Cadillac XTS

2013 Cadillac XTS

Enlarge Photo

While Cadillac awaits a return to the "standard of the world" status now claimed by the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series, it's introducing a new full-size luxury sedan for the 2013 model year, the Cadillac XTS.

The XTS is a front- or all-wheel-drive sedan that goes on sale in the fall of 2012, as a replacement for the former DTS four-door. Derived from some of the same running gear as the Buick LaCrosse and upcoming 2014 Chevrolet Impala, the XTS promises full-size interior space that should keep Cadillac's hold on the town-car market strong, while its new Art & Science-themed styling should bring it more into line with the current Cadillac family.

A size class larger than today's mid-size CTS, the XTS will initially be offered with a single drivetrain, a 3.6-liter V-6 with 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. It's similar to the one coming in the 2014 Impala. Fuel economy is estimated at 17/28 miles per gallon for the front-drive XTS, while all-wheel-drive models should be rated at 17/27 mpg.

The XTS won't be offered, at least at first, with the plug-in hybrid drivetrain shown on various concept vehicles that led up to its final production form.

As for ride and handling, the XTS will bridge the gulf between the old DTS and the crisper Caddys with a new suspension that features standard Magnetic Ride Control, an adaptive set of shocks that use a magnetically charged fluid that changes shock rigidity according to road conditions. Performance struts and Brembo brakes will also be included.

Cadillac says the XTS' interior space will match many full-size sedans, though its dimensions will be more comparable to some mid-size four-doors. In the rear seat, for example, the XTS will have 40 inches of leg room--less than today's VW Passat but more than a short-wheelbase Jaguar XJ. The XTS' trunk is large, at 18 cubic feet, though it's down a few cubes on the storage bin on the Ford Taurus, which checks in at 20 cubic feet.

The XTS will have some of GM's most advanced infotainment technology built into its cabin. It will be the first Cadillac to offer CUE, which uses a fully capacitative touchscreen with proximity sensing and multi-touch gestures like those used with smartphones and tablets to control secondary functions.

Along with the in-cabin electronics, Cadillac is introducing new short and long range radar systems with the XTS. These systems will be used for adaptive cruise control, front and rear automatic brakes, and rear cross traffic alert. Another new feature is a safety alert driver seat that vibrates to alert the driver. Combine these electronic safety features with the standard 10 air bags, and we can see Cadillac is looking to satisfy both the gadget loving and safety conscious crowd.

The 2013 Cadillac XTS goes on sale this spring, with production taking place at GM’s plant in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.