Spy Shots: Cadillac CTS Coupe caught with no door handles!
by John Neff on Mar 7th 2008 at 11:59AM 
Click above for more high-res spy shots of the Cadillac CTS Coupe
Not long after Car and Driver snagged the first shots of the production Cadillac CTS Coupe, we now have new spy shots showing the coupe's profile and front end, and a few surprises were awaiting us at these angles. For one, this preproduction prototype has no door handles, instead incorporating the same door-opening mechanism used on the Corvette in which the recess for the door latch comes after the door and is completely flush. The Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept also featured this type of door handle, though we honestly didn't expect it to see it on the production version. Also of note that wasn't totally obvious in the C&D images is that the CTS Coupe Concept's fastback profile will make it to production intact. Some, including us, were worried that Old GM could resurface and cost cut the production CTS Coupe to the point that it became the sedan with a longer pair of doors. This doesn't seem to be the case, as the production CTS Coupe appears to feature completely different sheetmetal than the sedan from the A-pillar back. While the front end and front fenders don't exhibit quite the level of flare seen on the concept, the production car will retain a center exhaust, sporty side sills and new wheels. Check out the spy photographer's notes after the jump and all the pics in the gallery below.
Gallery: Cadillac CTS Coupe - spy shots
Gallery: Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept
[Source: KGP Photography]
KGP Photography: Cadillac CTS Coupe
We caught our first glimpse of the production Cadillac CTS Coupe through the trees of its secret holding pen. With these first-ever front-3/4 and profile shots of a real-world CTS coupe prototype, we can now assess the changes Cadillac designers have made to translate the striking Detroit concept into a production vehicle.
Thankfully, it appears that the majority of the CTS Coupe concept's lines have been faithfully duplicated on this production model. Some feared that the concept's radical fastback design might be watered down, revealing the Coupe's sedan roots, but our profile view proves these fears as unfounded. It appears that the production version may have a slightly more pronounced rear deck, but if that's so, it's not enough to significantly alter the concept's silhouette. The CTS coupe prototype retains a remarkably flat backlight.
The CTS Coupe prototype further separates itself from its sedan donor thanks to the elimination of a conventional door handle, adopting instead the concept's Corvette-style design which hides the door trigger behind the door's aft cut-line. The concept and production similarities continue with the Coupe's revised lower side sill, and the distinctively sculpted waistline, which begins at the A-pillar/fender vent, and narrows as it stretches rearward. The camouflage hides whether or not the line terminates into the concept's razor-sharp point at the C-pillar, but it looks likely that that's another design convergence between the show- and production cars. Earlier photos also confirmed that the concept's bold central exhaust will also reach showrooms.
There are some visible differences between the Detroit Show Standout and the production model. Cost and feasibility studies have killed the concept's glass-to-glass side windows, in favor of a visible B-pillar on the production model. The rest of the changes are found in front of the A-pillar. The concept coupe's large, CTS-V-style hood bulge is gone on this prototype (although we'd love to see it return on a future full-blow CTS-V coupe). And the show car's reshaped front fenders--which sweep more voluptuously to a revised front bumper, tweaked front ground-effects, and more dynamic headlight and fog-light clusters--appear to have been replaced with stock items from the CTS sedan. It looks to us like the CTS Coupe and sedan will share identical front fenders and front fascia designs. From there, back, however, the cars could scarcely be more different. The drama of the CTS Coupe concept is alive and well, and on its way to Cadillac showrooms.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
almost Dr. G.. 12:08PM (3/07/2008)
i love it! i cant wait for it!
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Nick 12:09PM (3/07/2008)
If only they could get rid of those lamo side vents. This should be a great product for GM. Defintely stepping it up.
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YouFaceTheTick 12:17PM (3/07/2008)
That'll be one ooogly car.
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James 12:21PM (3/07/2008)
front 3/4 of the car is nice. rear end is ugly.
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 12:35PM (3/07/2008)
Yeah, I don't like how the rear end goes up so high or the wheels, but those are probably not production wheels anyway. Everything else is nice.
Jon 9:19PM (3/08/2008)
This is a good thing. Cars in this price range should evoke emotion, be it good or bad.
Syco 12:20PM (3/07/2008)
That car is going to be amazing.
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Justin 12:22PM (3/07/2008)
"Some, including us, were worried that Old GM could resurface and cost cut the production CTS Coupe to the point that it became the sedan with a longer pair of doors."
Actually, I would rather have had something closer to the sedan's general shape (slightly modified of course) than the halfway-hatchback look of this one. This just makes it look short and stubby, rather than more sleek.
And btw I AM a fan of some hatchbacks, notchbacks, and whatnot. I just don't think it looks very sleek here.
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Nick 12:37PM (3/07/2008)
The Concept's rear-end was terrible looking. A rear akin to that of the Sedan would be much preferred, as would a more traditional set of exhausts. As has been said, from the C-pillar forward, it looks fantastic, but from there back...It's pretty disastrous.
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Stone 12:39PM (3/07/2008)
Hmm....looks like the pre-produciton model DOES have door handles. They just seem to be covered up.
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RayJ 7:03PM (3/07/2008)
No actually they are like those of the Corvette and XLR with no door handle you reach in the slot and touch a pad that is electronic.
giallo 12:41PM (3/07/2008)
Oh my the blandness.
Beating it with that ugly stick indeed!
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DJ 12:44PM (3/07/2008)
My guess is that there will be a proximity sensor and when the keyfob is close enough, the door will kick open slightly and a door release will be accessible. Lexus has a similar concept and so a couple of others.
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tanooki2003 12:46PM (3/07/2008)
Just don't bring back the horrible door handle concept that was used in the late 80's to mid 90's 2 door Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.
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jgp 1:06PM (3/07/2008)
Meh, I loved the pillar handles on the Cutlass Supreme.
The 1988-97 Cutlass Supreme coupe was one of GM's best designs during that period.
Syco 12:52PM (3/07/2008)
I used to like the Pillar handles on my Beretta. I'm probably in the minority though.
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Torrent 12:58PM (3/07/2008)
It's nice, but I'd want the rear end to have more of a downwards slope.
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John P. 1:03PM (3/07/2008)
Looks like this car is well on it's way. I'm hoping it looks EXACTLY like the show car did.
By the way, are those vents on the fender functional?
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meshies 1:03PM (3/07/2008)
Its starting to look proportionally wrong. The ass end looks overly huge with those small wheels. It also looks really tall and big.
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Joe 1:08PM (3/07/2008)
Is it just me or does this thing seem to match up fairly closely with the Holden Coupe 60 (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/holden-coupe-60/668250/)
Obviously the bodywork has changed, but sure seems like GM/Caddy can bank on the Holden for this one
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