<P> Displacing 4.6 L (281 cu in) in its basic form, the direct family line transitioned to longitudinal and 4.4 L (267 cu in) supercharged versions . Variants were used at Oldsmobile (as the Aurora L47 V8 and "Shortstar" LX5 V6), as well as in several top - end 2000s Pontiacs and Buicks . </P> <P> The related Northstar System was Cadillac's trademarked name for a package of performance features introduced in mid-1992 that coupled variable valve timing, road sensing suspension, variable power steering, and 4 - wheel disc brakes to the Division's high - output and high - torque Northstar engines . </P> <P> GM ceased production of the 4.6 L Northstar in 2003, and the remaining series in July 2010 . The final cars to receive it, the Cadillac DTS, Buick Lucerne, and Cadillac STS, rolled off the line in 2011 . It was replaced by the GM LS small - block OHV engine, used in newer Cadillac V8 models like the CTS - V, marking a step back to a simpler, more reliable push rod engine design . </P> <P> GM initiated what ultimately became the Northstar's design at Oldsmobile R&D some time in 1984 in anticipation of the advanced dual overhead cam V8 engines to be introduced by European and Japanese competitors later in the decade . At that time, Cadillac was using the aluminum HT Overhead Valve (OHV) V8 which GM pushed hastily into production because the CAFE standards for 1982 would preempt using 1981's V8 - 6 - 4 . At the time it was GM's corporate policy not to pass the gas guzzler tax on to the consumer . </P>

What year did cadillac stop using the northstar engine