Cadillac, representing the pinnacle of styling and technical sophistication at General Motors, continues to upgrade this line to world-class status as a premium brand. The 2006 collection brings a new design for Cadillac's mainline DTS sedan and makes v-badged high-performance versions of CTS and STS touring sedans plus XLR the two-seat convertible sports car. Cadillac also builds super-size SUVs with lavish appointments under the name of Escalade but in three formats.

The DTS (DeVille Touring Sedan) of 2006 is Cadillac's new large-scale luxury sedan in front-wheel-drive (FWD) format. As replacement for Cadillac's long-standing DeVille luxury car, elegant DTS rides on a stretched platform and provides a deluxe passenger compartment lined with fancy appointments. Powertrain is Cadillac's NorthStar 4.6-liter V8 tuned to 275 hp or 291 hp and channeled through GM's Hydra-Matic 4T80-E four-speed automatic transmission.

A number of safety systems and sophisticated chassis control technologies for DTS include six standard air bags, anti-lock brakes and traction control, StabiliTrak with Brake Assist, and Magnetic Ride Control (MRC). Comfort and convenience items available for DTS range from heated and cooled front seats to tri-zone climate controls, front and rear ultrasonic park assist, a six-disc CD/MP3 player, optional OnStar telecommunications and XM satellite radio service plus a DVD navigation system.

Built on a rigid rear-wheel-drive (RWD) platform also used for racy Corvette, Cadillac's two-seat sports car wears keen body forms in the package of a luxurious hardtop coupe that drops its lid with the push of a console switch. XLR's exterior theme of chiseled lines extends into the cockpit with sculptured bucket seats covered in leather and trimwork 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 plus audio system functions. The issues of 2006 offer Cadillac's first application of Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) and XM satellite radio service is stock now.

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. SRX rides on the RWD Sigma archi-tecture of CTS and STS sedans and is available with RWD or AWD mode. It's 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. (CONTINUE...)