Joeychgo
August 18th, 2006, 12:52 PM
By Mark Phelan
Detroit Free Press
Cadillac's 2006 STS-V felt just a bit too civilized at first.
Sure, it was sleek and pretty, with its silver mesh grille and low-profile Pirelli performance tires. But I wasn't sure it could deliver the maxiumum performance of super sedans, such as the BMW M5.
The spec sheet promised 469 horsepower from the hand-built, supercharged 4.4-liter Northstar V8 engine, but where was the brute force? The whole package felt so refined.
Refined like James Bond in a dinner jacket. The sophisticated looks and impeccable manners are suitable for a formal affair, but the pistol, stiletto and brass knuckles are there, concealed by the immaculate tailoring but immediately available when you need them.
I called on the STS-V's concealed weapons to clear a busy intersection. A blip of the gas pedal and the luxury sedan embraced its inner street fighter.
Quicker than I could have imagined, the STS-V leapt across the gap.
The suspension firmed up, the electronic stability control snapped the car back into line, and we were off to the Bruce Springsteen concert, where "Cadillac Ranch" brought the house down.
Too civilized, my foot. My right foot, specifically.
STS-V prices start at $74,270. The only available options are special gray paint and an engine block heater. The car I tested had neither of those, so it rolled out the door with a sticker price of $76,370, including gas guzzler tax, but excluding destination charges.
The STS-V's chief competitors are the $85,400 Mercedes E63 AMG, $86,600 Mercedes CLS55 AMG, $81,200 BMW M5 and $63,330 Jaguar S-type R.
Cadillac's V-series of performance models is young. Cadillac created it to compete with autobahn-burning supercars from BMW's M Motorsport group and Mercedes-Benz' AMG tuners. The first V model - the 400-horsepower CTS-V sedan - went on sale in spring 2004.
The 2006 STS-V sedan and XLR-V roadster are the second and third V cars. The 2007 STSes are due out soon.
There's enough evidence now to safely say two things: Cadillac knows what it's doing in the megaperformance luxury market, and the V models have a unique identity that sets them apart from M and AMG.
The STS-V reaches 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Its smooth-shifting six-speed automatic allows the engine to rev quickly to its 6,700 rpm redline, and the engine provides an eager rumble to complement its performance.
In addition to the special handbuilt engine, the STS-V features a reinforced limited slip differential, Brembo brake calipers, quicker steering and a stiffer suspension than the STS.
The sum of those parts is a marvelous balance of performance and comfort. The stiff suspension holds the car flat through curves and ably absorbs the bumps from jagged pavement.
The steering is quick and responsive. The brakes have excellent stopping power, but pedal travel is limited and without much feel.
The six-speed automatic has three modes: conventional, sport and manual. All function well. The shifts are quick and the response is fast. Fuel economy is pretty good, despite the gas guzzler tax. I averaged a respectable 19 mpg on a long, fast highway run.
The car is very quiet on the road, with little wind or tire noise.
The mechanical pieces are all in place for a hyper-performance luxury sedan, but Cadillac missed a few boxes on the luxury side of its checklist.
The hand-sewn leather, suede and dark-stained ash wood interior is comfortable and by far the most upscale of any Cadillac. It's no match for the rich detailing inside an E63 AMG or M5, though.
In addition, the STS-V lacks some features that should be standard in a car this expensive. The perforated-suede seats are heated, but not cooled. You can't get a hands-free connection for your mobile phone - available in a $24,000 base-model Chrysler 300, for Pete's sake.
Like the standard STS, the V's back seat could use more rear head- and legroom, and its trunk has less room than the M5, S-type R, or E63.
Those small failings aside, the 2006 STS-V is a great performance sedan, the latest step in Cadillac's renaissance and an able competitor for Europe's super sedans.
Detroit Free Press
Cadillac's 2006 STS-V felt just a bit too civilized at first.
Sure, it was sleek and pretty, with its silver mesh grille and low-profile Pirelli performance tires. But I wasn't sure it could deliver the maxiumum performance of super sedans, such as the BMW M5.
The spec sheet promised 469 horsepower from the hand-built, supercharged 4.4-liter Northstar V8 engine, but where was the brute force? The whole package felt so refined.
Refined like James Bond in a dinner jacket. The sophisticated looks and impeccable manners are suitable for a formal affair, but the pistol, stiletto and brass knuckles are there, concealed by the immaculate tailoring but immediately available when you need them.
I called on the STS-V's concealed weapons to clear a busy intersection. A blip of the gas pedal and the luxury sedan embraced its inner street fighter.
Quicker than I could have imagined, the STS-V leapt across the gap.
The suspension firmed up, the electronic stability control snapped the car back into line, and we were off to the Bruce Springsteen concert, where "Cadillac Ranch" brought the house down.
Too civilized, my foot. My right foot, specifically.
STS-V prices start at $74,270. The only available options are special gray paint and an engine block heater. The car I tested had neither of those, so it rolled out the door with a sticker price of $76,370, including gas guzzler tax, but excluding destination charges.
The STS-V's chief competitors are the $85,400 Mercedes E63 AMG, $86,600 Mercedes CLS55 AMG, $81,200 BMW M5 and $63,330 Jaguar S-type R.
Cadillac's V-series of performance models is young. Cadillac created it to compete with autobahn-burning supercars from BMW's M Motorsport group and Mercedes-Benz' AMG tuners. The first V model - the 400-horsepower CTS-V sedan - went on sale in spring 2004.
The 2006 STS-V sedan and XLR-V roadster are the second and third V cars. The 2007 STSes are due out soon.
There's enough evidence now to safely say two things: Cadillac knows what it's doing in the megaperformance luxury market, and the V models have a unique identity that sets them apart from M and AMG.
The STS-V reaches 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Its smooth-shifting six-speed automatic allows the engine to rev quickly to its 6,700 rpm redline, and the engine provides an eager rumble to complement its performance.
In addition to the special handbuilt engine, the STS-V features a reinforced limited slip differential, Brembo brake calipers, quicker steering and a stiffer suspension than the STS.
The sum of those parts is a marvelous balance of performance and comfort. The stiff suspension holds the car flat through curves and ably absorbs the bumps from jagged pavement.
The steering is quick and responsive. The brakes have excellent stopping power, but pedal travel is limited and without much feel.
The six-speed automatic has three modes: conventional, sport and manual. All function well. The shifts are quick and the response is fast. Fuel economy is pretty good, despite the gas guzzler tax. I averaged a respectable 19 mpg on a long, fast highway run.
The car is very quiet on the road, with little wind or tire noise.
The mechanical pieces are all in place for a hyper-performance luxury sedan, but Cadillac missed a few boxes on the luxury side of its checklist.
The hand-sewn leather, suede and dark-stained ash wood interior is comfortable and by far the most upscale of any Cadillac. It's no match for the rich detailing inside an E63 AMG or M5, though.
In addition, the STS-V lacks some features that should be standard in a car this expensive. The perforated-suede seats are heated, but not cooled. You can't get a hands-free connection for your mobile phone - available in a $24,000 base-model Chrysler 300, for Pete's sake.
Like the standard STS, the V's back seat could use more rear head- and legroom, and its trunk has less room than the M5, S-type R, or E63.
Those small failings aside, the 2006 STS-V is a great performance sedan, the latest step in Cadillac's renaissance and an able competitor for Europe's super sedans.