Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Cadillac, GM
Spy Shots: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V and its 500 horsepower
There was a time when if you wanted to quickly explain that something was the ultimate, all you had to do was say "It's the Cadillac of. . ." People haven't used Cadillac in that sense for a while, but with the recent confirmation of an S-Class rival in the works and now the new CTS-V being aimed at the M5, you can't accuse Caddy of not trying to reclaim its former glory.
The CTS-V is not due until the fall of 2008, with rumors suggesting around 25% more horsepower than the current model. Bob Lutz will only say the power is "unexpectedly high", but no one is saying yet from which engine those 500 or so horses will spring. The current CTS-V, which retails at $53,470 and runs the Corvette's 400-hp V8, is pitched at Audi's S4 and RS4. With an $82,000 competitor in its sights, the CTS-V will probably be expected to bring 25% more of everything. Car and Driver has the shots and video, Bob Lutz has the quote, both of which are a clear warning to certain Bavarians that unless their 5-Series rocketsled gets a lot better, the "flat-out incredible" CTS-V will "suck the doors off" its foe, end quote.
[Source: Car and Driver]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
The Penguin 1:35PM (4/18/2007)
If the CTS-V is going to have 500 horsepower, than how many will the STS-V and XLR-V have if they continue prodution of both of them.
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Daniel 1:39PM (4/18/2007)
Cadillac is doing great things! It is nice to see at least one U.S. Marque reclaiming its tradition.
I hope Lincoln is taking notes on how to get the Mojo back!
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Scott 1:41PM (4/18/2007)
Too bad the already unattainable $53k will undoubtedly rise right along with the HP ratings...
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Viv 1:50PM (4/18/2007)
Holy crap, Lutz is awesome!!!
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MikeW 1:54PM (4/18/2007)
The M5 should get a double clutch transmission and direct injection soon enough.
Wouldn't it be cheaper/easier to just throw a roots air pump on the 6.0 and couple it to the TR6060 and call it a day. The new CTS-v.
GM could take off the roots pump from the 4.4 northstar and use a supercharger (lysholm) for ~550hp, and substitute the 6L90 for the 6L80, for the STS-v & XLR-v (if that stays in production).
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Billy 1:56PM (4/18/2007)
Nice to hear Lutz saying that the new Caddy will suck.
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Don 2:00PM (4/18/2007)
"...suck the doors off its Bavarian competition..."
Excellent!
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Jim 2:18PM (4/18/2007)
Scott:
The V series isn't intended for people trying to barely buy into the Sport luxury market. 53k isn't that big of a price tag if you look to what it would cost to get a comparable Mercedes Benz or BMW counterpart. Ever priced out an M5?
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doglet 2:22PM (4/18/2007)
there is a video on the car and driver website of the 09 ctsv at the 'ring. the sound is pretty good, i dont hear any supercharger whine which leads me to believe the ls7 has found another home. GM has a great world class performance engine and they need to put it in everything they can.
ls7 > bmw v10
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Mike 2:24PM (4/18/2007)
Lexus, take notes. Fake body scoops, automatic transmissions, and electronic nanny's don't cut it here.
Bring a big gun, but have the finnesse to go with it.
GO CADDY!
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Nick 2:26PM (4/18/2007)
"3. Too bad the already unattainable $53k will undoubtedly rise right along with the HP ratings..."
Considering an Audi RS4 starts life at $13,000 more, the CTS-V is a relative bargain.
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Chet 2:27PM (4/18/2007)
OoooooooOOOOOOooooooooh...
Tasty.
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spdracerut 2:39PM (4/18/2007)
I just hope they make it handle well. The domestics have always been good at stuffing high horsepower motors into cars, but handling has often been left sub-par.
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RuneSpyder 2:46PM (4/18/2007)
Bob Lutz is mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore!
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Todd 2:50PM (4/18/2007)
"[...]all you had to do was say 'It's the Cadillac of. . .' People haven't used Cadillac in that sense for a while[...]"
True story: I had to laugh the other day when an old-timer real estate guy told me that, "this home here [low income housing] is the Volkswagon of homes. Be careful going next door; that's the Cadillac of homes, you'll want to keep that one..."
I tried to explain to him that VW actually makes a better Cadillac than Cadillac does (Phaeton), but it fell on deaf ears.
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Mike 2:53PM (4/18/2007)
spdracerut: "I just hope they make it handle well. The domestics have always been good at stuffing high horsepower motors into cars, but handling has often been left sub-par."
Road and track:
"GM's Performance Division has indeed transformed this Cadillac into an American M5 fighter, a superb rear-drive sports sedan that blows us away with its power, brakes, suspension tuning and balance."
"Equally amazing is the V's performance in the slalom and skidpad. This sedan weaves through the cones with aplomb at 66.0 mph, one of the few cars to do so with a neutral feel. The V goes where it's pointed, not understeering in the least, and it wags its tail only when the driver is hopelessly late for the last few cones. On the skidpad — again with Cadillac's StabiliTrak yaw control switched off — mild understeer is the predominant attitude, accompanied by minimal body roll. Owing to the V's excellent suspension tuning and good 54/46 weight balance, the chassis tightens its cornering line with a quick lift of the throttle, and a quick reapplication of said pedal can make for some entertaining tail-out action.
The secret to the CTS-V's great handling is the tuning at the Ring done under the guidance of John Heinricy, a GM engineer who regularly wins his class at the SCCA Runoffs in a Z06 Corvette. The CTS-V's aluminum control arms are unchanged, but the bushings are stiffer and the hydroformed front and rear cradles have been reinforced with welded-in steel gussets. Also, the front and rear springs are 27 percent stiffer than stock, teamed with larger-diameter front shock absorbers. Rounding out the suspension changes are a 26.6-mm hollow front anti-roll bar (up from 23) and a solid rear bar that has grown from 18 mm to 21."
Motor Trend:
"The CTS-V redeemed itself, at least, by actually handling like a large sports car instead of a big American sedan with too-wide tires--typical of traditional sport-package GM models. Like the BMW M5, the CTS-V's ride quality is good, even on Detroit's harsh roads. The suspension is progressively firm, allowing a bit of roll initially in the corners, but then hardening like concrete, allowing zigs and zags a Catera owner could only dream of. The steering is quick, direct, and with good feel, among the best GM has ever done in a production car."
need I go on? Ignorance is no excuse.
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Mr. Oak 2:55PM (4/18/2007)
I just hope they make it handle well. The domestics have always been good at stuffing high horsepower motors into cars, but handling has often been left sub-par.
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Current CTS-V is no slouch in acceleration or handling. It fell short in the refinement area. Based on whit we know if the 2nd gen CTS, that has been addressed.
I am expecting great things from the the new CTs. Stomping Audi, BMW and Merc/AMG would be icing on the cake.
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jeff 3:01PM (4/18/2007)
horsepower aside, the CTS is a whole different class of car than the m5. competing against the m3 would make sense, but the m5? nah. in this class, we're talking about the m5, e55, rs6. no way CTS is even a competitor among this group.
going up against m3, rs4, c55 would make more sense.
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aman 3:05PM (4/18/2007)
This might hurt the Z06 sales as well.
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John 3:07PM (4/18/2007)
spdracerut,
The CTS-V has already proven itself as a c more than competent handling sport luxery car. I don't see how this would be compromised in the new model...
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