We’re mere days away from a major auto show, which means an inevitable slow and steady leak of photos and information covering highly anticipated reveals. (We’ve already seen the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG courtesy of Russian website AutoWP.ru.) This particular batch of leaked images posted by Flickr user upcomingvehiclesx (you can see a couple of additional frames at the link) have ripped the sheet from the 2014 Cadillac CTS—and the Alpha-platform car going to be a stunner.
OK, so none of the photos posted thus far show the full car, but it’s clear that the new CTS’s front end takes cues from its smaller platform- and stablemate, the ATS. But the larger CTS, which will grow larger to better take on the BMW 5-series and others, features sharper detailing, which could make its little brother look weaker and slightly flabby in comparison. Even so, the design features fewer straight lines than the outgoing CTS, and is a clear evolution of the Art and Science styling language Cadillac initiated a little more than a decade ago.
While similar in design, the CTS’s LED signatures are more prominent than the ATS’s—at least on this presumably up-level trim—and extend more cleanly into the lower front fascia. The grille frame is softened from before, and features two horizontal chrome strips versus the current three. We learned last week that the maw will feed air to an engine lineup that includes a new 420-hp, 3.6-liter twin-turbo V-6. Rear- and all-wheel drive will be available. We also note that this car wears Kumho Escsta SPT high-performance summer tires, which now you do, too.
Compared to the aggressive front end seen here, what we can see of the rear end is decidedly tamer. Creases from the body sides flow into the decklid and create some of the surface contours of the taillight units. We’re digging the classy execution of an Easter egg in those same lamps—look closely and you’ll spot a subtle script “Cadillac”.
One of the leaked images shows the new car’s front passenger door panel, and it features similar shapes to those seen in the ATS and XTS. Contrast stitching provides a visual break between the full-grain hide on the doortop and the faux suede below. The wood trim here is open-pore stuff, and it looks great. If the rest of the interior delivers on the style and implied material quality seen here, then we should be in for a treat.
Should more photos of the 2014 Cadillac CTS leak out on Flickr, an eastern European website, or via carrier pigeon directed to our offices, we’ll be sure to update our coverage. The 2013 New York auto show kicks off Wednesday, though, so you can check back then for a full-boat download on the all-new CTS.
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