Earlier this year Cadillac announced the ATS-V, which looks to be one hell of a good time. They have followed this up with the introduction of the most powerful car in the brand’s history, the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V. Getting right into it, the new CTS-V will have 640 horsepower from a 6.2 liter supercharged V-8, that thanks to cylinder deactivation it will be more efficient than the previous generation CTS-V. All of that power is kind of meaningless without torque, which it has a lot of, 630 pound-feet to be exact. Putting power to the ground is an eight-speed paddle shift automatic, with launch control and what GM is calling Performance Algorithm Shifting.
Zero to 60 will be dealt with in a claimed 3.7 seconds and top speed is said to be 200 miles per hour. 19-inch wheels with be wrapped with in a specially developed Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, that translate into nearly 1g of lateral acceleration. Stopping the next CTS-V at the front will be two-piece 15.3 inch diameter front rotors with six-piston calipers and 14.3 inch rear rotors with piston calipers. Magnetic Ride Control will once again be present and GM is promising that this version is better than the two previous iterations.
With everything happening with the engine and chassis, the body needed some attention and GM has done exactly that. Every panel is unique and designed to help with cooling, reduce lift or both. One of the most obvious components that contribute to this is the carbon fiber hood that features a vent that extracts hot air from the engine bay and helps reduce lift at high-speeds.
Nothing has been said about a coupe or wagon version, but with the covers set to pulled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January we don’t have that long to wait to get more details.
Like the previous generations of the CTS-V it looks promising. With all of this performance there has to be a cost increase, but it will still probably be a bargain. All I can really say is if this is the new Cadillac, I, for one, welcome our new luxury sports sedan overlords.