Cadillac XTS (2013)

  

CARBARN | Cadillac XTS (2013) | No one has the 2013 Cadillac XTS 'door handles. Instead of lighting up the door handle pockets like most modern luxury cars, Cadillac puts light pipes in the door handles Themselves, making them easy to grab in the dark. The XTS 'front-wheel drive may seem disconcerting if you've gotten used to the idea of reverting back to the Cadillac rear-wheel-drive cars.  That sheetmetal does not diverge much from the XTS Platinum concept from a couple of years ago. For production, the car relies on modern technology to bend the sheetmetal in interesting Airways, Such as the Escher-esque twist in the top of the rear fender lines coming off the sail panels.

The grille badge looks large enough to adorn an Escalade. Cadillac says some grille shutters from the concept REMAIN, though of course the plug-in hybrid powerplant does.  The vertical LED headlamps, standard on the Platinum trim level, the thin vertical taillamps mimic That Became a signature with the 2008 Cadillac CTS and are so distinctive at night. Like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Jaguar, distinctive premium lighting is a big deal on this car. Look closely at the show car's seats and you'll notice a dark purple stitching subtly That contrasts with the black leather.

Cadillac will offer six different interior color / wood trim combinations, a controlled kind of buyer customization plan for the the vast majority of customers, WHO prefer to purchase off the lot rather than cars and wait orders. Cadillac has not replicated the laser-etched leather seats of the 2010 Detroit show XTS Platinum concept, though it has replicated the pattern perforated leather dash. The perforations Appear tight at the middle of the dash, then space out as your eyes progress to either outer side of the dash

The car will be available in two trim levels when it goes on sale in Spring of '12: XTS and XTS Platinum. Mercedes touts an almost Cadillac-level of safety items in this car, Including 10 airbags (including two front knee bags), front and rear park assists, distronic optional cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind side alerts, and lane-departure alerts with haptic warnings in the driver's seat. Of course, the XTS Platinum also marks the debut of the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system, with its haptic touch screen and advanced voice control. CUE can tell whether the hand touching its center screen is coming from the driver's seat or the front passenger's seat. If Cadillac can get Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on board, the front passenger - but not the driver - will be Able to apply the navigation directions while the car is moving. Where does the XTS fit into the Cadillac lineup?

The trunk is a carpeted cavern, and at 18 cubic feet is 4 cubic feet more commodious than the competition, while rear seat legroom is 4 inches better than the competition. The rear seats fold down 60/40, and unlike many other luxury cars, the rear seat climate controls have the same kind of jewelry as on the dash. Thanks to the magnetic ride control, the car has a dynamic sport mode, though it's about precise, controlled comfort, not ramp-carving. Cadillac has eschewed electronic power steering, electing to stick with a hydraulic system instead. It's the most mainstream of new Cadillac models, the sedan for people WHO aspire to comfort and luxury but do not care how fast the car can get around the Nurburgring.