Cadillac CTS-V Challenge nets 120 applicants, Heinricy to stand in for Lutz if needed
2009 Cadillac CTS-V - Click above for high-res image gallery
We knew when General Motors opened up the CTS-V Challenge to any and all Caddy killers the response would be impressive, and according to Cadillac spokesman Nick Twork, it's been just that.
Around 120 people applied for a chance to take on Bob Lutz in the CTS-V sedan later this month, but that doesn't mean we'll be seeing dozens of would-be contenders lining the Monticello Motor Club in New York on October 29. Twork told InsideLine that his team is currently whittling down the applicants based on the rules (an unmodified sedan similar in capabilities to the CTS-V) and while "about three-quarters of them were in the spirit of the contest... there were some like, 'I've got a Porsche GT3 RS blah, blah, blah.'"
We should expect between five and ten participants in total, and just in case, John Heinricy, pro racer and former GM engineer, will be on hand to, "be used at the discretion of Mr. Lutz." Read: if you're a professional racer, you're going to be tangling with someone of similar caliber.
All the entrants should be picked out by tomorrow, so if you applied for a chance to take on Lutz (or more likely, Heinricy), expect a confirmation (or denial) within the next few days.
Gallery: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
[Source: InsideLine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Xa 8:07PM (10/19/2009)
should be a fun time for all. i really like this car a lot, but i still do feel that the german competition are better cars overall, not just in performance aspects. GM still hasn't gotten their material quality up to par.
Reply
John H. 9:09PM (10/19/2009)
Lucky for us, I think we'll see the truth (or falsehood) in short order.
My dream lineup for this contest:
Audi RS4 & S6
BMW M3 & M5
Mercedes AMG E63
Porsche Panamera
And for laughs (because somebody needs to come in dead last):
Dodge Charger / Chrysler 300
Ford SHO Taurus
Yaroukh 9:24PM (10/19/2009)
@John H.: Let me get this straight: You need to list-in a car that has 200hp less (~40pct) to make sure you won't end in the last spot?
It is quite sad to see how badly the bail-out has messed with minds od some GM fans. :o[
Webber 9:30PM (10/19/2009)
Bugatti Galibier
Hiimandy1 9:30PM (10/19/2009)
@Yaroukh:
He was saying the two others would come so far behind it would be amusing, not that they were needed for the CTS-V to win. It's a well published fact that the Caddy is faster than all the others around the Nurburgring except the (significantly) more expensive Porsche, and the V and the M5 even went head to head at this very track with very similar results, the Caddy being slightly ahead.
@John:
And the XFR!
John H. 9:37PM (10/19/2009)
@Yarkouth: No, I'm saying it'd be funny and instructive to show just how far behind the competition both Ford and Chrysler actually are.
GM is doing this for publicity's sake, and including their crosstown rivals for the sole purpose of publicly humiliating them is a lot of fun. Telling the blue oval and pentastar guys to "bring their best", and watching them get their teeth kicked in by the Germans *and* GM is going to be very satisfying. It also shuts up the blue oval crowd about how Ford wasn't included because they're "too good".
Yaroukh 9:48PM (10/19/2009)
@Hiimandy1: If you believe this you are quite simple-minded. Read some of his comments...
@John H.: Now let's put H2 against Raptor in a desert. Or Camaro SS against GT500 in a drag-race. Or let's choose any other category where GM does not produce anything comparable purpose-, power- or price-wise...
Is this, what you and alikes showcase, the New GM?
Yaroukh 9:51PM (10/19/2009)
So once again:
SHO: 365hp, $38k
CTS-V: 556hp, $58k
Are you serious?
ForgedInternals 10:19PM (10/19/2009)
If the 300/Charger SRT-8s came with the Grand Cherokee's AWD they would hold their own around a track, they wouldn't win but they sure wouldn't be humiliated.
John H. 11:34PM (10/19/2009)
@Yarkoukh: are you stupid? Do you not understand the basic concept behind manufacturer-sponsored marketing events?
Ford didn't invite the CTS-V to their little mountain run against NA cars because they knew they'd get spanked.
The difference is that here, Caddy has a real winner.
And as for the drag race, it's interesting that you need to price cap the GT500 competition to exclude 'Vettes... And Caddies...
speed12sil 1:19AM (10/20/2009)
Get the Panamera Turbo. That'll put up a good fight, maybe even beat it?
I don't know the point of the publicity stunt like this though. If I'm a buyer and I want to buy the M3 or C63 because of brand image/German made, I'll definitely choose either one and not the V. If I don't really care about brand image, this won't be needed to persuade me to buy the car anyway.
I would think there aren't that many people out there that would really cross-shop the V and the M3/C63. For those, ultimately it would be the money factor that would push the majority of them over to V, as good as its performance is.
Yaroukh 7:43AM (10/20/2009)
@John H: Ofcourse I do understand the concept. But this is not the case, asshat...
1) You are no manufacturer. So stfu about manufacturers and their concepts. You are the dude who puts uncomparable vehicles against each other to proove his bizzare point.
2) GM did not put their top-notch V8 against tt-V6, because they know it does not proove anything. (Except some basic math related facts, like 556>365, 58.000>38.000, ...)
some1 8:05AM (10/20/2009)
@John H.
you dont know anything... please shut it.
Jim 8:47AM (10/20/2009)
Are you some kind of expert to make that judgment? LOL
Sal Collaziano 9:51AM (10/20/2009)
"should be a fun time for all. i really like this car a lot, but i still do feel that the german competition are better cars overall, not just in performance aspects. GM still hasn't gotten their material quality up to par."
I think you're right, Xa (above quote). Mercedes and BMW are a touch better in regards to quality - but the price certainly reflects it - and far more than justified.. Cadillac just doesn't have the same performance image that Mercedes has with their AMG cars or BMW has with their M cars.. Otherwise, the price would be much closer (higher priced CTS-V). But GM/Cadillac certainly has the Germans attention. The know-how is there - and when the money finds it's way back into their pockets, the quality, while not far off, will be just as high...
Sal Collaziano
http://www.cadillacowners.com
John H. 10:40AM (10/20/2009)
@Yaroukh: Wow, I guess you really are stupid. You need to resort to name-calling because Ford and Chrysler can't compete. How about blaming Ford and Chrysler for not raising their game to at least being halfway competitive in the segment?
As speed and Sal note, the entire point is that GM can compete, and compete well against the best in the world. The very fact that GM can throw down the gauntlet, the Germans have a legitimate challenger, while Ford and Chrysler can't, speaks volumes toward the actual capability of their car. That's something that *nobody* saw coming a few years ago.
A couple more years of this and "Standard of the World" might just come back as a legitimate tagline.
But having to resort to childish name-calling simply because you don't like the fact that Ford and Chrysler haven't been doing the hard work to make a proper, premium sedan when BMW M has been blazing the way for over a decade, that's just ridiculously infantile.
Yaroukh 11:10AM (10/20/2009)
@Johny H.:
Your "can't compete" b/s is ridiculous. That is same b/s as if I said "GM can't not compete in hi-speed off-roading, or building jets". They just _don't_ compete. Is it that hard to understand?
As for calling one names: First you call me stupid, and now you are _CRYING_ when I responded in a similar way???
John H. 12:49PM (10/20/2009)
@Yarokh: "Crying"? LOL. You start with down this road calling somebody "simple minded", and then with the "are you serious". If you can't put a halfway intelligent answer together, there aren't many other good labels to attribute to you.
As for "don't compete", yeah, no kidding.
J 2:37PM (10/20/2009)
JOHN, you are a disgrace to people named 'John'.
It's true, the Taurus and the Charger are not meant to compete with the CTS-V. It's interesting you didn't mention the Lincoln MK-S instead of the Taurus. I won't say the MK-S equals the Cadillac in terms of performance (it does not), but in terms of fit and finish and technology and comfort (you know, the stuff Cadillac is founded on) I think you'll find the Taurus and the Lincoln both outshine it.
Here's another idea -- if you drag the 300 and the Taurus into it, then I'll also dredge up the Impala. How does that sound? I bet it stings.
While we're bashing American brands, let's also compare the Aveo, the Cobalt and the Malibu. Do I really need to name the Ford counterparts?
GM currently has three production vehicles to be really proud of: the CTS-V, the ZR-1 and the Camaro V6. They both perform remarkably well (in terms of power and handling) and outperform anything from Ford or Chrysler (...until the EcoBoost V6 makes its way into the Mustang...). Sadly, the CTS-V and the ZR-1 are tremendously expensive to be compared with most other American cars (Viper ACR..cough, cough).
blogee9 4:21PM (10/20/2009)
My ultimate list,
BMW M3 Sedan
M5 Sedan
AUDI RS6
Mercedes Benz C63AMG
Jaguar XFR
Lexus IS-F