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2009 CTS-V: Cadillac’s Ultimate Expression of Performance and Technology

2009-09-25

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Zürich – The all-new CTS-V combines the serious performance of an elite sports car with the poise and elegance of a prestigious luxury sedan. One of Cadillac’s acclaimed V-Series of high-performance models, it delivers 564 horsepower (415 kW), as well as a comprehensive suite of technical and design enhancements – including Magnetic Ride Control and the addition of a new automatic transmission with paddle-shift control.

“The CTS-V represents the full extension of our design, technology and performance capabilities,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “The V-Series takes the award-winning CTS sport sedan and elevates it to a position within the club of the world’s most exclusive and capable cars.”

Several key technical and design elements combine to transform the already highly capable CTS into the new V-Series. Like the existing CTS, the V-Series is the product of an intensive development process across North America and Europe, including famed test tracks – including a record-setting performance at Germany’s famed Nürburgring  – and millions of miles of road.

Nürburgring record

In recent testing at the Nürburgring, the CTS-V completed a lap of the legendary Nordschleife in 7:59.32. That blistering time appears to be the fastest publicly documented for a production sedan.  

John Heinricy, GM Performance Division executive and an acclaimed racing driver, piloted the CTS-V through its sub-eight-minute lap. The car was equipped exactly as planned for production.

Video documentation of the car’s breakthrough Nordschleife performance is available online at http//:Cadillac.gmblogs.com. The eight-minute mark has long been recognized as a major Nürburgring milestone, reserved for race cars and the fastest exotic sports cars. While there is no single official repository for Nürburgring data from private test sessions, numerous reputable Web sites and publications report lap times from race teams, automakers and independent sources. To date, none have challenged the CTS-V’s record-setting production sedan performance.

Sophisticated technical enhancements

Through the original CTS-V, Cadillac proved it could develop a very potent, high-performance sedan. The challenge for the 2009 model was comprehensive enhancements that achieve greater results in all aspects of performance and luxury. Advanced technology plays a significant role in bringing the CTS-V to its world-class performance threshold.  

It features the world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology, Magnetic Ride Control (MRC). It uses shocks controlled by electro-magnets, rather than mechanical valves, greatly accelerating response time. Electronic sensors at all four wheels literally “read the road” every millisecond, making constant adjustments to damping to create virtually instantaneous and extremely precise control of body motions. This is of particular benefit for a high-performance sedan because it keeps the car very composed during hard cornering, acceleration, braking and other dynamic maneuvers.

MRC technology first appeared on the Cadillac STS performance sedan and has been used on some of the world’s most celebrated cars, including the Chevrolet Corvette and a select few European sports cars.

CTS-V also includes sophisticated braking and tire systems, in partnership with two companies renowned for high-performance technology: Brembo and Michelin. Brembo brakes are at all four corners and include powerful, six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear. Michelin worked with Cadillac engineers to develop its acclaimed Pilot Sport 2 (PS2) summer tire for CTS-V and its 19-inch wheels. 

And, of course, there is the matter of power. It has increased nearly 35 percent for the ’09 CTS-V, via a new 6.2L LSA supercharged V-8 engine generating 564 horsepower (415 kW)* and 747 Nm of torque. The engine delivers this power with remarkable refinement. A sixth-generation Eaton supercharger minimizes the added noise previously associated with supercharged engines, and tightly controls intake air temperature for optimal performance. 

Transmission choices include either a six-speed manual or an exclusive, six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. It is the first automatic offered on the CTS-V.

Accentuated design elements

The 2009 CTS-V extends Cadillac’s acclaimed design language, both inside and out.  The V-Series includes all the elements of the CTS sport sedan’s well-received cabin, while adding some elegant and purposeful accents.

V-Series will offer Recaro performance driving seats, providing excellent support for spirited driving and adding to the luxurious and purposeful interior. These new, 14-way adjustable performance seats include pneumatic bolster controls in the seat cushion and backrest.

A microfiber material is added to the steering wheel, seats and shifter, providing the soft feel and luxurious appearance of suede without suede’s inherent drawbacks of difficult care and moisture sensitivity. These accents on the steering wheel, seat inserts and shifter are elegant to the touch and help support high-performance driving. 

The car’s integrated center stack is trimmed with a new Obsidian material that is also applied to the center console and door trim. Just like every CTS, the V-Series includes a hand-stitched instrument panel, door trim and center console. Leading-edge infotainment features – including a 40-gigabyte hard drive, advanced navigation system with a “pop-up” screen and Bose digital surround audio – extend to the V-Series, as well as factory-installed Bluetooth capability.

The exterior of the new CTS-V amplifies the assertive stance and elegant details of the standard car, and communicates the car’s remarkable capabilities. The dihedral Cadillac grille is larger to enable more air intake and features a satin finish. The raised hood encompasses the supercharged engine, and new front and rear fascias identify the vehicle as a V-Series. The car’s 19-inch wheels enhance its stance on the road.

The founding member of the V-Series, CTS-V was initially offered in 2004 and sold primarily in North America through the 2007 model year. The supercharged STS-V and XLR-V were added in 2006 to make the V-Series an exclusive trio of models all capable of zero-to-60 acceleration in less than five seconds with enhanced overall performance and luxury features.

*SAE certified.