Cadillac STS: Seville's Rear-Wheel-Drive Successor and Its V8 Performance Variant

The Cadillac STS, launched in 2005 to replace the Seville, was a full-size luxury four-door sedan that shifted Cadillac to a rear-wheel-drive Sigma architecture. It was offered with 3.6L V6 and 4.6L Northstar V8 engines and spawned a factory performance STS-V with a supercharged V8, upgraded suspension, brakes, and steering. Built in the Lansing, Michigan area, the STS received incremental styling and equipment updates during its run and has since been discontinued; used-market STS and STS-V examples remain sought after by enthusiasts.

Overview

The Cadillac STS (Seville Touring Sedan) was introduced by General Motors in 2005 as the successor to the Cadillac Seville. A full-size, four-door luxury sedan, the STS moved Cadillac into a rear-wheel-drive layout on GM's Sigma architecture and aimed to compete with premium European and Japanese rivals.

Platform and layout

Cadillac designed the STS around a rear-wheel-drive Sigma platform that prioritized handling and balanced weight distribution. That change marked a notable shift from earlier front-drive Seville models and brought more conventional luxury-sedan dynamics to the Cadillac lineup.

Engines and drivetrains

The STS was offered with a range of engines during its production run, most commonly a High-Feature 3.6L V6 and Cadillac's Northstar V8 in 4.6L displacement. The model lineup included both naturally aspirated and, in a short-lived performance variant, supercharged V8 power. These powertrains helped position the STS as Cadillac's larger, more refined sedan option with emphasis on smooth power delivery and comfort.

The STS-V: Cadillac's factory sport sedan

Cadillac introduced the STS-V as a factory performance model. It used a high-output, supercharged Northstar-derived V8 and added stiffer suspension, larger brakes, faster steering, and larger wheels. The STS-V significantly sharpened handling and acceleration compared with the standard STS; Cadillac advertised a roughly 0-60 mph time in the low-five-second range for the V model. ¹

Production and lifecycle

Cadillac assembled the STS in Michigan at GM facilities in the Lansing area. Over its production life the STS received periodic updates to styling and equipment; Cadillac phased the model out as the brand reorganized its sedan lineup. Today the STS is discontinued and available only on the used market, where the V version remains of particular interest to enthusiasts who value a rear-wheel-drive Cadillac with factory performance upgrades. ²

Practical takeaways

The STS preserved Cadillac's focus on luxury while shifting the driving dynamics closer to European competitors. It offered more interior space than the Seville it replaced, an upscale cabin, and a range of powertrains to suit buyers wanting comfort or performance. For buyers today, an STS can deliver classic Cadillac refinement and, in V form, a factory-built performance sedan that stands out among early 2000s American luxury cars.

1. Confirm that the Sigma platform was the specific rear-wheel-drive architecture used for the Cadillac STS and list other models that used it if necessary.
2. Verify exact production location (which Lansing facility) where the STS was assembled.
3. Confirm the STS-V performance specifications, including 0-60 mph time and official horsepower/torque figures.
4. Confirm the year the STS was discontinued and which Cadillac models succeeded it in the lineup.