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What’s New: Outside
Those even remotely familiar with the previous version will recognize the 2008 CTS as that model’s successor, yet many of the details have changed. Most dramatic among the updates is a bold new face that’s shared with other Cadillacs, including the freshened STS and Escalade. A large triangular grille starts at the hood line and cuts a swath all the way down, intersected by an angled body color panel and accented by redesigned headlights featuring vertical light rods. The new taillights include the same and, collectively, these features help distinguish the CTS at night. The body has also been massaged and now incorporates wider wheel flares. According to Cadillac, aside from possibly a valve stem cap, the 2008 CTS is all-new.
Inside
Most complaints about the previous CTS had to do with the interior – it was not up to luxury-brand status in terms of design or materials. That’s changed with the 2008 model thanks to a thoroughly revised dash and center console, not to mention higher-quality parts. There’s a mesh headliner, plenty of soft-touch materials, fewer hard plastics, and a complete absence of generic controls that look as though they’d been swiped from the Chevy Cobalt assembly line.
Under the Hood
Shoppers considering the 2008 Cadillac CTS can opt for rear- or all-wheel drive and choose between two engines, both 3.6-liter V-6s featuring variable-valve timing. (The 2.8-liter V-6 from 2007 is gone.) The regular 3.6-liter engine now boasts 263 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 253 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,100 rpm. A new direct injection 3.6-liter V-6 pushes 304 horses at 6,300 rpm and 273 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,200 rpm, good for a Cadillac-estimated 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. Each engine is designed to run on regular 87-octane gas. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual, revised for 2008 with tighter ratios, and a six-speed automatic with a manual-shift feature. Depending on your powertrain choice, EPA fuel economy ranges from the high teens in the city to the mid 20s on the highway.
Under the skin is a chassis that maintains last year’s wheelbase but adds two inches in track width. Three suspension setups are available: FE1 for everyday driving; FE2 for slightly sportier handling; and FE3 for the true performance enthusiast. All systems include Bilstein shocks, though FE3-equipped models get load-leveling shocks on the rear. The speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering has been upgraded to be more responsive.
Safety
Among the safety features included on the 2008 Cadillac CTS are front airbags, front-side airbags, and side-curtain airbags. A tire pressure monitoring system is also standard, as are four-wheel antilock disc brakes, Stabilitrak, and traction control.
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