CADILLAC DTS Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

When it comes to the White House Presidential car, there are not too many options, and Cadillac was the main option. Lincoln had a bad history behind it.

The DTS was designed as the most important luxury American vehicle, a direct competitor for BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It was longer than both of them and exceeded even the full-size Cadillac Escalade SUV. Moreover, Cadillac offered the DTS as a coachbuilder chassis, as incomplete vehicles without rear doors, trunk lid, or rear window.

Cadillac introduced the DTS (DeVille Touring Sedan) in 2005 and upgraded it in 2008. It featured angular headlights. Its wide grille with chromed vertical and horizontal slats showed a luxury status. The front bumper featured a lower grille with horizontal slats, and the outer side installed fog lights. Its fenders provided a purposeful stance, and the profile was slightly wedge-shaped. The DTS featured standard 17” machined aluminum wheels, while 18-inch wheels were available.

Inside, Cadillac excelled in offering the utmost comfort possible for the rear passengers. It offered the DTS with either a short or a long wheelbase and room for up to six passengers. The center console between the bucket seats housed the shifter and a storage compartment on the five-seat option.

Cadillac installed the Northstar V8 engine under the hood, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, which sent the power to the front axle. The carmaker included a magnetic ride control for the shocks on the options list.

Cadillac decided to retire the DeVille nameplate and replaced it with the DTS in 2005, as a 2006 model year, showing a new marketing strategy.

By 2005, Cadillac already knew that its classic designed vehicles were no longer appealing to the customers. The old buyers were OK with that, but the big chunk of the premium-car segment was represented by those who were far from applying for their AARP membership cards.

Even though it was mostly a refreshed version of the DeVille, the exterior design was significantly changed. Its narrow and tall headlights featured improved lamps and a young-oriented design. Cadillac tried to make the DTS a world competitor for Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but it could hardly win on its home ground. But the car was an essential step for the brand's evolution. At the back, the slim red strip for the third brake light and the triangular, corner-mounted taillights were new for the American luxury brand.

Inside, the DTS showed a contemporary design, with an infotainment screen placed on the center stack. Moreover, the dials and multi-function steering wheel were typical for those times premium vehicles. Definitely, it was no longer the same old, classic design that built the brand. Cadillac placed an analog watch between the center vents as a sole reminder of the old days.

Under the hood, GM installed the Northstar V8 powerplant that offered almost 300 horses in its upgraded version. Yet, it was nowhere near what the German carmakers could provide. Moreover, the four-speed automatic transmission was clearly outdated.