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Rest of the Web Says We've gathered reviews from Edmunds.com, Cars.com plus live Tweets on this car. See What We Found »
Few stories we’ve ever run on TheCarConnection.com have ever generated as much reader feedback as our original scoop on the formation of Cadillac’s performance-based V-Series. The general response, other than a few cranky skeptics, was “about time.”
The first offering in the line-up was the CTS-V, appropriate enough considering the base sedan ushered in Caddy’s edgy Art & Science styling theme, setting in motion one of the most significant, design-driven turnarounds in domestic automotive history.
Now, the luxury maker is readying two more V-Series offerings, the XLR-V, which we reviewed a few weeks back, and the STS-V, the 469-horsepower spin-off of Cadillac’s flagship sedan. That’s a neck-snapping leap from the standard V-8 model’s 320-hp Northstar engine, and as with anything Caddy will designate with the flying-V badge, that means 0-60 times comfortably under the five-second mark.
Fast may be fun, but when you’re spending this kind of money, you’re looking for a lot more than just muscle. A truly world-class luxury sports sedan needs to deliver a blend of acceleration, handling, and, of course, all the high-line accoutrements one would get from competitors like the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG.
With its knife-sharp lines, the CTS remains a traffic-stopper, even three years after its debut. In today’s crowded market, that’s no easy feat. The STS doesn’t have quite the visual arrest. It’s a little more refined, in a sanded-down way. Oh, it’s handsome enough, but without the raw power. In V-trim, things look a little better, the big sedan getting a menacingly refined stainless steel mesh grill and mesh lower air intake. There are new, ten-spoke aluminum wheels and modest, lower aero treatment.
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