Cadillac STS trudges into 2011 model year sans V8 engine

Soon enough, General Motors will pull the wraps off of Cadillac's new XTS flagship sedan, marking the official demise of both the aging DTS and STS sedans. Until then, however, the two top-end Caddies live on, albeit with fewer options than before.

According to USA Today, the STS sedan will no longer be available with GM's 4.6-liter Northstar V8 for the 2011 model year. The only mill on hand is The General's direct-injected 3.6-liter V6, cranking out 302 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque. Power still gets to the ground via rear- or all-wheel drive. V8 power is nice, but since the Northstar only churned out 18 more horses and 43 more pound-feet than the V6, it won't be too tearful of a goodbye, especially when you consider the six's better fuel economy. The supercharged, 469-hp STS-V was put out to pasture last year.

GM is fitting the 2011 STS with its ninth-generation OnStar technology as standard equipment, meaning better voice recognition and the latest host of safety functions are on hand. What's more, Cadillac offers the STS in a Platinum trim, which adds 18-inch wheels, an Alcantara headliner and a full leather interior.

Pricing starts at $47,280 (not including the $825 destination charge), and if you tick all of the option boxes, you'll be spending just over $65,000. We imagine that there are some pretty substantial discounts on the hood with each sale, but will they be enough to move cars off of dealer lots? All we know is, the XTS can't get here soon enough.

[Source: USA Today]