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		Can Cdillac go head-to-head with Europe's finest? The new CTS is ready - on paper - to take them all on. Any Downloadable Files Associated with this Article (Click on the file name to download it)
The new Twin Turbo V6 is going to "juice" the Cadillac CTS to the tune of 420HP.
The 2014 Cadillac CTS will sport Twin Turbos on the V6 churning out 420 HP!
Click on the Thumbnails Below to Enlarge For the last 15 years, Cadillac has been trying to regain its title, "Standard of the World". Will this CTS be the first real step - by going head to head vs. Audi, BMW and Mercedes? Cadillac unveiled a new V6 twin-turbo engine it will use to power its next generation CTS making its debut at the New York auto show next week. The engine also features General Motors Co.’s first eight-speed transmission. The automatic gearbox is expected to improve fuel economy by 1.5%. The new engine is based on the 3.6-liter, 60-degree V6 power plant in the current Cadillac SRX crossover, XTS large sedan and ATS compact sport sedan, but nearly every component is unique, the company said. The turbocharged engine puts out 420 horsepower and is the most powerful production V6 from General Motors. It also has an especially high power density of 118 horsepower per liter — a measurement often favored by the European car makers with which Cadillac competes. With that much muscle under the hood, the coming CTS can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 170 mph. The CTS has all the ingredients to gain new customers in the highly competitive executive sedan segment – at least in North America - but what about in Europe? These ingredients include a longer and consequently roomier body yet a lower curb weight compared to its predecessor, a more "continental" styling for the exterior and interior  - and with the Turbo and non-turbo V6, better choice of modern powertrains that Europeans prefer.  And for the first time since the introduction of the CTS, it is finally positioned squarely against the likes of the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and the Jaguar XF. To meet these lofty goals, the new CTS has grown five inches  in length, now at 195.5 inches, with a 1.2-inch longer wheelbase. Significantly, the roof and body height at the window area is about an inch lower, making it more aggressive looking - even at rest (see picture). Where the Caddy may fall behind is inside, where you'll find the same design themes found on other Cadillacs -  like the ATS and SRX. And GM knows it has to load up the CTS with technology and "gizmos" to keep abreast of the competition, including: 20 position power bucket seats, heated and cooled (ventilated) front seats and heated steering wheel, electronically locking glove box, electronic park brake, adaptive remote start feature that also activates the climate control system, standard Bose eleven-speaker sound system and available Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound system with 13 speakers. But most important to locking down buys will, of course be the motorized cup holder lid in the center console •Motorized cup holder lid in the center console And though the 2014 CTS is larger than before, with the use of lightweight materials, (including Cadillac’s first aluminum door structures and aluminum components for the suspension system), it has a lower curb weight than the preceding model and weighs about 200 pounds less than the current BMW 528i sedan. It also features a nearly 50/50 weight balance. At launch, there will be three gasoline engines to choose from, two of which are brand new to the CTS. The new base unit is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at an estimated 272 horsepower and paired to a six-speed automatic that drives the rear wheels. Next up is the previously available naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 with 321-horses linked to a new eight-speed automatic in rear-wheel drive models or six-speed automatic with all-wheel drive. And as we lead with, here, at the top of the current range is the rear-wheel drive-only, Vsport edition (not to be confused with the upcoming V-Series performance model) fitted with a brand-new twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 engine pushing out 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 430 lb.-ft. of torque (583 Nm). It is mated to an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters and can accelerate the CTS from zero to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds. Production, and consequently North American sales of the 2014 CTS will begin this fall in GM's Lansing, Michigan plant. While, on paper the CTS looks competitive, the true test, the buyer, will let us know by Januay 1, 2014.