Cadillac STS

Cadillac STS
Manufacturer General Motors
Also called Cadillac SLS (China)
Production 2005–2011 (US)
2007–present (China)
Assembly Lansing, Michigan, United States
Shanghai, China
Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia (Avtotor)[1]/[2]
Predecessor Cadillac Seville
Class Mid-size luxury sedan/
Executive car
Body style 4-door sedan
Layout FR layout / Four-wheel drive
Platform GM Sigma platform
Engine 3.6 L LY7 V6
4.4 L V8
4.6 L Northstar LH2 V8
Transmission 5-speed automatic
6-speed automatic
Wheelbase 116.4 in (2,960 mm)
Length 2005–07: 196.3 in (4,986 mm)
2008–present: 196.7 in (4,996 mm)
V: 197.6 in (5,019 mm)
Width 72.6 in (1,844 mm)
Height 57.6 in (1,463 mm)
Curb weight 3,922 lb (1,779 kg)[3]
Related Cadillac CTS
Cadillac SRX

The STS (Seville Touring Sedan) is a mid-size luxury sports sedan / executive car manufactured and sold by Cadillac. It is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with performance algorithm shifting and driver shift control.[4]

Contents

Origins

The STS is the successor to the Cadillac Seville.[3] That car used the STS name, standing for Seville Touring Sedan on upscale performance-oriented versions beginning in 1988. In 1992, Cadillac split the Seville line into STS and less performance-oriented SLS (for Seville Luxury Sedan) trim lines. The next year, the STS received Cadillac's then-new Northstar System, including the aluminium DOHC L37 Northstar V8 engine. Throughout its existence, the STS was Cadillac's highest-priced sedan. Worldwide, the STS is Cadillac's flagship model. In the United States and Canada, the STS is positioned between the mid-size CTS and larger DTS, but is priced above the latter.

Safety

The Cadillac STS is rated with a four star frontal and five star rear passenger crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.[5] It was given an overall "Good" score in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal crash test. And an "Acceptable" rating in the side impact test.[6] In the side impact test injury measurements to the driver's pelvis was rated "Poor" and for the torso "Acceptable."[7]

2005

The front wheel drive Seville was retired in 2004, replaced by an entirely new STS model based on the rear wheel drive GM Sigma platform. All wheel drive is offered as an option, the first Cadillac sedan to be available with this drive system. The STS carries on the Magnetic Ride Control suspension, which has bragging rights as being the 'fastest reacting suspension ever,' before it was ever utilized on newer Corvettes and Ferraris.

The Cadillac STS was assembled at GM's Lansing Grand River facility in Lansing, Michigan along with the smaller Cadillac CTS sedan.

As of 2007, engines are a 3.6 L High Feature LY7 V6 with 255 hp (190 kW) and 252 lb·ft (342 N·m) and the 4.6 L Northstar LH2 V8 which puts out 320 hp (240 kW) and 315 lb·ft (427 N·m) in the STS. All engine models feature dual overhead camshafts with VVT. Remote ignition is standard. Although most 2005 and 2006 Cadillac STS models offer a 255 hp (190 kW) engine, an option for a 4.6 L 320 hp (239 kW) engine was available at the time through Cadillac's performance packages. As of 2007, Cadillac now has different packages and car models, which no longer support this option.

Wheelbase is 116.4 in (2,957 mm), though overall length is shorter than the Seville. Interior space is greater than its predecessor, though. A heads-up display is optional, as is a 300 Watt Bose stereo system with MP3 capability. Base pricing starts at US$40,995 (slightly higher than the DTS, which is longer but has front-wheel drive), and extends to US$52,240 for the AWD V8 model.

2006

The 2006 V-series STS-V was introduced at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show. It features a supercharged 4.4 L version of the Northstar V8, along with handling upgrades. This engine is certified by the SAE to produce 469 hp (350 kW) and 439 lb·ft (595 N·m).

It went on sale in the United States in late 2005 for just under US$80,000.

In 2006, Cadillac introduced a stretched STS called the SLS. It is assembled by Shanghai GM, and in 2007 it was shown at the Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai. The SLS adds 3.9 inches (99.1 mm) of rear-seat legroom and has a different interior.

2008

For 2008, the STS has been updated. Changes include a refreshed exterior, with styling cues resembling the 2008 CTS, such as larger, more aggressive grille and chrome fender vents. The interior has also been updated, with new materials and a new steering wheel, though the overall interior design remains the same, despite previous rumors of an all-new interior similar to that of the Chinese-market SLS. The standard powertrain is now a direct-injected 3.6 L V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, which in the STS will produce 302 horsepower (225 kW) and 272 lb·ft (369 N·m) of torque. It also offers enhanced safety features, including a lane departure warning system developed by Mobileye, a blind spot monitoring system, and an improved version of GM's StabiliTrak stability control system, which can now operate the steering system in addition to the brakes to help correct a skid. Additionally, options previously limited to the V8 model (such as HID headlamps and heads-up display) are now available with the V6. The 2008 Cadillac STS debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show.[8]

A 2010 update for the STS removed the GM badges, although early 2010 models still retained GM badging.[9] For 2011, the V8 is entirely dropped from the Cadillac STS lineup.[10]

Chinese Cadillac SLS

For the 2007 model year, the Chinese market received the Cadillac SLS. Compared to the STS, the SLS has a longer wheelbase, unique interior appointments, and a near-identical exterior appearance. Engine choices are the 2.8-liter V-6, 3.6-liter V-6 (the non-direct-injection version shared with the 2005-2007 STS V-6), and the same 4.6-liter Northstar V-8 as in the STS V-8.[11]

Chinese-Spec SLS receives facelift at the end of 2009, and is sold as 2010 Model Year. The grille, bumper and many other details have been revised. Shanghai-GM has also introduced OnStar system to MY2010 SLS. With the introduction of two SIDI engines (one is 272 hp 3.0L, the other is 310 hp 3.6L), the new SLS goes up-to-date. The new SLS is priced from 448,000RMB to 698,000RMB.

Yearly American sales

Calendar Year Total sales
2004[12] 9,484
2005 33,497
2006[13] 25,676
2007 20,873
2008[14] 14,790
2009[15] 6,037
2010[16] 4,473
2011[17] 3,338

Future

The final STS was assembled on May 4, 2011.[18] The automotive press has reported that the next full-size Cadillac will be the XTS Platinum concept which will create a single flagship sedan for the brand, which debuted at the Detroit International Auto Show in January 2010.[19] The XTS will be based on the front-wheel drive Epsilon II based Super Epsilon Platform [20]

References

  1. ^ "Группа компаний Автотор :: Автомобили GM". Avtotor.ru. http://www.avtotor.ru/gm/. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  2. ^ http://www.avtotor.ru/upload/pictures/gm2009.jpg
  3. ^ a b Newbury, Stephan (2006). The car design yearbook 4. Merrell. ISBN 1-85894-286-1. 
  4. ^ GM POWERTRAIN LAUNCHES NEW HYDRA-MATIC SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. GM.com press release, January 10, 2005. Retrieved on August 1, 2009.
  5. ^ "Safecar.gov". Safercar.gov. http://www.safercar.gov/. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  6. ^ "IIHS-HLDI: Cadillac STS". Iihs.org. 2008-11-25. http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=242. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  7. ^ "IIHS-HLDI: Cadillac STS". Iihs.org. 2008-11-25. http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=828. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  8. ^ http://news.windingroad.com/body-stylesmarket-segment/sedans/cadillac-ups-sts-horsepower-rating-to-302/
  9. ^ "GM to drop corporate logo from vehicles - Detroit News". The Detroit News. http://www.detnews.com/article/20090825/AUTO01/908250320/1148/rss25. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  10. ^ "2011 GM Order Guide: Changes for Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, HHR, Malibu; Cadillac STS". http://blog.caranddriver.com/2011-gm-order-guide-changes-for-chevrolet-camaro-corvette-hhr-malibu-cadillac-sts/. Retrieved 2010-04-30. 
  11. ^ Ovidiu Sopa @ Xtreme WD. "2007 Cadillac Shanghai GM SLS Chinese Version | Cadillac". Supercarnews.net. http://www.supercarnews.net/2007-cadillac-shanghai-gm-sls-chinese-version. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  12. ^ http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=10702
  13. ^ http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=31596
  14. ^ http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=51161
  15. ^ http://media.gm.com/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Jan/0105_Dec_Sales/_jcr_content/iconrow/textfile/file.res/Deliveries%20December%2009.xls
  16. ^ http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/gmcom/investor/2011/DeliveriesDecember2010.pdf
  17. ^ http://www.cheersandgears.com/topic/77886-sales-december-2011-general-motors/
  18. ^ Ganz, Andrew (2011-05-06). "Seville no more: Cadillac builds last STS". Leftlanenews.com. http://www.leftlanenews.com/seville-no-more-cadillac-builds-last-sts.html. Retrieved 2011-11-20. 
  19. ^ Ralph Hanson (2009-04-10). "Cadillac exec confirms sub-CTS model and STS/DTS replacement". Motor Authority. http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/24/report-cadillac-xts-confirmed-for-production/. Retrieved 2009-07-19. 
  20. ^ Numbers, The (2010-03-30). "Totally Called It: Cadillac XTS Confirmed For Production". GM Authority. http://gmauthority.com/blog/2010/03/cadillac-xts-confirmed-for-production/. Retrieved 2011-11-20. 

External links