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2009 Cadillac CTS-V on the Nurburgring

10/18/2006, 9:56 AM

By admin

Yesterday, we brought you the first actual photos of a 2009 Cadillac CTS-V prototype. Previous photos didn’t really reveal the true face of Caddy’s forthcoming 500+ horsepower hotrod.

As promised, we now have some action shots of the CTS-V prototype on the Nürburgring track in Germany. So far, we have few specifics on the new V-series model. Some sources indicate it will have a 4.6-liter naturally aspirated V8, while others indicate it will use a supercharged V8. There have even been rumors it will share a powerplant with the “Blue Devil”/Stingray Corvette. Gallery after the jump…

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10/18, 10:14 AM

posted by:

Chris C.

I’m very anxious to see how this CTS is going to look with the rear revealed and the actual headlights in place, rather these mock-ups.

So far it looks like a very competent, natural evolution for the current model.

10/18, 10:43 AM

posted by:

A4

yeah it looks good so far and im sure it will be a screamer no matter what engine they toss into it.. a supercharger would be nice though, nothing beats boost. the only downside is that the new CTS just wont have that polarizing factor that the 1st gen did as it looked so much different than anything before it

10/18, 10:44 AM

posted by:

A4

now that i look at it, it looks like someone dropped the old CTS-V onto a Yukon Denali, from the front at least

10/18, 10:58 AM

posted by:

meanpants555

It’s a $55,000 Cadillac; aren’t there better options? And don’t give me that “Its got 400 hp!” argument.

10/18, 11:17 AM

posted by:

Don

^ you mean 500 :)

10/18, 11:29 AM

posted by:

Richard

@meanpants555,

You take the low road in one of those “better options”
and I take the high road in the CTS-V.
I will be in Dublin before you.

10/18, 11:47 AM

posted by:

Renton

4 door ///M3 wil be available at the same time. Whatever it lacks in ultimate horsepower numbers, only around 425 hp it is estimated, it will surpass the CTS-V in handling , braking and overall build quality.

///M3 always delivers.

10/18, 11:52 AM

posted by:

MM

Still, unless BMW announces an M3 sedan in that price range, Cadillac has a very competent four door hot rod. It is cheaper than both the M5 and RS4 yet will likely be as fast as them The interior too will probably will lookg good. Handling may be a notch or two below, but at that price you cant complain.

10/18, 11:55 AM

posted by:

A4

the RS4 is king

10/18, 12:17 PM

posted by:

Scott Kempton

Wow—you know times are changing when the test drivers for Cadillac wear helmets and racing harnesses. Do you suppose Lincoln can make the same claim?

Meanpants—why do you just write off Cadillac, off-handedly? What do you know about this car, other than what we’ve all learned about it on this website? You’re probably not old enough to appreciate the 180 degree turnaround that Cadillac has pulled off over the last five years or so. It will almost certainly be different from BMWs and MBs, and I’m quite certain that is completely intentional on Cadillac’s part. I’m sure it’ll be very competent, with a unique, American take on the performance sedan. Don’t be so sure that Americans can’t build a car that competes with the best in the world.

10/18, 12:36 PM

posted by:

BrokenCadillac...

It looks no different from the 06 CTS-V… Except the SUV bumper. I am quickly growing tired of the shoebox A&S look. Hopefully they spend more than 10 cents on the interior this time around.

10/18, 12:59 PM

posted by:

Scott Kempton

BrokenCalillac—IF the car in the photos is an actual ‘09, it has been heavily disguised so we can’t see what it looks like. And it may even be a test mule, based on an ‘06 CTS. The whole point of disguising these cars is so that we DON’T know what they look like—yet. I’m sure the production ‘09 will have clear visual links to the current car, but with updated lines. Have you seen this article on LLN yet?

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/02/breaking-gm-previews-2008-cadillac-cts/

It gives us a pretty clean hint at what the car will look like, inside and out.

10/18, 1:10 PM

posted by:

murphy1

…and that Scott would be a very nice looking car!!! I just bought an 07 and I’d trade it in a heartbeat for that. They ARE going in the right direction.

10/18, 1:19 PM

posted by:

Zhenya_Gatech

I’m totally down for cadillac making great cars. I drive swedish and try to stay away from german cars, so a ‘lac with 500hp and great build quality has my paycheck written all over it

10/18, 1:22 PM

posted by:

megator

Man cadilac sure has come a long way in the past 5 years. I would buy this thing if i could aforde it and im european which makes me be that much snobier towards american cars. All it would need is an interior that is up to scratch. Im sorry but american interiors just make me feel sick. If its not because of the the design its because of the materials used.

10/18, 1:25 PM

posted by:

BrokenCadillac...

You’re missing out big time by skipping over the German rides. And don’t expect much great build quality as I quickly learned with my 60,000 dollar KiaSRX that is on my front lawn with a FOR SALE sign on it.

I am going German as soon as I can dump this pile of crap to the next sucker…

10/18, 1:38 PM

posted by:

meanpants555

I am a 38 year old American who only reads Car and Evo. I write off the Cadillac, because this particular car is based on an ancient platform, is it not? Show me technology where it counts, besides a bigger engine and chunky tires. The American take on performance always means fast in a straight line and a gripper around the skid pad; numbers, numbers, numbers. They lack feedback through the seat and steering wheel. Yes, a Z06 is blazing around the ‘Ring, but give me a car that feeds me info, other than my eyeballs pressing into my skull, and I am a happier man.
We are all seduced by different things.

10/18, 1:55 PM

posted by:

F451

Unfortunately, GM has left the early adopters of the CTS-V stranded with a rear differential that fails, and only GM excuses to fall back on. Don’t take my word for it, simply visit some of the forums and you will quickly learn of the disappointment with the under-designed rear axles. It is GM’s gross mishandling of this major—if not, life/safety issue—that leaves me cold on any Cadillac purchase. I will say that the first-generation CTS design is fantastic looking and can only hope that the second-generation builds upon the first-generation’s design strength. Cadillac had a comeback with the CTS, too bad Cadillac failed to have a comeback on customer satisfaction and service.

10/18, 2:33 PM

posted by:

Z06ified

This car will be a beast. I see 6 piston Brembos on the front, 4 pistons in the rear, and at least 14″ rotors all around. I also see a bulge in the hood, indicating a tall engine, most likely supercharged.

This car will eat the new M3 for lunch and spit it back out. The M5 will be its real competition, and it will be competitive for sure.

meanpants555 – have you ever driven a CTS? Didn’t think so. How can you comment on things like steering feel when you’ve never driven one? If you read reviews of the current CTS-V, you will realize the steering feel, chassis dynamics, and handling are all comparable with the best Germany has to offer in the segment (M3/M5, E55, etc.). Quit being so biased and open your mind.

10/18, 2:47 PM

posted by:

meanpants555

You’re right I do not drive everything and base a lot of my opinions on articles, conversations, observation and assumptions.
What’s interesting is that I am always annoyed when the British car rags I read go off on Vauxhall, Skodas, SEAT and the like. Since I grew up in the States, I don’t hold any prejudice against them; they are as noteworthy and exciting as any Porsche or BMW to me.

10/18, 2:59 PM

posted by:

Z06ified

[Unfortunately, GM has left the early adopters of the CTS-V stranded with a rear differential that fails, and only GM excuses to fall back on. Don't take my word for it, simply visit some of the forums and you will quickly learn of the disappointment with the under-designed rear axles. Comment by F451, posted on October18 at 1:55 pm ]
You conveniently left out some relevant facts about the rear differential issue on the current CTS-V. Most of the failures were on modified cars pushing much more than the stock 400hp. And almost all of the failures occured during hard launches with severe wheel hop. Severe wheel hop is always a sure-fire way to break a differential under full throttle, especially if modified. The CTS-V is prone to wheel hop more than usual, and they probably could have dialed that out in the shock valve tuning, but the reality is they designed the car to handle well on a high speed track, not for drag racing or doing burnouts.
Could they have put in a stronger diff? Of course. But every car has its issues. Look at the E46 M3 for example with its catastrophic engine failure syndrome.

10/18, 3:47 PM

posted by:

F451

Z06ified,

No “relevant” facts were left out. Indeed, there are those CTS-V’s that have been modified, but there are those with no modifications that are failing as well. In fact, the standard CTS differential is also failing (and that model only has a choice of V-6 engines). One of the popular muscle car magazines is adverting to an internal GM memo that indicates the differential would not holdup to CTS-V’s engine, but GM chose to go ahead irrespective. If GM did not wish to exceed the differential capacity GM should and could have avoided or at less reduced loads through offering or only providing an automatic transmission—GM didn’t and chose to go with a manual transmission only on the CTS-V. This doesn’t explain why the standard CTS with an automatic transmission is experiencing differential failures too.

10/18, 9:16 PM

posted by:

PeteyPete

Fanboys are annoying……

Dont you guys realize that we are all the benefactors of the competition between the car makers? If your a BMW lover, buy a bimmer, but recognize that the car your driving is improved b/c of the competition Cadillac, MB, Audi, and Jaguar are all giving them.

Every thread reads this way……Corvette vs. Porsche, BMW vs. Cadillac, Solstice vs. Miata, etc….Understand that the BMW made the better Cadillac, which will in turn, give BMW the impetus to build a better car. Rather than blast the competition for whatever petty reasons you have, acknowledge that they all have played a role in making cars faster, safer, and nicer.

10/19, 3:17 AM

posted by:

WonbyOne

Sorry PeteyPete, that is just too much logic for this board. :-)

10/24, 12:17 AM

posted by:

Kaiser

As a Cadillac Salesman, I can just say that whenever a M5 rolls on the lot,,, what are they looking for? the CTS-V… I and my associates have taken many a M5 on trade for the V……is price a issue?? maybe? is performance a issue? maybe?? who knows what is going through their minds but we dont exactly have to pull teeth to get them to ink up..
Cadillac is doing a hell of a job, even excluding the CTSV, we are pulling customers away from Lexus, mainly the SUV crowd. We are taking Lexus SUVs in on trade for the new Escalades.
We still have our cult like client base as well.
You can read every article you want in all the magazines but till you own one, whether its the M5, a CTS V etc , you never really know…

 
 
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