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Cadillac CTS-V (2009) at the 'Ring
By
Ben Whitworth
Spy shots
01 July 2007 05:06
My, this looks a bit of a goer
Yes, America’s muscle car is back. Cadillac’s red-hot CTS-V is undergoing final testing before the 500bhp monster is unleashed at the Detroit motor show early next year, ready for a European debut this time next year. There’s no word on pricing, but given Cadillac’s desperate need to boost its minuscule European sales base, expect the V to cost around £38,000 – enough to temp some buyers away from its AMG, Motorsport and RS rivals. Despite the wild rumours circulating about the CTS-V’s proposed powerplant – with extravagant claims of an 800bhp supercharged V8 topping the wish list – CAR’s sources say that the Cadillac will be powered by the formidable 7.0-litre smallblock all-alloy V8 found under the Corvette Z06’s bonnet. Look closely past this mule’s harlequin disguise and you’ll see the bold power bulges needed to house the V8 engine and still meet stringent pedestrian impact regulations.
It can't be American without a V8...
While lesser CTS models pack direct injection V6 units, only a rumbling V8 would do for the performance flagship. And the LS7 powerplant is one hell of an engine. The dry-sumped bent eight is hand-finished, features titanium con-rods, a forged steel crankshaft and develops 512bhp at 6300rpm and a mighty 470lb ft at 4800rpm, making it GM’s most powerful passenger car engine and largest-displacement small-block to date. It’s hooked up to a slick Tremec six-speed manual transmission, driving all four wheels through GM’s all-wheel drive architecture that’s been tuned for a natural rear-drive feel. In a bid to trim development costs, it’s likely that the engine will be dropped into the CTS-V wholesale, giving the Cadillac some serious tyre-shredding performance.
