Himafagy

Where the Cadillac V-Series moniker focuses on high performance, the Platinum Series tag being introduced in LA this week places the emphasis on luxury. Now, we believe that this emphasis should be the brand standard anyway, and not just a trim package, but if this represents a step towards bringing Cadillac to the next level, where we hope it's headed, then so be it.


Available for the XLR, STS and DTS, the Platinum Series trim level sets the cars apart by bestowing them with specific paint colors, badging, and interior appointments. The XLR, for example, sports an exclusive and attractive Liquid Amethyst paint color and healthy doses of chrome added to its grille, bespoke wheels and other trim bits. Climb into the Cashmere leather seats and you'll notice the "Platinum" badging on the doorsill, more wood trim, and hand-stitched leather covering the upper dash and door panels. Unfortunately, based on GM's press release, it appears to stop short of the full-blown "Cut and Sew" interior available on the SRX, but we'll wait until our guys in LA get up close and personal to make that call.


Keep reading after the jump for the rundown on the STS and DTS Platinum Series, plus more photos and the official release from GM.


[Source: GM]


Following the convertible's lead, the STS and DTS sedans also get similar treatments. That means specific paint and wheels, added chrome, "platinum" badging on the bodywork and in the doorsills, and hand-crafted interior elements that aren't available on the standard vehicles. In the case of the DTS Platinum Series, we're not so crazy about that cream-colored scheme, though. It's a bit too Boca Raton-retiree for us, as you'll see below.


The STS Platinum Series gets the grid-pattern grille that's popping up on other Caddys, which is an immediate improvement. It should also be noted that while the STS does get to play dress-up in its Platinum Series threads, it's still got the '07 interior -- an element that is improved here yet doesn't hold a candle to the cabin design of the newChinese-market SLS. That, we're hoping, will appear at another show this year in an updated 2008 STS.


All that said, we're enthused that GM continues to look for ways to improve on Cadillac's interiors, which are light-years better than what they were a few years ago. Flagship brands deserve top-notch cabins asstandard equipment, though, and while Cadillac is showing aptitude in this regard, we just hope that there's even better stuff (i.e. full "Cut & Sew" for all models) on the way for '08. And rest assured, there's reason to be enthusiastic. Note that the SRX gets singled out in the press release text. That's the benchmark Cadillac appears to be using. Good.


GALLERY:

Click Images to enlarge


STS Platinum





XLR Platinum







DTS Platinum

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