Highlights: 2009 Cadillac STS Offers Technically Advanced Luxury and Performance
Highlights: 2009 Cadillac STS Offers Technically Advanced Luxury and Performance
Substantially enhanced and restyled for 2008, the 2009 Cadillac STS luxury performance sedan continues to offer premium levels of technology, craftsmanship and performance.
The advanced features include a standard, 302-horsepower 3.6L V-6 engine with direct injection technology that produces excellent power while reducing emissions and maintaining fuel economy.
"The STS is a showcase of Cadillac's design, technology and performance," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager.
The 2009 Cadillac STS is available in V-6 and V-8 rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models. The ultra-luxury STS Platinum Edtion returns for 2009, along with the STS-V. Part of Cadillac's acclaimed V-Series, the STS-V represents the full extent of the car's luxury and performance including a supercharged, 469-horsepower (349 kW) Northstar V-8 engine.
The STS Platinum delivers distinctive luxury nuances, such as 18-inch wheels, leather-wrapped interior, an Alcantara ™ headliner and exclusive Platinum badging.
Bold styling
Enhanced last year, the STS expresses the bold design flair that has become a Cadillac signature. Up front, the dual-textured, multi-faceted grille reflects the styling seen on the Escalade and CTS. High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and the Intellibeam automatic high-beam system are available.
The lower front fascia features a distinctive intake and grille pattern evoking Cadillac's V-Series high-performance models. Similarly, side air extractors, again inspired by the Sixteen concept and Escalade, are now incorporated into the front fenders of STS. New chrome-plated door handles and lower rocker moldings are added for more presence and refinement.
At the rear, the new fascia is now body color and is highlighted with polished aluminum three-inch exhaust tips. New, polished 18-inch x 8-inch aluminum 14-spoke wheels are available.
Interior appointments
Inside, STS' luxurious interior includes a steering wheel with available genuine Sapele wood trim. Sapele is an exotic wood more commonly used in fine furniture and musical instruments. A heated steering wheel also is available. The center stack of the instrument panel is revised with the addition of wood trim that has new metallic surroundings.
Additional available features for the V-6-equipped STS include a reconfigurable head-up display. The head-up display projects key driving information (such as speedometer ratings) onto the windshield, enabling drivers to keep their eyes on the road.
Other technological appointments are plentiful, purposeful and driver oriented, including a Keyless Access system; Adaptive Remote Start system (not available in Europe or Russia); Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); heated and ventilated seats and heated steering wheel.
An available infotainment system includes one of the industry's first OEM-installed surround-sound audio systems. The cabin is immersed with 15 Bose speakers. The 5.1 Bose system also has an integrated six-disc CD/DVD changer and plays formats including DVD-A, CD and MP3. It includes an eight-inch full VGA-quality touch screen and advanced navigation. In addition, the system has Bluetooth phone capability, advanced voice recognition and OnStar.
STS models feature OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation. It allows consumers to talk to a live advisor, who in turn sends complete step-by-step directions to customers' vehicles through their OnStar system. These audio directions automatically play through the vehicle's stereo as needed, triggered by the OnStar system's GPS capabilities. This enables drivers to be led to their destination while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. New for 2009 is eNav that works with Turn-by-Turn navigation to deliver MapQuest directions directly from OnStar.
Direct injection 3.6L V-6
The STS' standard 3.6L V-6 engine uses direct injection technology. It is an advanced system for more precise and productive fuel delivery, enabling greater power and fuel efficiency than a comparable, non-direct injected engine, while also delivering a 25-percent reduction in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions
The direct injected 3.6L engine is rated at 302 horsepower (225 kW)* at 6,300 rpm; torque is 272 lb.-ft. (366 Nm)* at 5,200 rpm. It is GM's third engine variant offered with direct injection technology. With direct injection technology, fuel is sprayed directly into the engine cylinder where it is mixed with air. As the fuel vaporizes in the cylinder, the air and fuel mixture is cooled. This enables the use of a higher compression ratio in the combustion chamber, 11.3:1, which improves engine performance and efficiency.
Direct injection requires higher fuel pressure than conventional fuel-injected engines, and the engine-driven high-pressure fuel pump is used to supply up to 1,740 psi (120 bar) of pressure. The system regulates lower fuel pressure at idle – approximately 508 psi (35 bar) and higher pressure at wide-open throttle. The exhaust cam-driven high-pressure pump works in conjunction with a conventional fuel tank-mounted supply pump.
Four-cam phasing
In addition to direct injection, variable valve timing also helps reduce exhaust emissions and improve performance and fuel economy by optimizing the phasing of the intake and exhaust valves relative to the crankshaft position at all operating conditions. The result is linear delivery of torque, with near-peak levels over a broad rpm range, and high specific output (maximum horsepower per liter of displacement) without sacrificing overall engine response and driveability.
Cam phasing pays big dividends in reducing exhaust emissions by optimizing exhaust valve overlap and eliminating the need for a separate exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system.
By closing the exhaust valves late at appropriate times, the cam phasers allow the engine to draw the desired amount of exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber, reducing unburned hydrocarbon emissions. The return of exhaust gases also decreases peak temperatures, which contributes to the reduction of oxides of nitrogen (NO x) emissions. In tandem with the dramatic 25-percent reduction in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions enabled by direct injection, the 3.6-liter VVT DI V-6 surpasses all emissions mandates, and does so without complex, weight-increasing emissions control systems such as EGR and air injection reaction (AIR).
4.6L Northstar V-8 and transmission details
In addition to the direct injected V-6, STS is available with the powerful 4.6L Northstar V-8, which delivers 320 horsepower (239 kW)* and 315 lb.-ft. (427 Nm)* of torque. It, too, features variable valve timing (VVT) for precise fuel management and exceptional power at all rpm levels.
Coupled to the new 3.6L V-6 engine or the 4.6L Northstar V-8 is GM Hydra-Matic's fuel-saving 6L50 six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. It has a 6.04:1 overall ratio that enables a steep first-gear that helps deliver strong launch acceleration.
Active steering technology
STS' StabiliTrak electronic stability control system includes the option of active steering technology. In addition to controlling brakes and reducing engine power, this latest iteration of StabiliTrak combines active front steering to turn the front wheels into the skid when rear wheels lose traction.
The system includes a new steering motor assembly combined with computer-driven electronic controls that measure wheel slippage at all four wheels independently during acceleration, braking and adverse road conditions. Active steering is available exclusively on all-wheel-drive 4.6L Northstar V-8 models.
Lane Departure Warning System
An advanced Lane Departure Warning System is available on the 2009 STS. Controlled by a camera located in the rearview mirror that reads the lines in the road, the system alerts drivers when they have strayed into another lane without signaling. Drivers receive both audible and visual alert cues.
When the Lane Departure Warning System is engaged, a driver traveling at 35 mph or more who crosses a detected lane marking without signaling is alerted in two ways: The system flashes an amber indicator light located in the fuel gauge of the instrument panel, and an alerting chime of three beeps is played. The system does not steer the vehicle; it is designed only to alert drivers so they can take appropriate action to move the vehicle back into the lane.
Side Blind Zone Alert System
Another optional feature is a Side Blind Zone Alert System that extends and enhances driver awareness and vision. Alternating radar beams in Side Blind Zone Alert System sweep adjacent lanes of traffic, covering a zone of about one lane over from both sides of the vehicle, or 11 feet (3.5 m). The zone starts at each side mirror and goes back about 16 feet (5 m).
When the system is engaged, a driver will know that following vehicles in the adjacent lanes are entering their side blind zone when an amber symbol, located in the outside rearview mirror, is illuminated. The system is not designed to detect vehicles outside of the side blind zone that may be rapidly approaching, or detect pedestrians, bicyclists or animals. It's designed to ignore infrastructure such as fire hydrants or parked cars. In addition, the system displays do not come on while the vehicle is approaching or passing other vehicles.
Performance handling package
A performance handling package is available fo r V-8-equipped rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive models and V-6-equipped rear-drive models. The package includes 18-inch x 8.5-inch aluminum alloy, chrome-plated wheels fitted with P255/45R18 Bridgestone Potenza summer-only tires.
Four-piston caliper Brembo brakes, with front rotors measuring 355 mm x 32 mm and 365 mm x 28 mm rear rotors, provide enhanced stopping ability. All four rotors are vented.
STS Platinum
The STS Platinum sedan extends the luxurious look and feel of the STS with elements such as 18-inch chrome-finish wheels, a brighter chrome-finish grille and exclusive Platinum badging.
Inside, STS Platinum features a hand-cut, sewn and leather-wrapped instrument panel, door trim and center console areas. The seats are fully leather, a semi-aniline variety called Tuscany. Luxury touches include chrome accents on the instrument panel and doors, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, olive ash burl wood accents with a saddle-stained shade, premium floor mats, Alcantara headliner and a Platinum badge on the door sill. STS Platinum comes in either a Cocoa over Cashmere or an Ebony interior color scheme.
STS-V
The supercharged Cadillac STS-V is a powerful expression of Cadillac power and performance. It carries all the sophistication of its STS siblings, yet elevates the performance and luxury attributes of the brand's V-Series lineup to their fullest extent.
The 469-horsepower (349 kW)* STS-V is capable of exceptional performance for an automobile of its size. Each 4.4L Supercharged Northstar V-8 engine is hand assembled to exacting standards at GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., and is built from start to finish by a single expert craftsman. Production is limited to ensure exclusivity in the marketplace.
The engine is paired with the GM Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with driver shift control. This powerful combination enables 0-to-60-mph acceleration in less than five seconds. The STS-V includes numerous chassis enhancements, including massive Brembo brakes with air cooling, larger wheels and tires for better grip and larger front and rear stabilizer bars for better performance.
The interior features extensive use of leather wrapped surfaces, created by craftsmen who cut, wrap and sew leather around components individually. Kinetic aluminum accents adorn the steering wheel and instrument panel. STS-V features deep-tinted Olive Ash Burl wood accenting the center stack and door trim.
All STS models are built at GM's state-of-the-art Lansing Grand River assembly center in Lansing, Mich.
*SAE certified.
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Source: GM Media