I must say I'm a fan of the new Cadillac. Finally a good, competitive salvo fired at the best driving cars in the world. Still not the best, but a huge leap forward, and I think General Motors is on the right track.

The regular CTS is a nice car, and got a decent engine, manual tranny, RWD and fantastic handling. Looks great too IMHO. But this CTS-V is nuts....

5.7L 400hp V8 modified from the corvette.
6 speed manual
0-60 in less than 5 seconds.
WOW.

And the Chrysler 300C might actually put this marque back as a true competitor. 5.7L Hemi V8. RWD. Unfortunately it looks as if it will only come with an auto-manual (big bummer), but cool cool cool in my book. Not sure on pricing, but if this is in upper family sedan area, this car should get many looks.

American cars look to be coming back. The car companies seemed to have greatly increased their quality and reliability, and they finally are starting to have products that differentiate themselves from everyone else. Why compete with the Japanese in FWD when they've got that locked up? These new RWD sedans seem to be what people want, and the big V8's are nice too. Sometimes I wonder if we might be fluctuating back towards American cars, and if Accords and Camrys of tomorrow will be viewed as the Buicks and Oldsmobiles of 40 years ago. Old-people cars?? Kinda interesting.

Check them out here..

Chrysler: http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/index_e.htm
http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshow...9/page010.html

Cadillac:
http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshow...9/page024.html

 

Last I heard, the CTS was scheduled to receive a Northstar V8, not a derivative of the LS1. That would make more sense, since it's a Caddy, but the project may never take root.

 

The CTS-V is basically a CTS with a Corvette Z06 engine.

NEW YORK - As further proof of its ongoing product renaissance, Cadillac unveiled the most powerful production car ever in its lineup, the CTS-V at the New York Auto Show on April 15, 2003.

CTS-V is the first model to be developed by the new General Motors Performance Division, an in-house center designed to explore potential enthusiast-oriented versions of production models.

Like the original CTS, CTS-V was refined and validated at Germany’s famed Nürburgring to meet the expectations of the world’s most avid driving enthusiasts.

Equipped with a 5.7 liter, V-8 engine expected to produce 400 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque, CTS-V marks Cadillac’s entrance into the high performance luxury car market.

The CTS-V represents the best of what Cadillac has to offer in terms of luxury performance. Much more than just a powerful engine, CTS-V is equipped with a standard six-speed manual transmission, large performance brakes at all four corners, 18-inch wheels and tires, retuned shock absorbers and steering for the performance chassis changes and a host of interior and exterior styling refinements.

Serious performance credentials

Powertrain highlights include an LS-6 V-8 engine with aluminum block, two-valve cylinder heads, revisions to the air induction system and an enlarged dual exhaust system for an impressive V-8 sound.

Power is delivered through the six-speed manual Tremec T56 transmission that features a dual mass flywheel for reduced noise and vibration harshness. A heavy-duty, increased diameter, 70-mm prop shaft is utilized for the higher torque requirements. The limited-slip rear axle is fitted with a 3.73:1 final drive ratio to optimize acceleration.

Following extensive development at the Nürburgring test track, the entire brake system has been designed to virtually eliminate brake fade in even the most spirited high performance driving conditions.

Large four-piston Brembo brakes with vented rotors measuring 355-mm by 32-mm are utilized up front while rear brakes include four piston calipers with 365-mm by 28-mm rotors. Included on the caliper casting is distinctiveV-Series identification. Six-lug wheels are standard.

On the exterior, specific seven-spoke 18-inch x 8.5-inch aluminum wheels are new. Goodyear P245/45WR18 EMT tires are standard.

StabiliTrak is standard equipment and includes four driver-selected modes of operation, including a mode for better track performance. The extensive chassis tuning includes new shock absorbers and new front and rear stabilizer bar. The front stabilizer bar is 26.5 mm in diameter and the rear stabilizer bar measures 21 mm. Front and rear spring rates are increased by 27 percent.

Purposeful design

On the exterior, the CTS-V includes purposeful enhancements designed to increase performance, including a completely new front fascia with an integrated aero splitter for better aerodynamics and brake ducts vented to cool front brakes. Stainless steel mesh grilles, both below and above the bumper, provide a unique front appearance and allow for free air flow into the engine compartment. Sides include an all-new aero rocker design that flows into a new, specific rear fascia.

Underneath the hood, a tower-to-tower cross car brace has been installed for improved steering response and linearity under high-performance conditions.

To help reduce under-hood noise, a unique nylon cover, which features the Cadillac Wreath and Crest and V-Series logo, is fitted over the top of the engine.

Overall vehicle height is 1454.6 mm, and rocker height is reduced to 196.7 mm in the front and 199 mm in the rear.

A new, full-dual exhaust system exits through the rear fascia and is capped with chrome oval exhaust tips. The "V" logo appears on the deck lid and front fenders and also on brake calipers, rocker panel and the speedometer in the instrument cluster.

Two exterior colors are offered - Light Platinum and Black Raven.

Interior geared toward performance driving

CTS-V offers a new instrument cluster trimmed with satin chrome rings around each gauge. Aircraft-style, white lettering on a black field is used on gauges for better legibility. The speedometer reads up to 180 mph. The instrument panel clock is replaced with an analog temperature gauge.

The instrument cluster also includes two driver information centers (DIC) located within the instrument panel.

The left DIC can display performance-oriented information including peak and momentary lateral acceleration, oil, transmission and coolant temperatures and oil and tire pressure. The right DIC indicates odometer, digital speedometer and reverse gear and skip-shift indicators.

Other interior modifications include a three-spoke steering wheel with an aluminum bezel and revised controls. Satin chrome finishes also are utilized on the shift ****, door pulls and door handles. The center armrest has been lowered significantly for easier shifting during driving. The shifter boot is non-perforated leather.

Driver and passenger seats include adjustable lumbar and suede insert material to help maintain driver position in lateral maneuvers. Two interior colors, Ebony and Light Neutral, will be offered. Light-gray accent stitching is used throughout the interior. Aluminum sill plates have been added to both front door openings.

The new CTS-V will be produced at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant, site for the CTS, all-new SRX luxury utility vehicle and future STS luxury sedan.

Look for CTS-V in Cadillac showrooms in early 2004.

 

... no commet (if ya can't say somethin' nice...) jk

just no time, will post later.

 

The idea might crash and burn for Chrysler.

Chevy discontinued its big boat RWD V-8 Impala from lack of sales in the 1970s. They brought it back in the '90s, and it got rave reviews... but they discontinued it again for lack of sales. In 2000, they redesigned it and added more interior space, better gas mileage, and better snow handling with front wheel drive at the cost of losing V-8 power and prestige and less than impressive looks. Most of the reviews shredded it (e.g. last place in Edmunds' family sedan comparison) - but it's Chevy's second best selling car.

If the Chrysler 300C is a practical car in V-6 trim and a guilty pleasure with the Hemi, great. If its only claim to fame is the V-8 muscle, it just might follow the '90s Impala into oblivion.


The CTS-V, on the other hand, is just Cadillac's attempt to cash in on the luxury cars with big engines idea, which is a time honored tradition. Unless GM really messes up, I think it will be enormously popular.

 

I have to give it up to GM for this one. The CTS-V is the only animal of its kind with a domestic name on it. I dont see why it shouldnt be able to hold its own against its two main German rivals, the V8 S4 and C55.

Hell, it may even give the vaunted M5 a good run.

 

I drove the CTS... it's terrible. Aside from the steering wheel being big enough to steer a boat, numb reflexes and terrible handling... it's just too expensive.

Caddy needs to come out with a lot more than neat looking cars with a manual tranny to compete... *shrug*

I love the Vette but the CTS is an abomination in front of it. The next CTS... who knows?

 

i am not a big fan of the CTS either...but the new Chrysler 300C, that is pretty nice. in Automobile Magazine, one of the designers said that the suspension pieces were from the new Mercedes E-class; the only difference is the 300's is made of steel rather than aluminium. they supposedly bench-marked the BMW 5 series when designing the 300C. Chrysler did give themselves some slack by saying that getting close to the BMW quality was their goal, and not really surpassing them.

hopefully it will be offered in AWD.

i love how it looks as well. like a poor man's Bently.

santino

 

my father-in-law has a 300m and i have driven that a few times and enjoyed it thoroughly. it is i think one of the best cars they have ever produced. the 300c can only be better, that should make it one hell of a car.