Sunday Video Fun: CTS-V at the ‘Ring

Sections: Best of the Web | Video May 18th, 2008 26 Comments

Sneaking this one in on a Sunday because it is very cool! Don’t tell Gabe, ok?

What we have here is a 2009 Cadillac CTS-V running laps on the ‘Ring Faster than any other production sedan has. Ever. 7:59.32 to be exact. Perhaps you would like some proof?

The only modifications were a 6-point safety harness and fire surpression system, meaning they actually added weight to the car before sending it around the course.

The good lads over at Jalopnik have the full skinny if you are intested.

[ 2009 Cadillac CTS-V Lapping The Nurburgring In Record Time ] Jalopnik.com

Written By: DB

bluzeke

Who’d ever thunk Caddy would become GM’s performance torchbearer. Must have the Vette boys seeing red!
TomB

I would like to see the Top Gear lads have a go at it next.
http://dbmini.us DB

I have a feeling The Stig could turn a pretty fast lap in this car on the Top Gear test track. I would also bet that Jeremy would hate it. Would be great to see it though, I agree!
Mozza

Faster time than an M5 or AUDI RS4? Impressive.
Andrei

This is a good example of how out of touch GM has become with their own brands. A CTS bombing around the ‘ring has as little to do with exclusive luxury as an Escalade pick-m-up truck.

Why wouldn’t they run something from their Chevrolet stable? Isn’t that their performance brand? Why poach sales from their own Corvette?

Oh, that’s right, they are trying to go after the near-luxury king, the BMW M5. Oh the irony, Cadillac trying to equal a near-luxury car.

They have become what they have mocked.

A
nuvolari

Thanks for bringing us the latest in Mini news….
http://blog.kurtcollins.com Krut

I think it’s a fantastic testimony to American engineering and we should all be proud that we’re able to still exceed benchmarks with the best! If I had a gazillion dollars, this car would be in my stable!
C4

Some people hate Detroit no matter what.

Kudos for Cadillac. Finally a car than has put the boys over at Germany in full notice.
http://www.chriswoolman.com Chris W

According to AutoWeek, the Corvette Z06 is still faster at 7:56 compared to the Caddy’s 7:59.32 Still very impressive! By the way, AutoWeek also points out that the Nissan GT-R conquers the ring at 7:29 (about 30 seconds faster than the Vette).
http://dbmini.us DB

You can find a list of ‘fastest’ cars over at Wikipedia.

It’s even pretty up-to-date.
Victor

The most impressive part is the automatic gear box
Pete

First they did it with the new turbo Cobalt and now the new CTS! Gotta’ give them credit-they are now-finally-onto something good!
TomB

Does anyone know the fastest lap time for a production MINI?
Dr Obnxs

Say what you want about cadillac, I don’t think adding steering and performance to the brand is off the marque at all. All those that like the “floater” caddies are getting pretty long in the tooth, and those new buyers that they want to attract are used to the offerings from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Infinity. Gotta have a car that steers to play in that pond.

Matt
dotBob

1) Fastest production sedan. 2) The engine is the same as in one of the ‘Vettes (Z06 or ZR1, can’t remember at the moment).

.bob
Chad

Don’t forget, this is the CTS-V, specifically designed and marketed to be a performance vehicle. If you want a cushy soft Cadillac, they still sell the DTS, which is a nice car, just completely different market than these V series Caddys. I think it’s great that GM is giving those with plenty of money a nice choice for performance cars. I’m curious how this will sell overseas, too.
Myke

“Why wouldnâ€™t they run something from their Chevrolet stable? Isnâ€™t that their performance brand? Why poach sales from their own Corvette?”

One is a sedan. The other is a coupe. The ‘Vette is faster around the track. This is saying it’s the fastest SEDAN.
C4

I think that with the soaring gas prices and upcoming fuel mileage legislation standards, we are witnessing yet another dying breed of cars: V8 sport sedans.

Enjoy them while you can folks. Cars such as the BMW 5 series, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes E-Class, Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger HEMI and even the all new Jaguar Supercharged V8 sedan will unfortunately be a thing of the past.

By the way, the Cadillac DTS (Previously known as ElDorado) is the last of the “Old guard” of pre “Art & Science” Cadillacs. The DTS is also the only remaining Front-wheel drive product in the lineup. I believe the DTS is also the last H-Platform GM full size FWD sedan being made. The DTS shares its underpinnings with the former Pontiac Bonneville and Buick LeSabre, both discontinued.
Jack07734

The real question is, when you turn your car on does it return the favor?

My MINI most certanly does!!!!

Happy Motoring, Jack
C4

I am sure it does. The new CTS seems to be a fairly entertaining machine. I would have a hard time deciding between a CTS and a 3 series.
Chad

ETC was the ElDorado. The DTS was the DeVille. The DTS gets decent sales numbers, and for my 60 year old mother, it’s an awesome car. Cheaper than the STS, more roomy than the CTS. I actually think Cadillac has a nice lineup, though I think the XLR is overpriced. And there’s no incentive for them to move downmarket ala the Cimarron. CTS will be the cheapest and smallest for them for a long time.
Jon

I was very impressed by this car’s accomplishment on the ‘Ring, until I watched the video. It was actually quite boring. Yes, it broke a record, and slayed the mighty ‘Ring, but it was all with barely any fanfare, excitement or work from the driver. It is too easy to drive fast, dare I say it!

It looked as if the driver was taking a nice drive down the highway.

Where’s the manual tranny? I know that is old-school and obsolete nowadays, but this car seems to lack one major thing: driver involvement. Did he look like he was having any fun? Not to me! The engine sounds nice, but I wasn’t hearing enough of it. A car with that much power should be ear-bleedingly loud when driven at 10/10ths. Because it is a Caddy, they’ve got insulation stuffed everywhere, so you can’t hear the V8 wail.

This proves that this car is trying to be too many things; a luxury supercar, in sedan form. It cannot pull off all those things at the same time.
C4

I think you can get any new CTS with a manual, Jon.

Chad, the DTS is a very comfortable car, not bad at all. But its main drawback is that it is FWD and rides on an ancient chassis. The DTS/Eldo was the 2 door coupe version.

The XLR is a Corvette with a Cadillac body. The current STS competes directly with the BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-Class. I think all RWD Cadillac car platforms are very respectable. But the DTS is the odd duck from a bygone era.

Cadillac sells an Europe/Arica only model called the Cadillac BTS sports sedan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_BLS

It is smaller than the CTS.
C4

The Cadillac BTS has an eerie resemblance to the late Cadillac Cimarron of the 1980′s.
Dr Obnxs

There was a CTS-V going up the hills where I live. Surprisingly competent. No dealer plates either.

Matt
C4

Was it a new CTS-V or the older 1st gen CTS-V model?

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