Cadillac STS

Press Release

Performance and sophisticated luxury

 

Cadillac's all-new sedan STS is designed and engineered to be one of the finest luxury sedans available, with the added benefit of Cadillac's distinctive modern styling. The largest car to be based on GM's acclaimed rear-wheel-drive Sigma architecture offers the choice of 3.6-liter V6 VVT or 4.6-litre Northstar V8 engines. STS is the product of unwavering attention to detail, resulting in excellent fit and finish, refined performance, overall harmony and purposeful innovation.

 

Overview

From its Cadillac-signature styling to its performance capabilities, there's no mistaking the STS as anything but a contemporary Cadillac. Signature items styling include vertically stacked headlamps and light-emitting diode (LED) tail lamps, LED center high-mounted stop light (CHMSL), horizontal "spline lines" and dihedral-shaped hood.

 

With an overall length of 4985 mm, a wheelbase of 2957 mm and front/rear track of 1596/1581 mm the STS is the largest sedan in the GM Sigma-based family, which is also the foundation for Cadillac's entry-luxury CTS sedan, CTS V-series high-performance sedan and SRX luxury performance crossover. This ensures a particularly spacious and stylish interior, with an emphasis on high-quality fit and finish.

 

Premium quality materials are used throughout. Eucalyptus wood and aluminium trim appears on the steering wheel, center console, instrument panel and door armrests. Dual-firmness leather seats are specially tanned for a softer feel, with the added option of Tuscany leather upholstery. Natural grained surfaces on the door and instrument panel ensure an inviting, tactile touch, as do the headliner and interior pillars, which are soft backed and covered with a Monaco woven fabric.

 

The STS is offered with the 189 kW (257 horsepower) 3.6L V-6 VVT or the 239 kW (325 hp) Northstar 4.6L V-8. Both engines incorporate variable valve timing (VVT) and are mated to Cadillac's widely acclaimed five-speed automatic transmissions with Driver Shift Control. The 4.6L Northstar engine delivers 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6,2 seconds. With the V-6 the STS will achieve 0-100 km/h in 7,4 seconds.

 

Four-cam variable valve timing gives the V6 engine increased efficiency, with benefits in fuel economy, reduced emissions and a wide-ranging flexibility. 90 percent of the 3.6L V-6's peak torque is available across a broad operating range: from 1600 rpm to 5800 rpm. In addition, an electronically controlled throttle (ETC) effectively coordinates the driver's intentions with the actions of the various control components.

 

Real time damping

Integrated chassis control technologies combine high dynamic performance with a comfortable ride, including two-mode Magnetic Ride Control with performance or touring selections as standard on the V8. The electronically controlled magnetic-fluid based real time damping used on STS is the world's fastest-reacting suspension control system. Driver involvement is further enhanced by high-precision ZF steering gear and four-channel StabiliTrak which assists the vehicle in maintaining the driver's intended path by applying a brake force at any corner of the vehicle independent of the driver's use of the brake pedal. StabiliTrak is fully integrated with the traction control and ABS systems.

 

Plentiful, purposeful and driver oriented technical appointments include a Keyless Access system with a push button start; optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and reconfigurable four-color head-up display (HUD); heated and ventilated seats and heated steering wheel. The STS Elegance model comes highly specified as standard, with eight-way power seat adjustments for the driver and front occupant including a memory package which provides presets for two drivers and automatically adjusts the outside rear-view mirrors; power tilt and telescoping steering wheel position, radio and climate control settings.

 

Additional refinements on the special Launch Edition include the Eucalyptus wood trim package, heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, power lumbar adjustment on the front seats and an uplevel infotainment system, with a 15 speaker Bose 5.1 Surround Sound system with an integrated six-disc CD/DVD changer, an 8-inch (203 mm) VGA quality touch screen, Bluetooth capability, advanced voice recognition and an advanced navigation system.

 

Early in 2006, a high-performance Cadillac STS-V will also join the model line-up. This features a 4.4-liter DOHC Northstar V-8 SC engine with a positive displacement intercooled supercharger, the first supercharger ever on a production Cadillac delivering the highest horsepower rating of any production Cadillac engine to date.

 

The Cadillac STS is being built alongside its CTS, CTS-V and SRX stablemates at GM's state-of-the-art Lansing Grand River assembly center in Michigan. The facility recently received a J.D Power Gold Plant Award and was ranked the best assembly plant in North and South America in the 2004 J.D Power Initial Quality Study, in which Cadillac was voted number one amongst the toughest global luxury competition.

 

A distinctively bold offering of luxury and style

 

From its Cadillac-signature bold exterior styling to its inviting and carefully crafted interior, the STS is the product of unwavering attention to detail. More than 1,000 criteria points were strictly adhered to throughout development of the vehicle. The result combines a distinctive style with space, outstanding fit and finish, overall harmony, and purposeful innovation.

 

At first glance, there's no mistaking the STS as a contemporary Cadillac, with its vertically stacked headlamps and light-emitting diode (LED) tail lamps, signature LED CHMSL, horizontal spline lines, and dihedral-shaped hood. The STS carries this distinctive design vocabulary, heritage cues and styling characteristics found throughout the Cadillac product portfolio in a manner that is refined and sophisticated. It is intentionally crafted to meet the discriminating tastes of the performance luxury segment in which it competes - for the most discerning buyers in the automobile marketplace.

 

The overall shape lends a faster profile and more rake than its CTS sibling, but it's done so in the context of elegance and grace. Its doors-into-roof construction enables more tumblehome, the vehicle sides are sculpted inward, delivering a look of upscale rear-wheel-drive performance with a lower roof line, while maintaining a roomy interior. In addition, a wider tapering sail panel; lower, more sculptured hood; smoother wheel openings; and a tighter wheel-to-body relationship further communicate the agility of the STS, as well as sophistication and substance.

 

A wheelbase of 2957 cm and front/rear track of 1596/1581 mm, combined with a flush wheel-to-body relationship, ensures well-grounded appeal and presence. Overall, the STS is 4985 mm long, 1843 mm wide and 1464 mm high, making it the largest sedan offering in the GM Sigma-based family. As a result, the STS delivers ample interior space for front and rear passengers alike.

 

Luxury performance competence

Seven-spoke 17- or available nine-spoke 18-inch wheels and visible high-performance brake calipers and rotors leave no doubt about the STS' luxury performance competence. A wire mesh, electro-polished stainless steel lower grille reiterates the statement. 

 

The rocker treatments on the vehicle are specific to the STS, bringing a more sculpted shape to the vehicle's lower line for more presence and refinement. A single-piece fascia design, which eliminates seams for a clean, uninterrupted appearance, enables excellent fit and finish. Vertically stacked headlamps, a traditional Cadillac cue, are slightly narrower and lower than seen on other Cadillac models. The headlamps incorporate large, dual 70-millimeter projector lenses encased in an aluminized, single piece bezel. 

 

LED tail lamps are designed with indirect optics, an industry-first application, and incorporate 30 sources of illumination per unit. The use of indirect optics eliminates "pinpoints" of light normally associated with LEDs and enables an upscale, refined appearance when illuminated. On the STS, each tail lamp has two vertical arrays consisting of 15 LEDs, with each LED containing 20 optical facets. This configuration enables very precise illumination tuning and the design flexibility needed to meet both US domestic and export requirements.

 

The LED CHMSL on the STS is only 12-millimeters thick and consists of 78 points of illumination. An ingenious lens design incorporates the use of pillow optics, which again replaces a "pinpoint" appearance normally associated with LEDs with a smooth, refined output of light.

 

Single piece front fascia design

An integrated, precision-molded front fascia is constructed of thermal plastic olefin (TPO). Its single-piece design eliminates seams, and delivers outstanding dimensional execution to mating surfaces. The fascia incorporates upper and lower grilles and openings for headlamps, park/turn lamps, fog lamps and front side markers. In addition, HID headlamp washer elements are mounted flush to the fascia's surface for a smooth, clean appearance.

 

The rear styling of the STS is clean and uninterrupted, due in large part to a one-piece superplastic-formed aluminium decklid, with an integrated pocket on the trailing edge for the LED CHMSL. Use of the superplastic forming process has enabled integration of rear lighting elements without use of additional appliqués or trim. Styling lines, exhaust cut-outs, rear valance, rear fog lamps and the rear parking assist sensors are cleanly integrated into the overall design.

 

The styling of the STS is complemented by a wide range of exterior paint colors. These are: Blue Chip, Red Line, Black Raven, Silver Smoke, Sand Storm, Moonstone, Light Platinum, White Diamond and Silver Green Metallic.

 

Finely crafted, inviting interior

The interior of the STS is executed to extremely close and demanding tolerances, enabling a tight, well-crafted appearance throughout. Premium materials and surfaces are found throughout the interior. In-mould processed aluminium, which is particularly dent and mark resistant, is used for trim highlights on the Elegance model, with the Launch Edition offering Eucalyptus wood on the steering wheel, center console, instrument panel, and door armrests. A heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel is optionally available. Natural grained surfaces on the door and instrument panel ensure an inviting tactile touch, as do the headliner and interior pillars, which are soft backed and covered with a Monaco woven fabric.

The STS features dual-firmness seats (optionally available as heated and ventilated) that are specially tanned for a softer feel. The seat design's optimized dual-firmness strategy uses a pillow-like upper padding combined with a firmer seat cushion to achieve luxurious comfort as well as outstanding support. The standard Nuance leather seating surfaces or available Tuscany leather seats are available in Light Gray, Ebony or Cashmere finishes.

 

Eight-way seat adjustment

Power seat adjustments for the driver and front occupant provide eight-way seat adjustment with a memory package providing presets for two drivers, including settings for eight-way power driver/passenger seats with an easy exit driver seat; outside rear-view mirrors; power tilt and telescoping steering wheel position, radio and climate control settings. Four-way power lumbar adjustment and articulating head restraints are available on the Launch Edition.

 

The STS features analogue instrumentation, defined by bright accents and includes speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and engine water temperature. The Driver Information Center (DIC) is displayed in the gauge cluster, and has six-language capability (English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish). A standard electrochromic (light-sensitive auto dimming) interior rearview mirror is integrated with the interior.