Vehicle Overview
For 2006, a new front-wheel-drive sedan called the DTS replaced the long-lived DeVille in Cadillac’s lineup. The DTS had been the top-level model in the DeVille series. For about two decades, the DeVille has accounted for nearly half the sales in its segment. Competitors include the Audi A6 and Infiniti M35. For 2008, Cadillac introduced two new safety options for the DTS: Lane Departure Warning and Side Blind Zone Alert systems.
Six airbags are installed, and one of two Northstar V-8s powers the DTS.
Exterior
Styling of the DTS is “more architectural and linear,” said Gary Cowger, former president of General Motors North America, during its initial appearance. The new model’s styling evokes Cadillac’s STS sedan.
Led by an eggcrate grille with central wreath-and-crest badging and fresh front-end sheet metal, the DTS features vertical xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights and LED taillamps.
New color options for 2008 include Crystal Red, Black Cherry, Double Espresso and Blue Diamond. Cadillac says there will be a limited edition Carbon Flash Metallic DTS, but it will not go on sale until the spring of 2008 and no details are available.
A four-channel StabiliTrak electronic stability system with brake assist is standard, and Magnetic Ride Control is optional. Seventeen-inch chrome wheels are standard, and 18-inch wheels are optional. Riding a 115.6-inch wheelbase, the DTS sedan is 207.6 inches long overall and 74.8 inches wide.
The Platinum DTS edition, available in the fall of 2007, boasts 18-inch wheels, a 292-horsepower Northstar 4.6-liter V-8 engine and a standard sunroof and DVD navigational system.
Interior
The DTS can hold either five or six occupants, with a choice of front bucket seats or a front bench. Genuine burl wood trim is available.
Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard, and a tri-zone system is optional. Available features include heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, Adaptive Remote Start (with a personalization provision), power folding mirrors, rain-sensing wipers and heated windshield-washer fluid. Front and rear ultrasonic parking assistance, IntelliBeam automatic high-beam headlights, an in-dash six-CD changer with MP3 capability and adaptive cruise control also are available. Additional features include XM Satellite Radio, a DVD-based navigation system and GM’s OnStar communication system.
Under the Hood
Cadillac’s 4.6-liter Northstar V-8 comes in a choice of two configurations in the DTS. The base V-8 produces 275 hp and 295 pounds-feet of torque. Optional is a quicker-revving Northstar that makes 292 hp and 288 pounds-feet of torque. Both engines work with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Safety
Two new optional safety systems were introduced for 2008. The Lane Departure Warning system uses a camera between the rearview mirror and windshield to detect and warn drivers when they’ve strayed from their lane. The Side Blind Zone Alert uses radar to sense when objects are in the driver’s blind spots.
Six standard airbags include side-impact, side curtain and a new dual-depth front passenger unit that deploys either shallow or deep depending on crash severity, seat belt usage and occupant position. All-disc antilock brakes are standard, as is an electronic stability system.
