XTS Is The Cadillac Of Cadillacs

Rolling down the ramp in a color that resembles a full-moon night, with sharp LED accents and a shimmering shield grille, comes the all-new Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept. As it rotates, the angles of the executive class flagship sedan dramatically take effect, with rays of light reflecting and shooting along the edges.

Mercedes, BMW and Audi have officially been put in check.

Cadillac just blind-sided ze Germans with something those brands haven’t seen in a long time – and that is what describes the Cadillac XTS Platinum “Concept” (come on, GM don’t play us, we know you’re going to build this one). The much-teased concept is Cadillac’s best display of form and function in a sedan since… the CTS, but better! It’s bigger, too.

In terms of dimensions, the XTS is nearly as long as the retiring DTS, but is wider and a tad taller thanks to the new Super Epsilon frame. That means it’s pretty gosh darned big – much like the old school Cadillacs of yore. But thanks to all-wheel-drive and the magnetic ride dampening system (borrowed from such all-stars as the ZR-1 and CTS-V), this car won’t handle like those old boats. Does it go like stink? Actually, it’s pretty powerful for being a plug-in two mode hybrid.

Under the hood, the XTS is powered by GM’s popular 3.6 liter direct-injected V6 accompanied by a lithium-ion battery pack that allows the car to go full e-mode at speeds under 40 mph. Cadillac also goes on to say that it will harness “around 350 horsepower.” S-Class hybrid, eat your heart out. But since powerful people like equally powerful cars, a possible V8 version should not go underlooked.

Cadillac spared no expense dressing up the interior. The cabin looks more like a $250,000 Bentley than a Cadillac. This is where the Platinum part comes in: according to Caddy, it features “laser etched suede, aniline leathers, satin metals and burled birch wood,” along with a visually appealing LED touch-screen for the center console interface. The driver’s display is also an LED screen that runs one foot long behind the wood and leather- wrapped steering wheel. The dash is also reconfigurable to the driver’s preference.

To top it all off, the back seat is so spacious that there’s “no need to apologize to your friends in the back seat”. Rear passengers are even pampered with their own personal monitors at which to stare. And did we mention the door handles illuminate as you approach the XTS, inviting you in? Now isn’t that nice!

The GM Authority Take:

Now I don’t usually become excited think this is one of the best-looking flagship sedans I have ever seen. The XTS contains a few cues from the stunning Cadillac Sixteen Concept from a few years ago, especially in the broad shield grill and wood accents on the steering wheel. It just looks fantastic, fantastic, fantastic.

But the question lies not in whether or not the XTS will be built, but rather if it will go as far in terms of luxury, features, and engine as the concept car leads us to believe. With road tires fitted around the 20 inch rims and GM’s already-existing two-mode plug in hybrid system, this car looks ready for production. I’d like to think it’s going to happen. And so does Alex Luft.