I'm getting the itch to track my car again! "Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca" is the next track I *really* want to drive the WRX on. I think Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI--where the USGP should really be in my opinion--would be the coolest place to track a car in the U.S., but I know my lowly Rex doesn't have the ponies under the hood to stay out of other cars' way on the long straightaways. :(
 
Was the sound restriction in effect yesterday going up the hill?

I still can't decide if that front end is the best or worst example of "Art and Science" design yet

I know what you mean by the "clear driver oriented design," but do you think the feeling was made more potent by being on the track? Would driving it off a dealership lot have offered you the same feeling?
 
Caddy's are getting zippier eh?

I love the front end of the new CTS! Those flared fenders are hot. They endow the CTS with a more substantial and aggressive appearance. This car is a looker and I can't wait to see the sport wagon, coupe, and hopefully convertible!

Best looking Cadillac ever. Best looking interior from GM in a long time. It is definately on my short list of 2008-2009 cars to get when my lease is up Aug 2008.

Is there a possibility that the 2008 CTS could be Edmunds.com's next long term test vehicle? I am very interested in this car for my next vehicle and I would love to hear what the editor's thought about it compared to past and current cars they are driving.

Very nice car.
 
Congrats to GM on the slow, steady and methodical march towards resurrecting the Cadillac brand name - making Caddy hip again and their products mean something on the world stage. This car appears to be the latest and best evidence of a revival. It will be interesting to see what they release in the next few years.

This car seems highly capable from a design, quality, handling standpoint but whats going to hold it back is that its nearly 4000lbs with the 304hp V6!

"Was the sound restriction in effect yesterday going up the hill?"
 
Yup. No riding with Lawson Aschenbach in the full-race CTS-V. :(
 
But he did give hot laps in the stock 2008 cars, which was far more useful to me in terms of understanding the vehicle.
 
"I know what you mean by the "clear driver oriented design," but do you think the feeling was made more potent by being on the track? Would driving it off a dealership lot have offered you the same feeling?"
 
I got that feeling 20 feet after pulling away from the hotel parking lot, at the start of our 60-mile drive down to Laguna Seca. Yes, this car feels great on public roads.
 
"Is there a possibility that the 2008 CTS could be Edmunds.com's next long term test vehicle?"
 
There's more than a possibility...
 
"This car seems highly capable from a design, quality, handling standpoint but whats going to hold it back is that its nearly 4000lbs with the 304hp V6!"
 
True. It did feel heavy (though never "pudgy") at Laguna Seca, but on public roads it feels very nimble and quick. It won't likely be a 3 Series threat, but 5 Series/A6...
 
I'll have a more in-depth post on this car Monday.

Great responses Karl as this is the first domestic product that Ive been enthusisastic about in years. If Cadillac can keep this kind of engineering consistent and refine each generation they will without a doubt succeed.

All I can say is I'm glad you enjoyed it for those of us wanting to do the exact same thing, but are unable to :P

Karl - you are a lucky man! this car is one sweeeeeeeeeet-lookin' ride! However, it has got some pathetic fuel economy for a V6 so you might as well go all out and get the V-series beast. Can't wait for that one!

The Cadillac is great. And what a bargain to be a midsized sedan, like the G35.
I hope they make a good looking wagon out of it.

"Best looking interior from GM in a long time."
 
I would say ever. GM has never made interiors better than they do now. I'm sure the 60s and 70s designs were OK back then, but by modern standards there are lacking.
 
The front end of that car is hot, so much more aggressive than much of the compettion. This shows why Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, etc cannot design a compelling car. They have no design heritage to draw from and typcially recycle the same old Japanese car design traits. This car has presence on the road unmatched by any Japanese luxury car, even the LS460.
 
"owever, it has got some pathetic fuel economy for a V6 so you might as well go all out and get the V-series beast. Can't wait for that one!"
 
It does not under 2008 standards. Under the old standards this car would be rated for 19/29 which is great for 304hp. Its mileage is better than the G35 and comparable to the TL (only 258hp) and 335i.
 
"This car seems highly capable from a design, quality, handling standpoint but whats going to hold it back is that its nearly 4000lbs with the 304hp V6!"
 
This car isnt much heavier than the A4 or 5 series. C&D got a 0-60 of 5.8secs which is only slightly slower than the G35 6MT model and way faster than the A4. The TL and C350 are right in that range as well. I think its faster than the M35 based on C&D's testing.

Cadillac certainly has a heritage... of overdesigned front ends. But yes, there's a market for that and I'm glad of it. It does have presence, and the rest of it is awesome.

I love this car! Even nicer than BMW 3 series and Mercedes-Benz C class.
I'm definitely getting this for my first. But my mom agreed to this only if they have an integrated roll bar.
Does anyone know if it has this?