2008 Cadillac CTS: A Design Detail Done Right

That picture reminds me of previous generation Accords. I generally didn't like the front and rear look of the Accord but, boy, that front fender was quite an accomplishment! At least, CTS is about one generation behind to find such a beauty.

Agreed. This is my favorite characteristic of the CTS. The S2000 uses a very similar approach. The curvature really adds a sense of artistic form to the design.

The last gen CTS doesnt look dated. It also had wheels that filled the fenders unless you had a base car with the 16s. By the 2007 model year the old CTS waw available with 18s (not counting V series) and those wheels did a great job of filling the space in the fenders. GM has been making cars with close tire to fender gaps for the last few years although there are some exceptions like the base model Impala. Not so at Toyota, Honda and Nissan where half of the vehicles are riding so high they look like they have AWD.

"The Germans have known this for years, glad to see Cadillac is finally catching up with the times."
 
Queue the rants.
 
"The S2000 uses a very similar approach. "
 
I hadn't thought of this, but I completely agree. Good comparison.
 
"Not so at Toyota, Honda and Nissan where half of the vehicles are riding so high they look like they have AWD."
 
The original CTS did look like it rode a little high, but it was still a fantastic looking vehicle. This new model looks amazing. I love how the front end hugs the ground, like some sort of cat ready to pounce. The back end still sits a little high, but I think thats the trunk design.

Tire circumference to wheel well relationship is the same as the last generation model- especially with the 18" wheel option. The only difference is that the '08 model uses the STS' wider track dimensions on the same wheelbase and body width of the previous CTS.

Yeah, this was BMW's specialty and I never understood why everyone else hasn't gotten it down yet. If you ask me, stance is the only reason BMWs have ever looked good!

I saw one on the optional 19's this morning and thought they were a little too big. I think Edmunds got it right with their version. And I agree that the fenders and most everything else on this car is fantastic looking. There's one in the parking garage at work that's always next to an IS350 and it makes the Caddy look too big. I guess there's no rule that says Caddy can't offer more car for the money.

"Yeah, this was BMW's specialty and I never understood why everyone else hasn't gotten it down yet. If you ask me, stance is the only reason BMWs have ever looked good!"
 
One reason is clearance for snow chains. At least on American cars, dont ask me why Honda and Toyota cant get it right.
 
"I saw one on the optional 19's this morning and thought they were a little too big. I think Edmunds got it right with their version."
 
CTS doesnt offer 19s from the factory, only 18s right now.
 
"Queue the rants. "
 
The statement about Cadillac "finally" getting it right didnt make any sense. The FWD STS and last gen DTS had very small clearances between tires and fenders. This is hardly new to Cadillac.

I can't stand fender vents but the caddy's look classy. I passed a new Vue yesterday and was really digging the styling...until I caught sight of the foot long chrome plastic hanging off its fenders. Ugh.

Cadillac did get the stance of this CTS right. The last one just didnt have the hunkered down look of the current one nor did it have that "look" thats expected in this class of car. Details do wonders for a solid design.

Must have been 18"s then. Looked a little too flashy for my taste.