The Cadillac XTS is not a light vehicle by any means. In fact, the curb weight of the vehicle is almost more than any other sedan in General Motors Co.’s entire lineup. But a new engine offering for the 2014 Cadillac XTS Vsport makes the more than 4,000-pound vehicle feel a lot lighter.
DETROIT, MI- The Cadillac XTS is not a light vehicle. In fact, the curb weight of the large sedan is near the top of General Motors Co.’s entire car lineup.
But a new engine offering for the 2014 Cadillac XTS Vsport makes the more than 4,000-pound vehicle feel lighter than ever.
The new engine is a 3.6-liter V6 twin-turbo with variable valve timing and direct injection certified at up to 410 horsepower (306 kW) and 369 lb.-ft. of torque (500 Nm), making it one of the most power-dense six-cylinder engines in the segment.
The twin-turbo engine – featured on the brand’s new Vsport lineup for the XTS and CTS – is a comprehensive upgrade on 3.6-liter dual overhead camshaft V6 that is offered as the standard engine in the XTS, which is certified at 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 264 lb.-ft. of torque (355 Nm).
The Vsport brings everything that the standard XTS offers, but with Vsport badging; tweaked styling, including a blacked-out grille; and more power. The 4,215-pound XTS Vsport will reportedly go zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds, which is a half second quicker than a base Porsche Cayman.
2014 Cadillac XTS VsportWhat was particularly surprising about the Vsport model was its highway fuel economy, which still gets 24 miles per gallon. While not astonishing, it’s pretty good for the amount of power the vehicle offers. Not to mention, the adaptive cruise control and interior comfort makes driving the vehicle a pleasure.
Inside and out, the XTS Vsport is what Cadillac has been touting in recent years: Refined craftsmanship. The interior of the vehicle is astonishingly quite and comfortable.
The all-wheel-drive vehicle, which MLive tested, is particularly impressive for Michigan.
All those amenities though, including the twin-turbo engine, do come at a price. The standard XTS starts at about $45,000. The VSport starts at about $63,000. So, while the engine makes the vehicle itself feel lighter, it will also lighten your wallet.
But, the XTS Vsport, like Cadillac itself, isn’t necessarily meant for all Americans. It’s meant for those who want a great drive with the option of putting the petal to the metal when the urge arises.
The XTS Vsport went on sale in the third-quarter of last year. Since September, Cadillac reports Vsport sales represent about 20 percent of all XTS models sold.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rates the full-size sedan with the twin-turbo engine at 19 miles per gallon overall – 16 mpg city and an impressive 24 mpg highway.
Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com & follow him on Twitter @MikeWayland or Google+.