This is a Cadillac?
I still shake my head in disbelief when kids give me the thumbs up as I drive by in a new Cadillac. When I was a kid, they
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| A seriously tuned V8 engine with racy exterior design elements to match, the CTS-V is the epitome of Cadillac's new "cool" image. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
were just so "uncool." But today's crested wreath brand is the epitome of cool, with edgy new styling, powerful V6 and V8 engines, manual shifters, rear-wheel drivetrains, superb handling dynamics and even a hardtop roadster thrown into the mix. But the CTS-V Cadillac loaned me for the week might just be the coolest car of them all. Chrome mesh grille, racy ground effects, sporty interior, and most important a seriously tuned V8 under the hood mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.
Whoa! This is the same drivetrain that still sends shivers down my spine when I think back to a particularly enlightening
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| You name a European class competitor, and the CTS-V will beat it in 0 to 100 km/h times. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
afternoon spent in the mountain roads in and around Santa Barbara, California a few years back, behind the wheel of Chevy's Corvette Z06. The LS-6 5.7-L V8 sounded sensational then, and it still packs enough of a rumble to turn the eyes of passersby. That rumble is accompanied by outrageous acceleration. Is it as fast as an
Audi S4, BMW M3, or Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG? Yes, yes and yes, and then some. The S4 manages 100 km/h from standstill in a respectable 5.6 seconds, while the M3 does significantly better at 5.2 seconds. The C32 AMG looks pretty decent at 5.1, but nowhere near as spirited as the CTS-V, which manages the feat in a mere 4.8 seconds. To put this into perspective, this is 0.2 seconds quicker than the Ford SVT Mustang at 5.0 seconds to 100, as well as Porsche's 911 also at 5.0 seconds. Remember
Acura's NSX? It could only manage 5.8 seconds to 100 km/h.
