The BMW 3-Series is considered a benchmark in the compact luxury market. Like BMW, many automakers choose to add incremental sales with new body styles. The new Cadillac CTS coupe joined the well-regarded sedan and sport wagon models for the 2011 model year. The CTS Coupe features 2+2 seating for four passengers. A standard 3.6L V6 engine is paired with a standard six-speed automatic transmission. Both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models are available. For ultimate bragging rights, the high-performance CTS-V packs a 556-bhp supercharged V8 motor under the hood. Like the sedan, the CTS coupe is larger on the outside than the BMW 3-Series and Infiniti G, its two closest competitors.

The 3.6l V6 is updated for 2012. The new engine produces 318-bhp, an increase of 14-bhp over the previous engine. Manual transmissions are no longer offered with the 3.6l V6. CTS Models for 2012 wear a distinctive new grille with a more prominent grid.