In 2006 Cadillac introduced the STS-V, an all-out, no holds barred assault on the world’s luxury performance cars. Sporting a hand-made, supercharged 4.4L Northstar V8 engine, and hand-cut and sewn interior leathers, the STS-V exceeded initial estimates of 440 hp and with tuning achieved 469 hp. This made the STS-V the most powerful Cadillac made up to that time; the emergence of the 556 hp 2nd Generation CTS-V in 2009 has since grabbed the most powerful crown.
Supercharged Northstar
Press info:
STS-V
The supercharged 2007 Cadillac STS-V is GM’s most intense expression of Cadillac power and performance. It carries all the sophistication of its STS sibling, yet elevates the performance and luxury attributes of the brand’s V-Series lineup to their fullest extent. The STS-V represents an historic combination of performance technology and hand-crafted elegance.
The 469-horsepower (350 kW)* STS-V is the most powerful Cadillac ever, and is capable of exceptional performance for an automobile of its size. Each 4.4L Supercharged Northstar V-8 engine is hand assembled to exacting standards at GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., and is built from start to finish by a single expert craftsman. Production is limited to ensure exclusivity in the marketplace.
The engine is paired with the GM Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission with driver shift control. This powerful combination enables 0-to-60 (mph) acceleration in less than five seconds. The STS-V includes numerous chassis enhancements, including massive Brembo brakes with air cooling, larger wheels and tires for better grip and larger front and rear stabilizer bars for better performance.
The interior features extensive use of leather wrapped surfaces, created by craftsmen who cut, wrap and sew leather around components individually. Kinetic aluminum accents adorn the steering wheel and instrument panel. STS-V features deep-tinted Olive Ash Burl wood accenting the center stack and door trim.
All STS models are built at GM’s state-of-the-art Lansing Grand River assembly center in Lansing , Mich.
STS-V Interior Tango Red option shown
What makes the STS-V Special? It is after all on the Sigma platform, similar to the CTS. Besides the great engine, it also has Brembo brakes front and rear for high performance, fade free braking. It has tuned Sachs performance struts/shocks front and rear FE4 suspension as well as high precision ZF Steering gear and limited slip differential. So from a performance view, it is a complete package. But what the STS-V also brings is luxury features not found on other V-series models.
Lane Departure Warning senses if the STS-V has crossed over a lane border line and alerts the driver.
Memory Package, recalls 2 driver “presets” for 8-way power driver seat with easy exit, outside mirrors, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel with easy exit and audio system/climate control settings
Head-Up Display, (2008-2009) 4-color, reconfigurable, with digital readouts for vehicle speed, selected gear, Adaptive Cruise Control indicator, audio system information, high-beam indicator, fuel level and 5 language capability (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish)
Heated driver and front passenger seats, as well as heated outboard rear passenger seats. Seat trim, Nuance full-leather with perforated Preferred sueded fabric material inserts.
Steering wheel, heated and leather-wrapped with kinetic aluminum trim.
Wood trim, Olive Ash burl on doors, shifter knob and center console with Kinetic aluminum accents
Compared to the 2009+ CTS-V, the STS-V lacks the newly tuned MR suspension. MR suspension was available in 2006, but it did not give the performance level at the time that the Sachs adjustable shocks offered. That has since been corrected for the CTS-V, but the STS-V was not updated. The CTS-V receives the Supercharged OHV 6.2L LSA engine for 556 hp vs the LC3 32V DOHC Supercharged 4.4L Northstar engine in the STS-V; each engine is specific to that model. Both cars are approximately the same weight due to all of the high performance equipment. The CTS-V has more raw performance, the STS-V has more luxury features and is a bit larger.
The STS-V was phased out of production in 2010, so it ran from 2006-2009, with very few 2009 models produced.