Cadillac, showcasing the best in styling and technical sophistication from General Motors, continues to upgrade its line to the status of an elite premium brand.

For 2005, Cadillac's alphabetical nomenclature for models applies to the XLR two-seat convertible sports car, SRX mid-size crossover sport-utility, the CTS (Cadillac Touring Sedan) plus a souped-up CTS-V high-performance version, and Seville's replacement with new STS, a premium sport touring sedan that runs against the world's best.

Further, Cadillac builds super-size SUVs with lavish appointments under the name of Escalade, in three distinct formats.

Built on a rigid rear-wheel-drive (RWD) platform also used for Chevrolet's racy Corvette, the two-seat Cadillac sports car wears keen body forms in the package of a luxurious hardtop coupe that drops its lid with the push of button. The conversion, which consumes less than 30 seconds, lowers the side-glass windows, lifts the metal lid with electromechanical muscle and tucks it neatly into the trunk, leaving a smooth and flat bonnet trailing integrated roll bars positioned behind the seatbacks. XLR's exterior themes of chiseled lines extend into the cockpit with sculptured bucket seats covered in leather and trim work in polished aluminum metal plus lacquered wood.

Go-power stems from a NorthStar 4.6-liter V8 engine with four-cam variable valve timing (VVT). It develops 320 hp through a five-speed automatic transmission with a gated shifter on the console. XLR's driver may view instruments as reflected off the windshield in a head-up display that includes digital data indicating the vehicle's speed, real-world clock time and functions of the audio equipment and active cruise control. The issues of 2005 offer wood cockpit trim in light or dark eucalyptus and a new body paint shade called Blue Steel.

Cadillac's mid-size crossover SUV brings the pliable traits of a sporty car in a package that resembles either a high-hiked station wagon or a dropped-down SUV. Dubbed SRX, the first initial in the name stands for the series, the R in the middle signifies a re-configurable nature of the wagon and the X at the end denotes the car-based platform of a crossover vehicle. SRX rides on the RWD Sigma architecture of CTS and STS sedans and is available with RWD or AWD mode. It feels nimble and lively with a fun-to-drive attitude.

Engine options include the 4.6-L NorthStar V8 VVT or 3.6-liter V6 VVT. A five-speed automatic transmission with DSC goes with each engine. The cabin is laid out with twin buckets in the front row and a bench for three on row two. An optional bench for two as a third row raises the rider count to seven. Select the UltraView sunroof, which spreads above first and second rows of seats, for the largest sunroof in this class. (CONTINUED...)