Elkhart Lake, WI – Have you ever picked a movie to watch that you knew nothing about and had no expectations, only to be surprised by how good it was and that it was one of the best movies you’ve seen all year? Well, that’s the case with the 3rd Generation Cadillac CTS-V for myself. Sure I knew it had plenty of power but for some reason, I really wasn’t expecting too much from a 4 door Caddy, especially on a high-speed race track like Road America.
Cadillac has always had a place in our family. I can remember being a kid riding in the back of my grandpa’s Fleetwood, choking down fumes from his cigar as we floated down the streets. Later on, my dad owned a couple of Caddys, a coupe de Ville, which I got as a hand-me-down and a DTS. While I loved these cars and still do, they couldn’t be any more different than today’s Caddys, especially this CTS-V. The new generation Cadillacs are now performers and gone are the floaty, boaty cars of the past. One thing that hasn’t changed, though is their commitment to quality and excellence. This thing feels well put together like all the other Cadillacs I’ve driven.
2016 Cadillac CTS-V horsepower surpasses the Germans
Launching in late summer with 640 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of 200 mph, the new CTS-V reaches higher than its predecessors, leading Cadillac’s product-driven expansion and elevation. It is the third generation of the acclaimed luxury sports mid-size sedan that launched the elite V-Series a decade ago.
Comprehensive updates make the new CTS-V essentially two cars in one: a luxury sedan with sophisticated road manners and a track-capable sports car straight from the factory. It also introduces a new supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine backed by Cadillac’s paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission, featuring launch control and Performance Algorithm Shifting.
With more horsepower and torque than the Mercedes-Benz 5.5L biturbo V-8 and the BMW M-series 4.4L TwinPower (twin-turbo) V-8, the new CTS-V is capable of 0-60 performance in 3.7 seconds.
How does Cadillac’s performance sedan perform and handle?
On the street, the CTS-V is right at home and an absolute joy to drive. The magnetic ride suspension isolates you from all the bumps without killing the drive feel. In regular touring mode, you wouldn’t even know you’re driving a 640hp car unless you push your right foot down. The new conventional 8-speed automatic transmission shifts confidently and without any jerkiness. Even the exhaust valves remain closed, creating just a mild purr. This is a car you could drive every day of the year with your family, clients, and pets with room to spare for lots of luggage.
This is a car you could drive everyday of the year with your family, clients, pets with room to spare for lots of luggage.
Press the drive mode into Sport or Track, and you will now have a second car. The engine now growls the transmission kicks you in the back with every shift, and it seems to know exactly when to up and downshift. The V is like a scalpel on the track. Just point it to where you want to go, and it does it. There are several modes in the track setting, each with electronic aids intervening at different levels.
The magnetic ride control works seamlessly, and any roll you would expect is virtually nonexistent, leaving you with a car that feels much lighter than you would expect. The CTS-V is fast for a 4-dr sedan and any vehicle and is an absolute joy to drive. 36 hours after going it, I still grin when I think of blasting down the straight at Road America at 150 mph.
Pros:
- 2 cars in 1
- Super comfy Recaro seats
- goldilocks handling on the street – not too hard, not too soft, just right
- light agile handling on the track backed by 640hp
- value compared to its competitors
Cons:
- No Manual
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