NHTSA Tests New Crop of Vehicles

A host of 2014 vehicles have earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's five-star rating in crash tests, perhaps most notably the redesigned-for-2014 Cadillac CTS.

Both the rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of the CTS got an overall score of five in NHTSA's safety ratings. Both earned fives in frontal-crash tests and side-crash tests, and fours in rollover tests. Meanwhile, its compact sibling, the 2014 ATS, earned fives across the board for both the rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. Both the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of the 2014 XTS also earned an overall five-star score, with fives in frontal- and side-crash ratings and fours in rollover tests.

Other 2014 models joining NHTSA's five-star club earned fives in frontal- and side-crash ratings and fours in rollover tests. They included:

2014 Cadillac XTS: What's Changed

• Most significant changes: All-new twin-turbo V-6, automatic parking assist and Intellibeam automatic high-beam control system
• Price change: TBA
• On sale: Summer 2013
• Which should you buy, 2013 or 2014? Price will weigh heavily, but the twin-turbo engine is tempting

When the 2014 Cadillac XTS goes on sale later this summer, the large sedan will be what the automaker calls "one of the most technologically advanced production cars in the brand's history." Topping the list of upgrades is a new twin-turbo V-6 engine that's borrowed from the 2014 CTS sedan.

Cadillac said the optional twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6 is good for 410 horsepower and 369 pounds-feet of torque; that’s compared with the standard naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6's 304 hp and 264 pounds-feet of torque. The twin-turbo engine comes only with all-wheel drive while the standard V-6 comes with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The twin-turbo requires premium gas; fuel-economy figures have not yet been announced.

Cadillac Takes Self-Driving Tech to the Streets

Cadillac has tested its semiautonomous technology, Super Cruise, on closed courses and driving simulators, and now it could be coming to an interstate near you. Not for public use, of course — the technology won't be that far along until at least later this decade — but to take testing to the next level on real-world roadways. The automaker said that by the time testing is complete, researchers will have accumulated hundreds of thousands of driving miles in varied environments, including day and night, and weather and traffic conditions.

Super Cruise is capable of semi-automated driving, including hands-off lane following, braking and speed control under certain driving conditions. It is designed to ease the driver's workload on freeways, in bumper-to-bumper traffic and on long road trips, but still requires the driver to respond to external factors when prompted. The system uses lane-centering technology that relies on forward-looking cameras to detect lane markings and other sensors to recognize curves and other road characteristics; it also incorporates a series of alerts to communicate with the driver.

New Twin-Turbo V-6 Coming to 2014 CTS, XTS

When Cadillac takes the wraps off the redesigned 2014 CTS sedan later this month it will feature an all-new engine under the hood.

The company announced today that a turbocharged version of its 3.6-liter V-6 engine will power not only the new CTS but a version of the XTS large sedan as well.

The engine features two turbochargers and is certified by the Society of Automotive Engineers at 420 horsepower and 430 pounds-feet of torque and is teamed to an eight-speed automatic transmission. General Motors says it's the most powerful V-6 engine it has ever produced and will hit 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

The company compared the engine to the twin-turbo V-6 in BMW's 535i at 300 hp and 300 pounds-feet of torque as well as the twin-turbo V-8 in the 550i at 400 horses and 450 pounds-feet of torque.

While it may sound like chest beating, to us it sheds some light on the new CTS being squarely positioned at the midsize luxury class despite the current generation's price keeping it competitive with the BMW 3 Series. Cadillac debuted a smaller ATS last year to take on the 3 Series, so it seems like we'll see the CTS aiming its sights higher.

The 2014 CTS goes on sale this fall and will also be available with a non-turbocharged 3.6-liter V-6 as well as the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in the ATS.

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Curve Ball: How Automakers and Customers Adjust to New-Car Technology

A touch-screen multimedia system may already seem commonplace to some, but to car shoppers who bought their last vehicle five or 10 years ago operating even basic functions could feel like trying to get HAL 9000 to open the pod-bay doors.

With today's fast-advancing technology comes a learning curve to which new-car buyers must adapt. Capacitive-touch and voice-controlled multimedia systems have absorbed familiar climate knobs and audio control buttons. Automakers know there's a knowledge gap and are taking measures to ease the transition. Ford and GM are two of the companies working to shorten the learning curve — even for someone whose last car had crank windows. The next time you buy a car, prepare for some on-site training before you drive it off the lot.

Cadillac CUE to Get Update in March, Includes Apple Siri Integration

Cadillac's advanced multimedia system, called CUE for Cadillac User Experience, is about to get its first update since its 2011 introduction. The system, which centers around a large touch-screen with a haptic response "bump" when touched, has been both celebrated and criticized for its operation. In some vehicles it seems to work quite well, yet in others, testers have found it to be slow.

Whatever one's experience with it, it remains one of the more advanced systems on the market, and it is about to receive its first update, according to Wired magazine. But Cars.com has learned that the update is more than just a speed and performance enhancement. New functions will also be introduced to the system.

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek must've been awfully good this year, as the crossover will spend the Christmas holiday atop Cars.com's most-read reviews list for its sixth straight week. Newcomers to the list this week include the 2013 Toyota RAV4, the 2013 Toyota Avalon and the 2013 Cadillac XTS.

Check out what else was popular this week:

• 1. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
• 2. 2013 Toyota RAV4
• 3. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
• 4. 2013 Toyota Avalon
• 5. 2013 Ford Focus ST
• 6. 2013 Ford Escape
• 7. 2013 Nissan Altima
• 8. 2013 Cadillac XTS
• 9. 2013 Ford Fusion
• 10. 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In

Cars.com Family Reviews the 2013 Cadillac XTS

Cadillac's all-new full-size sedan, the 2013 XTS, is a tip of the automaker's hat to the big, easy luxury of the past, says Cars.com Family reviewer Courtney Messenbaugh. With a V-6 engine, this five-seater struts its best stuff when cruising on the highway. It easily handles family duty, too, with a spacious trunk and a cabin that has plenty of extras.

2013 Cadillac XTS Review

Black Friday: Best Cars for Serious Shoppers

A successful Black Friday shopping trip is all in the planning. Bargain hunters study store ads and websites as though they're cramming for a test, and now they have less time to do so as several major chains — Sears, Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us — will open their doors on Thanksgiving evening instead of 4 or 5 a.m. the Friday after Thanksgiving.

There's one thing that Black Friday shoppers can plan before the deal-laden store circulars arrive: which car to take.

Black Friday shoppers might think bigger is better — big SUVs, minivans — when it comes to picking a car for hauling all their bargains. They're not wrong, especially if they're hoping to bag a gigantic flat-screen TV at a low price. But nimble, small cars in busy parking lots shouldn't be left out of the Black Friday fun. Here are our top picks for Black Friday haulers.

Recall Alert: 2013 Cadillac XTS

General Motors is recalling 12,626 model-year 2013 versions of the new Cadillac XTS sedan due to problems with the rear seat head restraints, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were manufactured from Oct. 12, 2011, through Aug. 30, 2012, (check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb) and use head restraints that may not lock in the upright position, failing to comply with federal head restraint height safety standards. This could lead to an increased risk of head and neck injury in the event of a crash.

GM started notifying owners earlier this week, and dealers will replace the head restraints for free. Owners can call GM at 800-458-8006 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

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