Its distinctive profile hasn't changed; in fact, most of the outer skin of the STS is carried over. Its crisp lines draw an almost box-like silhouette that somehow still looks aerodynamic. Perhaps it's the gently curved A-pillar and C-pillar that tend a bit more toward art than science. Sharply contoured lower rocker panels tracking rearward from the front fascia's bottom edge pull the body down, adding a stylistic ground-effects look. It's all very consistent with Cadillac's Art and Science design motif.

Up front, however, the 2008 STS has abandoned any semblance of modern, European-style subtlety in favor of a boldly traditional eggcrate grin. Cadillac says the new dual-textured, multi-faceted grille was inspired by the Sixteen concept car, but to us it looks like a re-run from 1969, an impression compounded by Cadillac's now-trademark vertically stacked headlamps. You can like it or leave it, but Cadillac is clearly embracing it, because you'll find it on the 2008 Escalade and CTS, too.

In a similar vein, chromed air extractor vents now mark the previously clean flanks. More subtle chrome accents have been added to the door handles and rocker flares. New 18x8-inch, 14-spoke polished aluminum wheels are available.

The backside is vaguely reminiscent of the old Eldorado coupe, with vertical taillights bracketing a tall, squared-off boot. Recessed in the boot's rear vertical is a trapezoidal inset, long enough for European-spec license plates, housing large backup lights at the left and right extremes. The last things you see as an STS flashes by are new three-inch polished aluminum exhaust tips, exiting below and at each end of the rear bumper.

You can be forgiven for mistaking the STS for the smaller, and similarly redesigned CTS. The two 2008 models are almost indistinguishable to the casual observer, even when parked side by side. Both cars present only minimally different iterations of the same sharp angles and flat planes. Both now wear the same vintage dollar grin grille. The STS and CTS share platforms, but the wheelbase of the STS is three and a half inches longer than that of the CTS, and its body is nearly five inches longer overall.

The Platinum Edition features 18-inch chrome-finish wheels, an even brighter chrome-finish grille; bright chrome inserts on the exterior door handles, and special Glacier Gold paint.

The super-performance STS-V avoids the retro look up front with polished stainless wire-mesh grilles above and below the front bumper, and a not particularly subtle power bulge in its engine hood. Its deeper front air dam incorporates brake scoops below the fog lights. STS-V gets the new fender vents, but they seem more in line with the performance model's extroverted character. Its 10-spoke wheels are unique; its rear spoiler more obvious. And in case you miss all that, it's distinguished by V-Series badging and Supercharged lettering on the front doors.