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.

Rear Entertainment Systems Trump Tablets for Larger Families

Many have said the age of the in-car rear entertainment system is over. It's all about tablets such as the iPad or Kindle Fire in the car these days.

I disagree. I have three kids and one tablet, and unless I buy two more tablets, which are pricey, the kids have to share. That won't go well. Let's say I do buy a couple of tablets. Sometimes I forget things. Sometimes my children forget things. What happens when only two out of three of the kids remember their tablet? Or only one out of three? There's a lot of whining. There are tears. No good.

For my family, for now, a factory-installed rear entertainment system is our best choice. I'm not alone. GM spokesman Fred Ligouri says demand for the Buick Enclave's rear entertainment system has remained around 25% since the three-row crossover's introduction in model-year 2008. The iPad debuted in 2010.

Cadillac Extends Certified Pre-Owned Coverage

Cadillac announced new coverage limits Monday on its certified pre-owned cars, with a full bumper-to-bumper warranty extending to six years or 70,000 miles from when the car was new. That's two years and 20,000 miles past the brand’s previous CPO policy, which extended just four years or 50,000 miles. The program also includes 24-hour roadside assistance and three months' OnStar and Satellite radio service.

Shoppers can also purchase Cadillac's Premium Care Maintenance, which covers oil changes, tire rotations and other routine maintenance, for $399, Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell confirmed. Premium Care Maintenance is standard on new Cadillacs but was previously unavailable on CPO cars.

The brand’s program falls short of BMW's six-year, 100,000-mile CPO bumper-to-bumper policy; both brands employ simple caps that apply no matter when you buy the car. Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Audi also have 100,000-mile warranty limits, but their yearly limits vary depending on when you buy the car.

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.

Why Luxury Sales Could Thrive in 2013

Leather-clad luxury cars may seem the domain of an affluent few. After all, this year's best-selling luxury car through March — the Mercedes-Benz C-Class — ranked 51st among all cars. But the group may be poised for a comeback. Total sales improved 12.3% in the first three months of 2013, outpacing the industry's 6.4% gain. By year's end, one in every 7.5 new cars sold in 2013 could be a luxury model.

That would buck a trend several years in the making. Luxury cars, including Buick, hovered around 13% of the new-car market from 2005 to 2010. In 2011 that share slid to 12.9%, and in 2012 it tumbled to 12.6%.

It seemed counterintuitive, given the wealthy are alive and well.

NHTSA: 2013 Cadillac SRX, 2014 Scion tC Earn Five-Star Rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the results of a new crop of tests, including some updated-for-2014 vehicles.

All-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive versions of the 2013 Cadillac SRX earned the agency's highest rating, an overall five stars. Its composite score is made up of four stars in front and rollover tests and a five in side crash testing. The model-year 2012 version also scored five stars, although it earned a five in front crash tests. For 2013, the compact crossover got some light exterior styling and interior updates and Cadillac communications spokeswoman Jordana Strosberg told Cars.com that "the SRX interior was modified for 2013 and our score was fractionally different."

Scion's updated-for-2014 tC coupe also earned an overall score of five stars, a repeat of last year's safety rating. Model-year 2014 versions of the tiny Scion iQ and subcompact Ford Fiesta were also tested; both received four stars overall. Sedan and hatchback versions of the Fiesta were lightly updated for 2014. Model-year 2013 versions of the Fiesta were also rated at four stars; the 2013 iQ hadn’t yet been tested.

Editor's note: This post was updated on April 23 with comments from a Cadillac representative.

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Talkin' 'Bout Regeneration: Cadillac ELR Lets Driver Harness Power

A new feature set to debut next year on the Cadillac ELR puts control over energy regeneration in the driver's hands. Equipped with the Regen on Demand system, the extended-range electric compact luxury coupe uses paddle shifters that enable the driver to temporarily control the regenerative braking system, which captures and stores braking energy in the battery pack for later use.

To engage Regen on Demand, the driver removes their foot from the accelerator and pulls back on either the left or right steering-wheel paddle, according to Cadillac. That provides greater deceleration than normal coasting and is similar to when a driver downshifts with a manual transmission, Cadillac stated. Releasing the paddle disengages the feature, allowing the vehicle to coast normally; it cannot stop the vehicle.

"Regen on Demand enables ELR drivers to actively recapture energy when slowing down, such as when approaching slower traffic or setting up for a tight turn," said Chris Thomason, ELR chief engineer. "This allows the driver to take a more active role in the electric vehicle driving experience."

2014 Cadillac CTS Video

Not only does the 2014 CTS position Cadillac better than ever to compete with luxury midsize sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays says it's the strongest candidate to accelerate GM into the 21st century. Drawing heavily from 2011's Ciel concept, the redesigned CTS aims for cutting edge with newfangled LED running lights under the headlights, abundant high-quality interior stitching, real metal and wood trim, and lots of tech features — though the forward-looking thing might go a tad far with the motorized cupholder cover.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

All that combined with a substantially reduced weight — particularly in the Vsport trim, powered by a 420-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6 — may bode well for a CTS coupe comeback, though the future of the unpopular wagon remains hazy. Check out the video below.

2014 Cadillac CTS: Photo Gallery

When the 2014 Cadillac CTS rolled out onto the stage at the 2013 New York International Auto Show this week, you could almost hear a faint "gulp!" from its German luxury midsize sedan counterparts. Lower, longer and lighter than its predecessor and boasting updated exterior styling, a top-quality interior and a new twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6, this third-generation CTS may just have come into its own as a global force in this upscale segment.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

Check out Cars.com photographer Evan Sears' photo gallery below, taking note of the new CTS’ sculpted, creased front end, length-spanning character lines, tall headlights with distinctive LED running lamps and new "cut-and-sewn" interior.

2014 Cadillac CTS: Up Close

Cadillac's CTS has always set the stage for the brand's overall styling theme, evolving from a controversial, radical new shape when it first appeared to the latest generation's long, low, lean look. The second generation was an improvement, a refinement on the first, and this third-generation CTS is the next step in the company's Art & Science theme.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

The car's initial visual impact is that it is indeed lower and longer than the current one, noticeably so with a dramatically sculpted and creased front end that is instantly recognizable as a Cadillac.