BLING & BANG; Updated STS features tons of chrome, a new face and a potent base engine.(product information of automobiles)

Byline: ROGER HART

Automakers roll out "mid-cycle enhancements'' to give aging models new sales life a few years before the model is completely replaced. These makeovers typically include sheetmetal changes, a wheel and tire upgrade and maybe an interior spruce-up.

Cadillac has made all those modifications and more to the 2008 STS, including adding chrome trim pieces inside and out to catch your eye. Then, to make sure people pay attention, it upped horsepower on the base engine by 47 ponies. The 3.6-liter aluminum V6, now with direct injection, makes 302 hp at 6300 rpm and 272 lb-ft of torque at 5200 revs. (A similar engine will power the upcoming redesigned CTS.) The engine connects to a six-speed transmission, giving one more ratio than before.

When the STS debuted in 2004 as an '05, Cadillac marketers expected the majority of buyers to opt for the Northstar-V8-equipped car that pumps out 320 hp and 315 lb-ft from its 4.6-liter V8. They were wrong. About 80 percent of STS buyers opted for the V6 instead, and now, with the horsepower climbing closer to that of the V8, buyers have an even greater incentive to get the base engine.

After first driving the V6-powered car at GM's Milford Proving Grounds, we were able to get real-world seat time over a weekend and found the new V6 to be terrific. Even loaded down with five passengers plus a trunk full of softball gear, it never made us want more horsepower. The six-speed shifts smoothly, and the long sixth gear quiets the engine for freeway cruising. Hit the throttle, and there is a nice rumble from the exhaust, matching the muscular exterior appearance enhanced by the optional Brembo brakes peeking through chrome wheels.

The biggest exterior change is the in-your-face chrome grille taken from the Cadillac Sixteen concept that gives the STS its own identity, for now, in the Caddy lineup. Other changes include a new fascia and lower intake, a fender air extractor, rocker moldings, chrome door handles and 18-inch wheels, all contributing to a more assertive presence.

Inside, the steering wheel now has wood trim and integrated controls for the radio, and the center stack has chrome accents like those on Cadillac's V-series models.