Cadillac's All-New CTS Gets A MUCH Bigger Asking Price — Too Much?

There's no question that vehicle prices have started to explode upwards. Part of it is a mental thing and also part of it is a combination of increasing technological and safety standards.

Take, for example, the all-new Cadillac CTS that was a relatively reasonable price with the last-gen car. Now its base price is a staggering $46,025 — a $7,000 difference from the previous vehicle.

Though I am suffering from a bit of sticker shock, I am going to remind you, and myself, of a couple things:

1) The CTS has been moved upmarket to make room for the successful ATS. The reality is that there needed to be greater distinction from a pricing standpoint AND a product standpoint — both have been achieved now.

2) Its competitors are near the same price.
    - Audi A6
    - BMW 5-Series
    - Lexus GS
    - Mercedes-Benz E-Class

One interesting bit. Cadillac's press release is sure to point out that the 420-horsepower Vsport version will base at $59,995. While that remains $2,000 less than the competition, it makes us wonder one thing: what will the price competitive CTS-V come in at?


Cadillac's press release follows:

All-New CTS Sedan Ascends into Midsize Luxury Segment

More than 20 new features come standard with all-new model launching this fall

DETROIT – When the all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan arrives in dealerships this fall, it will offer more interior space, power and technology with more than 20 new standard features compared with the current model.

Inside and out, the third-generation CTS sedan grows, ascending into the heart of the midsize luxury market, with an all-new design that is longer, lower and leaner. The new CTS is five inches longer, expanding interior space, but also 244 pounds lighter than the previous model. It is expected to be the lightest car in its segment.

"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. "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."

The 2014 CTS standard model will start at $46,025, including $925 destination. Three Collections of option packages – Luxury, Performance and Premium – will be offered with either the 2.0T turbocharged four cylinder or 3.6L naturally aspirated V6 engine in either rear- or all-wheel drive.

CTS will be offered with a choice of three powertrains, including a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out 272 horsepower and goes from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds – 1.5 seconds faster than the outgoing model. Standard front Brembo brakes with ferritic-nitro carburizing, or FNC, anti-corrosion rotors give CTS braking performance that Cadillac expects to be best in the segment. Magnetic Ride Control, the world's fastest-reacting suspension and a hallmark of V-Series models, is now standard on base models with 18-inch wheels.

Selectable drive modes will allow drivers to adjust the vehicle's performance dynamics for touring, ice and snow, or sport driving. The CTS Vsport model features the new Cadillac Twin-Turbo 3.6L V6 engine with an SAE-certified 420 horsepower and a "track" drive mode with specific Magnetic Ride Control calibration and enhanced throttle progression for greater track performance.

The Vsport model contains the highest-performing components, led by the all-new Twin Turbo V6. The CTS Vsport model starts at $59,995, including $925 destination, and comes equipped with an electronic limited slip differential and eight-speed automatic transmission in RWD only.

Inside, all CTS models are equipped with CUE, Cadillac's breakthrough system for connectivity and control featuring an eight-inch fully reconfigurable touch screen. CUE brings tablet-like functionality into the CTS with functions such as haptic feedback to confirm selections, proximity sensing to reveal hidden icons, gesture recognition and capacitive touch. A 5.7-inch display in the instrument cluster allows the driver to control radio, phone and navigation functions through steering wheel controls without having to take his eyes off the road.

CTS will come with an 11-speaker Bose premium audio system with HD radio capability. Users will have several options for streaming portable media devices with three USB ports and one auxiliary and SD card port.

SuperTurtlePlus - 6/15/2013 11:03:14 PM

0 Boost

I need to see this thing in the flesh (so to speak). Pictures make it look very aggressive, yet poised though I get the feeling that they don’t just don’t do it justice.

cidflekken - 6/16/2013 5:10:17 PM

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Kind of a strange model and pricing structure. Is the CTS positioned above or below the XTS? The XTS is larger, with a larger base engine, yet its starting price is about $2k lower than the CTS.

SuperTurtlePlus - 6/16/2013 5:58:25 PM

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As I understand it, the CTS will be below the XTS. The reboot of the current XTS – the currently car I believe is little more than a placeholder – will make its place in Cadillac’s order more obvious.

85bmw745i - 6/16/2013 7:25:44 PM

+2 Boost

XTS would be the same equivalent to Cadillac as the ES is to Lexus. Both are front wheel drive, and while the CTS and GS350 are smaller, those two models are entry level luxury compared to the CTS/GS350. I would expect the price of the CTS to go up, since it is now directly competing with the 5 series/E class/A6/GS350, instead of being in between the 3/5, E/C, A6/A4, GS/IS. the ATS now covers the 3/C/IS/A4.

cidflekken - 6/17/2013 3:15:43 AM

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No, the XTS does not correlate with the ES, not in size, not in price. In higher trim levels, the XTS' base price is almost $60k. It will be interesting to see what the CTS' higher trim levels start at, to see if there is the same overlap with the XTS' pricing. And the ES and GS are virtually the same size, with the ES a bit longer mainly due to the front overhang, and the GS being wider and having a longer wheelbase. The XTS and CTS sizing are much more disparate from each other.

Yes, @SuperTurtlePlus, I understand the CTS is positioned below the XTS, but, per my statements, the pricing doesn't reflect the same.

85bmw745i - 6/17/2013 12:24:19 PM

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I didn't say they were competitors nor did I say they correlate, I said they are the equivalence as far as their position within their own brand. For example while the size between the GS and ES are comparable, the ES is FWD, and has nothing remotely sporty about it, where as the GS is the sports sedan, just like the XTS is the FWD, non sporty luxury car for Caddy, both the ES and XTS serve the same purpose, to provide that posh luxury ride with none of the sportiness to take away from the comfortable ride. I never said they were direct competitors.