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**Ghrankenstein** · 09-13-2005, 12:13 AM

Exterior:

Cadillac’s goal for the DTS is much the same as it was for the whole division several years ago: full revitalization of the brand, broadening its appeal while keeping its loyal clientele from fleeing to Lincoln. After the Evoq show car proved that Cadillac could impress savvier high-end buyers, the current-generation Escalade was unleashed, creating the first modern, cool Cadillac.

Since then, ever model in Cadillac’s lineup has received the “Art and Science” treatment, with varying degrees of success, all positive. That only left the Deville, still a leader in its segment, but left behind in Cadillac’s drive to become something more than the cars peoples’ parents had.

The 2006 DTS replaces the now-retired Deville, mostly in name in terms of nuts-and-bolts mechanics, but more thoroughly in spirit in the car’s impact and appeal. If I had been saddled with the tightrope-walk that the Deville’s redesign was to be, I doubt if I could have done even remotely as good of a job as the DTS team did.

The DTS greets onlookers with a huge, toothy smile. One cannot fully appreciate just how enormous that chrome-bathed grille is, nor can I describe its impact without invoking the Escalade. The pentagonal Art and Science grille has been given its first taste of egg-crate tradition in a Cadillac passenger car, and it is flanked with the jeweled projector-beam flavor of Caddy’s traditional stacked headlights. The DTS’s grand entrance announces to everyone that it’s a big, luxurious, modern Cadillac, and it screams something that Cadillac has not heard since the advent of the second-generation Escalade: MORE!

Even though the profile barely differs from the old Deville, the grille and headlamp assemblies are clearly visible from the side, and larger wheels (17” in Luxury packages, 18” in the Performance package) make the DTS look more athletic and aggressive. The sharply raked grille also adds length, especially to the greenhouse, while reducing perceived mass.

The rear is all Cadillac. Members, I’ve heard your comments that something was missing from the tail end. What’s missing is the license plate mount, which has been moved to the bumper. In its place is the full-length midline crease and a large wreath and crest, with large vertical LED taillights on either side.

The overall styling of the DTS is a stand-up triple, if not a home run. The cool does not interfere with the familiar, in that it is largely based on the appeal of older Cadillacs. And a lot of Escalade owners currently driving Benzes and the like would, I’m sure, love to have a passenger car with a similar statement. Now they can get it from GM.

09-13-2005, 12:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ghrankenstein GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Springfield, MO Drives: 2008 Mazdaspeed3 Touring 5-door Posts: 3,502	Re: 2006 Cadillac DTS Exterior: Cadillac’s goal for the DTS is much the same as it was for the whole division several years ago: full revitalization of the brand, broadening its appeal while keeping its loyal clientele from fleeing to Lincoln. After the Evoq show car proved that Cadillac could impress savvier high-end buyers, the current-generation Escalade was unleashed, creating the first modern, cool Cadillac. Since then, ever model in Cadillac’s lineup has received the “Art and Science” treatment, with varying degrees of success, all positive. That only left the Deville, still a leader in its segment, but left behind in Cadillac’s drive to become something more than the cars peoples’ parents had. The 2006 DTS replaces the now-retired Deville, mostly in name in terms of nuts-and-bolts mechanics, but more thoroughly in spirit in the car’s impact and appeal. If I had been saddled with the tightrope-walk that the Deville’s redesign was to be, I doubt if I could have done even remotely as good of a job as the DTS team did. The DTS greets onlookers with a huge, toothy smile. One cannot fully appreciate just how enormous that chrome-bathed grille is, nor can I describe its impact without invoking the Escalade. The pentagonal Art and Science grille has been given its first taste of egg-crate tradition in a Cadillac passenger car, and it is flanked with the jeweled projector-beam flavor of Caddy’s traditional stacked headlights. The DTS’s grand entrance announces to everyone that it’s a big, luxurious, modern Cadillac, and it screams something that Cadillac has not heard since the advent of the second-generation Escalade: MORE! Even though the profile barely differs from the old Deville, the grille and headlamp assemblies are clearly visible from the side, and larger wheels (17” in Luxury packages, 18” in the Performance package) make the DTS look more athletic and aggressive. The sharply raked grille also adds length, especially to the greenhouse, while reducing perceived mass. The rear is all Cadillac. Members, I’ve heard your comments that something was missing from the tail end. What’s missing is the license plate mount, which has been moved to the bumper. In its place is the full-length midline crease and a large wreath and crest, with large vertical LED taillights on either side. The overall styling of the DTS is a stand-up triple, if not a home run. The cool does not interfere with the familiar, in that it is largely based on the appeal of older Cadillacs. And a lot of Escalade owners currently driving Benzes and the like would, I’m sure, love to have a passenger car with a similar statement. Now they can get it from GM. __________________ NEW RIDE: 2008 Carp Poseidon (for fish-head delivery) Last edited by nsap : 09-14-2005 at 08:03 AM.