Cadillac CTS-V.Jeremy Sinek/The Globe and Mail
2016 Cadillac CTS-V
What is it?
That latest version of Cadillac's performance flagship is an uber-sedan promising 640 horsepower and a maximum speed of 320 km/h – so awesome that its own publicity machine got carried away with flights of hype like "the new CTS-V soars into the stratosphere of the most exhilarating luxury cars."
Signature feature
The few people who ever drove one know that the last-generation CTS-V was a stunning car that could run with the big dogs like Mercedes E63 AMG and BMW M5, for a lot less money. The third-generation V promises to be the same, only more so.
Under the hood
It's still a 6.2-litre supercharged V-8 but has been substantially reworked to raise maximum horsepower from 556 to 640 hp. Direct injection, cylinder de-activation and an eight-speed automatic (no more manual option) should improve fuel economy when you're not using full performance (0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds). Good luck with that.
What else is new?
Everything has been upgraded to handle the added grunt – body stiffness, 19-inch forged aluminum wheels, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, 15.3-inch six-piston Brembo front brakes, steering rigidity, and every component affecting suspension performance. A carbon-fibre hood is standard and a more extensive CF aero package is available.
When can we buy it?
It's slated to go on sale in the late summer. No word on pricing yet but we'd expect a modest increase on its predecessor, which last priced in the mid-$70,000 range.
Cool quotient
5 stars (out of 5)
The last CTS-V was quite simply one of my all-time favourite cars. The new one should be even better. Say no more.