Cadillac STS

Cadillac STS
Overview
Manufacturer	Cadillac (General Motors)
Also called	Cadillac SLS (China)
Production	2005–2011 (US) 2006–2013 (China)
Assembly	Lansing, Michigan, United States Shanghai, China(Shanghai GM) Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia (Avtotor)/
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size luxury sedan
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Front-engine, Rear wheel drive / Front-engine, four-wheel drive
Platform	GM Sigma platform
Related	Cadillac CTS Cadillac SRX Cadillac STS-V
Powertrain
Engine	3.6 L LY7 V6 (gasoline) 4.4 L Northstar LC3 V8 (supercharged gasoline) 4.6 L Northstar LH2 V8 (gasoline)
Transmission	5-speed 5L40-E automatic 5-speed 5L50 automatic 6-speed 6L50 automatic
Dimensions
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)
Chronology
Predecessor	Cadillac Seville
Successor	Cadillac CT6

The Cadillac STS (Seville Touring Sedan) is a mid-sized luxury four-door sedan that was manufactured and sold by Cadillac from 2005–2013. It was equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with performance algorithm shifting and driver shift control.

Origins

The STS was the successor to the Cadillac Seville. 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 was Cadillac's flagship model. In the United States and Canada, the STS in its day was positioned between the smaller mid-size CTS and larger full-size DTS, but was priced above the latter.

Safety

The Cadillac STS was rated with a four star frontal and five star rear passenger crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 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. In the side impact test injury measurements to the driver's pelvis was rated "Poor" and for the torso "Acceptable."

First generation 2005-2007

2005–2007 Cadillac STS

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.

Available engines were 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 was 116.4 in (2,957 mm), though overall length was shorter than the Seville. Interior space was greater than its predecessor. A heads-up display was optional, as was a 300-watt Bose stereo system with MP3 capability. Base pricing started at US$40,995 (slightly higher than the DTS, which was longer but had front-wheel drive), and extended 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 4.4 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).

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 with higher quality materials.

Second generation 2008-2012

2008–2010 Cadillac STS

For 2008, the STS was updated. Changes included a refreshed exterior, with styling cues resembling the 2008 CTS, such as larger, more aggressive grille and chrome fender vents. The interior was updated, with new materials and a new steering wheel, though the overall interior design remained the same, despite previous rumors of an all-new interior similar to that of the Chinese-market SLS. The standard powertrain was a direct-injected 3.6 L V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, which in the STS produced 302 horsepower (225 kW) and 272 lb·ft (369 N·m) of torque. It also offered 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 could 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 Automotive head-up display) were available with the V6. The 2008 Cadillac STS debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show.

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

Chinese Cadillac SLS

2012 Cadillac SLS

The Chinese market received the Cadillac SLS in November 2006 for the 2007 model year. 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.

The Chinese-Spec SLS received a facelift at the end of 2009, and was sold as a 2010. The grill, bumper and many other details were revised. Shanghai-GM also introduced the OnStar system to the model. Two SIDI engines were introduced, a 272 hp 3.0L and a 310 hp 3.6L. The SLS is priced from 448,000RMB to 698,000RMB.

Yearly American sales

Calendar Year	Total sales
2004	9,484
2005	33,497
2006	25,676
2007	20,873
2008	14,790
2009	6,037
2010	4,473
2011	3,338
2012	164

Future

The final STS was assembled on May 4, 2011. The automotive press reported that the next full-size Cadillac would be the XTS Platinum concept which would create a single flagship sedan for the brand. The concept debuted at the Detroit International Auto Show in January 2010, with production starting in May 2012 at GM's Oshawa Assembly Plant. The XTS is based on the front-wheel drive Epsilon II based Super Epsilon Platform

External links

• Official US website