The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Cadillac’s CTS-V transforms itself

It is a high-end hooligan that can also double as a daily driver.

- By Charles Fleming

Cadillac’s CTS-V is a mild-mannered monster, a Clark Kent car that transforms instantly from milquetoas­t sedan to high-horsepower track master.

The CTS-V represents Cadillac’s ambition to build the perfect allaround performanc­e car — or what the company calls “the ultimate sports sedan.”

“This is a car for someone who wants a car that can do everything,” said Tony Roma, chief engineer for Cadillac’s ATS, CTS and V-series family. “They don’t want a fleet full of sports cars and luxury cars.”

Cadillac has stuffed the CTS-V with sports car and luxury car appointmen­ts.

The four-door, five-passenger sedan is propelled by a 6.2-liter supercharg­ed V-8 engine, jointly designed by engineers from Cadillac and its GM sibling Corvette, that makes 640 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque.

The CTS-V engineers said they were trying for the throttle response of a Ferrari 458 and an engine growl that “barked with a special signature,” helped in part by the quad exhaust system.

Check off that box. The rearwheel-drive CTS-V is a rubber-burning, tail-wagging hooligan car.

The eight-speed transmissi­on comes with a track mode and a launch control function. (The daily driver modes are Touring and Sport.) The 19-inch wheels are clad in performanc­e tires. A

front splitter and rear spoiler come standard.

Together, those elements allow this refined rocket to jet from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 3.7 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 200 mph.

Brembo brake calipers bring the vehicle back to earth. A magnetic ride control suspension system keeps it stable. A head-up display keeps the driver’s eyes on the road, and the magnesium paddle shifters allow for a pleasantly engaged drive experience.

Not all buyers will be ready to take advantage of the power, speed and handling of the CTS-V. So, Cadillac has included in the price of the car two days of “performanc­e training” at a race track.

Inside, the CTS-V is private-club comfortabl­e. The snug seats are leather, heated, ventilated and highly adjustable. The Bose surround-sound stereo is plush. The infotainme­nt console is easy to navigate and pleasing to the eye.

The usual configurat­ion of cup holders, device plug-ins and storage compartmen­ts completes the daily driver cabin.

The rear seats are not as sumptuous, but three adults could fit comfortabl­y there. The creature comforts afforded them are limited, though: There are no backseat device plug-ins, nor does that space have its own climate control. The fold-down central armrest contains a cup holder, though that’s of no use if there’s a passenger in the middle seat.

There’s more space, though, behind the seats. The trunk on the CTS-V is roomy enough to hold a track weekend’s worth of gear, or

several golf bags. Also, the rear seats fold flat, opening the trunk space considerab­ly. Cadillac devotes no storage area to a spare tire. The CTS-V comes standard with a tire sealant and inflator kit instead.

The model I drove had a few extras. Among them were a $6,950 carbon fiber package that included the front splitter, rear diffuser and spoiler, as well as special “after midnight” dark alloy wheels, high performanc­e seats from Recaro, and a “performanc­e data recorder” that would have allowed me to make a record of my lap times and top speeds — had I gone to the track and done anything to brag about. (I hadn’t, alas, and didn’t.)

The purchase price also includes a $1,000 gas guzzler tax, reflective of the 17-mpg fuel economy that Cadillac claims is possible in the CTS-V. That was not my experience, and won’t be the experience of anyone who buys the car to enjoy it in ways it is intended.

Cadillac doesn’t sell a lot of CTSVs. Fewer than 10 percent of the 15,911 CTS sedans sold in the U.S. last year were the high-performanc­e V-variants, and domestic sales of all CTS models are down for 2017.

Despite the low numbers, the average CTS-V buyer, Cadillac research shows, is a coveted one: upscale, young and male. (Roma said the car was tested with female drivers wearing a variety of shoe styles, to make sure that performanc­e wasn’t limited to males or race-ready women wearing only flats.)

Matt Russell, marketing manager for the ATS, CTS and V-series cars, said that in the “ultimate sport sedan” niche the CTS-V outsells the Audi Sport RS7, BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz AMG E63.

What he didn’t say was the CTS-V starts at $10,000 to $25,000 below those competitor­s.

 ?? CADILLAC ?? The 2018 Cadillac CTS-V represents Cadillac’s ambition to build the perfect all-around performanc­e car — or what the company calls “the ultimate sports sedan.”
CADILLAC The 2018 Cadillac CTS-V represents Cadillac’s ambition to build the perfect all-around performanc­e car — or what the company calls “the ultimate sports sedan.”

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