As you read these words, West Coast Editor Michael Harley is preparing to drive the brand-new 2014 Cadillac CTS along the gorgeous, sun-drenched roads of Southern California. And while I'll wait for Harley's full report before I put words in his mouth, I'm willing to bet he enjoys the hell out of Cadillac's new CTS. In fact, I'm sure of it.
I say this with confidence because, about a month ago, I spent the better part of a day flogging the new CTS Vsport around the 2.9-mile Milford Road Course – a challenging circuit laid out in the infield of an oval test track at GM's proving grounds in southeast Michigan. The MRC was built about a decade ago after Bob Lutz was lured out of retirement to work closely with GM's product development team, and thus, this circuit is known informally as the "Lutz Ring." The main objective of the MRC was to have an in-house facility for engineers to fine-tune vehicle dynamics, without having to constantly schlep cars over to Germany's infamous Nürburgring. (Of course, they still do.)
Because Harley will be filing his report of the new CTS in relatively short order, I'll spare you many of the technical details that he'll no doubt cover in his story. The long and short of it: this 2014 CTS is lower, lighter and leaner than its predecessor, and there's a whole mess of specifications to prove that statement. In some configurations, the new CTS is as much as 250 pounds lighter than the outgoing model, and compared to a BMW 5 Series, the Cadillac is anywhere from 200 to 400 pounds skinnier, depending on engine and trim.
This massive weight savings comes though the use of aluminum components throughout the entire body, including the doors, engine cradle, bumpers, pillars, instrument panel structure and shock towers. Not only does this reduce weight, but in some areas, it's actually more cost effective, and it has allowed Cadillac to tune the CTS in such a way that it achieves a perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Win-win.
All that lightweight goodness is wrapped up in a package that is, in a word, stunning. The new CTS is a visual treat, incorporating all of the same Art & Science design DNA into something that is modern, elegant and oozes graceful aggression. The front overhang has been reduced, the ever-important dash-to-axle ratio lengthened, and the new body features highly sculpted panels that all work together to form a cohesive shape. In my estimation, it's easily one of the best-looking designs in the class – a design that you really need to see in person to properly understand how all of the little details work together. That large rear overhang still looks a bit lengthy from some angles, and the rear view isn't nearly as powerful as the front, but have a glance of the 2014 CTS next to the 2013 model and, well, the improvement is massive.
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