The more powerful of the two available engines is a new direct-injection V6 that produces 304 horsepower. It's extremely responsive. The difference in performance feel and sound from this engine compared with the standard 263-hp V6 is amazing. Not that there's anything wrong with the standard engine; the direct-injection engine just has more of everything, as it should, because it costs more.

The 304-hp V6 feels ready to go out and play anytime you want, delivering a really solid combination of power, torque and powerful sound whenever the throttle is opened all the way up.

The six-speed manually controlled automatic that comes with it is very quick and positive to shift, up or down, with a little bit of throttle blip on the downshifts to keep the drivetrain happy and to keep the tires from skidding.

Underneath all that new sheetmetal is a brand new suspension system with a new type of forward-mounted power rack-and-pinion steering system that pulls, rather than pushes, the steering arms, and it is sweet to drive, very accurate, with good feel and a nice, weighty demeanor.

With optional all-wheel-drive waiting to leap in whenever you decide to go a bit too fast through the corners, as we did in central California, the car feels very, very stable and inspires the confidence you need to go faster and faster through those corners.

If a cow or a truck wanders onto the road in front of you, the ABS/EBD brakes respond with very good stopping power, even for a car that tips the scales at 4100 pounds empty.

For all its newfound steering, cornering and handling prowess, the new CTS doesn't seem to exact any penalties in quietness or harshness over the road. It's very solidly put together, and in all other modes besides wide-open-throttle, it's quiet inside, even with 17-inch high-performance tires.