The first of Cadillac’s vehicles to receive the high-performance V treatment, the CTS-V, all-new in 2004, receives only two new exterior colours (Red Line and Stealth Grey) and a new interior shade (Light Grey) for 2005.
Unlike other CTS models, which use V6 engines, the CTS-V carries a 400 hp, 5.7-litre V8 mated strictly to a six-speed manual transmission. It propels the four-door sedan from zero to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of 262 km/h.
The CTS-V comes in a single trim line, and features fog lights, Xenon headlights with high-pressure washers, heated mirrors, 18-inch aluminum wheels, automatic dual-zone climate control, cruise, garage door opener, tire pressure monitoring system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather-wrapped wheel, heated leather seats with eight-way power front seats, driver’s position memory, six-CD stereo, voice-activated DVD-based navigation system, four-wheel Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers, speed-sensitive variable-assist steering, performance-tuned suspension, keyless entry and OnStar.
The CTS’s sharp-edged styling, while a bit too angular for many buyers when it was first introduced, has aged well, and the V-specific mesh grille fits nicely with it. The interior features aluminum bezels and satin-finish accents, and a driver information centre that provides a readout of lateral g-forces. Cadillac used to be known as the “Standard of the World”; it slipped considerably from that lofty perch, but with the CTS-V, it’s right on target to attain it again.
A powerful engine, superb handling and sticky grip make the CTS-V an excellent choice in the luxury performance sedan category; although its domestic nameplate doesn’t always carry the panache of its global competitors, it’s an incredible road machine, and it’s also less expensive than the BMW M3 or M5, or Mercedes-Benz’s AMG series, which only exceeds Cadillac’s 400 hp when you spend more than $115,000. For that much of a difference, you can also buy a regular CTS to drive in the winter when there’s salt on the roads and the V is tucked safely away in the garage.
The CTS-V is built in Lansing, Michigan.
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