DETROIT – Cadillac’s 15-year experiment with high-performance V-Series products gets some softer additions in the form of the CT4-V and CT5-V sedans revealed at a media event here tied to Cadillac’s role in sports car racing during the Detroit Grand Prix weekend.
The two new models signal a change of pace for Cadillac’s performance sub-brand because the two cars are road-ready runners rather than track-focused monsters like many of their predecessors dating back to the original ’04 CTS-V. The 400-hp CTS-V, engineers note, was honed at Germany’s famed Nürburgring to compete with the world’s best performance sedans such as BMW’s M and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG models.
“The new lineup expands the V-Series ethos, drawing more customers into the Cadillac Performance family, and the newest Vs are focused on elevated athleticism and luxurious refinement for customers wanting a dynamic daily drive,” says Mark Reuss, General Motors president.
Indeed, these new Vs aren’t intended for track duty – Reuss promises those will come later. Rather, the CT4-V gets an upgrade from the 2.0L turbocharged 4-cyl. base engine planned for the ’20 CT4 to a version of the 2.7L turbo 4-cyl. (right) GM developed for its fullsize pickups. The engine makes 320 hp and 369 lb.-ft. (500 Nm) of torque, up from the 310 hp and 348 lb.-ft. (473 Nm) produced by the same engine in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.
Meanwhile, the CT5-V gets a minor 20-hp power bump to 355 hp and the same 400 lb.-ft. (542 Nm) from the same the 3.0L twin-turbo V-6 (left) that will be offered in higher-trim versions of the standard CT-5 when it goes on sale this fall. The base CT5 engine is the same 237-hp, 258-lb.-ft. (350-Nm) 2.0L turbo 4-cyl. offered in the CT4.
In a nod to fuel efficiency, the new Vs all come with 10-speed automatic transmissions, Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation and stop/start engine controls. The latest Magnetic Ride Control technology, Brembo front brakes and limited-slip rear differentials (mechanical on the CT4-V, electronic on the CT5-V) also are standard upgrades. All-wheel drive is optional on the front-engine, rear-drive sedans.
Cadillac also will expand its offering of SuperCruise hands-free driver-assistance technology as on option on the new V models.
Prices haven’t been disclosed, but GM says V versions of the CT4 and CT5 will boost stickers by about $6,000.
Brandon Vivian, Cadillac executive chief engineer, points to improvements beyond performance as attributes of the new breed of V models.
“The new V-Series sedan lineup defines modern sophistication by combining luxury appointments with thoughtful technology and athletic refinement for the discerning enthusiast,” Vivian says. “We are inviting even more customers into the V-Series family by adding a new level of elevated performance between our Sport models and the ultimate, high-performance track capability that the V-Series has grown to represent.”
Cadillac is battling for position in a competitive U.S. luxury-car market that saw a 1.6% decline in sales to 1.02 million units last year, according to Wards Intelligence. However, through the first quarter of this year, luxury car sales were up 6.4% to 258,259 units from 243,555 in the same period of 2018.
