Also called Cadillac SLS (China) Class Mid-size luxury sedan | Designer Kip Wasenko (2001) | |
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Manufacturer Cadillac (General Motors) Production 2004–2011 (US)
2006–2013 (China) Assembly Lansing, Michigan, United States
Shanghai, China(Shanghai GM)
Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia (Avtotor)/ | ||
The Cadillac STS (Seville Touring Sedan or S-Series Touring Sedan) is a mid-sized luxury four-door notchback sedan manufactured and sold by Cadillac from 2004–2013. It was equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with performance algorithm shifting and driver shift control.
Contents
Origins
The STS was the successor to the Cadillac Seville,. which beginning in 1988 was available as an upscale performance-oriented STS (for Seville Touring Sedan) version, and comfort-oriented SLS (for Seville Luxury Sedan). The next year, the STS received Cadillac's then-new Northstar System, including the aluminium DOHC L37 Northstar V8 engine.
The STS was Cadillac's highest-priced sedan, falling in size between the mid-size CTS and full-size DTS.
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 2004-2007
The front wheel drive Seville model name was retired in 2004, succeeded by an entirely new "STS" based on the rear wheel drive GM Sigma platform. The first Cadillac sedan to be offered with All wheel drive, it retained the Seville's high-performance Magnetic Ride Control suspension.
The Cadillac STS was assembled at GM's Lansing Grand River facility in Lansing, Michigan along with the smaller 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 variable valve timing. Remote ignition is standard.
Overall length was down 5" to 196.3", yet wheelbase grew by 4" to 116.4 in (2,957 mm), resulting in increased interior space. 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), rising 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). The model was discontinued in 2009.
Second generation 2008-2012
The STS was updated for 2008. 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
The Chinese market received the Cadillac SLS in November 2006 for the 2007 model year. It was assembled by Shanghai GM. Compared to the STS, the SLS has a longer wheelbase, unique interior appointments, and a near-identical exterior appearance. Engine choices included 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 was priced from 448,000RMB to 698,000RMB.
GM discontinued production of the SLS in 2013.
Successor
The final STS was assembled on May 4, 2011. The enlarged third generation rear-wheel drive CTS sedan introduced in 2013 as a 2014 model, similar in size and price to the STS, effectively succeeded it, continuing the Seville lineage.