So you think Cadillac is done reinventing itself?

Think again!

The process has started all over, and boy, is it ever getting going with a bang.

I'm referring to the all-new 2008 Cadillac CTS luxury sports sedan, and it could well be the most significant car Caddy and GM have done in ages.

First, it's fabulous looking. It's fast, even in the base version. It's meticulously built and designed, and every bit the competitor for the European and Japanese brands in its class.

In sum, the new CTS has been redone from top to bottom, and it now has a more mature, contemporary, muscled presence. The previous model had edgier styling, but it also did not have the substance of the new model.

The base price for the new model will be $32,990, and from that point, CTS has three major option packages called "collections" that include one for luxury, one for performance and one premium.

Power comes from a standard 3.6-liter, 263-horsepower V-6, and a 3.6-liter, direct-injection, 304-horsepower V-6 option.

Both engines are engaging and robust, but the most thrills come when you put the transmission into "sport" mode and let it work through the gears more vigorously. It makes all the right aggressive, rich sounds from the polished aluminum exhaust tips, and the car snakes through curves and around corners like a bobsled, sticking resolutely to the road.

Cadillac tested and polished off this car on the famed Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. Teams and consumers from Europe, China and elsewhere have previewed the CTS, a testament to Cadillac's intention to become a respected international brand.

The first level of the suspension system, FE1, was too soft for my tastes and, at times, there was some strongly noticeable bounding and rebounding up and down as we went along the more challenging roads.

If you're an enthusiast, you'll want the FE2 system, which is a nice compromise between the base suspension and the FE3 package, a tougher, hell-bent-for-leather performance suspension.

Overall, I was surprised at how eagerly the CTS chewed the asphalt and how quickly even the base engine moved the car along.

The new CTS also has some interesting features such as a 40-gigabyte hard disc drive system that can store audio tracks ripped from CDs or flash drives, along with a "time shift" feature that can pause and replay live radio content.

The new navigation system features 3D mapping of major U.S. markets and real-time weather and traffic reports.

The CTS also has the high-intensity discharge headlamps with adaptive forward lighting that turn as you drive around curves and corners. Keyless access, handcrafted materials inside, and standard Stabilitrak traction and stability control complete the picture.

I was pleased by the extremely tight fit and finish inside. And the complexity of the shapes, lines and angles to the dash and accompanying door panels made for a nicely integrated finish. The Sapele wood is rich and nicely varnished and fits in precisely where it is used for a more fluid look to the interior.

And if you like mood lighting, you're in luck. The CTS has nice soft tones that illuminate some interior features as well as provide a halo of light in other spots. Quite romantic.

Not to be left out of the fun, the STS, a premium luxury sports sedan, has been given some pretty dramatic changes, too.

First, the car bears striking resemblance to the popular Cadillac Sixteen coupe concept of a few years ago, with a large egg crate style grille and tall taillamps. There also are fender air extractors on the flanks of the car that also were seen on the STS.

There's a new 3.6-liter, 302-horsepower V-6 that is standard equipment, a six speed automatic transmission, and new lower front fascia and rocker moldings as well. Expect to pay around $43,500 to about $80,000 for the STS.

As for fuel mileage, expect ratings around 12-15 city and 19 to 25 highway, depending on whether you pick the standard V-6 or spring for the 4.6 liter, 320 horsepower V-8.