New 410HP Cadillac XTS VSport Starts at $63,020, About $11k Less Than a BMW 740i

When the 2014 model year Cadillac XTS arrives in U.S. dealerships in the beginning of August, it will offer buyers a new engine option in the guise of GM's 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 that delivers 410 horsepower (306 kW) and 369 lb-ft of torque (500 Nm), and which was first introduced on the new CTS VSport. The same moniker is used on the XTS.

Today, Cadillac announced that the all-wheel drive 2014 XTS VSport will be available in the up-level Premium and Platinum Collections with prices starting from $63,020 including destination fees, or $3,025 more than the shorter (195.5 inches / 4,966mm vs. 202 inches / 5,131mm), but slightly more powerful 420HP CTS VSport.

Cadillac's pricing strategy brings the XTS VSport very close to German premium brands' entry level full-size sedans such as the 315hp BMW 740i that is priced from $74,535 including destination.

“The addition of the new Cadillac Twin Turbo expands and elevates the XTS luxury sedan,” said Bob Ferguson, vice president Global Cadillac. “This is a compelling enhancement to what is already one of the most technically advanced sedans in our history.”

The other available engine option for the XTS is the 306-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with the base model starting at $45,525, including destination fees, which remains unchanged from 2013. Standard equipment includes intelligent brake assist and Magnetic Ride Control, and the CUE infotaintment system. There are three option packages available named Luxury, Premium and Platinum Collections.

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2014 Cadillac XTS Gets Optional 410 HP Twin-Turbo V6, Automatic Parking Assist

Cadillac’s flagship sedan, the XTS, will soon be available with the twin-turbo V6 engine that was first introduced on the 2014 CTS, along with new features including Automatic Parking Assist and Intellibeam, among other additions.

The new Twin-Turbo 3.6-liter V6 delivers 410 horsepower and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of peak torque, or 10 hp and 61 lb-ft (82.7 Nm) less than what the same unit produces in the CTS. The 410hp XTS will have a specific grille treatment and a badge on the decklid. The force-fed mill is paired to a six-speed automatic transmission with tap-shift control. Cadillac didn’t offer performance or fuel economy figures of the XTS with the new engine.

For 2014, all front-wheel drive XTS models get electric power steering, while new and revised features include an available rear-seat entertainment system with twin DVD screens that fold out of the backs of the front seats, available front passenger seat memory feature, revised rear-seat armrest with wood trim, radio controls and sunshade control and opaque sunroof sunshade.

Another new addition for the 2014 XTS is the Automatic Parking Assist, which enables the car to parks itself in parallel spaces using ultrasonic sensors to locate a suitable space and maneuver the car into the space. The driver is required to only engage reverse and apply the accelerator and brake pedals. There’s also the new Intellibeam system that automatically deploys high-beam headlamps when needed and instantly turns them down when oncoming traffic is detected.

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Cadillac XTS Features Capless Fuel Filler, will be Produced in China as Well

 This week, we learned two new things about the2013 Cadillac XTS, the first being that it features a new capless fuel filler assembly and the other that General Motors has plans to build the full-size sedan in China for the domestic market.

We will begin with the new capless fuel filler system that replaces the traditional twist-off cap, with Cadillac promising a cleaner and safer experience.

“This new system has advantages for both the car and the driver,” said John Hamilton, Cadillac fuel fill systems design engineer. “It helps keep hands free of dirt and fuel, paint free of scratches caused by a swinging cap, and the engine running smoothly.”

While other similar systems exist in the market, Cadillac has improved upon the idea by adding two doors instead of one. Each door locks fuel in with a rubber seal around its edge to help prevent leaks. The driver only has to open the outer door and insert the fuel nozzle directly through the twin doors.

“Some capless systems on the market have just a single door, making them vulnerable to leaks,” said Hamilton. “Unlike competitors, Cadillac’s system also has no internal drain, something that can also lead to inadvertent dripping.”

In addition to the news on the XTS' fuel filler assembly, Cadillac announced at this week’s Beijing Auto Show that it will produce the Chinese-market version of the luxury sedan locally with its joint venture partner Shanghai General Motors (SGM).

The XTS won't be the first Cadillac to be built in China as that distinction belongs to the long-wheelbase SLS Executive Sedan that begun production in 2006.

"China is the second-largest market for Cadillac, and of course is one of the largest and strongest markets in the world for luxury cars, so it is a core part of our vision as a brand," said Don Butler, Cadillac vice president of marketing. “It is projected that by the end of the decade half of all luxury purchases in the world – all categories, not just cars – will occur in China."

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