2005 Cadillac STS Review

Specifications

Cadillac Test Vehicle Brings New Meaning to the Term “Fully Loaded”

General Motors Corp. rolled out a modified Cadillac STS on Monday, April 11 at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) centenary celebrations during its 2005 SAE World Congress at Detroits Cobo Hall, which could be a harbinger of things to come in the premium vehicle segment.

After all, other than standard luxury fare such as leather seats and trim, wood and metal accents, automatic dual-zone climate control and powerful drivetrains, features which are starting to become standard and optional equipment on flagship models of entry-level brands such as the popular Chrysler 300C, new Toyota Avalon and upcoming Hyundai Azera, premium carmakers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac have to stretch their creative engineering muscle to titillate their well-healed clientele.

For this reason General Motors oldest and best known premium division has equipped its rolling test lab vehicle, dubbed STS SAE100, with options that bring new meaning to the term “fully loaded.” Would seats that vibrate in order to trigger a drivers attention be of interest to you? How about cupholders that keep drinks hot or cold?

The latter item is already available in Nissans least expensive SUV, the X-Trail, simply managed by feeding a heat/air conditioning vent through the two cupholders on each outside corner of the dash. But vibrating seats sound more relaxing than alarming, unless theyre accompanied by the odd electric jolt to shock a driver back to reality.

In all seriousness, though, Cadillac rolled out its high-tech STS to debut convenience, safety and performance items it feels may be of value to customers of the future. If it can develop technologies that customers want, then it can remain as a front player in the hotly contested luxury segment.

Its 505-horsepower V12 engine might give Cadillac the edge in performance over some of its less endowed rivals, or at least keep the nameplate up in the same league as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, which offer twelve-cylinder versions of their flagship sedans. But Lexus philosophy of using gasoline-electric hybrid technology to give a smaller engine the power of one much larger seems more appropriate for this day and age - a hybrid-boosted version of its next-generation V8 is expected to supply an upcoming LS model with V12-like power and V6-like emissions and fuel economy.

Still, there are some in the premium market who could care less about rising fuel costs and environmental concerns. To these, a velvety smooth V12 makes perfect sense, and Cadillac is a brand that would do well to serve such appetites for excess as theyre somewhat insatiable.

The GM brand has no plans on putting the specially equipped STS up for sale, mind you, yet the various components could see production if a reasonable business case can be made for each.

A total of fifty unique safety, powertrain, electrical, comfort and convenience enhancing technologies are crammed into the new Cadillac, developed in conjunction with thirty-eight suppliers.

“We want to learn how a variety of relevant current and future technologies can be made to function harmoniously while enhancing the total driving experience,” commented Jim Queen, GMs vice president of global engineering, during a keynote speech he delivered to kick off the SAE conference.

A short list of STS SAE100 technologies, some available in rival cars and others never seen before, include a lane departure warning system; an oil condition sensor for detecting levels and lubrication quality; a 3D navigation system that integrates photos of surrounding landmarks in conjunction with digital maps; a “capless” refueling system which is easier for disabled or arthritic drivers use, incorporating an electronically actuated switch inside the vehicle that spins a ball around and creates an opening to the fuel tank; plus an interior rearview mirror featuring an integrated LED screen for unimpeded sight to both the rear seat and the area behind the car via small cameras.

“This is the most technologically innovative and integrated vehicle weve ever seen,” offered GMs director of concept vehicles, Al Oppenheiser.

Considering that the automaker spent more than $1 million developing the one-off Caddy, it should be. Look for some of these features to show up on upcoming Cadillacs, allowing a new “standard of the world” to be set, or at least giving the crested wreath brand a good shot of keeping up with European rivals.