The Ultimate American "Kick in the Pants"
"A raw, guttural, visceral, raging kick in the pants!" That's about the most articulate description I can assign to tromping
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| The 400-hp Cadillac CTS-V can be summed up in one sentence: "A raw, guttural, visceral, raging kick in the pants!" (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
the throttle and slamming through the gears in Cadillac's wildly fast, 400-horsepower CTS-V. Prior to adding the "V" designator to the nomenclature of this 4-door road rocket, the CTS was no match for anything from Germany bearing an "M," "S" or "AMG" shield. Now it is and then some. In life before "V", the CTS was a capable midsize performance sedan exhibiting a chiseled appearance and turning in decent V6 performance figures, but missing something. I tested such a rendition several months ago and was lukewarm to the meat-grinder operation of its optional, high performance, 3.6-liter V6, which extruded a respectable, but uninspiring 255-horsepower and 252 pounds-feet of torque. A romp in the new "V" edition of Cadillac's Euro-hunter indelibly illustrates what the CTS had been missing the last couple of years: horsepower, torque and V8 growl. But wait, there's more to the glory of V, which is how Cadillac will identify future special performance editions within its model lines. Augmenting the insatiable power of GM's LS6, 5.7-liter (350 cu-in) V8 - drawn straight from the track dominating Corvette ZO6
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| The V model indelibly illustrates what the CTS had been missing the last couple of years: horsepower, torque and V8 growl. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
and retuned to 400-horsepower and 395 pounds-feet of torque - is a 6-speed Tremec manual transmission, massive Brembo brakes, sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. Accompanying the mechanical bits, that have transformed the CTS into the most powerful production Cadillac ever, are subtle but distinctive design cues which isolate the CTS-V from the run-of-the-mill CTS. Most noticeable is a visually stunning, stainless steel wire-mesh flush mounted front grille. The V's wider, lower rocker panels and 6-lug nut 5-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels complement its lowered stance, highlighted by a deepened front fascia. Moving inside, the well-informed CTS admirer will identify a revised steering wheel, new gauges, custom stitched seats and the restrained use of satin aluminum trim.
