Ever since Cadillac brought the CTS-V to market in 2004, the concept of the wreath-and-crest cars being rolling Titanics with vertical taillights, more interior fluff than a Build-A-Bear workshop and a power to weight ratio that should be more shameful than even the Cimarron incident quickly became a thing of the past. Forget “The Caddy That Zigs”, this was The Caddy That Kicks Ass, and it did that well. The original version started strong and the second generation closed up any gaps that the Gen 1 cars had against their targets: ze Germans. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz were always in the CTS-V’s target reticle, and one thing that was expediently clear was that even with all of the melee, mess and utter failure that has plagued General Motors, Cadillac on their own accord was focused, getting their collective stuff together, and were ready for war.
The Gen III CTS-V is a stomper. Basically, the LT4 out of the Corvette ZO6 (with pushrod heads and a wet-sump oiling system) is hooked to GM’s 8L90 automatic, tuned to “kill”, is stuffed into a relatively sedate four-door sedan and is given one order by The General: “Sic ’em.” Instead of being the do-everything model now, though, the CTS-V is now the fully loaded, fully armed upper end of the -V model range. So let’s stuff one giant chin behind the wheel with a somewhat nervous Cadillac engineer in the passenger seat, and see just how well he likes it. It’s only about 100 horsepower heavier than the CTS-V coupe he owns…
Nice car, just can not bring myself to like all the electronic driving aids, sure it makes it a better, safer car but like more basic stuff, that chassis less everything weighing 3000 lbs. would be totally bad a$$–total dominator
$30K more than my wifes Gen II CTS V that is already paid off. Can’t justify it.
Seriously. I think everyone is drinking Apple’s Kool-Aid and charging ridiculous prices for products incrementally better than the outgoing model.
Awesome. Will be a great used car! I really like the new styling with the really long nose. Current CTS is sharper than the “full size” XTS. Oh yeah if one of you genius from Caddy reads this- give them names again! The stupid alpha stuff is ridiculous and getting old. Use some imagination!
Very nice segment on this fantastic car!! I was debating between picking up the Z06 or the new CTS-V.
I am now convinced that the CTS-V is the way to go. Will pick one up in 2017. Thanks for sharing.