Sometimes when you are following a big strategic plan for change, like Cadillac has been, the temptation to avoid especially risky change, even if the plan calls for it, can be overwhelming. So when the division’s perennial sales volume leader’s turn for a refresher came along, it was understandably unnerving for many executives at G.M.
For many years in Detroit there was an ‘if it ain’t boke – don’t fix it’ approach to many of the vehicle design treatments. This predictably led to outdated looking vehicles. In new global order of the automotive industry, if you don’t stay fresh – you loose market share. There have been many very sound, highly competent cars brimming with the latest technology which have failed because they could not evoke excitement from the outside.
Luckily, Cadillac began addressing their aging stigma a few years back when it introduced the edgy signature design scheme which has made G.M.’s once-stodgy nameplate a newly hip destination for young buyers. Of course, saving the DeVille, Cadillac’s biggest seller, (with the oldest client base) for the last of the cars getting a refresher was as much about taking a leap of faith in the new design scheme as it was about finishing the job they set out to do five years ago.
The result for the DeVille, now called the DTS, was a distinctive change in the exterior styling while still offering up the luxury, technology and reliability which made it the best-seller at Cadillac.
Depending on where you first look, the DTS offers a couple distinctive features which help it fall in step with the edgy style of the Cadillac lineup. I especially like the clean lines at the back of the car and the LED tail lights that span the trunk lid. These are clean lines which make bold statements. Helping usher the DTS into the new age is the attractive front grille treatment.
Some things you just don’t mess with (interest rates, card houses, Leroy Brown, etc...) and thankfully Cadillac engineers didn’t mess around with the engine and transmission.
The DTS delivers the solid 4.6-liter V8 Northstar (279 hp) and the same front-wheel-drive platform from the previous generation DeVille. I like the Northstar’s power and proven performance, though I’d like to see a 5-speed transmission doling out more concise shifts down the line.
Chassis technology includes StabiliTrak stability control with Brake Assist and Magnetic Ride Control. The cabin is extremely quiet and the ride is especially smooth thanks to the adopted Corvette-inspired technology.
While the exterior was minimally refreshed, the interior is totally new. A Bulgari-inspired wristwatch clock treatment is a wonderful focal point for the new-age dash. There are no more digital readouts on the instrument panel (remember when those were the edge of technology?). Available interior features include DVD navigation, XM Satellite Radio and MP3 player capability. OnStar is also included.
The DTS offers a roomy cabin with plush luxury amenities. It is what you expect when you buy a Cadillac, and the DTS delivers on every whim.
Cadillac’s other calling card has always been technology, and the DTS is no exception. Offering intelligent headlights that automatically dim when a car is oncoming, front and rear ultra-sonic parking assist as well as a radar-based adaptive cruise control, the DTS quite literally goes one step closer to driving itself.
If you have ever spent a Chicago winter morning warming up the car (and the leather seats) then, like me, you must be a fan of the remote start feature that not only fires up the engine but also sets the cabin temperature. If the windshield is cold, sensors alert the defroster and seat heaters. Back-seat passengers will appreciate the available heated seats. And if you have ever emerged from a day at the zoo or Great America to a sweltering car cabin, the DTS’ sensors also react to hot interiors by turning on the AC.
Six airbags are standard: front, side-impact and side curtain. The front airbags will deploy at two different levels based on the driver's seating position and whether the driver is belted.
Starting at $41,195 with great standard equipment, the DTS is predictably solid at every turn. There are several euipment add-ons which can take the final price to just over $50,000. |
