Euro-Caddy

By Matthew Rudy
Photos By Chris Stanford
Map By Jason Lee July 2008

Harley Earl, the design visionary at General Motors during its tailfins-and-six-acres-of-chrome heyday, probably wouldn't know what to make of today's car market -- and, by extension, the 2008 Cadillac CTS.

Pinched by super-capable European and Japanese sedans at every price point and pigeonholed as a cushy retiree's ride by anybody under 50, Caddy got caught between a rock and an old place. The "Standard to the World" during Earl's time had become the standard for school principals and road warriors with rental-counter upgrade coupons.

That was supposed to change with this all-new CTS, which Cadillac benchmarked with BMW for performance on Germany's Nürburgring track and with Audi for interior finish.

One way to find out if Cadillac made good on its promise -- to produce an exciting, relevant sports sedan -- was to take one where I knew I could find a lot of the old Caddy's demographic. That was a drive from Myrtle Beach down to Savannah, Ga. If the ready-for-retirement boomers loved the new-look CTS, Cadillac was in deep trouble. Nothing says comfortable upper-middle class (with a side of tacky) like Myrtle Beach -- or a Hootie & the Blowfish charity golf tournament. Where else could you find a first-rate Pete Dye golf course (at the Barefoot Golf Resort), two Hooters restaurants, former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon (regrettably, without the "Rozelle" headband) and 500 brokers and periodontists clapping out of time, all within a mile of the hotel? Nowhere.

Those who remember the time when Cadillacs made an entrance might not recognize the wonderland of gadgetry in the CTS -- satellite traffic monitoring, keyless ignition, air-conditioned seats -- but they'd instinctively get the CTS' redesigned front clip, even if they hated it. Breadstick-size chrome slats make the monster grille look like a sneering shark's mouth. Attitude by itself won't sell a $46,000 car, but it sure helps. Slow drivers move out of the way before you even flash.

Better yet, when you get the space, you can do something about it. The 304-horsepower direct-injection V-6 is the best non-Corvette engine GM makes, and it bustled the chiseled CTS away from Myrtle and the Blowfish. (Synopsis: Musically, you haven't missed much since 1995, but they raise a heck of a lot of money for charity -- and drink a lot of Jagermeister.) You can love or hate the front end, but the interior finally befits a car of this price. The CTS no longer shares (many) knobs and levers with cheaper GM cars, and the delicate stitching on the leatherette dash cover makes the cabin look like it was designed on purpose, not by compromise. Loads of space and fantastic seats made the 120-mile run to Charleston, S.C., not just painless but enjoyable.