The numbers are in for the third-generation Cadillac CTS-V and it looks like any concerns of the competition catching up can be put to rest since this beast will be packing an insanely high amount of horses.
The 2016 CTS-V will utilise a supercharged 6.2-litre LT4 V8 engine to pump out 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. If you know your sport cars, then you’re probably thinking that these numbers are similar to those on the 2015 Corvette Z06, and that’s because they are. In fact, Chevrolet’s baby carries the exact same engine under its hood, producing only 10 horsepower and 20 pound-feet more than the CTS-V. That said, the CTS-V does outmatch its other rivals by a healthy margin.
The Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, with its twin-turbo premium V8, is only good for 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the BMW M5 gets a turbocharged V8 that produces 560 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. If it strictly came down to numbers, the CTS-V would leave the rivals in the dust.
The Cadillac CTS-V is equipped with an 8L90 eight-speed transmission that sends power strictly to the rear wheels. Unlike its German counterparts, the CTS-V is not available with an all-wheel-drive system or manual transmission. While this may be a deal breaker for some, the Caddy still manages to hit 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and continue accelerating until reaching a top speed of 200 mph.
The powertrain aside, the CTS-V has all the characteristics of a driving-enthusiast’s car. The chassis and suspension are tuned to compliment the supercharged engine. The carbon fibre hood, Brembo brakes and structural enhancements make performance driving ideal. There are also options that can be added to the CTS-V to help visually set it apart from the regular CTS, like a hood vent, front splitter, rear spoiler and rear diffuser.
Cadillac is not expecting this car to sell in high volumes, but these types of performance cars usually exist solely to validate a luxury automaker’s engineering skills and attract the customers hungry for the most capable and sophisticated technologies available. That’s exactly what the 2016 CTS-V is meant to do for Cadillac.
The domestic automaker hopes that a competitive vehicle like this will attract a younger demographic of customers and elevate the brand to be, well, the Cadillac of cars again.
Customers can get their first real look at this model when it debuts at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show next month.
