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With the exciting new 2011 CTS coupe, Cadillac's cornerstone model hits a new high. The coupe's chiseled lines and razor-sharp handling complete the first stage of Cadillac's rebirth.
The CTS family now belongs in the same conversation as the exalted BMW 3-series: A single brand-defining model that spun off a showroom-full of terrific derivatives.
The coupe is the sportiest and most radical-looking car in a CTS family that includes a sedan and station wagon.
In addition to a lower, wider body – the front fenders are the only panels shared with other CTS models – Cadillac engineers reworked the coupe's steering, suspension and final drive ratio.
Everything about driving the coupe is faster and more responsive than the very enjoyable CTS sport sedan and wagon.
As Cadillac prepares to flesh out its model line with vital new cars that are bigger and smaller than the midsize CTS, the coupe lays the final stone in a solid foundation.
Prices for the CTS coupe start at $38,165 for a rear-wheel drive model with a six-speed automatic transmission and 304-horsepower 3.6-liter direct-injection V6.
All CTS coupes except the magnum-force CTS-V use the powerful and efficient 3.6-liter V6.
Adding all-wheel drive to the base model raises the sticker price to $40,065. If you want a manual transmission, a six-speed is available in the Performance trim level for $41,305.
A Performance coupe with the automatic goes for $42,605. Adding all-wheel drive brings the tab to $45,505. AWD is available only with the automatic transmission.
Prices for the Premium model start at $45,710 for a rear-drive manual transmission model; $47,010 with the automatic. Prices for the AWD Premium model start at $48,910.
I tested a very well-equipped rear-drive CTS Premium with the automatic transmission, high-performance summer tires, polished 19-inch aluminum wheels and a couple of other options that brought the sticker to $49,210.
The CTS-V comes with a 556-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine and a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. CTS-V prices start at $62,165.
The CTS coupe is a good value compared with other sporty luxury coupes like the Audi S5, BMW 335is, Infiniti G37 and Mercedes-Benz E350.
It offers more horsepower and torque than the E350. The BMW's twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six generates more torque, while the G37's 3.7-liter V6 produces more horsepower. The S5's V8 generates more power, but burns much more gasoline.
The rear-drive CTS coupe also uses less fuel than the 335is and E350. The G37 has a higher EPA fuel economy rating, but its requirement for premium gas makes it nearly $400 a year more expensive to run than the regular-fueled CTS coupe, according to the EPA.
The CTS is the only one of the coupes that recommends regular, making it a bargain to operate.
The coupe leaps forward when you hit the accelerator. The transmission shifts quickly and smoothly. The suspension features a 2-inch-wider rear track than the CTS sedan and wagon. It grips the road like Velcro.
The summer tires on the car I tested could be rough over bumpy surfaces, but less so than most high-performance rubber. There's very little wind or road noise, even at high speed.
The steering is fast and precise, with good feedback and varying assist levels that are well tuned for high- or low-speed maneuvers. The optional performance brakes on the car I tested provided exceptional stopping power and pedal feel.
The interior features a roomy front seat. The gauges and controls use the same large, legible and user-friendly controls layout as the CTS wagon and sedan.
Rear legroom is minuscule, a common shortcoming among sport luxury coupes. The 10.5-cubic-foot provides less luggage space than the S5, E350 and 335is, but more than the G37.
The CTS coupe's design is beyond modern. It looks more like a prop from a Philip K. Dick movie than the stodge-mobiles that filled Cadillac showrooms a few years ago.
Despite the car's high tail and sharply angled C-pillars, the blind spots are manageably small. The fast 62-degree windshield occasionally obscures traffic lights when you're stopped at intersections, but overall visibility is exceptionally good for such an exotic-looking car.
The CTS coupe's style and performance close the first stage of Cadillac's renaissance with a resounding success and set a high standard for the next cars from GM's luxury brand.
Cadillac CTS Coupe
Vehicle type: Rear-wheel drive four-passenger luxury coupe
Price as tested: $49,210 (excluding destination charge)
Rating: Four out of four stars
Reasons to buy: Looks, performance, value, fuel economy
Shortcomings: Lateral support in seats, sunroof doesn't open fully, rear legroom