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Spy Shots: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V undisguised, now in hi-res
by Alex Nunez on Dec 11th 2007 at 1:07AM 
Click image for high-res gallery
Last week, we sent you over to Inside Line to see the undisguised 2009 Cadillac CTS-V as it wound its way down the road for some photographers leading it in a Buick Enclave. Today, we've obtained the hi-res shots ourselves, and have them all lined up in the gallery below for your enjoyment. Recapping the news from last week, you'll see that the V-Series CTS sports a full body kit, a sizable power dome, smaller mesh grilles that are reminiscent of the previous-gen CTS and an updated wheel/tire/brake package. While the lack of the new-style grille is disappointing -- it's really the car's calling card -- there has to be a good reason GM did this. As Inside Line said last week, there are two schools of thought regarding what engine lurks under that dome. Initially, the assumption was that the CTS-V would get the LS7 from the Corvette Z06. Recent talk seems to favor a supercharged 6.2L V8 making 525 horses or so. If it's indeed the latter, perhaps the large lower intake is there to feed an intercooler. That's one possible explanation for the rather drastic grille change compared to the standard car. We won't need to wait much longer to find out the real skinny, anyway, as the Detroit Auto Show is fast approaching. Until then, have fun with the new eye candy.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
WillDaThrill 1:18AM (12/11/2007)
I likie. Might have to say goodby to the Camaro and Hello Caddy! Hey, it's still GM though.
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Jon 1:19AM (12/11/2007)
Nice pix.
Cadillac has come a long way in the past 5 years. It's good to see them making a solid effort at a sports sedan. If I were in the market I'd definitely give this a shot.
Jon
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WillDaThrill 1:21AM (12/11/2007)
I know it's mean, but damn if that dude fell out........!
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srDRIVEN 1:34AM (12/11/2007)
it'll be very interesting to see if they can maintain a nice price on this car. for example, the 08 CTS base price was only about 2K over the outgoing model. can the same be true for this!? that would mean an M5 spanker for mid 50s price. where do i sign?
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Chris 1:28AM (12/11/2007)
"perhaps the large lower intake is there to feed an intercooler. That's one possible explanation for the rather drastic grille change compared to the standard car."
The intercooler sits on top of the motor, not in front of it. It's integrated into the intake manifold.
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Alex Nunez 1:30AM (12/11/2007)
So much for that, then.
0mega 1:33AM (12/11/2007)
yea, why in gods name would they waste money redesigning the LS9 for a caddy that isnt really going to sell as much as a vette... not to mention for less... its not going to be the SCed LS3, it wouldnt make any sense looking at the ZR1...LS3, would make sense however, just flat out V8.
it DOES however have a hood bulge that WOULD fit with the slightly higher profile of an intake manifold mounted supercharger. unintercooled SCed LS2, or bone stock LS3... those seem like reasonable choices.
why not the LS2/LS7? 1:35AM (12/11/2007)
No, an intercooler exchanges heat from the intake air (post compression) to the outside air. In an air-air system, the intake air is piped to the front of the car to meet the outside air. So you see a front-mounted intercooler (FMIC) near the bottom of the nose.
This system uses an air-water-air intercooler (sometimes called a water-air intercooler). In this, are are two air-water interfaces. One you spoke of is at the top of the manifold, where the water takes heat from the compressed air. However, without a radiator, the water would just heat up to the temp of the compressed air and cease to function as a cooler. So the water goes to the front of the car to a radiator where the water is passed by outside air in a radiator that looks a lot like the normal FMIC, but perhaps a bit smaller.
So if this car has an intercooler, it will have the open area at the bottom of the nose to cool the water that cools the charge (intake) air.
Chris 1:38AM (12/11/2007)
Well the CTSv has the LSA motor. The ZR1 has the LS9. Both are S/C'ed 6.2L V8s. Other than the LS9 being hand built at Wixom and the LSA being built in a conventional engine plant, its not really clear what the differences are.
WillDaThrill 1:33AM (12/11/2007)
Is there a reason "Autoblog.com" is plastered all over the car? I mean, I don't mind advertising for Autoblog, I'm just wondering why it can't be off to the side. Don't mean to sound noobular and pissing in your Wheaties isn't the plan, just wanted to know why.
P.S. This may be a double post because the one I typed earlier didn't post. Sorry if it is.
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srDRIVEN 1:35AM (12/11/2007)
i think it's because they bought, and are therefore attempting to protect, the rights to these images
Alex Nunez 1:38AM (12/11/2007)
Very simple. We buy the spy photos. If we don't watermark them, they get stolen and used for free by other sites. If they get stolen now, well, we know and everyone else knows where they swiped 'em from. For the watermark to be effective, it has to be on the car. It sucks, yes, but this is unfortunately how it has to be.
WillDaThrill 1:46AM (12/11/2007)
Thx guys, good pix anyway.
Chris 1:46AM (12/11/2007)
The intercooler is integrated into the intake manifold on the CTSv. It sits on top of the motor.
why not the LS2/LS7? 1:37AM (12/11/2007)
Seems kinda like someone at GM saw the CTS-V leaked and said: "It looks like crap in those pics, we need to get some better pics out to counter those. Take all the disguise off the car and go drive it past some spy photogs ASAP. I want to see those photos 'leaked' to the web within 48 hours."
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Alex Nunez 1:40AM (12/11/2007)
These are particularly good. I'll grant you that. Not that we're complaining or anything.
Chris 1:50AM (12/11/2007)
Hmm..how did my reply get down here? It was supposed to be a few posts up.
WillDaThrill 1:48AM (12/11/2007)
We'd be lucky if this thing stickered at under 50K. This is rumored (projected; whatever) to have 125 more horsies than the outgoing model.
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srDRIVEN 2:08AM (12/11/2007)
i think under 50 could be a stretch, but again, if it was comparably priced to the V car is replaces (i.e. 55-ish), it'd still be an absolute steal. heck, the 60s would still be a deal. a Z06 or better motor, + high luxury, for that kind of money!? WOW. M5s, E63s, etc. sell in the 80-90 range (granted they may be a bit larger), and i think they're going to get outrun by this one.
Stumper 8:53AM (12/11/2007)
I have it on somewhat good authority that will be running in the high 50's to low 60's.
Also, the CTS and 5 Series are almost the exact same size, with the CTS being marginally larger in some dimensions, 5 Series in others.