Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V.
UPDATE: Never mind. Hunting season is very much back on. Click here for details.
Cadillac's wicked new CTS-V may have the likes of the BMW M5 in its sights, but it appears that it won't be hunting down the best that Munich, Stuttgart and Ingolstadt have to offer on their Autobahn home turf. According to Top Gear, Caddy's U.S. minders don't think the V's blown V8 is good for Europe, so the car apparently won't be making the boat trip across the Atlantic. Unfortunate, as it would have been interesting to see how America's ultimate muscle sedan would have fared when euro journos pitted it against all the hometown favorites. Sure, we'll see comparos done Stateside, but it would have been fun to see Cadillac put on the "away" jersey to try and add some luster to that long-tarnished "Standard of the World" mantle against Europe's top performance machines -- including the ones we don't see here, like the new Audi RS6.
[Source: Top Gear]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
TwinTurboVR4 @ Jul 11th 2008 7:39PM
disappointing...could have been a chance for Caddy (and the U.S.) to show what it can do.
richmajor86 @ Jul 12th 2008 2:35AM
Its not a car which would sell in the UK.Higher power yes, but made from such cheap and nasty materials, nobody would be interested here.
As we all know, luxuary in the US, is making something bigger or louder.
Artie Lange @ Jul 12th 2008 3:32AM
Another ignorant comment from an ignorant Brit. The most popular cars in the UK are products of American subsidiaries, re-branded American models, or American makes, so you are apparently pretty interested. In fact, the best selling cars in Britain have consistently been Fords (Mondeos, Focuses, etc.). And until very recently, the most luxurious British brands (Aston, Rover, Jaguar, etc.) were also Fords. Of course, they have all been sold to Tata. Oh the irony; the most prestigious brands of the once mighty Britannia now owned by POMEs.
And before you spit out the most tired of European cliches - "Insular American!" - let me state that I lived in Europe for 3 years and in Britain specifically for two. When was the last time you lived outside of Europe?
As for Cadillac, they are well-made, exquisitely engineered cars of high quality and materials, and easily keep up with - if not best - the European counterparts for thousands of pounds less.
Now run along; I think afternoon prayers are just starting, and you wouldn't want to upset your neighborhood Imam. Pretty soon, being late to the Mosque will be a crime in the UK; that shar'ia law is a bitch.
Dave @ Jul 12th 2008 3:53AM
The CTS-V would also compete directly with the Holden (Opel/Vauxhaul) Commodore VXR.
Maybe GM figured there was only room for one GM 5-series fighter and that theyd only cannibalize each other's sales.
Artie Lange @ Jul 12th 2008 3:56AM
And the CTS-V has more than just "high power". It has every trick that the Europeans have, and one they don't; magnetic suspension. The system uses shocks that contain a magnetic fluid of which the viscosity is constantly monitored (1000 times a second) and infinitely tuned to ensure best performance. Does the BMW M5 offer that? Nope. Does the RS6? Nope. The AMG? Nope. Some of them have variable ride height adjustment, but they are pneumatic-based, not nearly as advanced, and offer a fraction of the adjustment. Further, the CTS-V was extensively tested at the 'ring, and reportedly passed most of the highly-tuned Euro sedans on the circuit. So bugger off, mate, yeah?
Torrent @ Jul 12th 2008 4:03AM
But it'll also give Europe something to envy......for once.
larry a @ Jul 12th 2008 5:31AM
@Artie Lange
Only if you knew exactly what europeans thought of our cars or us Americans in general.
Just check the resale value of Caddies across the pond, its awful.
Artie Lange @ Jul 12th 2008 5:41AM
If only you had read my post (or, perhaps, had a moderate amount of comprehension). As I said, I lived there for two years - I know exactly what they think. I also know that they buy our cars in larger numbers than any other make, whether they be branded Ford, Vauxhall, Opel, Jag, Rover, Aston, etc., etc., etc. Further, I know that most Europeans actually prefer Americans to the British (for good reason, mind you), as the English are perceived by their mainland counterparts to be even more uninformed and ill-mannared than us "yanks" (thought I'd add some more Anglo-wanna-be speak, since we're throwing around such worn-out terms as "The Pond"). Ask your average Frenchman or Dutch what they think of the English.
What shall we do next? Debate the superiority of the UK version of "The Office"? Bloody 'ell.
rypt @ Jul 12th 2008 6:53AM
I hope you know that the trim level on all the cars we get here is higher/better than what you get in USA, even on the likes of the Focus and the Civic/Corolla. For this to compete in the EU it would have to be more luxurious than the US version on the inside, meaning it would need to use less cheap plastics.
Martin @ Jul 12th 2008 2:42PM
Artie, I was with you until you got to the imam part of it - not less ignorant than the posting you were replying to.
Artie Lange @ Jul 12th 2008 6:09PM
When you find even Scotland filled with Kobabishes and Mosques (been to Edinburgh lately?), you'll know that my comment was for from ignorant.
RayJ @ Jul 11th 2008 7:42PM
Last time I check the German's were playing HP wars with each other and most likely drink more fuel doing so than the Cadillac. Since it is low volume why not ship over just a hundred of the total allocation. I mean start making a name for yourself especially when you have what could be a class leading product. Seems silly to me but GM isn't the sharpest at times. They often hesitate sending the best of their product across in either direction.
James @ Jul 11th 2008 7:52PM
Probably not surprising given Cadillac's lack of brand reputation oversees. However, I wonder if it would have made sense since I assume the car is mostly made in the US - wouldn't it be relatively dirt cheap to sell this car in Europe and make a hefty profit after converting the money back to USD?
oby @ Jul 11th 2008 7:58PM
"Seems silly to me but GM isn't the sharpest at times"
This remark redefines understatement!
Torrent @ Jul 12th 2008 12:25AM
+1
Yar @ Jul 11th 2008 8:01PM
GM should just ship a single black CTS-V over there that does nothing but intercept brand new Ms and AMGs as they leave the dealer lot.
And guys, you're welcome for the tip.
Randy @ Jul 11th 2008 8:03PM
Isn't the CTS in the same target market as BMW's 3-series? If so, it really doesn't matter how the V competes with the 5. It's main goal in life is to smash the M3 into the pavement and it looks as though it will succeed in good fashion.
Who cares if it doesn't make it across the Pond. We get to pay back the European's for all the vehicles they get to enjoy that we don't have the pleasure of experiencing. Paybacks are a bit@#!
Randy @ Jul 11th 2008 8:07PM
sorry for the "it's" rather than "its" error...
Val @ Jul 11th 2008 8:37PM
Well it's not like it will be missed, you know. The only people that know about it are probably the europeans reading Autoblog. Do you know how many cars cadillac sells in europe? the only figures i could find are 1300 in 2006, but i don't know if thats the whole of europe or just the uk. They have a goal set to 20,000 till 2010. I have only seen one escalade and one cts on the streets. And not that many M3s or M5s by the way. But the last cts-v also beat the M5 for M3 money and all that, and guess what? Nobody bought it...
Dazza @ Jul 11th 2008 9:03PM
In Europe the CTS competes with the 5-series. The BLS competes directly with the 3-series and other junior execs, whether they be FWD or RWD.