2003 Cadillac CTS
The CTS represented what GM hoped would be a new era for Cadillac. Having lost its mojo over the years with out of touch products, the CTS was the first production car to feature Cadillac’s “Art and Science” design language based off of the Evoc showcar designed by Kip Wasenko. It was also the first Cadillac on the new rear-wheel drive Sigma GM corporate platform featuring fully independent suspension. Since the 1980s Cadillac had shifted to front-wheel drive platforms, so reverting back to rear-wheel drive as most European luxury cars were designed signaled Cadillac’s intent to go head-to-head with Mercedes, Audi and the like. Introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model, it was available as either a five-speed automatic transmission or five-speed manual, the first Cadillac to offer a manual since the Cimarron, a car that tarnished Cadillac’s reputation. The performance CTS-V came out in 2004 to compete with BMW M3s and Audi S4 models. This first generation CTS ran through 2007. In 2008 the new CTS debuted, which was both longer and wider. Featuring a 3.6-Liter V6 with over 300hp from the previous CTS, a new direct-injection V6 debuted in 2010, along with a 3.0-Liter V6 with 255hp. Both a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission were available. Also in 2010 the coupe an also station wagon version became available—a first ever for a Cadillac station wagon and the first Cadillac coupe since the 2002 Eldorado. Both were available as CTS-Vs. The wagon was dropped after 2014 and the coupe was produced through the 2015 model year. The 2014 CTS was all-new, and its size increased in what seemed like an attempt to bridge the loss of the larger STS discontinued after 2013. All of Cadillac’s engines now featured aluminum blocks and heads with direct injection and variable valve timing.
2003 CTS
The CTS was available in early 2002 as a 2003 model. A 3.2-Liter V6 at 220hp powered these first CTS sedans, which could be backed by either a 5L40-E automatic or five-speed Getrag 260 manual transmission.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
2003 CTS
- Engine Options
- 3.2-Liter V6
- 2.6-Liter V6
2003 CTS VIN Decoder:
First Character: Country
Second Character: Manufacturer
Third Character: Division
Fourth and Fifth Characters: Car Line/Series
- D/G ~ CTS
- D/M ~ CTS
- D/R ~ CTS R/H Drive
- D/U ~ CTS R/H Drive
Sixth Character: Body Style
- 5 ~ Four-Door Sedan
- 6 ~ Four-Door Sedan
Seventh Character: Restraint Systems
- 1 ~ Active Manual Belts
- 2 ~ Active Manual Belts, Driver/Passenger Inflatable Restraint Frontal
- 4 ~ Active Manual Belts, Driver/Passenger Inflatable Restraint Frontal/Side
- 5 ~ Active Manual Belts, Frontal Inflatable Restraints, Driver/Passenger/Side Inflatable Restraints-Driver Side
- 6 ~ Active Manual Belts, Driver/Passenger Inflatable Restraints, Frontal/Side, Automatic Occupant Sensor
- 7 ~ Active Manual Belts, Driver/Passenger Inflatable Restraints, Frontal/Side, Rear Passenger Inflatable Restraints, Side
Eighth Character: Engine Type
Ninth Character: Check Digit
Tenth Character: Year
Eleventh Character: Assembly Plant
- B ~ Lansing, Michigan
- C ~ Lansing, Michigan
- 0 ~ Lansing, Michigan
Seventh-Twelfth Characters: Sequential Production Number
Standard Sequence
Holiday Bonus