Cadillac Shows New Seville Replacement in New York

STS Aligns with Cadillac's Art and Science Design Language

The 2005 STS, replacement for the aging Seville, made its world debut at the New York International Auto Show this week, before going on sale at year's end. The new model also serves a second purpose, helping establish the Cadillac brand name in Europe. The combined venture into heavily uncharted waters

The 2005 STS made its world debut at the New York International Auto Show this week. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

with Chevrolet means that the task the STS faces is a difficult one. Will the STS measure up to the stiff competition? Initial reports from automotive journalists present at the introduction, substantiated by Editor Trevor Hofmann who took time to poke and prod around the car inside and out, say the new STS comes prepared to do battle with the best in its class.

The STS targets a slightly older client than the edgy CTS, and therefore features softer, more acceptable corners like its SRX SUV/crossover sibling. Vertically stacked headlamps feature dual-beam xenon units that bend into curves for added safety, supplemented by powerful fog lights. The new car's bold two-slat chrome grille is wide and purposeful, elevating the car to premium status. While similar to the CTS in side profile,

Targeted at a slightly older audience, the STS is a little less edgy than the current sharp CTS. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

especially so with regards to the wide C-pillar and near vertical tail end featuring stacked taillamps and spoiler-mounted LED lights, the STS is extremely different when placed side-by-side. Many, nevertheless, could be overheard commenting that the STS is merely a larger CTS.

In effect though, this is exactly what the STS is. Already having a modern, well-balanced rear-wheel drive chassis in the family, it makes sense that Cadillac applied GM's Sigma architecture to more than one vehicle. The same as used under the SRX, though stretched and widened for the larger car, the STS should prove extremely responsive to driver input.