{"id":92865,"date":"2015-04-21T11:18:24","date_gmt":"2015-04-21T15:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=92865"},"modified":"2015-04-23T09:19:55","modified_gmt":"2015-04-23T13:19:55","slug":"cadillac-has-plans-to-grow-v-series-performance-line-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2015\/04\/cadillac-has-plans-to-grow-v-series-performance-line-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Cadillac Has Plans to Grow V-Series Performance Line-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Cadillac ATS-V Coupe arrives track-capable from the factory, powered by a twin-turbocharged engine rated at 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cadillac will put two tire-spinning models on the road in the months ahead, the latest additions to its V-Series line-up. But the launch of the 2016 Caddy ATS-V and CTS-V will mark just the beginning of what could become a significant line-up of high-performance products to be introduced by the end of the decade.<\/p>\n

General Motors\u2019 flagship brand is setting out on the most rapid rollout of new products in its history, with eight new models \u2013 five targeting all-new market segments \u2013 due to debut before the end of the decade. And a number of those could get V-Series spinoffs, senior officials told TheDetroitBureau.com following a test drive of the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n

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Charge Ahead!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe \u2018V\u2019 will be on more models than today,\u201d said Dave Leone, Caddy\u2019s chief engineer, quickly stressing that not every product in the Cadillac line-up will get the distinctive badge marking the performance sub-brand.<\/p>\n

The first V-Series model, introduced in 2004, was a version of the original Cadillac CTS sedan and came out as almost an afterthought, several Caddy officials recalled. It was rough and raw but was meant to raise the brand\u2019s awareness \u2013 and serve notice on German rivals like BMW, which had built a loyal following for its vaunted M performance models.<\/p>\n

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The interior of the ATS-V features Recaro racing-inspired seats and a wealth of other technology.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A more sophisticated model of the CTS-V followed the launch of the second-generation sedan. Cadillac then added wagon and coupe versions.<\/p>\n

All those models relied on big-block V-8s to make enormous amounts of power. But they were more than just straight-line muscle cars. Caddy took to heart the European mantra, which delivered a balance of neck-snapping acceleration, nimble handling and sure-footed braking.<\/p>\n

The third-generation, 2016 Cadillac CTS-V will follow the original formula, this time opting for a one of the most powerful engine packages ever offered by General Motors, its 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 punching out 640 horsepower \u2013 just 10 hp less than the GM record-holder, the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06. And it will handily top such benchmark European performance machines as the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.<\/p>\n

(Cadillac confirms plans for CT6 plug-in hybrid. For more, <\/em><\/strong>Click Here<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But the new ATS-V takes a slightly different route, opting for a more European-style twin-turbo V-6 churning out 464 hp and 445 pound-feet of torque.<\/p>\n

That opens up a wide range of opportunities going forward, according to various members of the Cadillac team. Among other things, future V-Series models could opt for even smaller and more advanced gas engines. And the brand\u2019s engineers are looking at even more radical options that could include electrified powertrains.<\/p>\n

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The 2016 Cadillac CTS-V luxury performance sedan has a top speed of 201 mph from its supercharged 6.2L V-8 640 hp engine and 630 lb-ft of torque.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That wouldn\u2019t be entirely out of line with broader industry trends. The flagship models for a number of European supercar brands \u2013 the Ferrari LaFerrari, the Porsche 918 Spyder and the McLaren P1 \u2013 use hybridized drivetrains. Audi and Mercedes-Benz are both working up battery-based performance models, and BMW has demonstrated the potential of electrification with its new i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.<\/p>\n

But Cadillac officials stress they are far from ready to commit to that approach, and V-Series models will likely stick with gas power, at least in the near-term.<\/p>\n

(<\/em><\/strong>Click Here<\/a><\/span><\/strong> for details about Caddy increasing the performance, cutting price of ELR.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What could come next? Planners and engineers are studying the potential of a V-Series version of the maker\u2019s new CT6 flagship. It\u2019s a controversial issue within Cadillac, some members of the team stressing that BMW has always seen its own 7-Series as too big to get the M treatment. But while the Caddy CT6 may be the same size as the 7-er, it\u2019s as light as the BMW 5-Series, and could prove an appropriate candidate.<\/p>\n

Among the products Cadillac is working on, the brand will add a line smaller than the current ATS to compete with the likes of the BMW 1-Series and Mercedes CLA. That is all but certain to get the V-Series badge \u2013 and would likely be equipped with a small, turbocharged powertrain.<\/p>\n

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Equipped with Cadillac's paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission and Performance Algorithm Shifting, the CTS-V will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Leone and other Cadillac officials are equally vociferous about what products will not get the V-badge.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t expect to see an Escalade-V, or an SRX-V,\u201d he told TheDetroitBureau.com. \u201cWe will focus on platforms which lend themselves to performance driving.\u201d<\/p>\n

(To see more about GM\u2019s first-quarter sales increase globally, <\/em><\/strong>Click Here<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Cadillac intends to bring out at least two more crossovers by decade\u2019s end. Could they be more suitable for the performance treatment? Brand officials aren\u2019t yet willing to say.<\/p>\n

But Leone did stress that even models, such as the Escalade, that won\u2019t get the full V-Series makeover will get the only slightly more tame V-Sport treatment. Similar to the BMW M-Sport and Audi S, it\u2019s a slightly \u201cmore well-behaved\u201d upgrade, said Leone, that will still deliver plenty of thrills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cadillac will put two tire-spinning models on the road in the months ahead, but the latest additions to its V-Series line-up are just the beginning of a significant line-up change of high-performance models coming this decade. Details are at TheDetroitBureau.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":92867,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"make":[],"post-state":[],"category_old":[151],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92865"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92865"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92865\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92865"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=92865"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=92865"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=92865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}