2008 Cadillac STS Preview

When Cadillac introduced the STS in 2005 it was a gigantic step forward for the luxury brand,the most significant since the compact CTS was launched. Compared to previous generations of STS, which were merely trim upgrades of the Seville and front-wheel drive at that, this model stood alone in its "alpha" designation and was rear-wheel drive, with available all-wheel drive. This car, the current STS, is resultantly the sportiest to date, not to mention one of the most accomplished. For a brand usually associated with floaty barges, the STS showed that Cadillac could do European-style luxury where the entertainment of the driver was as important as the comfort of the passengers. If there was one area where the STS could be improved, however, it would have to be its exterior styling. The midsize Caddy isn't a bad looking car, per se, but it's a bit too conservative on one hand and on the other, looks too much like its little brother, the CTS. The former, at least, will soon change with the introduction of the new 2008 STS, which, while looking much the same as the recently revamped and very

Technology is a high point for our new STS, and includes such features as a blind spot warning system and lane departure warning system. (Photo: General Motors)

enticing CTS, will debut in New York this week.

The most important and arguably most impressive exterior feature ofthe new STS is its grille. Like the Escalade and the new CTS, it's a highly complex, very ornamental design that catches the eye in ways that the simple, plastic slat grille of the old car couldn't. Though bigger and slightly more imposing, it's nevertheless classy and elegant, making it a welcome change. The STS also gains a couple of additional exterior details such as fender-mounted vents, like the CTS, which also mimic the pattern of the grille, plus chrome-plated door handles and larger, three-inch chrome-plated exhaust tips.

Entry-level V6 models also receive, for the first time, the availability of HID

Here's the new steering wheel... it looks great. (Photo: General Motors)

bulbs for the vertically stacked headlamps. As with the V8, they feature Intellibeam, which automatically turns them from high to low beam if a pair of approaching headlamps comes into view, or when the car approaches a set of taillights. It's a feature that doesn't only make driving at night more effortless for the owner of the car, but certainly reduces the chance of blinding glare for surroundingdrivers.

Inside, the most easily noted change is the new three-spoke steering wheel, which is trimmed in wood and can be heated. The dashboard has been cleaned up a bit with wood and metal trim, but the rest of the console is… well, much the same. We were hoping that the redesign would include the stunning cabin from the Chinese-market STS-based SLS sedan, with its sleek design and seemingly hand-sewn leather dashboard and door panels, but it didn't. In fact, as far as we know the STS won't get the SRX crossover's

Sadly, the rest of the interior doesn't look as good as this Chinese-market Cadillac SLS. (Photo: General Motors)

Cut and Sew interior either, which too is disappointing considering this is Cadillac's flagship sport sedan (the DTS may be larger but its position in the market makes it less aspirational). The V6 model gains Head Up Display, previously available only on the V8 model.

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