Showroom

Cadillac’s “Art & Science” design theme will hit showrooms next year with the 2003 CTS, an entry-level sports sedan with a 3.2-liter, 215-horsepower V-6 engine and the first manual transmission to grace the marque in two decades (those who can’t shift for themselves can opt for a five-speed automatic).

The sharp creases and angles and the V-shaped prow are styling cues that will be seen on other Caddys as the brand’s cars--and its Escalade sport-utility vehicle and Escalade EXT luxe pickup--are reworked during the next few years.

Cadillac hopes that the Detroit-designed-and-built CTS will erase the bad taste left by the German Opel-based Catera it replaces. Pricing isn’t set, but the littlest Caddy should launch in the low $30,000s.