Category Archives: CTS Sport Wagon

Cadillac CTS-V.R: Racing and winning in the Pirelli World Challenge

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Lead Photo CTS-Vs 02The Cadillac CTS-V series of vehicles are General Motors’ prestige performance cars that are challenging the best cars the world has to offer. Cadillac has thrown down the gauntlet in the marketplace and they’ve taken the offensive to the racetrack as well. Team Cadillac successfully competes in the Pirelli World Challenge with the CTS-V.R, a special racing version of the CTS-V Coupe. In 2014, Team Cadillac will be defending their manufacturer’s championships and the driver’s championships they won in 2012 and 2013.

Pirelli World Challenge Series

The Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) is a production-based road racing series that provides manufacturers a competitive arena in which to prove their products. PWC races are sprint races of 50 minutes duration. There are no scheduled pit stops, no driver changes and not a lot of racing strategy—if a driver is not starting at the front of the class, he or she has 50 minutes of flat-out driving to get there.

Cadillac CTS-V.R

The Cadillac CTS-V.R is a specially modified version of the CTS-V Coupe. Anything that does not contribute to the CTS-V.R accelerating faster, stopping quicker or handling better has been tossed out. It weighs in about 1,000 pounds lighter that the street-legal Coupe and is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine that is restricted by PWC rules to 505 horsepower. Brembo brakes provide enough stopping power to make your eyes bug out and Pirelli racing tires give it plenty of cornering grip.

CTS-V 02Team Cadillac Drivers

The CTS-V.R is undoubtedly a superb race car, but a team doesn’t win consecutive championships in the very competitive PWC without exceptional drivers, and Team Cadillac has two of the best—Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim. Both are experienced and talented, and both have won multiple drivers championships in the PWC for Cadillac in addition to being successful at Le Mans and Sebring. The competitive fire still burns intensely and once the green flag drops, no quarter is asked or given.

Here’s a video of Team Cadillac in action.

http://youtu.be/Tl6Uwl8xD-k

New Players for 2014

Team Cadillac’s quest for a manufacturer’s GT Class championship three-peat this year was thrown a potential stumbling block by a change in the PWC rules allowing FIA-homologated GT3 cars to compete in GT. The CTS-V.R will now have to go head-to-head against some of the best cars in the world—the Audi R8, McLaren 12C, Nissan GTR, Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche GT3 R, Acura TLX-GT and the Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia.

After four races at three different venues this year, it looks like business as usual—Team Cadillac finds itself in first place in the manufacturer’s points, while Johnny and Andy are second and third in the driver’s standings.

The next race for Team Cadillac will be the V-Series Challenge at Belle Isle, in Detroit Mich. on the weekend of May 30-June 1. NBC Sports Network will broadcast the race on Sunday, June 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Tune in and root for Team Cadillac to extend their lead, and for Johnny and Andy to move up in the driver’s standings.

 

 

Are Station Wagons Cool Again? – Driver’s Seat – WSJ

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Jonathan Welsh at The Wall Street Journal is driving a Cadillac CTS-V  Wagon this week and has a short piece on it here:

Are Station Wagons Cool Again? – Driver’s Seat – WSJ.

The idea of a powerful, great handling station wagon strikes a lot of people as “having your cake and eating it too”.

All automobile designs are compromises:

  • Want to go fast?  Get more power and/or less weight.
  • Want to carry a lot of stuff?  Get more room (and so more weight) at the expense of better performance
  • Want a car that handles great?  Get a tight suspension at the expense of a smooth ride; in some cases forego the better powerplant for better balance and lighter weight

So what does the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon offer?

  • Huge power — it has a supercharged 6.2L V8 making 556hp.
  • Great storage capacity / carrying capacity — it is a station wagon with the inherent easy to pack easy to pull out space
  • Great handling — it has the V-Series magnetic suspension that makes for great handling AND smooth ride together at last

Where’s the compromise?  Well, cash, since the CTS-V Wagon costs over US$60K.  But if you can budget for an amazing vehicle, the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon has all the cards.  And among people who know cars, Respect.

Cadillac CTS-V Wagon available soon

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An all-out Sport Wagon that can out-accelerate and out-corner 95% of the cars on the road while providing terrific utility the rest of the time is very appealing…

Release:

DETROIT –The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon will be available at U.S. Cadillac dealers later this year, with pricing from $62,990, including destination. With a 556-horsepower V-8, the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.0 seconds.

“The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon is a limited production offering for connoisseurs who are interested in the unique combination of V-Series performance with wagon style and capability,” said Don Butler, vice president, Cadillac marketing.

Like the CTS-V sedan and CTS-V Coupe, the CTS-V Wagon features a supercharged 6.2L V-8 delivering 556 horsepower (415 kW) and 551 lb.-ft of torque (747 Nm). Power is delivered to the rear wheels through either a standard six-speed manual, or a six-speed automatic transmission. Other high-performance features include standard Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes, and 19-inch forged-aluminum wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires.

The CTS-V Wagon combines V-Series performance with the practicality of a wagon and the appointments of a luxury sedan.  The CTS-V Wagon can accommodate up to 58 cubic-feet of cargo, and features a full range of luxury amenities, such as:

  • Heated, leather-appointed seats
  • In-dash navigation system with 40-gigabyte hard drive
  • Xenon HID headlamps with adaptive forward lighting
  • Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround audio system
  • Cadillac Premium Care Maintenance Service for four years / 50,000 miles

Available options on the CTS-V Wagon include:

  • $3,400 Recaro heated and ventilated, high-performance driver and front-passenger seats
  • $800 19-inch, polished aluminum wheels
  • $600 midnight Sapele Wood trim package
  • $300 Suede steering wheel and shifter

The CTS-V Wagon is now available for ordering from Cadillac retailers in limited quantities for 2011.