2011 L.A. Auto Show Video: 2013 Cadillac XTS

Wow! 4WD and Magnetic Ride options... Nice!

Their flagship sedan is front wheel drive? Oh well, Cadillac had a good run for a while but now that the 90's are back it's time to say goodbye.

The DeVille/DTS has been front wheel drive since the 80s.

@firstwagon: It gets tiresome to correct people on this car. Once again: this is NOT the S/7 flagship competitor, it is a DTS replacement for a very American buyer segment of higher age. It may also entice younger buyers by way of its infotainment package but that is not its primary mission. A true S/7 fighter with RWD is being designed and the CTS will be upsized after the ATS moves in.

Also, do you realize the Audi A8 is FWD/AWD?

I think this car is stunning and that it will appeal to a much younger audience. My main concern is that, even if it is offered with AWD, that it will never be taken seriously because it will just be considered a FWD based car.

Cadillac should only offer AWD. Not only will it help their reputation, but it will allow them to gain greater manufacturing efficiencies by only having to offer one configuration. Even offering FWD is a huge mistake, and it's easy enough to change.

Then they should get totally crazy and offer a XTS-V

ziggerman

People making excuses gets tiresome too. It's a platform engineered car to keep the costs down. Fine for Chevy, ok for Buick but bad idea for a companys premium brand and if were truly the flagship like the article says then it's a terrible idea.

Yes I know the DTS (Deville) has been fwd for ages but that car has always been considered a joke.

Audi is AWD based on a FWD platform but they proved they could make a great car doing it this way so they are accepted this way.

Can you seriously say Cadilac ever made a good FWD car?

Bad idea that cheapens a brand that had gone a long way to erase bad stretch from peoples memeories.

@firstwagon: Cadillac does not call this its flagship. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Look, the car will drive fine for the buyers it is targeting. It will sell well enough to make a profit, especially because it is using a fairly cheap, shared platform. So what's the problem?

Just look at the SRX: it didn't sell well when it was a great V8 RWD. Sales exploded when it became an underpowered RX-sized blob, made in Mexico. Do I like the old one better? You betcha! But sales figures trumps all when you are a corporation.

ziggerman

I don't know if Cadilliac called it a flagship, just going by the article above.

And I agree with the rest of your statement. It's sad but true. Could be short sighted though on GMs part.

The DTS/ Deville sold only on the strength of the name Caddy had built up long ago and only sold to people old enough to remember it. They have built of a bit of credibility now with the CTS (and even more with the CTS-V) but cars like this but it at risk.

Never sell out your premium brand just to make a buck. Once people would pay extra just to have "Buick" on their car. Not now.

@firstwagon, ziggerman

Excellent points, both. But I have to side with firstwagon. Although this may be a huge step forward compared to the laughable DTS, it's not the right car for Cadillac. If they wanted to play the platform manipulation game, they should've lengthened the CTS frame -- and I believe ziggerman when he says that car is, indeed, on the way. This car, however, does not belong in the Caddy lineup. Period. They need to bite the bullet and say goodbye to the geriatrics that insist on the floaty, disconnected ride from Caddys of yore. Let Buick have those customers, and build the FWD/AWD near-luxury cars that compete with the Volvos and Acuras of the marketplace. Cadillac needs to aim for BMW and Mercedes, or even higher, unwaveringly. Or go home.

Best part about this car: "[the interior] quality is a dramatic improvement over Caddys of old."

We shall see. I want to love the CTS. Really, I do. But the interior is built of materials more fitting of a Mazda than a true luxury car. No-go for me. I've been waiting for an American make to finally. FINALLY. Take on Audi (or do better) on interior build and materials quality. This car will definitely be on my list when I visit the show to see if GM's done it.