2011 Cadillac STS

2011 Cadillac STS

Cadillac’s ageing STS sedan is soldiering on for yet another model year, despite most of the competition in the mid- to full-size luxury sedan segments being updated or overhauled in recent years. This is because the STS, along with the front-wheel drive DTS, is to be replaced by a single model--due late next year or in early 2012--based on the Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept.

For 2011 we see Cadillac further streamline its STS model line, with the car now only offered with a V-6 engine. Last year Cadillac dropped the high-performance supercharged STS-V model and now the V-8 option on the regular STS sedan has also been dropped.   

Following a trend in the industry, where luxury makes are ditching thirsty V-8s in favor of high tech V-6 mills, the 2011 Cadillac STS will only be offered with a 302 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. This makes sense as the previous 4.6-liter V-8 option only delivered 320 horsepower and significantly worse fuel economy than the V-6.

The V-6 is actually the same engine used in the Cadillac CTS and in the STS it's offered with both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. Fuel economy comes in at 18/27 mpg city/highway with either model.

Other updates for 2011 include the addition of ninth-generation OnStar technology and Cadillac's new four-year/50,000-mile maintenance free promise. A Performance Package with Brembo brakes, ZF Servotronic steering gear, self-adjusting suspension and a limited-slip differential remains as an option.

Pricing for the 2011 Cadillac STS starts at $47,280, which represents a slight increase of $435 over the 2010 model.

[USA Today]