Here’s how the CTS started the biggest turnaround in Cadillac’s history

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Жыл бұрын

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In this episode I provide the history of the Cadillac CTS, which launched in 2002 for the 2003 model year. The CTS replaced the poor selling Catera, and introduced a daring angular styling that was entirely different than any other Cadillac had been. The CTS was the first to introduce this new design that Cadillac had been planning to replicate across all of their models over the next few years, so if the CTS had failed, it could have been the death of Cadillac, but instead the CTS brought in many younger buyers. Although Cadillac still has many older buyers today, cars like the CT5 that replaced the CTS in 2020 are helping to keep Cadillac's average age lower than it was in the 90s and before.

Пікірлер: 229

@averyparticularsetofskills Жыл бұрын

Always thought the CTS, with all of it's sharp lines and deep creases, delivered us the most "futuristic" mass produced vehicle since the Ford Taurus.

@sierre00 Жыл бұрын

And never thought the more futuristic Taurus ended up as the catfish. Both cts and Lincoln LS were killing it at the time.

@rheijm9201 Жыл бұрын

@ Paulw Did you look into citroen s 2nd brand DS? They have the edged look outide and zirkonia buttons, what Liberace call that? Palacial kitsch..interior and dashboard. While being a C4, inside. Or Peugeot 309.

@seanguy9720 Жыл бұрын

CTS comes to mind when I think 2000s car design.

@Rainbowrobb Жыл бұрын

@@seanguy9720 Agrees, that and the Galant

@charlesgale4257 Жыл бұрын

What ford taurus was futuristic?

@ez33kiel6 Жыл бұрын

The 1st gen CTS still looks pretty modern today. As a kid, i loved driving it in Need for Speed Most Wanted.

@silversonic99 Жыл бұрын

idk I feel like more so the modern ones are outdated.

@NFSBeast2365 Жыл бұрын

Same here! I loved the CTS in Need for Speed!

@BigWheel. Жыл бұрын

They've aged very well.

@ic1815 Жыл бұрын

I had every video game which had the CTS on it 😂

@samholdsworth420 Жыл бұрын

@@silversonic99 they've aged well you haven't

@daroachdoggjr188 Жыл бұрын

This and the Escalade subsequently saved Cadillac and kept it in relevance

@davidp2888 Жыл бұрын

XLR was a stunning looking car.

@NFSBeast2365 Жыл бұрын

I agree. Enjoyed racing it in Midnight Club

@CheapBastard1988 Жыл бұрын

Definitely. Really too bad that the Northstar engines are notoriously unreliable and the interior was made of cheaper plastic than Happy Meal toys. Seriously, the interior of a mid range '96 Volvo has more premium materials.

@davidp2888 Жыл бұрын

@@CheapBastard1988 Agreed.

@kensmechanicalaffair Жыл бұрын

@@CheapBastard1988 Gm refuses to spend time and development on interiors.

@cnorton1us Жыл бұрын

I remember the first time I saw a TV commercial for the CTS. As surprising as the new look and focus on driving enjoyment was the fact it used Led Zeppelin's "Rock & Roll" as the soundtrack. Talk about a "shift in the gearbox" for Caddy! Although the irony of introducing a brand new Cadillac with a song from 1971 wasn't lost on me 🎸

@shawnbauman5463 Жыл бұрын

I was a porter in the mid 2000s at a GMC Pontiac Cadillac dealer. These where great looking and driving cars. I was like 19 and the CTS V was and IS a badass car.

@brianmarshall636 Жыл бұрын

The Cadillac CTS was always a great looking car.

@geraldthompson7749 Жыл бұрын

I Agree 👍

@PrydeWater901 Жыл бұрын

Ed Welburn deserves a bunch of credit for the art and science design language.

@Brave-Octopus Жыл бұрын

CT5 is the current generation model. Which is a pretty solid car. One of the few GM products I'd buy brand new.

@tjackson686 Жыл бұрын

Nope it’s the CT5 the CT4 is the ATS

@rafapenson Жыл бұрын

Ok GM hater.

@sierre00 Жыл бұрын

They are boring enough

@Schumanized Жыл бұрын

A good friend of mine has a 2004....MANUAL!!! and it's still going strong after 200k + miles.

@issacflores7588 Жыл бұрын

Is it the 3.2 liter? Because i got an 03

@averyparticularsetofskills Жыл бұрын

I JUST found out ( like a yr ago ) that " _CTS_ " stands for " _Catera Touring Sedan_ "

@bolt5564 Жыл бұрын

I always found it funny that Cadillac used to market the CTS as a compact Sports sedan despite being longer than their midsize Chevy Malibu.

@blackenedheart9592 Жыл бұрын

The 2nd Gen CTS coupe is one of the prettiest car designs I've ever seen! Even the wagon was stylish! 😃

@PrydeWater901 Жыл бұрын

“…still being considered for future episodes.” Be honest. You’re gonna do them all and I’m gonna watch them.

@xraider927 Жыл бұрын

The CT5 which is the successor of the CTS is kinda of a wordplay

@yogabudiwidiantoro3762 Жыл бұрын

Now I understand why this car is present in so many racing games it's because of the branding that CTS wants to carry, a fun to drive compact luxury car.

@DonJ. Жыл бұрын

I still remember that Cadillac CTS-V superbowl commercial. When the car was reversed in the tunnel and shot out like a bullet. Bang!! .. I will never forget that. I wanted one! 🤩

@UrLocalQ Жыл бұрын

Making me miss mine, had an 04 sport premium pack with borlas and a glass pack. Such a fun car 🥹

@erniecarrasco9107 2 ай бұрын

Dumb people got rid of them because they sucked as a mechanic. 😂

@Rascofresco11 Жыл бұрын

Cadillacs failure with the CTS was that they were trying to compete with European's but forgot they were an American brand(price wise)

@HollywoodHornet Жыл бұрын

We need a video on the Hyundai Tiburon.

@doug6191 Жыл бұрын

Looking forward to a Mazda 929 video! Or Mitsubishi Sigma/Diamante.

@donneezyracing5756 Жыл бұрын

I had a 2006 cts and as long you change the oil it's was a pretty good car, now I had a 2008 cadillac cts4

@historylife4436 Жыл бұрын

Great video. I use to work for a Cadillac dealer and we were blow away by the power of the CTS!

@DeUndefined1 Жыл бұрын

Whenever you do decide to make another cadillac series then you'll should make a combine video. DTS/Deville and STS/Seville or however.

@wildbill6366 Жыл бұрын

I was working for a GM dealer early 2000's and wow , I liked the CTS when i saw it . Nice look and very edgy especially for cadilliac..

@iluvcamaros1912 Жыл бұрын

It hasn't been an easy decade or two for GM. But the Escalade and CTS deserve credit for redefining Cadillac for an entire generation. And burying the ghosts of its vinyl-roofed and wire-wheel covered past.

@anthonyrivera4735 Жыл бұрын

Please Do a video on the Ford Explorer sport trac pickup

@HollywoodHornet Жыл бұрын

Those are dope. The Ford Explorer Sport is also cool.

@Henry_Jones Жыл бұрын

The CTS got a really awesome add campaign.

@Noah_E Жыл бұрын

GM should have spent some of that money on styling instead of taking a dozen ax swings at a block of wood and calling it a day

@nicotoscani8270 Жыл бұрын

I’d love to see an episode on the 8th generation Riviera

@miata0363 Жыл бұрын

The CTS made the Cadillac image cool. And also Cadillac went into racing and they still are racing today making look cool compare to Buick and Lincoln which I see them as retired people cars.

@padroooo Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Pat, for the history of the CTS. Another great video.

@thug_573 Жыл бұрын

Cadillac is really killing it with everything except maybe build quality

@rtyt2007 Жыл бұрын

Weird that the catera failed in the US, in australia we had the VT commodore which was based on the catera but with an adapted body to suit aussie markets and different engines, that was the best selling aussie car ever. I wonder why it sold poorly in the US

@nicholasoconnell7732 4 ай бұрын

Honestly, it probably was the ads that ruined it. Even the Cadillac logo had little ducks in it, which pushed away older buyers. And I guess some younger folks couldn't be seen in a car that was advertised "for children" because of their ego.

@DakuJTenshi Жыл бұрын

The cadillac Evoq looked so cool 😭 even today it would still look up to date

@TheRoadhammer379 Жыл бұрын

Any caddy from the 40s through the 70s is awesome!

@kaceecruson9532 Жыл бұрын

I have a 2014 CTS and a 2005 Deville... Love Cadillac!!

@grantbrown8312 Жыл бұрын

This car was iconic. Along with Infiniti G35. When both came out, they where game changers.

@neelospa4545 9 ай бұрын

c300 ?

@qualityautorepairtireautosales Жыл бұрын

🙋🏻‍♂️I worked at a Cadillac dealer in early 2000s we called CTS “Catera Twin Sister” 🤣🤣

@zhgt8853 Жыл бұрын

Working as a product specialist at Cadillac with all of their recent home runs must be a nice job

@ChristopherOvrebo Жыл бұрын

When I saw a catera in the junk yard a few years ago I never knew they were rear wheel drive, or at least a longitudinal mounted motor

@johneldorado Жыл бұрын

The styling was a home run, I always loved angular lines over the more rounded "egg shapes" that started in the 90's. I will say though, the grill just never looked right. It looked like it was made by Rubbermaid. I thought about buying a CTS, but I just never trusted GM quality.

@jelanimclean6326 Жыл бұрын

Break Through With The CTS.

@O-plaat Жыл бұрын

Been driving a '15 model for the last months as daily driver, quite a good car, comes better equipped then most 5 series or E classes.

@Flickawho Жыл бұрын

I love the Caddy episodes. I know there are many cars to choose from, but an SRX episode would be amazing. The first gens look like a hearse 😅

@eminus8451 Жыл бұрын

Great video! However I would like to point out the Camaro shown is a 5th Gen, which were on the Zeta platform 👍

@Ookamimoon66 Жыл бұрын

Some are still on the road today, I saw one at a dealer with 30k miles on it!! It was from 2010 it was so clean Inside and out.

@illneumatik Жыл бұрын

I had a cts 2006 3.5 awesome car ...265 hp v6 was pretty quick loved that car

@devlogerio Жыл бұрын

I got a CTS 4 coupe a few months ago, legendary car, seriously

@donaldhenderson3495 Жыл бұрын

Great video on the CTS. Have you did a video on the 94-96 Chevy Impala SS or the Buick Roadmaster?

@shawnbauman5463 Жыл бұрын

Hell yes

@richdiscoveries Жыл бұрын

At first I wasn't really sure I liked Cadillacs love them or leave them huge headlights, they have long since grown on me

@trentpettit6336 Жыл бұрын

Perhaps the gasoline blend called V-Power launched by SHELL around 2004 (replacing the previous Shell Premium formula) was developed with Cadillac V-Series engines in mind (V-Power, V-Series, very similar names!) because there definitely WAS a partnership between GM and Shell at one point in the 2000s?

@jonathonfloyd5757 Жыл бұрын

The XLR is a bit of a dream car for me. Would love to own one someday.

@DUNEATV Жыл бұрын

Great video!

@mrschuyler Жыл бұрын

I have a CTS VSport and I absolutely love it. I hope Cadillac can continue to provide cars like this. If they do, I'm in.

@Pillowbiter84 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for another great video. 😀👍

@sithyarael6807 Жыл бұрын

CTS-V Wagon still hold the record out of all CTS-v's at Neuenburg ring. And even the ATS-V cannot beat it.

@johnbehneman1546 Жыл бұрын

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

@nyuni Жыл бұрын

I had a 2nd gen CTS - it was a great car that was let down by typical GM Build quality. Got rid of it after the warranty was up.

@simoneleles5209 Жыл бұрын

Gorgeous car for 2000's...❤

@PockyFiend Жыл бұрын

You've shoulda added the Cadillac ad where the CTS was challenging the usual suspects in its field to a duel on a ballroom.

@PockyFiend Жыл бұрын

OK, I screwed up, the two ballroom ads, "Let's Dance," and "Party's Over," were ads for the STS.

@CarlosGuzman-bq8fr Жыл бұрын

loved the video.. Great history for the Caddy. :)

@mplewp 10 ай бұрын

That escalade from the matrix tho . What a car . Its a shame gm discontinued the badassery .

@tjwatson0403 Жыл бұрын

The second generation CTS is still gorgeous

@AnIdiotwithaSubaru Жыл бұрын

7:37 I feel like the dancing of the musicians still works?...

@JW_Reviews 8 ай бұрын

I would love to see a video on the XLR and XLR-V! Maybe you can find more info on the cancelled second gen that was supposedly going to be mid engined

@Romiman1 Жыл бұрын

For me as a German, the (1st gen) CTS still looks good. Nearly have bought one. It has good proportions and a very well designed face. But there also were some flaws like the brown rear flashers ore one of the ugliest center-consoles I ever have seen...

@emmcee476 Ай бұрын

If Cadillac vehicles were reliable, it's likely I would own a CTS Coupe right now. I've always loved the look of that car

@MyGuyJustinH Жыл бұрын

I would love to see a video on the Cadillac Fleetwood. I never knew that CTS stood for Catera Touring Sadan.

@Romiman1 Жыл бұрын

It's the same with STS (Seville Touring Sedan) and ETC (Eldorado Touring Coupe).

@TheNewChevyRoll48 Жыл бұрын

The Sigma and Alpha platforms sound like great names if they were trying to sell to Zoomers. Too bad it'd probably end up being an SUV and a different sized SUV though if they were to try that.

@illneumatik Жыл бұрын

I was going down a mountain up here in Denver....I swear I can hit corners at 80 with ease

@aaaaplay Жыл бұрын

There were a handful of second generation CTS sedans imported by GM to Australia in 2008. The CTS was planned to the launch vehicle for Cadillac's Australian operations. However, GM pulled out shortly after and about 50 vehicles had already arrived. Cadillac, Hummer and Saab were part of GMH (holden) Premium Devision, none of them lasted past the end of 2008 except Saab. I've only seen a couple since then. Compared with the US spec, these CTS had transparent white taillights. Would have looked great on the wagon.

@usafyuros6126 Жыл бұрын

will smith was slapping the shifter

@trevordrummond7219 4 ай бұрын

I own a 2009 DTS and wish they didn't discontinue it. The replacement XTS didn't seem big enough and had a v6. The CT6 blackwing was the closest and it's discontinued.

@gen-zeke-8571 Жыл бұрын

Sometimes you must gamble to survive. We're in a new world now, Caddilac and Lincoln are surviving well.

@TAELSDOLL Жыл бұрын

they keep evolving

@TakeScareMedia Жыл бұрын

I have a 2005 CTS.

@Mark-jz5ye Жыл бұрын

The 2nd gen CTS almost launched in Australia, to the point thr bought over some cars and everything. Pulled the pin last minute

@SonofthePhantom Жыл бұрын

I know, shame it got canned. Would have been interesting to see how long they'd have lasted. Occasionally you come across a CTS on Carsales, been tempted to go have a look

@Browningate Жыл бұрын

Pretty good documentary, actually, with solid historical footage and movie clips. Spot-on with the volume leveling as well. And factually accurate too, unlike "Shooting Cars."

@dustygrimes2754 Жыл бұрын

GREAT info. Please please do an episode on the Mazda 929.

@tylernail2146 11 ай бұрын

1993-1996 Cadillac Fleetwood 1992-1996 Buick roadmaster 1992-1996 Chevy caprice 1994-1996 impala ss 1992 Oldsmobile custom cruiser This last RWD Full Frame V8 chassis I love this platform I’ve had several Cadillac fleetwoods

@RageousMode Жыл бұрын

The CT5 Blackwing will be a collectible as one of the final powerhouse V8 internal combustion engine luxury sports cars before GM and most automakers go full EV.

@MyOldCar Жыл бұрын

Blackening? I hope that was an autocorrect.

@rileysmith9843 Жыл бұрын

Can you cover the Chrysler 300 in a future video, as it ends production again this year, after previous incarnations ended production in the ‘60s and ‘70s?

@chevymontmarlo Жыл бұрын

I really want a CT wagon and a CT5

@mannybananas1322 Жыл бұрын

Haven't seen one in years unless I'm at the junkyard

@hardankles3382 Жыл бұрын

Awesome video!!! Thank you!!!!! I’m still waiting for a Fiat video 👍

@clarencepowell1278 Жыл бұрын

I love Cadillac car

@ChristopherOvrebo Жыл бұрын

A few years ago I spoke to a Cadillac sales person who said they were going to be adding numbers to their model names, when they went all electric that stood for the power in nutonmeters?

@MyOldCar Жыл бұрын

All Cadillacs (except the V's) now have their torque rating in newton meters, rounded up to the nearest 100, as a badge on the back trunklid. It replaced the engine displacement in liters they used to put there, which obviously doesn't work for EVs, so they just got a headstart by using the newton meters on the ICE cars.

@broeheemed32 Жыл бұрын

All-electric by 2030, huh? RIP, Cadillac.

@joey86bu1 Жыл бұрын

The XLR was a sexy looking car. Would never buy it cos of GM reliability ratings but still pretty.

@lkporter1989 Жыл бұрын

That comercial at the start was actually filmed by where i used to live in Kamloops British columbia. I walked down to the little corner store and there was like 5 of them parked there with the blacked out plates like you see in comercials. Was pretty cool to see

@michaelsimko7694 Жыл бұрын

The first a second gen CTS were such beautiful cars. They were real home runs for performance enthusiasts who wanted a luxury sedan. Once Cadillac goes all-electric, the first and second gen CTS should have high values and are being sought by collectors. The CTS coupe has an exterior design like a super car! The last gen CTS was a big difference and wasn't attractive. I still see many first and second gen CTS's on the streets and highways. I see you mentioned the Escalade EXT! Does that mean that you'll be doing a video on the Avalanche and its GMC and Cadillac cousins?