When I was a kid, Cadillacs were mean cars driven by special people. The old man had a few pals who really impressed me by rocking up in them and my uncle was a Caddy freak. I've always had a special place where Cadillacs of old sit in my mind.

Suppose that's because back then, Cadillac was king. Those people who drove their De Villes, Eldorados and Biarritz operated around the tip of the social pyramid and their Caddy was a sure sign of success.

The brand slipped over the years and of late it's a Merc or BMW that people in that neck of the social woods drive today. The Cadillac brand had ebbed from power and grace to become a bit of an also-ran.

That however, is all set to change and the smart, style-conscious and successful set could well once again be behind the wheel of a Cadillac…

General Motors South Africa has added its all-new Cadillac CTS 'sports sedan' to its premium vehicle range within days of the car becoming available to European buyers. Styled, built, and extensively tested to meet the most exacting of global luxury car standards, Caddy CTS is set to take on the established brands in the medium-size sports sedan sector with the aplomb the brand last relished back in the '70s.

Edgy, attractive and unique, I reckon CTS is the car Batman would drive when he doesn't need the Batmobile. Taking Cadillac's now-traditional styling cues to a new level through refined detailing, tight creases and precise lines, the new midrange Caddy is complemented by 18-inch diameter, nine-spoke, alloy wheels.

CTS boasts a class-leading 229kW 370Nm direct petrol injection 3.6-litre quad-cam V6 that benefits from a 15 percent hike in power; an 8 percent increase in torque and a 3 percent reduction in fuel consumption. Cold start hydrocarbon emissions are also reduced by 25 percent. This silky smooth V6 is red-lined at 7000rpm and makes for a 6.3 second 0-100 and a top speed of 241km/h with a combined fuel consumption of 11.1l/100km.

Drive is via the rear wheels through a six-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission with electronic control for smooth gear changes and responsive performance, particularly at lower engine speeds when cruising, for optimum fuel economy. The transmission offers the driver a choice of fully-automatic operation or 'Driver Shift Control' sequential manual gear selection with paddle shift.

Suspension, brakes and steering have been developed to deliver tenacious sportscar-like grip and precise handling combined with a premium quality, refined, comfort level and ride characteristics more closely associated with a limousine than a sports sedan.

Suspension and drivetrain layout is derived from Cadillac's V high performance -Series models refined though 'real-life' development driving tests on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, as well as in urban and rural environments in North America, Europe and China.

The fully independent front suspension features aluminium components and a cross brace for extra stiffness, overall feel and steering precision. Rear suspension is a multi-link setup mounted on a fully insulated sub-frame with automatic self levelling.

CTS features an advanced StabiliTrak electronic chassis control system. Traction control and a limited slip-differential ensure that traction is optimised even in the most challenging of circumstances. Boasting 235/50 R18 rubber, CTS is stopped by high performance disc brakes and callipers.

Right up with the best of the rest inside, CTS represents a milestone in Cadillac cabin evolution, taking finish and fit to a new level of technical precision for the interior with hand-crafted detail and expertly tailored soft trim.

A new 'cut-and-sew' process is used to craft the interior to match the hand-rendered precision of an expert craftsman for a hand-tailored look and feel for leather trim. A 'tri-tubular' analogue instrument cluster under a compact hood and genuine Sapele wood finishes add a further element of luxury to the cabin.

New 'thin seat' technology brings enhanced passenger comfort in a more compact seat design that improves rear passenger leg, knee, and foot room in the ventilated and heated front seats. White LEDs and subtle backlighting create discreet theatre-style ambient night illuminating, while CTS is fitted with the very latest in in-car entertainment technology.

Audio output delivered through finely engineered a 300watt, 10-speaker Bose Cabin Surround Sound system designed for the digital music age with Bose, while Apple ensures full iPod integration. Playlists appear on the retractable 200mm touch-screen VGA display, while steering wheel satellite controls provide full remote control and portable devices can be charged in-car.

The sound system incorporates a 40-gigabyte hard drive to store music from digital devices and CDs. The digital audio recording capability allows listeners to pause and even rewind radio broadcasts. A DVD/CD player with MP3 compatibility is included in the system.

A new Pedestrian Protection System anticipates the chance of a collision with a pedestrian via sensors in the front bumper and a pyrotechnic mechanism that lifts the bonnet to create additional clearance over hard points in the engine compartment. This system complies with all EU safety regulations and is designed to sense collisions with a pedestrian at vehicle speeds ranging from 25 km/h to 40 km/h.

Another industry-leading safety feature is next-generation dual-depth passenger airbag technology with inflation pressures as determined by the front passenger seat position, seat belt use, and severity of the impact.

A six-airbag system is provided for the driver and front passenger by frontal airbags and side airbags for pelvic and thorax area protection. Roof-rail mounted full-length curtain side airbags provide upper body and head protection for both front and rear seat passengers.

The body structure of the Cadillac CTS is based on a design that incorporates crumple zones and strategically placed strengthening elements to channel impact energy away from the occupants. Extensive use is made of high strength steels in the body structure for a structure that is light in weight but extremely strong and crash impact resistant.

A further safety highlight is the tyre pressure monitoring system that alerts the driver to a drop in pressure in any of the four tyres.

Our drive in CTS revealed a delightfully poised car with a flat handling manner and steering that, while quite unobtrusive, is certainly sharp and precise.

The Caddy CTS handles impeccably, rides as good as any over a very wide range of surfaces and is truly fun to drive. That 3.6-litre direct injection V6 is also silky smooth and, when asked, sings beautifully under full power.

And GM left the best for last — it's priced CTS to absolutely kill. So if you're asking yourself if at last there is a Caddy to beat the Beemer, Merc or Audi, I'd say it'd be a sure bet. At R399 000, the all-new Cadillac CTS is not just devilishly delightful to drive as it takes the fight back to those Europeans, it's a downright bargain, too.

Take it from me, Cadillac is back at the pinnacle of carmaking today and CTS is the car that's put it there. Yes, if you always wanted a car to truly set you apart in the manner that those old Cadillacs made their drivers look so good, the brand has once again set itself apart from the rest. And at the price, it's going to take some doing for the rest to react…