Cadillac car
Cadillac car
- Competes with: BMW M and Mercedes AMG sedans, Lexus IS-F
- Looks like: The CTS lost all its well-coiffed pretensions and now
just wants to run you over - Drivetrain: 550-hp (estimated), supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 with six-speed
manual or six-speed automatic; rear-wheel drive - Hits dealerships: Late 2008
Even though the CTS is priced to rub elbows with
compact sport sedans like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, Cadillac says
its CTS-V competes with those cars' respective big brothers, the BMW M5 and
Mercedes E63 AMG. Maybe that's because the CTS-V makes an estimated — and just
plain stupefying — 550 horsepower and 550 pounds-feet of torque.
Whatever the competitor, the CTS-V looks ready to rip it a new one. Under the
hood, GM's 6.2-liter V-8 gets an intercooled Eaton supercharger, and all power
goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic
transmission. With the manual, a dual-mass flywheel and dual-disc clutch aim to
enhance the left pedal's smoothness, but we hope the stick shift itself has
improved over the regular CTS' clunky setup. Like in the regular CTS, the
automatic has paddle shifters on the steering wheel, and we're impressed that
Cadillac is offering both setups.
The CTS-V adopts the STS' Magnetic Ride Control, which reads the road and varies
suspension settings to match driving conditions. An optional Performance
Traction Management system aims to optimize traction with an eye toward
maximizing acceleration — as opposed to conventional traction control, which
mostly just tries to optimize traction. GM's electronic stability control system
comes standard and includes a competitive mode that dials back its intrusiveness,
allowing you to perform stunts you probably shouldn't try outside a racetrack.
Styling changes from the freshly minted CTS include larger 19-inch wheels, a
larger grille and the requisite lower body cladding. The cabin features deeply
bolstered Recaro seats with grippier suede-like inserts, as well as dark
Obsidian trim and a microfiber-lined steering wheel.
The CTS-V will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2008 with a yet-to-be-determined
price tag. With the well-received CTS already selling briskly, don't expect the
V to sit on dealer lots for long
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