General Motors Company (GM), Ford Motor Company (F): Cadillac’s 2014 CTS Looks to Impress the World

Cadillac’s 2014 CTS. Photo: General Motors Company (NYSE:GM).

General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is about to close the ugliest and darkest chapter of its history book, just as soon as the U.S. Treasury dumps its remaining shares in the company. By year’s end, General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) plans to once again return to investment grade, and in its best financial shape in more than a decade.

General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) also has another bright spot this year: Its Cadillac lineup has surged 38% year to date — its best YTD increase in nearly four decades. Its success is driven by new Cadillac models ATS, CTS, and XTS. Let’s look at the 2014 CTS and see what it brings to the table for consumers and investors alike.

Overview and exterior
Typically the CTS has been Cadillac’s hero, but last year’s introduction of the ATS gives Cadillac a sidekick to its all-new 2014 CTS due out this October.

“CTS has always been Cadillac’s centerpiece, and as our brand expands and elevates, the car properly grows to its true place,” said David Leone, CTS executive chief engineer, in a press release. “With last year’s addition of the award-winning ATS compact luxury sedan, CTS will directly challenge the luxury midsize competition with uncompromised performance, luxury, and technology.”

Looking at some of the new tweaks and upgrades in the next-generation CTS, it’s clear Cadillac is putting its money where its mouth is — but it will ask you to pay up roughly $6,000 more for the new model, according to Automotive News.

It’s going to offer more interior space, power, and technology, while the new exterior design becomes longer, lower, and leaner. While the vehicle itself gets larger and roomier, it’ll be on a strict diet and will shed about 244 pounds from its previous model — expecting to be the lightest midsize luxury vehicle.

In addition to the weight loss, the 2014 CTS will be offered with a choice of three powertrains and two engines. One of the engines, a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, will put out an impressive 272 horsepower and will go from 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds — 1.5 seconds quicker than its predecessor.

Cadillac’s CTS also has a 3.6L V6 engine, and in its premium Vsport model package — which contains the highest-performing components — it puts out 420 HP. However, all that power and premium options bring a hefty price tag of nearly $60,000 — roughly $13,000 more than the standard-version CTS.