Cadillac took the stage in Detroit to debut its most powerful production vehicle in its 112-year history, the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V performance sedan. Cadillac’s president Johan de Nysschen said this new car is meant to go for the jugular of its European competitors and that Cadillac is not just in it to compete but to win.
The new CTS-V is a luxury sedan with rear-wheel drive designed to exhibit sophisticated road manners but at the same time can hold its own at the track thanks to next-generation Magnetic Ride Control and integrated chassis controls including competition-spec Performance Traction Management. Structural stiffness has been increased and lightweight materials such as carbon fiber are used in key areas.
At the heart of the new CTS-V is the supercharged 640hp 6.2-liter V-8 mated to a new 8-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters and technology making its shift speeds rival dual clutch transmissions found in competitors’ vehicles.
The 2016 Cadillac CTS-V will launch late summer, but with a top speed of 200 mph, they will be here quickly.