If you’re like me there’s a special place in your heart for large FWD Cadillac’s. A small place, but a place nonetheless. It’s probably because i “owned” an early 90’s deville for a short period of time in high school. It was big, boxy, & had a suspension system made out of a retired bouncy house. The 2018 Cadillac XTS may not be anything like that, but when you learn more about it you still get a blast from the past.
The XTS wasn’t supposed to hang around this long, it was merely supposed to be a stepping stone between two different models. But recently Cadillac announced that the XTS will be hanging around for at least another year, & it has received a few upgrades. We can’t be 100% sure why it’s sticking around, but i would guess it is due to strong global sales numbers. Global sales of the XTS were up 20.7% in May. In the same month, sales in china (across all models) were up 86%. So i would say it is a safe bet to assume china played a major role in the decision to keep the XTS.
The 2018 XTS has an improved chassis, redesigned front & rear fascias, more comfortable seats, LED headlights & taillamp. It’s managed all of these improvements while shedding 1.1 inches in length. The press release indicated that the “The exterior design was altered to present a freshened style closer in line with the CT6 prestige sedan” There have also been upgrades to the infotainment system, also know as CUE (Cadillac User Experience). There are even better sound insulators to decrease outside noises.
Now for the power! The XTS comes with a 3.6L V6 with 304 hp & 264 lb-ft of torque powering the front wheels. That’s right, the base model of the 2018 XTS is FWD. The V Sport model drops in a turbo cranking up the heat to 410hp & 369 lb-ft of torque. The V-Sport model also comes in AWD. The only Transmission option is a 6 speed automatic with tap shift. The XTS can also include Magnetic Ride control as well as Rear Air Leveling for better handling.
The Feel Of Fast 