Cadillac STS-V — Style And Luxury
In Europe, the few owners of Cadillac’s STS models enjoy the kind of admiration and envy that owners of premium BMW and Mercedes-Benz equivalents receive in America. That’s because they’re driving an import, and one that’s rarely seen on their streets.

Cadillac has been working hard to get that longing for their products as passionate over here as it is in some foreign lands. So to create that desire, new Cadillacs are now competitive in luxury, quality, and performance with their vaunted rivals. And to clinch the deal, the cars are a value in straight up comparisons.

Standing toe-to-toe with leading luxury brands is quite a challenge for Cadillac when you consider how tough the competition is in that profitable and growing market, especially since the GM luxury brand was so badly tarnished in the past. But not only has Cadillac prospered in sales of standard vehicles, it has aimed right at the top with performance editions that compete with cars designed for Autobahn speeds.

Cadillac’s first performance offering was the CTS-V, a car that does the job with Yankee spirit and competitive performance numbers, but has a transplanted Corvette engine doing the heavy lifting. I won’t argue with results, including a successful racing program with a competition version of this mid-size sedan. But pushrod power is pass? for today’s luxury buyer.

When Cadillac developed its V-Series STS, it thoroughly modified the contemporary Northstar V8 engine and added a supercharger to produce 469 silky-smooth horses. That’s a specification that puts the big sedan in the middle of the Euro fat cats, a bit less than the current Mercedes and BMW models, and a bit more than competitors from Audi and Jaguar.

In Caddy’s case, that power is able to move the STS-V with the kind of alacrity that keeps it competitive in stoplight derbies right to a top-speed potential that would beg for incarceration. And although these big sedans are not to be tossed around lightly, the STS-V has the performance suspension, staggered Pirelli tires, and Brembo brakes to depart from a straight line with a straight face.

Scintillating performance may be one of the motives that cause buyers to spend big bucks and suffer poor fuel economy in this ’tuner’ class of luxury cars. But the others are style and uniqueness. In those categories, the STS-V really stands out.

Cadillac’s sharp-edged styling is still a fresh departure from the clich?s that adorn so many other cars, and it conveys a high-tech persona. For the V-Series, a stainless mesh grille and lower air intake define the front style, while a small spoiler, large dual exhaust pipes, and aero body panels complete the statement.

After a week in the STS-V, I came away impressed with its balance of performance, luxury, and high style. The German competitors are a bit more visceral and Jaguar’s XJR model offers a bit higher level of comfort, but all are more common on our roads than the Caddy. It’s almost like owning an import.
— Brian Douglas

Specifications

Type: Front engine, rear-wheel drive

Engine: 4.4 liter, DOHC-V8

Horsepower: 469 @ 6,400 rpm

Torque: 439 foot-pounds @ 3,800 rpm

Base Price: $72,278

As Tested: $77,080

Fuel Economy: 14 city/21 hwy

The Ivy Hotel
Spring 2007 will see the highly anticipated grand opening of The Ivy hotel. Located in the Gaslamp Quarter at 6th Avenue and F Street, the sprawling 159-room destination will feature 14 deluxe suites and three specialty suites, all aimed to spoil and surprise. Additional amenities will include the Quarter Kitchen, a 185-seat restaurant serving elegant cuisine, along with the Eden rooftop bar, a pool and sundeck, and a sultry lounge. If nightlife is your thing, the chic four-level club, Envy, may be just what you need. Designed for decadence, the Ivy’s unique aesthetic and international sophistication will offer its guests New York chic, Las Vegas energy, L.A.’s casual elegance, and an appeal and service level unseen in San Diego. (www.theivyhotel.com) — Nickolas Cook