Cadillac has been threatening to take on the Europeans ever since it started to sell its cars in Europe – and the
Cadillac CTS-V now does it. With a vengeance. It has a top speed of 191 mph, and hits 60 mph just 3.9 seconds after take-off from rest - and it will feel like take-off. No, I know you won't be able to find anywhere to do 190 mph, but still it looks good in the catalogue.
Powered by a detuned version of the supercharged 6.2 liter V-8 from the Corvette, the CTS-V is a mighty powerful hunk of metal, with 560 bhp on tap. It has the current tank-like styling that the Cadillac designers are going for these day, as they try to get ahead of Chrysler rather than head for the elegance of Jaguar or Mercedes.
Tank-like square style
There is the oblgatory mesh grille, with a large mesh air intake below, needed to get enough air into the engine compartment to keep the engine cool when working hard. On each side you get those narrow, squashed looking headlamps, and the rest is pretty predictable, with a pair of small air inlets at the sides, and an air dam below.
There are slab sides, with a touch of a wedge, and a very high tail with twin exhausts. It looks a heavy car, but is not that bad by modern standards, being only 77 lb (35 kg) heavier than the Jaguar XFR, which has a smaller engine. Of course, almost all modern cars are overweight, like so many humans.
560 bhp supercharged V-8
Still, with a supercharged 6.2 liter V-8, basically the same as that in the Corvette ZR-1 apart from the boost, you will not lack power, believe me, as this venerable pushrod ohv V-8 burns the tires with 560 bhp (415 kW) at 6,100 rpm, and maximum torque of 551 lb ft (747 Nm) at 3,800 rpm.
Unlike the Jaguar supercharged engine, or the latest turbo engines, the maximum torque is delivered fairly high up the range. On the other hand, there is much torque that there will be a lot even at low revs.
Magneto-rheological dampers in control
To keep the car on the road, Cadillac has used modified versions of its double wishbone front and rear suspension in conjunction with coil springs, large anti-roll bars and magneto-rheological dampers, which are able to adjust the damping to suit the conditions in less than a blink of an eyelid almost continuously.
For the optimum performance, you will want to specify the six-speed manual box. To reduce inertia and handle all that power, a twin-plate clutch is used. There is an option of a six-speed auto as well. This is also very quick, except on top speed where it loses 16 mph to the manual, which just shows how much power is lost in a conventional auto box.
Does it all work? A lap of the Nurburgring Nordschleife in just 7 mins 59.32 secs says that it does, and sets this Cadillac CTS-V up among the very fastest of sedans. Move over BMW M5 and let us pass.
Big wheels and brakes
Needless to say, the brakes and wheels are up to the power: there are 380 mm ventilated discs with six piston calipers at the front, and 373 mm ventilated discs with four piston calipers at the rear. The special 19-inch wheels carry 255/40 ZR19 front and rear 285/35 ZR19 tires, these being the Michelin Pilot Sport 2, which are excellent tires. Of course, there is ABS as standard.
Inside you get Recaro seats to hold you in position, and all the equipment you expect in a Cadillac. Overall, a very impressive hunk which will not just surprise, but shake a few folk.
