To tell you the truth Jimbo, I'm pretty excited about the new CTS. Lutz has already publically spoken to Autoweek about the current CTSs interior flaws; I doubt he sat on his hands when it came time to fix it.

It'll come down to if you want bland exterior Euro styling, boring exterior Asian styling, or bold exterior American styling. Some people want bland (see current 7 series haters) and some people want boring (see people with no pulse). I'll take bold, but not over-the-top, and that's the trick.

 

Looking at the current CTS interior and comparing it to the new IS, I can't understand how you could possibly say the IS is boring and the CTS is bold. I mean I literally am trying and just can't do it. The CTS' interior just looks piece-milled and akward... definitely not bold.

Then again the old IS interior was worse than the current CTS interior in terms of looks, so I'm honestly not being biased here. I hate the 3-series' interior... just too generic, cold, and stodgy looking. The Acura TL was my favorite interior in this class. The old IS interior was not good. The CTS' interior was better until this new IS was announced, IMO.

 

The 2007 CTS will be all new, with a Lutz approved interior. Wait until the 2006 NAIAS before you compare the IS250/350 to the CTS. Both second gens will be out by next fall. Also the Caddy 3.6L is getting a bump up to 305HP-ish

 

Apples to apples here, Threxx.

 

I agree that the 2007 CTS is better compared to the 2006 IS than the 2006 IS to the old CTS which came out in 2003. But it almost sounds like you're insinuating that even the current-gen CTS has a great looking exciting interior yet the new IS is still boring?

 

No, I'm not going to defend the current CTS's interior, it's **** poor for the price of the car, esp. when you get into the V model.

When I speak about bold, borning and bland I speak in terms of exterior looks.

I went back and edited my post a few back to make it clear as to what I meant.

 

CTS-V interior looks good with the NAV and minor upgrades. It is also important to remember that the CTS came out in January of 2002 as an '03. By 2002 standards it is great.

 

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I swear, I used to LOVE the BMW lineup. I always liked the styling, and obviously they made some fun to drive vehicles.

But it seems to me that, over the last 5 years or so, BMW's upper management must have picked up a SERIOUS addiction to crack. I'm not a big Audi fan at all, but the upcoming 1-Series is just damn ugly next to the upcoming Audi A3 (or next to anything else, for that matter). The ruined 7-Series, 5-Series (not as bad), 3-Series, Z4...Good Lord.