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Cadillac CTS is a five-passenger, four-door sports sedan powered by a 3.2-liter dohc V6 engine. For the first time ever in a GM car, it comes with a choice of either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic overdrive transmission.
Three variants of the CTS are available. The base CTS starts at just $29,990, which includes the $640 destination charge. (Everyone should include destination charges in their pricing.)
Two big packages are available for the CTS. The CTS Luxury Package ($2,000) includes an eight-way power adjustable passenger seat, audible theft deterrent system, Zebrano wood trim, memory package, rear-view mirror compass, and a three-channel programmable garage door opener with electronic voice recorder.
The CTS Luxury Sport Package ($3,500) includes all of those features plus the Stabilitrak 2.0 chassis control system, sport-tuned suspension, high-performance brake linings, load-leveling rear suspension, speed-sensitive power steering, and 17-inch polished wheels with V-rated tires.
Other options on our test car included the five-speed electronic automatic transmission, a Bose premium sound system with cassette/six-disc CD changer and CD-ROM-based navigation, 16-inch wheels, an engine block heater, heated front seats, express-open sunroof, xenon high-intensity discharge headlamps and a split-folding rear seat: The entire enchilada, the most expensive CTS you can buy, and it retailed for $39,690.
Whether buyers will opt for the five-speed manual transmission for truly sporty driving remains to be seen. But it is notable that Cadillac went to the trouble of developing the manual gearbox with German supplier Getrag. It says clearly that Cadillac sees the CTS as a sports sedan. It's a good transmission, whether anyone buys it or not.
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