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2006
CADILLAC NEW CAR MODEL GUIDE |
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 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.
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| Cadillac
DTS Sedan |
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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.
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| Cadillac
XLR | | 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.
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SRX | |
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.
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| Cadillac
CTS |
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This sports sedan made history in '03 as the first
RWD vehicle in Cadillac's fleet since 1979 and
the first manual trans-mission for a RWD Caddy
in 50 years. The Sigma platform features an extended
wheelbase and wide track with wheels set on corners.
In the five-seat cabin, the exterior theme of
angular forms is expressed in monochromatic treatment.
2006 CTS shows two powertrains.
A base model stocks a 2.8-liter V6 VVT engine pumping 210 hp with a new six-speed manual transmission by Aisin or a five-speed Hydra-Matic 5L40-E automatic. The automatic adds a gated shifter with Driver Shift Control (DSC) for shift-it-yourself action like a manual stick. Upgraded CTS supports a 3.6-liter V6 with VVT and output pushed to 255 hp. A new Sport Performance Package brings 18-inch performance tires and polished wheels, xenon high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, performance brakes and revised suspension settings. |
| Cadillac V-Badged Models |
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This year Cadillac creates a brand-within-the-brand for big-engine muscle cars sporting the v-badge -- that 'v' tacked to a model's alphabetical nameplate, perhaps to denote 'velocity.' There are three tuner-style v-badged Cadillacs in 2006 -- CTSv, STSv and XLRv. STSv features supercharged performance with a 4.4-liter supercharged Northstar 4.4-liter V8 zipped to 469 hp. It mates with the new GM Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission -- first of GM's new six-speed auto shifters.
This same Northstar V8 powers the XLRv, with output worked to 443 hp. And the CTSv scores a version of Corvette's LS2 V8 below the hood that churns with 400 hp and renders sub-5 times for the run to 60 mph. All v-badged Cadillacs carry retuned suspension components, precision brakes and high-performance tires capping special alloy wheels.
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| Cadillac
Escalade |
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Cadillac's prime wagon charges through the luxury class as a powerful full-size SUV. It's constructed on GM's full-size truck chassis and carries many mechanical weapons for road combat, along with every convenience in a leather-wrapped passenger compartment that seats seven in cushy comfort. The top edition, outfitted with an automatic AWD traction device, draws from an enormous 6.0-liter V8 that makes 345 hp.
Power is applied to all wheels through an AWD mechanism that's always engaged. Also automatic is the Z55 Autoride suspension with continuously-variable road-sensing damping and air-leveling shock absorbers for precise ride control. A RWD Escalade also stocks the big 6.0-liter V8.
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| Cadillac
Escalade EXT |
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Escalade
EXT has the big cabin of a four-door SUV like
Escalade but also the abbreviated bed of a pickup
truck plus a link between cab and truck bed in
the cabin's fold-down rear gate. As a unique sport-utility
truck (SUT), the EXT variation of Escalade can
convert from a comfortable four-door, five-person
sport-utility to a practical pickup capable of
hauling cargo as well as passengers.
It resembles Escalade although the boxy rear bay has been eliminated in favor of the pared pickup bed. Muscle comes from Escalade's high-output 6.0-liter V8 that hits 345 hp. And the 2006 models for EXT show two optional refinements -- a power sliding tonneau covering the truck bed that opens and closes with the touch of a toggle, and a sliding load floor in the bed that holds about 1000 pounds of cargo. |
| Cadillac
Escalade ESV |
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Stretched 22 inches longer than Escalade, the ESV is a super-size SUV that compares to Chevrolet's Suburban but with Escalade's lavish features plus class-capping muscle. It also develops the highest gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) and tow numbers. ESV gets Escalade's 6.0-liter V8 for 345 hp. The engine uses a heavy-duty four-speed automatic transmission with all power sent to all wheels through the constantly-engaged AWD mechanism.
Three rows of leather-clad seats provide room
for seven people plus generous cargo space in
the rear bay. A Platinum Edition adds premium
features and materials, such as accents in walnut
burl wood and chrome, with deluxe gear standard
like OnStar telecommunications, a Bose audio system
and DVD-based video kit for rear seat riders as
well as XM satellite radio service. Five exterior
colors mark elite ESV Platinum: White Diamond,
Black Raven, Quicksilver, Red E and Rip Tide Blue. |
Cadillac
STS |
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Sleek
and stylish in bold design featuring angular forms
and crisp edgework, Cadillac's STS, the mid-size
touring sedan, packs a powerful V6 or V8 engine
and mounts exacting mechanical hardware on a rigid
rear-wheel-drive platform to produce superb performance
and handling traits.
There are two essential versions, as defined by
powertrain -- the 3.6-liter V6 VVT worth 254 hp
or NorthStar 4.6-liter V8 VVT zipped to 320 hp.
STS V6 the price leader amounts to a significant
car with plenty of muscle and sporty handling
traits, while STS V8 runs head-to-head against
elite touring sedans from Europe and Japan. Key
ingredients range from a keyless access system
with push-button start to adaptive cruise control
(ACC), four-color head-up display (HUD), and a
deluxe Bose audio system with six-disc CD/DVD/MP3
deck. STS V6 offers optional all-wheel-drive (AWD)
traction for '06.
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