-- In a quick drive of the 2010 Cadillac SRX, General Motors Corp.'s luxury brand gave me a lot to think about.

Cadillac provided the chance for me to drive the redesigned luxury crossover around Milford and then test a few of the vehicle's abilities on the closed course of GM's proving grounds a few weeks ago.

On the road, the SRX was exceptionally well-mannered. The vehicle's performance was smooth and insanely quiet, and the cabin was full of all of the luxury features you'd expect in a well-appointed vehicle.

On the track, the SRX was even better -- a welcome surprise as many crossovers tout car-like rides but fail to deliver car-like driving abilities.

Part of the reason for the late-winter test drive was for Cadillac to show off its newly developed all-wheel drive system.

Many carmakers claim to have high-tech systems to send power to all four corners of a vehicle, but some come with severe limitations.

Cadillac, however, has developed a phenomenal drive system that can transfer as much as 100 percent of the engine's power from the front axle to the back even before you know you need it. (Though, realistically, engineers say this is not likely to happen unless you park the SRX with the front wheels on ice.)

The system includes an electronic limited slip differential on the rear axle (which can transfer 85 percent of the power to the wheel with the most traction). The AWD system uses 20 sensors and monitors them 200 times every second to determine the best drive configuration.

The only thing the driver notices is a well-balanced machine on the road.

Depending upon the situation, this all-wheel drive system adjusts instantly.

On dry pavement: 50 percent of the torque is delivered to the rear for faster acceleration.

On snowy or wet surfaces: Power goes to the wheels with traction.

When cruising on the highway: Most of the power (90-plus percent) is kept in the front to maximize fuel economy.

But the redesigned SRX is not merely about the AWD system that can adjust power through turns to keep the crossover firmly planted on the road. Driving the SRX through a short auto cross course, which zigs and zags through a parking lot on the proving grounds, the SRX felt perfectly balanced and much smaller than this crossover is.

The SRX's suspension was taut and firm, the hydraulic power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering was more precise than I expected -- turning into corners very smoothly. The body did not roll heavily, even after a few laps on the short track.

Performance may not be what someone buying this vehicle expects, but it's certainly what he or she will get.

First of all, Cadillac downsized the engine choices for the 2010 model year, a sign that GM is finding ways to make more efficient -- and powerful -- engines.

The SRX drops its 3.6-liter V-6 and 4.6-liter V-8 for a pair of V-6s: A direct injection 3-liter and a 2.8-liter turbo charged V-6. The engine with the smallest displacement pushes the most power: 300 horsepower and 295-pound-feet of torque, though the turbo charger does require that you use premium fuel. Last year's V-8 offered only 15 more horses than the 2.8-liter engine in the SRX.

The 3-liter models I tested offered plenty of power on the open road and on the track.

Not every change, however, was made under skin of the SRX.

Cadillac took the straight-laced SRX and molded it into a much curvier design. My preference was the boxy SRX, as the new model takes on more cues from much of the competition, such as the Lexus RX models and the Acura MDX.

The interior was spacious and comfortable. While I didn't get a chance to live with the vehicle, the SRX certainly makes for easy living. It includes a center stack similar to the new CTS with a pop-up navigation screen that lifts out of the dash. There are also the typical luxury trappings, such as Bluetooth connectivity for your cell phone, dual screen entertainment system in the rear, adjustable power-lift gate (so it never opens too high so someone cannot reach the close button or have the gate hit the garage door) and other features.

The SRX continues Cadillac's progress in matching the competition with high-grade materials and excellent craftsmanship in the cabin.

But it's the performance that made the biggest impression on me. When the SRX arrives later this year, the competition has its work cut out for it.