Reviewers who got track time with the first Cadillac CTS-V (I was one) could hardly believe the vehicle rolled off American assembly lines. The engine and transmission were transplanted directly from the Corvette with little modification, so there was plenty of power on tap, even with the vehicle's heavier weight. But it was the car's poise at speed--its predictability when you squeezed on power out of a turn--that wowed auto journalists everywhere. Cadillac had finally built a driver's car. As if to make a point of it, Cadillac only offered one transmission option: a six-speed stick. Take that, BMW M5, it seemed to say.
While GM had promised a new version of the CTS-V, few thought that it would debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week. But when the wraps come off, the 2009 version will feature a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, which produces 550 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. The six-speed stick is still an option, but there is also a six-speed manumatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The car will use GM's Magnetic Ride Control (MRC), which uses electromagnets to control stiffness in shocks. Sensors at all four wheels read the road in milliseconds, making constant adjustments to damping. The car's Traction Management system uses electronics to adjust engine torque for optional traction during acceleration. delivery for the best possible launch. Look for prices to run about $62,000 when the car goes on sale.
Sources: Automotive News, Cadillac
