Cadillac D3 CTS

Custom CTS

It seems like every time you turn the corner, there’s another auto customization shop opening up for business. With tire, stereo and upholstery shops popping up like Starbucks, there are few tuning companies that have remained distinctive in the industry. Fewer still that have inspired the manufacturers of the very marques they customize. D3 Cadillac is one of that few.

The up-and-coming tuning company, which has already placed itself on the level of other famous marque-exclusive tuners like Brabus and AMG, is the latest, most exciting company to join the industry, providing enhancement packages for Cadillac.

With a 10-year history improving performance and styling of primarily GM vehicles, D3 R&D, parent company of D3 Cadillac, was in the perfect position to become a world-class company when GM took notice of their work and commissioned several projects for Cadillac. The first was an all-around package for the then-new STS.

What would later become an entity all its own, a portion of D3 R&D turned the run of the mill STS into something absolutely extraordinary. They made the forgettable unforgettable.

In addition to the focal work and exterior enhancements made to the STS, a theme of both luxury and performance was built upon for the project.

Out of the success of that STS and a few other promo vehicles grew a co-op relationship between D3 and Cadillac that pushed the formation of D3 Cadillac, the one-and-only for the American luxury auto manufacturer.

The new company worked vigorously in an attempt to aesthetically and mechanically enhance original Cadillac designs without compromising the integrity of the brand—and that’s exactly what they did. Design after design, the new branch of D3 R&D proved a force with which to be reckoned.

D3 Cadillac spent millions of dollars and thousands of man-hours researching, designing and testing its many specialty components. The company dedicated itself to unsurpassed quality and refined ingenuity through the use of cutting edge technology. In three short years, the D3 became the number one Cadillac aftermarket provider, offering Cadillac dealerships and their customers various tuning packages to enhance their cars in a way they never expected, but always adored.

Everything from wheels and tires to exhaust and air intake system modifications were made available to buyers of new Cadillacs from an outlet they trusted—their very own dealers. D3 Cadillac also offered dealers and their clients suspension products, performance brake systems, aerodynamic packages and ECU upgrades.

In an attempt to continuously raise the bar, D3 Cadillac subsequently decided not only to be the ultimate provider of unparalleled tuning products for the Cadillac brand, but also to be the leader in design and development for demonstration and conceptual Cadillac vehicle builds.

The company has landed its creations on the main drawing board of Cadillac’s design studio, giving management clues as to the direction of tuning projects—for the purposes of cohesion, but also ideas for the development of new models. With such a great influence on Cadillac itself, the relationship between D3 Cadillac and its exclusive manufacturer has grown into a supportive partnership.

In their latest venture, D3 has tuned the 2008 CTS, the precursor to the highly anticipated CTS-V. With both a performance and styling package, this design is the definition of what D3 Cadillac is all about.

Though its exterior additions are bold, the D3-tuned CTS was designed the same way all other D3 Cadillac creations are— with a respect to the original. Consequently, the lines of the creation are flawlessly amalgamated to the lines of the factory car.

Of course, aesthetics were not the only enhancement made on the project. As far as performance for the CTS is concerned, there were a number of alterations made including things like added airflow openings, additional brake duct pickups and D3’s trademark side skirts.

For a company like D3 Cadillac, a flourishing project like their version of the CTS is proof of many more hits to come. Already boasting things like numerous design and styling awards and corporate acknowledgements, this tuner is sure to build a highly successful name for itself in the marque-exclusive customization industry.

D3 Company Cadillac