Cadillac STS

The STS (Seville Touring Sedan) is a luxury car sold by Cadillac.

Origins

The STS is the successor to the "import fighter" Cadillac Seville. That car used the STS name, standing for "Seville Touring Sedan" on upscale performance-oriented versions from at least 1988. In 1992, Cadillac split the Seville line into STS and more luxury-oriented SLS (for "Seville Luxury Sedan") trim lines. The next year, the STS got Cadillac's then-new Northstar System, including the aluminum DOHC L37 "Northstar" V8 engine. Throughout its existence, the STS was Cadillac's highest-priced sedan model.

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.

Engines are a 3.6L High Feature LY7 V6 with 255hp (190kW) and 252ft·lbf (342N·m) and the 4.6L Northstar LH2 V8 which outputs 320hp (239kW) and 315ft·lbf (427N·m) in the STS. Remote ignition is standard.

Wheelbase is 116.4in, 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, and extends to US$52,240 for the AWD V8 model.

STS-V

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

Cadillac gave the public its first glimpse of the STS-V in its Super Bowl commercial, which aired February 6, 2005. The STS-V will have a 0-60 mph acceleration time of under five seconds.

The STS-V has bigger brakes, larger wheels, faster steering and a stiffer suspension than the standard STS. It will go on sale in the United States in late 2005 for just under US$80,000.