2007 SEMA Show: Cadillac CTS Sport

LAS VEGAS — The public unveiling of the 2009 CTS-V is still more than two months away. Meanwhile, at the 2007 SEMA Show, Cadillac aims to fill the void with the CTS Sport concept.

This one looks like mostly a cosmetic package, with few of the high-performance mods expected on the next CTS-V, which is being unwrapped at the upcoming Detroit show and goes on sale next fall.

The CTS Sport gets a variety of exterior add-ons, including new front and rear fascias with carbon-fiber and wire-mesh inserts, a modified hood with wire-mesh inserts and carbon-fiber front fender extractors and rear deck lid spoiler. You'll also spot the forged and polished 20-inch wheels, the painted calipers and drilled/slotted rotors on the high-performance brakes, and the rectangular exhaust tips with wire-mesh inserts.

Inside, the CTS Sport features Recaro leather sport seats and carbon-fiber trim.

Under the hood is a production-based, direct-injection 3.6-liter V6 — a far cry from the supercharged big-bore V8 that's rumored for the new CTS-V.

What this means to you: Look for the real deal in January at the Detroit show.

© Source: edmunds

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Details on '08 Cadillac CTS, Including Tutorial on French Stitching

DETROIT — More details have been released about the 2008 Cadillac CTS, including the reason why the entry-level luxury car is minus an electric parking brake at launch time. The details were outlined on Wednesday in a posting on the GM FastLane blog by Eric Clough, Cadillac interiors director of design.

"Not having a handbrake in the center console was a conscious decision to enable dual cupholders and air ducting to reach the rear passenger outlets," Clough explained in a follow-up to an earlier posting about the cabin of the CTS. "An electric park brake will be in the car starting in model-year 2009, located just behind the shifter. It was unfortunately not fully developed in time for this launch, but along with the obvious interior space-saving benefit, will also be lighter than the mechanical system it replaces."

Clough also noted that the CTS's radio is usable with the navigation screen retracted. "In fact, the only time the full screen is necessary is for nav use," he pointed out.

Apparently, consumers (male) are clueless when it comes to the benefits of French stitching. Clough patiently explained that "French stitching is a type of seam that has a line of stitching on both sides of the seam. The excess material from each piece being joined is folded back under and secured by the lines of stitching. This keeps the seam flat and greatly improves the quality of the surface because the excess can't wobble back and forth underneath."

© Source: edmunds
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