2013 Cadillac XTS
Cadillac has spent the past few years re-establishing its high-end American bona fides by emphasizing the performance of its CTS and CTS-V. Both have been a hit for General Motors' upper-echelon marque, and their exploits on Germany's famed Nurburgring racetrack have been great fodder for more than a few TV commercials. Sadly, the classic luxury brand lacked one of the staples: a truly posh full-size 4-door. Not anymore, as the all-new XTS makes its world debut here at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Is it the world-beating luxury cruiser that will restore Caddy cool to an era devoid of it? Possibly.
More coverage from the Los Angeles Auto Show
2013 Cadillac XTS
2013 Cadillac XTS
2013 Cadillac XTS
2013 Cadillac XTS
What is it? The replacement for the departed STS sedan.
What's hot? Just about everything you can see, touch or speak to in the XTS is impeccable. Yes, we said "speak to." Cadillac's all-new Cue infotainment system is a quantum leap in auto/phone/audio technology designed to be as simple or complex as a user desires it to be. The leather interior is gorgeous, and the exterior styling mixes elegance and aggression in just the right balance.
What's not? Cadillac purists will turn up their noses at the XTS's V6 engine; it's not a V8, after all. Meanwhile, economy-minded types will turn their nose up when they learn that the direct-injected, designed-for-efficiency V6 is returning somewhere along the lines of 18 mpg city/28 mpg highway, by GM's estimate.
How much and when? Base price is estimated to be around $36,000; first deliveries will arrive in late spring 2012.
MSN Autos' verdict: It's cool, that's for sure. Beyond the bigness of it, the 2013 Cadillac XTS is a handsome piece of automotive design with a great interior only made better by the Cue system. As an alternative to the BMW 5 Series, it's intriguing, but we're not convinced that the style and poshness of the XTS will be able to lure performance-sedan drivers from foreign shores.
Watch Video: L.A. Auto Show Top 10
James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trendand European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.
