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Spy Shots: Latest Cadillac XTS prototype caught (STS/DTS replacement)

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We've seen spy photos of Cadillac's upcoming XTS before, but only from far away. Now, our intrepid spy photographers have managed to get up-close and personal with the new Caddy flagship, giving us a sneak peak at the sedan's interior in the process.

Based on the XTS Platinum concept shown at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, this new Cadillac sedan will replace both the STS and DTS within the automaker's lineup. This way, the current entry-level CTS can move slightly upmarket to allow for a new, smaller ATS sedan (alphabet soup, we know) that is slated to arrive in the summer of 2012. The XTS is expected to use the same Epsilon II platform that underpins the Buick LaCrosse, and we expect both front- and all-wheel-drive variants to be available.

A quick glimpse at this prototype's interior shows that it will be very similarly designed to the CTS, though we certainly hope that higher-quality materials will be in place. (Let's be honest – the CTS' interior was fine for 2008, but it's ready for an update). Other new details spotted on this test car include a set of Brembo brakes up front (is an XTS-V in the works?) and large, 19-ish-inch wheels. See the full slate of photos in our high-res image gallery below.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....-spy-shots.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....-spy-shots.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....-spy-shots.jpg

Looks to be a beauty. Finally, a proper flagship for Cadillac, although apparently still not competition for LS/7/S. We'll see though.

:thumbup:

Wow...lots and lots and lots of chrome on that interior :eek2:

Shifter has barely changed from mid 1990s GM, steering wheel looks like corporate GM parts...this will be interesting. Are we sure this isn't another ATS test car? The exterior looks strangely devoid of chrome trim for a top level rig and that interior look's pretty downscale.

It's got that ugly CTeSque interior. Blech!

Nice sized LCD screen

looking good. our tax dollars at work...

buick lacrosse chassis eh?

I guess the fwd is good for the old people.

this is like putting the LS on the ES chassis. would you want that?

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Originally Posted by dunnojack (Post 6218170)

buick lacrosse chassis eh?

I guess the fwd is good for the old people.

this is like putting the LS on the ES chassis. would you want that?

Since it's replacing the STS/DTS, fwd should be ok for the target buyer. With AWD available, Caddy can expand the market a bit.

Cadillac's designs have been too generic for the past several years. It's almost as bad as the Audi designs that all look the same.

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Originally Posted by 97-SC300 (Post 6218282)

Cadillac's designs have been too generic for the past several years. It's almost as bad as the Audi designs that all look the same.

http://www.blogofcar.com/wp-content/...TS-V-Coupe.jpg

This is generic? :uh:

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This is generic? :uh:

My thoughts exactly... Nothing looks like them. I'm a big fan of modern Caddy designs. Genuinely American through and through.

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Originally Posted by knihc2008 (Post 6218373)

http://www.blogofcar.com/wp-content/...TS-V-Coupe.jpg

This is generic? :uh:

All of their designs are the same.... they all have the same looking headlights, same taillights, same blinged out oversized grills, the interiors are all the same, same sharp body-lines... I mean you can almost predict what the next cars will look like from these guys.

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Originally Posted by 97-SC300 (Post 6220577)

All of their designs are the same....

nothing wrong with that...
they have a consistent brand image that is distinctly their own.

no derivative styling.

Cadillac still needs a big, heavy, smooth, soft-riding car for the old folks, though. That need was nicely fulfilled with the DTS (and the somewhat similiar Buick Lucerne), despite their (admittedly) dated powertrains and somewhat cheap interior materials. Now, with those cars on the way out (and the Lincoln Town Car and Mercury Grand Marquis also all but gone), where are the smooth-rider fans going to go without spending $90,000 for a Mercedes S-class? Look at the shorter wheelbase and those low-profile tires on the masked-prototype in the picture (it probably has a firmer suspenson than the DTS, too). Even without driving it, I'll predict it won't equal the DTS' soft ride. But, of course, good suspension engineering can do wonders for a ride-handling combo...the old DTS, admittedly, had comfort, but it also anything but good handling. And, I'll admit, when I sampled the new Buick LaCrosse, I was very impressed with the steering/chassis, which lacked some of the pillow-softness of the old LaCrosse, but still retained some ride comfort and had a far better ride/handling combo.

And, of course, the old FWD DTS lacked an AWD option......if Caddy is smart, they'll include it on this new model, like Lincoln did with their flagship MKS.

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Originally Posted by dunnojack (Post 6220761)

nothing wrong with that...
they have a consistent brand image that is distinctly their own.

no derivative styling.

Nobody is saying there is something wrong with that. I was just pointing out that this consistency is very boring. There is nothing to look forward to because odds are, if they keep on this path, the next design will look near identical with only minor tweaks.