The Cadillac CTS-V is a high-performance version of the standard CTS. It is a series of mid-sized cars with a pushrod V-8 OHV engine and a sport-tuned suspension. The 4-door CTS-V sedan was introduced in 2004, and the CTS-V Sport Wagon and Coupe were introduced in 2010 for the 2011 model year. The sedan competes in the North American consumer market with such other high-performance, luxury sedans as the Audi RS6, BMW M5/M6, Jaguar XFR, the Maserati Quattroporte and Mercedes E63 AMG. It shares its supercharged engine with the Corvette C6.
First generation (2004-2007)
 | |
| Production | 2004–2007 |
|---|---|
| Platform | GM Sigma platform |
| Engine | 2004-2005: 5.7 L LS6 V8 2006-2007: 6.0 L LS2 V8 |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 113.4 in (2,880 mm) |
| Length | 191.5 in (4,864 mm) |
| Width | 70.6 in (1,793 mm) |
| Height | 57.3 in (1,455 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,850 lb (1,750 kg) |
| Related | Cadillac CTS Cadillac STS-V Chevrolet Corvette |
Chassis
The first generation CTS-V is based on the same rear-wheel-drive GM Sigma platform as is the base model CTS. The use of a V8 engine required a unique engine cradle distinct from the base CTS V6. Larger anti-roll bars and larger shocks were also added. The spring rate was significantly increased. The 2006-2007 update also included a stronger rear differential and half shaft design. Unique front and rear treatments also included mesh grilles over the front openings, a track-ready suspension, and 18×8.5 inch wheels inside of P245/45R18 Z-rated Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar run-flat tires. Brakes were 13.97 in (355 mm) rotors in the front, with 14.37 in (365 mm) rotors in the rear - each with four-piston Brembo calipers on the front and rear wheels. In addition, GM badges were added on 2006 models.
Engine
The CTS sedan is enhanced with GM performance parts like a GM LS engine V8 from the C5-generation Chevrolet Corvette Z06, as well as the Corvette Z06's six-speed Tremec manual transmission. The "small block" V8 is a descendant of Ed Cole's original Chevrolet V8 design which premiered in the fall of 1954 for the 1955 model year, and has been in continuous production for installation in various General Motors vehicles ever since. From 2004 and 2005, the CTS-V came with the 5.7 L pushrod OHV LS6 engine producing 400 hp (298 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 395 lb·ft (536 N·m) of torque at 4,800 rpm. The 5 lb·ft (7 N·m) torque reduction of the CTS-V vs the LS6 used in the C5 Z06, was due to the exhaust manifold that needed to be used on the CTS-V. From 2006 to 2007, the previous LS6 engine was superseded by the new 6.0 L OHV LS2 engine as used in the base 2006 Chevrolet Corvette. The new LS2 engine was rated at the same 400 hp (298 kW) at 6,000 rpm with the peak torque of 395 lb·ft (536 N·m) at 4,400 rpm. While both engines offer the same HP and torque specifications, the LS2's benefit was a wider torque band, due to the higher displacement it offered.
Transmission and drive train
The only available transmission was the six-speed manual Tremec T56. The transmission used the skip-shift feature to conserve fuel during light loads by preventing drivers from using the second and third gears, and a dual mass flywheel to reduce "rattle" in no load conditions. The rear axle was a Getrag limited slip IRS unit with a 3.73:1 ratio.
Second generation (2009-)
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| Production | 2009– |
|---|---|
| Assembly | Lansing, Michigan, United States |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | GM Sigma II platform |
| Engine | 6.2 L S/C LSA V8 (556 hp) |
| Transmission | 6-speed 6L90 automatic 6-speed Tremec TR-6060 manual |
| Wheelbase | 113.4 in (2,880 mm) |
| Length | 191.6 in (4,870 mm) Coupe: 188.5 in (4,788 mm) Wagon: 192 in (4,900 mm) |
| Width | 72.5 in (1,840 mm) Coupe: 74.1 in (1,882 mm) |
| Height | 58 in (1,500 mm) Coupe: 56 in (1,420 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,250 lb (1,930 kg) (mfr est) |
| Related | Cadillac CTS Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 |
Chassis
The second generation CTS-V is based on the new GM Sigma II platform. The rear-wheel-drive platform is the basis for the 2008 to present Cadillac CTS base model with which the CTS-V shares most of the body work. The suspension features coil springs front and rear. The front suspension is a Control arm arrangement while the rear is an independent Multi-link suspension. To improve the handling and comfort, the 2009 CTS-V uses BWI Group's MagneRide technology. The dampers, filled with magnetorheological fluid, are adjusted based on sensor readings that happen at 1 ms intervals. The sedan has four-wheel disc brakes similar to the first generation. The front brakes were increased in size to 14.96 in (380 mm) ventilated discs with six piston Brembo fixed calipers. The rear brakes are 14.68 in (373 mm) ventilated rotors with four piston calipers. Steering is speed-sensing hydraulic-assist rack-and-pinion. The steering ratio is 16.1:1. Tire sizes are 255/40ZR19 front and 285/35ZR19 rear on 19×9.0 inch and 19×9.5 inch wheels front and rear.
Engine
The powerplant in the 2009 CTS-V is a supercharged OHV 6.2 L LSA V-8, based on the LS9 V-8 from the recently released Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1. It produces 556 hp (415 kW) and 551 lb·ft (747 N·m) of torque. The choice to use an Overhead valve (OHV) arrangement (also known as a pushrod engine) is unique in the luxury performance sedan market where competitors typically use dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) engines. The engine is produced in GM's Silao, Mexico engine assembly plant. The LSA engine has a bore and stroke of 4.06×3.62 inches (103.25×92.0 mm). The engine block is cast aluminum 319-T5 alloy with cast-iron cylinder liners. The crankshaft is forged steel using powdered-metal connecting rods. Pistons are high-silicon Hypereutectic Aluminum alloy replacing the forged aluminum used in the LS9 engine. The compression ratio is 9.1:1. The cylinder heads are based on the Corvette's LS3 head and are cast from type 356-T6 Aluminum alloy. The exhaust manifolds are cast iron. The supercharger is a twin four-lobe Roots-type unit displacing 1.9 L. It is Eaton's Twin Vortices Series (TVS) generating a maximum boost of 9.0 psi (62.1 kPa). Intake air is cooled with a water-to-air intercooler built directly into the supercharger unit.
Transmissions
There are manual and automatic transmission choices. The manual is a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed transmission with a short-throw shifter, twin disk clutch and dual-mass flywheel. The 6L90 automatic is a paddle shift conventional (planetary gearing and torque converter-based) automatic six-speed.
CTS-V Sedan
Production of the CTS-V sedan began in the summer of 2008 in the Lansing, Michigan GM plant. Total Production of the CTS-V for the 2009 model year was approximately 3,500 out of approximately 59,716 CTS model production. The 2009 CTS-V has a base price of US$59,995, and was available for purchase as of November 1, 2008.
Standard features include: Leather seats, lateral acceleration gauge, 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, Michelin Sport Pilot PS2 tires, a built-in 40 Gb hard drive to store music, and LED flash tracers to tell the driver when to shift.
Options include Polished wheels, sunroof, navigation system, and for the first time, Cadillac offers 14-way adjustable performance Recaro seats.
Official 0-60 mph time for the 2nd-generation CTS-V is 3.9 seconds, while the quarter mile is run at 12.0 seconds at 118 mph (190 km/h). These numbers were duplicated by Road and Track magazine (0-60 in 3.9 seconds for the automatic and 4.1 seconds for the manual). Cadillac CTS-V´s top Speed is exactly 198 mph (319 KPH).
Coinciding with the release of General Motors' Viability Plan, the automaker has disbanded its High Performance Vehicle Operations team, the crew responsible for the line V-series Cadillacs, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, the HHR SS, and the V8 version of the Colorado. According to Vince Muniga, a spokesman for the General, "All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold. The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs." Muniga went on to say that there are no plans for high-performance versions of upcoming plans, but once GM is in a better financial position, the team could be reinstated.
For the 2010 model year, GM badges were dropped near the doors, although early 2010 models still had GM badges.
CTS-V Coupe
The CTS-V Coupe debuted at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and entered production in summer 2010 as a 2011 model. It has the same 556 hp (415 kW) engine and transmission choices as the CTS-V sedan. The CTS-V Coupe features unique centered twin exhausts, a larger grille for air intake, and an optional "saffron" interior trim color. Like the CTS-V sedan, it comes standard with 19-inch aluminum wheels, Brembo brakes, and Magnetic Ride Control.
CTS-V Sport Wagon
The Sport Wagon variant of the CTS-V was introduced at the 2010 New York International Auto Show in late March.When asked in 2009 about the possibility of a CTS-V wagon, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz replied, "... should sufficient demand materialize, there is no reason why we couldn't do a V-Series wagon, and I would be standing in line for one, just ahead of you." GM has satisfied expectations of such a model, with production starting in late 2010, as a 2011 model. The CTS-V wagon shares the 556 hp (415 kW) engine of the CTS-V sedan and coupe, with an automatic or manual 6-speed transmission. It adds Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes, 19 inch aluminum wheels and performance tires, and a dual-airflow grille like the sedan and coupe. The 556 horsepower variant was labeled the 'Least Fuel Efficient Small Station Wagon' in the North American market by fueleconomy.org.
Nürburgring record
The CTS-V sedan achieved a lap time of 7:59.32 at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, which was the fastest documented time for a production sedan on factory tires, until the Porsche Panamera Turbo clocked a time of 7:56 in July 2009. The vehicle was driven by John Heinricy during the attempt. The record breaking vehicle was sold in 2009 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction.
Recent tests
Motor Trend Magazine has run three comparison tests (see July/October, and August 6 (first gen) issues) involving first the CTS-V vs. the RS4, then vs. the BMW M5 (July), and the Jaguar XF-R (October), with the CTS-V winning against the M5 marginally and Jaguar but losing to the Audi. Another comparison, involving the Mercedes E63 AMG, was set in January, the CTS-V lost to the E63 AMG on the basis of the E63 being more refined, sharper, and showed high quality overall. Edmunds tested the 2009 CTS-V against the similarly priced Mercedes-Benz C63 and BMW M3 with the CTS-V winning (November 26, 2008). Road and Tracktested the 2009 CTS-V against the Jaguar XFR on June 10, 2009 with the Cadillac winning. Car and Driver tested the 2009 CTS-V against the 2010 Jaguar XFR and 2010 Mercedes E63 AMG in November 2009 but losing to the Mercedes. Top Gear (U.S.) track tested the 2011 CTS-V Coupe (1:27.4) and 2011 CTS-V Wagon (1:27.2) around their track with The Stig at the wheel in the Season 2 episode 6 titled "The $500 Challenge." The CTS-V Wagon also beat the Ferrari California in an informal drag race in the same episode, though times and distances were not specified.
Motorsports
The CTS-V is raced in the SCCA World Challenge series. It competed from 2004-2007 as a sedan and from 2011 as a coupe. The car is built by Pratt & Miller.
Awards
The 2009 CTS-V was added to the Car and Driver 10 Best Cars list.
Production numbers
| Model Year | Total U.S sales |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2,461 |
| 2005 | 3,508 |
| 2006 | 3,052 |
| 2007 | 1,176 |
| 2009 | 2,847 |
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