The 2008 Cadillac CTS is available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Our test car has the latter. While most of us around here prefer manual transmissions for the more precise control they provide, the CTS' automatic does earn extra points thanks to its rev-matching downshift ability.
If you place the transmission in manual-shift mode and select a downshift, the transmission's controller will automatically raise engine speed (rpm) to match wheel speed for the lower gear. The result is a smooth downshift, just like a heel-and-toe downshift on a car with a manual transmission.
I've been playing around with the manual-shift mode. Its shifts are reasonably quick and the rev-matching feature is very cool. Of course, rev-matching for an automatic isn't new – some cars from Infiniti, BMW and Mercedes-Benz's AMG come to mind – but having it on the CTS certainly buffs the car's sporting credentials.
A (very) amateur video demonstrating our Cadillac CTS doing it's rev-matching 'thang follows after the jump.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
Here's the video:
louiswei says:
10:30 AM, 05/ 2/08
Hmm... no paddle shifter?
SubyTrojan says:
10:51 AM, 05/ 2/08
Nice blog entry, Brent! The rev-matched downshift does indeed seem quick (for a true slushbox) and smooth. :o)
When will most automakers get it right and embrace that pulling the lever backward should upshift and pushing it forward should downshift? :( I think that's the most intuitive way for a sequential shifter. Race cars have employed that method for decades.
Think about it. If you're braking hard and want to downshift by pulling the shift lever backward against the direction of your inertia which is going forward. It just doesn't make sense.
Then again, you can't teach common sense. :shrug:
Lancia Delta onboard video of the way things should be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC6tTFp4W4o
joefrompa, hurry up and finish your CarSpace page so I don't need to communicate to you through here. This Bud's--scratch that--TSB's for you.
http://automotivetech.org/at/6spdtsb.pdf
hondacura4 says:
10:57 AM, 05/ 2/08
I really like this car. Cant wait for the test of the CTS-V!
heydave says:
11:13 AM, 05/ 2/08
SubyTrojan - on an unrelated note, thanks for posting that TSB link for the Honda 6-speed. Been fighting with my dealer for three years about that 3rd gear problem.
teekay13 says:
11:35 AM, 05/ 2/08
Suby - I was about to comment on the same thing when I noted the (+) and (-) on the caddy's shifter being all wrong.
Also, for what it's worth, a rev-matched downshift on a manual does not require heel-and-toe. But Edmunds LT knows that already.
SubyTrojan says:
11:53 AM, 05/ 2/08
Very true, teekay13 (are you Tommy Kendall? j/k). If you're braking at the same time you want to downshift, though, I believe a heel-toe downshift is your only option if you want a rev-matched downshift. That might've been what Brent had in mind. :shrug:
If you want to downshift to pass someone, a heel-toe downshift probably wouldn't help. No, "slow-in, fast-out" doesn't apply here, wiseguys/gals. =Þ
chavis10 says:
12:09 PM, 05/ 2/08
"Hmm... no paddle shifter?"
Standard with FE3 option for 2009 MY.
rayainsw says:
12:47 PM, 05/ 2/08
2009 CTS:
NEW! Steering wheel mounted Paddle Shift Controls
1 - Included and only available in (Y43) 18" (45.7 cm)
Summer Tire Performance
bromans says:
01:00 PM, 05/ 2/08
Thanks for the clarification - Yes, I was thinking in terms of downshifting durning braking/deceleration. And Suby, totally agree with you about the proper pull back = upshift and push forward = downshift. -- Brent
benson2175 says:
01:39 PM, 05/ 2/08
Suby:
that Lancia video rocks.
70ss454_man says:
03:17 PM, 05/ 2/08
Friend's '06 X5 4.8is does that
It's thrilling
estreka says:
05:18 PM, 05/ 2/08
That delay would drive me nuts. I hear you throwing the shifter and see the engine shifting about a second and a half later. That would frustrate the hell out of me.
bimmerjay says:
06:07 PM, 05/ 2/08
Yeah what's with the sluggish response? And the +/- really needs to be the other way around.
Engine sounds great though.
chavis10 says:
07:07 AM, 05/ 4/08
"And the +/- really needs to be the other way around"
BMW and Mazda are the only two makes that use the forward for downshift backward for upshift scheme.
vvk says:
06:31 AM, 05/ 5/08
As far as I know, the 6 speed auto is the same unit used by BMW in the 3 series.
I have tried the one in E90 328i and was extremely impressed. It was by far the best automatic I have ever driven. All othes drive me nuts by shifting at the most illogical time. Not this one. It always seems to know what the correct gear is. Still, when I got back into my manual car, it was like being in heaven.
bimmerjay says:
01:47 PM, 05/ 5/08
The 328i has a unit manufactured by GM in France, but the software is proprietary BMW. The 335i has a ZF 6-speed auto.