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.

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.

2013 New York Auto Show: What to Expect

Billed as the nation's "first and largest-attended" auto show, the 113-year-old New York International Auto Show also may be the most ironic — hosted by the only U.S. city in which more than half the residents don't own a car. But that fact won't be reflected on the expo's 900,000-square-foot show floor, set to feature more than 1,000 vehicles, including a host of North American and world debuts.

The show runs March 29 through April 7 at New York's Jacob Javits Center, 11th Avenue between 34th and 40th streets; hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children 3 to 12, free for kids 2 and younger, and $13 per person for groups of 20 or more.

One eagerly anticipated New York debut is the redesigned 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The Liberty replacement trades in the Cherokee's previous boxy, trucklike appearance in favor of narrow, sweeping headlights, a modern-looking seven-slot grille and a creased hood. In addition to the Cherokee's sleek look, Jeep said the SUV boasts improved off-road capability and significantly improved fuel economy.

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe at 2010 Detroit Auto Show

• Competes with: BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
• Looks like: One fast cheese grater
• Drivetrain: 556-hp, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8; six-speed manual or automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Early summer 2010

If you have the need to hit 60 mph in under four seconds and like the looks of the upcoming CTS Coupe, the CTS-V Coupe is for you. The huge 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 needs a unique hood to cover its magnitude. The hump is one of the design elements that sets the CTS-V apart from the standard Coupe, along with a grille that allows twice the amount of air intake. Around back, the center-mounted exhaust gets beefed up, too.
 
19-inch wheels, front and rear body molding and a Saffron interior color are all unique to this version of the coupe. Like the CTS-V sedan, it also sports optional Recaro front seats and, more importantly, the same Magnetic Ride Control sport suspension along with Brembo brakes.

While it may seem like Cadillac is offering too many high-powered variants these days, BMW makes sure its M3 model is offered in sedan, coupe and convertible body styles.

More photos of the CTS-V Coupe can be found below.

Cars.com Podcast: 2011 Sienna, 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon

If you haven’t overdosed on Toyota Sienna coverage yet, then this podcast is for you. Cars.com editors Kelsey Mays, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder discuss the all-new minivan as well as Cadillac’s new CTS Sport Wagon and the Lexus RX 450h. Surprisingly, there are mixed opinions on all three.

You can listen to the podcast by hitting the play button below or download it via iTunes here.

Cars.com Podcast #35

Through Ian's Lens: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

I stumbled across a great quote from @TheRealAutoBlog on Twitter the other day that summed up the performance driving experience that is the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V: “It should come with a trunk full of bail money.” Outside that commentary, because I'm not a car reviewer by trade, I’ll just let the car speak for itself.

Aesthetically, the CTS-V is the pinnacle sedan design in GM’s lineup. I have been in love with the radical direction that Cadillac has taken in the past 10 years. After all its design accomplishments and failures, the interior and exterior of this car are nearly flawless. Featuring hard lines from front to back, mixed with premium materials and one mean-looking face, the CTS-V connects with both luxury and performance audiences.

My favorite exterior aspect of this car is the headlight casings and the framing they create for the front of the car. Whether you see a CTS-V in the middle of the night or the middle of the day, these distinct angled lights and casings give off a unique impression. On the inside, Cadillac’s disappearing touch navigation screen is above and beyond anything else on the market and just one minor detail in what I would argue is the best dashboard I’ve seen.

The design of this car raises the bar for the Cadillac brand. Let's hope that when the new GM has risen from its own ashes we'll see more cars that meet the design standard set by the CTS-V.  

Let me know what you think in the comments section below. As always, feel free to use the full-screen mode on the photo browser.

Reader Review of the Week: 2008 Cadillac CTS

"First-Time Cadillac Owner," from St. Louis, admits to being entranced by the advertising and promotion for the 2008 Cadillac CTS and maintains that it is a great-looking car. However, a few small repairs and a low ride height started to wear on the ownership experience. Read the review to find out specifically what went wrong with this Cadillac owner's car-buying experience. Then head here to post your own car review.

Up Close: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Since its 2008 redesign, I've thought Cadillac's CTS entry-level luxury sedan was a sharp-looking car, and it also looks pretty good as a wagon, which we spied at the Los Angeles auto show. The front of the wagon carries the sedan's familiar design, but there are some interesting new cues in back, like the raked C-pillar separating the rear side windows and tall taillights that climb up the back of the car. The 25-cubic-foot cargo area isn't particularly expansive for a wagon, but it is nearly twice the size of the CTS sedan's trunk.

For many people in the U.S., wagons have a cool-factor that's about on par with minivans. That could change, though, as sleek sport wagons like the 2009 Audi A4 Avant and this new CTS wagon hit U.S. roads. More photos below.

GM Red Tag Sale: Cadillac, Hummer, Saab Deals

Our coverage of GM’s Red Tag Sale rolls on, and this time we’re taking a look at available deals on Cadillac, Saab and Hummer models for 2008 and 2009. Given the pricey nature of most of these vehicles, the percent-off calculations are slightly less impressive than, say, Chevrolet’s might be, but the cash back and Red Tag prices team to provide some interesting deals.

For example, the 2009 STS V6 1SC saves $5,719 off its original MSRP of $55,325. The 2008 Escalade SUV 2WD drops $10,183 off its original MSRP of $56,890, among others.

Saab and HUMMER have their fair share of deals as well. A 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero Sport sedan drops from $35,960 to $30,145 after the Red Tag sale and cash back, while the 2008 9-5 Aero Sport sedan drops all the way to $32,719 from $39,480. Most of the Hummer deals are what you’d expect — huge rebates and cash back on the company’s slow-selling models. There is one interesting outlier, though: The brand-new 2009 H3T has $1,500 cash back; with the Red Tag sale, it drops from $31,495 to $28,188.

A larger list of vehicle deals is below. As always, be sure to double-check your zip code on GM’s site to make sure deals apply in your area.