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2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe First Impressions

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Justin Pritchard
Balanced between naughty and nice
At first, the excitement makes you tuck a grin discreetly behind your lips—but when approaching the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe for a drive, nervous pangs in the stomach are the more likely physiological reaction.

The CTS-V will burn up more fuel than the average refinery fire. Given the power-per-dollar ratio at work, it can easily be forgiven. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

Numbers flash across the brain as drivers zero in on the hidden door-handle with nervous anticipation. Eight cylinders, 1 supercharger, six gears and a colossal 556 horsepower help blast this posh-rocket from standstill to 100 km/h in well under 5 seconds. Not long after that, the likelihood of a major ticket with numerous demerit points grows exponentially.

But while making yourself at home inside the CTS-V Coupe, it’s almost easy to forget all of that.

The cabin is no pinnacle of easy access, though the leather and wood-trimmed dashboard, leather seats and high-class materials throughout all seem to say ‘classy cruiser’—not ‘frightfully fast torque-beast’. There’s even chrome accenting to dress things up, and all of the well-minded, high-tech features you might expect.

Hard drive audio storage, an intelligent key, heated and chilled seats and navigation were all on board. OnStar, too.

How oddly, oddly sensible.

There are a few clues inside that break the cabin’s air of luxury and give a hint towards the CTS-V’s ‘other’ side, though. The chunky suede steering wheel is one. The hefty six-speed shifter is another. Look closely at the instruments, and you’ll even see a little boost gauge for the supercharger.

Get that gauge rotating clockwise, and the CTS-V is as fast as hell. Jam the throttle, and it feels like you’ve stomped one end of a pulley system that connects the front of the car with the horizon ahead. With the siren-like whine of the blower up front and the thundering V8 snort from behind, the CTS-V delivers a full-throttle rampage of acceleration in gorgeous, all-American high-definition surround.

Eight cylinders, 1 supercharger, six gears and a colossal 556 horsepower help blast this posh-rocket. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)
Justin Pritchard
Justin Pritchard
Automotive expert
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