francisco International Auto Show featuring the "base model" 2013 Cadillac XTS Sedan (the other previous links showed the "Platinum Edition") and this one is a lighter color, which I find accentuates the design better than the other pictures:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J7rrVHIxNU

Although the grandeur of the old Cadillacs is unmatched, it looks as though the XTS will be an important contemporary model to carry on the Cadillac traditon of fine luxury sedans!

[Davidinhartford]

Ooooo!    I like it in the gold color very much!       And the lighted exterior door handles are a nice touch.   I'm guessing they must light up when you hit the unlock button on your remote.

[Mr. Landyacht]

I Just ordered a premium XTS for delivery in 3 mos. I'let you know how it works out.