The Cadillac DTS (an initialism of DeVille Touring Sedan) is a full-size car that was built by the American company Cadillac from 2005 until May 2011.[6] It is a four-door sedan that comes in five- or six-seat variants. The DTS debuted at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show and was manufactured at GM's Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly factory. It uses GM's G-platform for front-engine, front-wheel-drive automobiles.[7] The DTS was a very mildly revised iteration of the eighth-generation Deville, using the brand's new naming convention, set by the CTS and STS. Writing for the Los Angeles Times, noted reviewer Warren Brown called the DTS "a large, exceptionally comfortable front-wheel-drive luxury sedan." [8]
| Cadillac DTS | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Cadillac |
| Production | 2005–2011 |
| Model years | 2006–2011 |
| Assembly | Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly, Hamtramck, Michigan, U.S. |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 4-door limousine |
| Layout | Transverse FF layout |
| Platform | GM G platform[1]/GMX272 |
| Related | Buick Lucerne |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.6 L Northstar LD8 V8 4.6 L Northstar L37 V8 |
| Transmission | 4-speed 4T80 automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 115.6 in (2,936 mm) (SWB) 123.6 in (3,139 mm) (LWB)[2] |
| Length | 207.6 in (5,273 mm)[3] (SWB) 215.6 in (5,476 mm) (LWB)[4] |
| Width | 74.8 in (1,900 mm) |
| Height | 57.6 in (1,463 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,009 lb (1,818 kg)[5] |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Cadillac DeVille |
| Successor | Cadillac XTS |
Production and specifications
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Compared to its Deville predecessor, the DTS was mildly restyled rather than fully redesigned, featuring revised front-end sheet metal, front fascia, as well as rear decklid, rear quarter, and rear fascia.
The DTS used GM's G-platform,[1] as denoted by the 4th letter in the VIN), and was powered by a transverse[9] 32V Northstar V8, which produced 275 bhp (205 kW) in "Standard", "Luxury" and "Premium" trims. The DTS Platinum was equipped with 292 bhp (218 kW) version.[5]
The base MSRP for the DTS at time of introduction was US$41,195 (equivalent to $64,300 in 2023) which was over 10% lower than the DeVille model it had replaced.
The DTS offered front bucket seats with overall seating for five passengers, and six passenger (i.e., front bench) seating available as an optional feature.[10]
Standard features included multiple airbags, bi-functional xenon high-intensity discharge HID headlamps, leather seating surfaces, and power seats. Optional equipment included heated and cooled front seats and a heated rear seat, rain-sensing wipers, Bose audio system, DVD navigation, automatic dimming headlights, adaptive cruise control and Magnetic Ride Control suspension.[11] A Platinum package became available in 2007 with special interior trim, badging, and other amenities.
GM phased out its small GM fender badges for all its vehicles, starting during the 2010 model year, including those on the DTS.[12]
| Model | Year | Engine | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Luxury I, II, III |
2006 | 4.6 L Northstar LD8 V8 | 275 bhp (205 kW; 279 PS) at 5200 rpm | 292 lb⋅ft (396 N⋅m) at 4400 rpm |
| 2007–2008 | 275 bhp (205 kW; 279 PS) at 6000 rpm | 295 lb⋅ft (400 N⋅m) at 4400 rpm | ||
| Standard Luxury Premium |
2009–2011 | |||
| Performance | 2006 | 4.6 L Northstar L37 V8 | 291 bhp (217 kW; 295 PS) at 5600 rpm | 286 lb⋅ft (388 N⋅m) at 4400 rpm |
| 2007–2009 | 292 bhp (218 kW; 296 PS) at 6300 rpm | 288 lb⋅ft (390 N⋅m) at 4500 rpm | ||
| Platinum | 2008–2011 | |||
| [5][13] | ||||
DTS-L
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Especially for the limousine market, the lightly stretched DTS-L was released in November 2006 for the 2007 model year. Developed and finished by Accubuilt, this version was being touted as having greater rear legroom.[14] Early DTS-L Cadillacs are easily recognized by the wider rear C-pillar, similar to the one used on the older Fleetwood 75 Series. This was necessitated by the use of the standard length DTS rear door, which left a strange-looking space between the rear wheelwell and door. In 2008 a new version, with longer rear doors, was introduced. This change also meant that the C-pillars became considerably slimmer. Despite these efforts, the low production DTS-L soon disappeared from the marketplace.
Other uses
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The DTS was available as a 'coachbuilder' chassis for aftermarket conversion into either limousines, or hearses. The limousine model was designated V4U, and the hearse model was designated B9Q. These were only available to manufacturers named as Cadillac Master Coachbuilders, meaning they were certified by General Motors to modify them. The coachbuilder chassis are an incomplete car, with no rear doors, trunk, rear windshield, and other parts not used during the conversion. These models also included 8 lug wheels, upgraded suspension components, as well as a transmission cooler.
Presidential State Car
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A specially designed and outfitted armored vehicle with Cadillac DTS styling (actually a modified medium-duty GMC truck four-wheel drive chassis) with extra high-roof was debuted in the second inauguration of U.S. President George W. Bush, which also served as the debut for the DTS before its official debut at the Chicago Auto Show. While details of the modified vehicle, codenamed "Stagecoach", remain classified, previous such vehicles indicate that it would have been upgraded with advanced armor and safety features in order to protect the president from various threats.[15]
Shorter-wheelbase armored DTSes are also cars used by the Vice President of the United States at least since 2010.[16]
A modified DTS was also used by former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper.
Yearly American sales
edit| Calendar Year | Total sales |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 23,322 |
| 2006[17] | 58,224 |
| 2007 | 51,469 |
| 2008[18] | 30,479 |
| 2009[19] | 17,330 |
| 2010[20] | 18,640 |
| 2011[21] | 11,589 |
| 2012[22] | 465 |
Next generation
editThe next full-size front-wheel drive Cadillac sedan was the XTS which went on sale in June 2012 as a 2013 model. A second full-size sedan, the rear-wheel drive CT6, was added to the lineup in 2016.[23]
Prior to bankruptcy, GM had considered a rear-drive sedan, powered by the new Ultra V8 engine (replacement for the Northstar), to bow for 2010.[24] GM later stopped development of new North American Zeta-based models and canceled the Ultra V8 engine.[25][26]
References
edit- ^ a b Frame, Phil (16 January 1995). "GM H CARS MOVE TO G PLATFORM". Automotive News. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
- ^ "Cadillac DTS -L Specs". ultimatespecs.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ Newbury, Stephan (2006). The car design yearbook 4. Merrell. ISBN 1-85894-286-1.
- ^ "2008 Cadillac DTS-L (aut. 4) (model for North America ) car specifications & performance data review". automobile-catalog.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c "2011 Cadillac DTS official specs". Cadillac.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ Ganz, Andrew (2011-05-27). "Last Cadillac DTS rolls off line… and into Bulgari Collection". Leftlanenews.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Cadillac DTS Awaits Place in Bulgari Collection" (Press release). GM Media. 2011-05-27.
- ^ Warren Brown (September 7, 2005). "Let the youngsters drive something else". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "2006-11 Cadillac DTS". 17 June 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- ^ "GM Fleet Cadillac DTS specs". Prod3.gmautobuilder.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman. "Cadillac DTS embraces big-car formula as DeVille replacement". Motorway America.
- ^ Shunk, Chris (August 25, 2009). "REPORT: GM dropping corporate emblems for 2010. Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges..." Autoblog. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "Cadillac DTS specs @ V lane". Vlane.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ "2007 Cadillac DTS-L". Car and Driver. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
- ^ General Motors (April 2006). "Cadillac Unveils the 2006 Cadillac DTS Presidential Limousine for George Bush's Inauguration". Automobile. Archived from the original on May 7, 2006. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ^ Better With A Drone (13 October 2010). "The Vice Presidential Limousine - Chicago 10/12/10". Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 8 December 2018 – via YouTube.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ "Deliveries December 2009". Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "DeliveriesDecember2010" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Sales: December 2011 - General Motors". Cheers & Gears: Forums. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "GM's U.S. Sales up 5 percent in December". media.gm.com. 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
- ^ Ralph Hanson (2009-04-10). "Cadillac exec confirms sub-CTS model and STS/DTS replacement". Motor Authority. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ "GM could use Zeta platform for large Cadillac". Left Lane News. 2007-02-26. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ "Holden cutbacks: Holden cuts design and engineering jobs as GM abandons global RWD projects" (PDF). GoAutoNews Issue 449. 2008-09-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
- ^ John Neff (2008-01-03). "GM cancels new DOHC V8 engine program". Auto Blog. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
External links
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- Consumer Guide: 2006-2010 Cadillac DTS
- Cadillac DTS (official US website) at the Wayback Machine (archived January 3, 2010)