2009 Cadillac CTS-V
So, by now you have seen every great comments that the car magazines have had to say about the 2008 Cadillac CTS. And I’m sure that you’ve seen that Motor Trend awarded with the 2008 MT Car of the Year. I’m also sure that by now you have read my controversial and not very polite article on the 08 Caddy. Of course you have seen every, now quite annoying, commercial for the CTS. But, have you seen this? The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, the car that could potentially win my bid for the 2008 RawAutos Car of the Year! That is a lot. I loved the first iteration of the CTS-V. It was so raw and amazingly fun.
I’ll never forget my friend, who was our local Caddy salesman who sold my dad all his Escalade’s and the first XLR in the area. He was only about 5 or 6 years my senior, and I was about 15. He called my dad up and had him bring me over to the dealership because he had just sold a brand new CTS-V, and wanted to take me out in it before it was delivered. GOD! This car was amazing. He spun through 1st and 2nd gears. He threw it into a very nice, controlled drift/slide coming from a stop sign to a tight right hander. It was fantastic, it was the car that would really reinvent Cadillac, and make them a sports sedan company. The new CTS-V is no different.
Thanks to John Heinricy (pictured left with Bill Auberlen of BMW racing fame), the man who created Cadillac’s V program, along with a few other creating and being in charge of all of GM’s performance programs, the CTS-V is a real winner. John is also a professional racing driver for General Motors and is often seen in different SCCA races.
With a 6.2L V8 punching out 556 supercharged hp and 551lb-ft of torque. The V8 is sourced directly from the 2008 Corvette and the same supercharger as the new ZR1. This beast is all business. It will rip you to pieces. GM claims that when travelling to 60 it will get there in about 3.9s with the new automatic with paddles gearbox. Hey, what would a sports car be in the 2009 model year without paddles? The all new V has a top speed of 191 mph with the 3rd brake light doubling as a high speed spoiler just like with the Corvette. With the 6-speed manual from the ZR1 or an all new 6-speed automatic don’t worry about getting where you’re going too slow. And don’t worry about stopping, because the massive 14.7in front and 14.4in rear slotted disc brakes with 6-pot and 4-pot calipers sourced from Brembo. Don’t forget about the big rubber, 255/40 and 285/35 rear Michelin Pilot Sport 2’s. Michelin PS2’s have become pretty much standard equipment on almost any sports car. Hey, they are expensive and good rubber. And as an odd friendly gentleman once told me “you can never spend too much on good rubber. Better safe then sorry!”
The new CTS-V’s interior is just as much to shout about in comparison to the exterior design. The interior is lined in optional alcantara trim on the seats and wrapped around the steering wheel. You can opt for the regular leather, but, why would you? I don’t know either. With a car like this, you might as well go all out and fully equip it with the alcantara. The same basic stuff like the stereo, 40gb hard drive and DVD based navigation is carried over from the regular CTS. The seats however, are much more supportive with bigger side bolsters and all new pull out knee supports just like BMW offers in their Sport packaged cars, and of course, all ///M’s get them too. They are made by Recaro.
Here, ladies and gentleman, Cadillac has produced the greatest car they have ever made, period! This car will compete heavily with the BMW M3, M5, Mercedes-Benz C63, E63 AMG’s and the Audi RS4 and RS6. I always love a good racing competition.
Expect the new CTS-V to debut with a base price around $60,000 to stay in line with the M3 and stay below the M5.
In fact, in all of the latest magazine articles, the CTS-V has been faster around the track than the BMW M3 and M5. Road and Track took a new M5 and the all new CTS-V to a track in New York. It beat the M5 around the not yet finished Monticello Motor Club’s 3.4 mile long track. While it barely beat the M5, it still won. The CTS-V posted a best lap time of 2:44.23, beating the M5’s best of 2:44.70.
Car and Driver then took the CTS-V as one of its 22 cars chosen to compete in its third annual “Lightning Lap” for 2008. The same as every year, the track is Virginia International Raceway, or VIR to enthusiasts. The CTS-V competed against the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. It beat the M3 by 1.6s around the track, and demolishing the AMG by 2.5s. It must be noted that the M3 had gearbox issues, and it is believed that it would have performed much better without the issues.
By the way, did I mention that this car was honed on the Nürburgring? The CTS-V now holds the record for the fastest sedan ‘Ring time with a 7:59… That’s pretty damn impressive.
With all of this said it is one hell of a job that Cadillac has done. There are not many people out there like John Heinricy, and not many automakers out there, like Cadillac, that are as dedicated to bringing the fight to BMW. I have yet to drive a new CTS-V, but I will do so, on camera of course, as soon as I can get a hold of one.
-Josh
“Happy Motoring!”
[Photos taken from: Road and Track]
