2014 Cadillac XTS gets out of the slow lane with 410 hp, twin-turbocharged V6

By Stephen Edelstein Published May 15, 2013

As the replacement for the DTS, a.k.a. the DeVille, the Cadillac XTS is destined to spend most of its time in the hands of Florida retirees and rental customers, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fun to drive.

For the 2014 model year, Cadillac is giving the XTS a literal dose of speed, in the form of a 3.6-liter, twin-turbocharged V6.

Recommended Videos

The V6, which also features direct injection, is all-new and will be shared with the 2014 CTS. It produces 410 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. That’s a significant improvement over the 2013 XTS’ naturally aspirated 3.6, which was only good for 304 hp and 264 lb-ft. That engine will become the base powerplant in the 2014 XTS lineup.

Both engines are paired exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission. As before, the XTS is available with front- or all-wheel drive.

In addition to the new engine, the 2014 XTS also gets some more tech gadgetry.

Front-wheel drive models are now available with electric power steering and Automatic Parking Assist, which allows the car to parallel park itself. Intellibeam headlights, which automatically switch between low- and high-beam, are optional on all but the base trim level.

Back-seat drivers will be contented with a new entertainment system, complete with a pair of screens in the backs of the front headrests, as well as radio and sunshade controls on the rear armrest.

There are no visible exterior changes, but that’s fine with us. The XTS was a handsome car to begin with.

Despite its powerful new engine, the 2014 Cadillac XTS is still too laid back to be a real sports sedan, but given its mission of cushy boulevard cruising, that’s alright.

However, it is nice to know that this reinvigorated Caddy won’t let its driver down if he or she is in a hurry – or just want to have some driving fun.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work

Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Cars

Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?

Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Cars

EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says

ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.