10 Things You Need to Know About the 2014 Cadillac CTS

The 2014 Cadillac CTS is finally in showrooms after its triumphant debut earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  The latest effort from the American luxury brand, the Cadillac CTS is intended to face off against its international rivals on even terms, matching mid-size machinery from Europe and Japan in terms of size, prestige, and capability.  With the Cadillac ATS now aimed at entry-level customers, the CTS is free to fly in a more upscale direction, taking legions of loyal buyers and new conquests with it.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2014 Cadillac CTS.

01. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Is An All-New Design

The 2014 Cadillac CTS is a clean-slate approach to what a mid-size luxury sedan should look like, and while it maintains the company's Art & Science design language it takes it in a bolder direction similar to that which debuted on last year's Cadillac ATS sedan.  More aggressive-looking when seen head-on, and with additional details such as LED daytime running lights, inset exhaust tips, a more complicated trunk lid, and a ribbed hood, the Cadillac CTS is visually arresting without resorting to attention-seeking antics such as over-sized wheels, a sloped roofline, or a gaudy aero kit.

02. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Graduates To A Larger Platform

One of the most noticeable changes between last year's model and the 2014 Cadillac CTS - aside from its styling updates - has to do with the car's footprint.  In order to properly accommodate the needs of mid-size shoppers, the Cadillac CTS has extended its overall length by 4.2 inches.  Despite the extra size, the CTS actually weighs less than the previous edition of the car, checking in at roughly 3,650 lbs, which undercuts competitors like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class by a significant margin.  It helps that the CTS' larger interior is complemented by a lower stance (one inch) and narrower sheet metal, which keeps growth exactly where it can do the most good for passengers.

03. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Gains Turbo Four Power

A new base mill graces the 2014 Cadillac CTS' engine bay, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that replaces the older car's 3.0-liter V-6.  Don't think that the decision to downsize the Cadillac CTS' entry-level engine has had any effect on performance: this four-banger produces 272 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.  Keen eyes will notice that the latter figure represents 35 lb-ft of additional twist when compared against the Cadillac ATS, which is available with a similar 2.0-liter unit.  Transmission choices for the turbocharged engine are limited to a six-speed automatic, but all-wheel drive remains an option.

04. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Features a Direct-Injected V-6

The 2014 Cadillac CTS isn't abandoning six-cylinder power across the board of course, and the brand expects the car's optional 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 to be the most popular power plant for the luxury sedan.  The 3.6-liter motor has been tuned to produce 321 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, and unlike the 2.0-liter it offers not just a six-speed automatic transmission (all-wheel drive models) but also an eight-speed automatic (rear-wheel drive cars).  The latter has been designed to better balance fuel mileage with performance, and although official EPA estimates have yet to be released for the car, it shouldn't fall too far below the 30-mpg on the highway associated with the turbocharged four-cylinder.

05. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Debuts The Vsport Line

The 2014 Cadillac CTS has an ace up its sleeve when it comes to satisfying the needs of sport sedan fans.  The Cadillac CTS Vsport is a new model that sits just under the full-on CTS-V in terms of performance, providing a more affordable yet still quite potent window into the world of four-door driving fun.  The CTS Vsport boasts a 3.6-liter V-6 that makes use of twin turbochargers to generate 420 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, in addition to a standard all-wheel drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission.  The Vsport, which also features more aggressive suspension tuning as well as the option of magnetically-controlled shock absorbers, can reach 60-mph from a standing start in 4.4 seconds and scorch down the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds @ 111 miles per hour.

06. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Offers Substantial Interior Luxury

The 2014 Cadillac CTS is up against some of the nicest interior designs in the business - particularly that found within the Audi A6 - and it was with this in mind that stylists got to work on producing a passenger compartment in the sedan that was worthy of the luxury tag.  The Cadillac CTS steps things up with genuine wood, carbon fiber, and heaps of leather in all of the right places, creating a soft-touch experience that was absent from the previous generation of the car.  The vehicle also features the Cadillac CUE interface, a touchscreen setup that takes some getting used to but which provides excellent graphics and a multitude of configuration options to further personalize the CTS' ownership experience.

07. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Comes In Six Trim Levels

The 2014 Cadillac CTS Standard trim leads off with 17-inch rims, automatic headlights, keyless entry and ignition with a remote feature for the latter, dual automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a digital gauge cluster, power seats, imitation leather upholstery, Bluetooth connectivity, the CUE touchscreen interface, heated mirrors, and a surround sound audio system.  The CTS Luxury introduces heated and cooled leather seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic high beams, and a raft of active safety features, while stepping up to the CTS Performance model provides additional exterior lighting, automated parking assistance, three zones of automatic climate control, heated rear seats, and a head-up display on the windshield.  The CTS Premium trim throws in adaptive cruise control with collision avoidance, a configurable gauge cluster, more leather throughout the passenger compartment, and sport seats, while the Vsport provides a number of high performance goodies on top of what the Performance trim already has to offer (and the CVS Vsport Premium combines the go-fast gear with the Premium edition's luxury items).

08. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Provides Numerous Options

The 2014 Cadillac CTS allows buyers to pick and choose which premium items they would like to install on the car they are ordering without necessarily requiring that they advance to the next trim level.  The CTS Standard can be equipped with the Seating package that provides genuine leather for the heated and cooled front buckets, as well as a heated steering wheel, a CD player, and a folding rear seat.  The CTS Luxury trim can be enhanced via an optional adaptive suspension system, 18-inch rims, and a panoramic sunroof, while the Performance trim can avail itself of the Driver Assistance package (radar-guided cruise control, automatic braking).

09. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Features Advanced Safety Gear

The 2014 Cadillac CTS doesn't just provide the standard complement of airbags and electronic stability control and traction control - it also goes further into the realm of active safety than any previous version of the CTS.  This includes the availability of the brand's Safety Seat technology, which vibrates to make driver's aware of a vehicle hiding in the blind spot on either side of the vehicle, as well as a forward collision detection system, a lane departure warning system, and adaptive cruise control.  The latter can apply the brakes to bring the CTS to a halt in order to prevent a collision.

10. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Is Aimed At The Germans

As alluded to earlier, the 2014 Cadillac CTS makes no bones about targeting sport sedans like the BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.  To a lesser extent, the Cadillac CTS also battles against the Lexus GS and the Infiniti Q50 for the hearts and minds of mid-size shoppers.  More nimble than ever before, competitively priced (starting MSRP $45,100), and providing enhanced comfort, class-leading styling, and a long list of available features, the 2014 Cadillac CTS finally seems to have grown into the role envisioned for it by the domestic automaker when it was first introduced over a decade ago.