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Cadillac Prices 2009 CTS-V at Huge Savings Over BMW M5

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Cadillac’s All-New 2009 CTS-V Ready For Launch

Excellent news!  Cadillac is holding the line on pricing the CTS-V Supercharged, Supercar Sedan at the expected $59,995 for the base model.  Yes, this means you can soon buy a Cadillac with $85K worth of performance for under $60K.  You may want the optional Recaro seats if you plan to go racing.  Otherwise the CTS-V will come nicely equipped for a great price.  556hp, no waiting.

DETROIT – The 2009 CTS-V, Cadillac’s 556-hp expression of ultimate performance and luxury, begins production this month with initial sales beginning around November 1. The latest in the brand’s V-Series of high performance models, the new CTS-V is intended to reach the top of the world’s most desirable luxury cars, at a starting price of $59,995 in the US market.

“The launch of the new CTS-V presents a compelling proposition for luxury and performance enthusiasts,” says Mark McNabb, North America vice president, Cadillac/Premium Channel. “The CTS-V is a strong statement about Cadillac design and technology and a new member in the club of the highest performing luxury cars.”

The CTS-V, based on Cadillac’s critically acclaimed CTS sports sedan, expresses the full extent of the brand’s dramatic design and technology. Designed to enter the stratosphere of the world’s fastest and most exclusive luxury sedans, CTS-V includes advanced performance technology such as a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine and Magnetic Ride Control, the world’s fastest reacting suspension.

The new CTS-V comes standard with a nearly complete collection of features, including a hand-crafted cabin, a 6-speed manual transmission and a Bose surround sound system with a 40-gigabyte hard drive with a USB port. In addition there are a few options available, including a new 6-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted shift buttons, 14-way adjustable Recaro performance seats, microfiber interior accents and a large “Ultra-View” sunroof.

“Along with the new Escalade Hybrid, the CTS-V is a key aspect in Cadillac’s ongoing renaissance, with dramatic designs and very sophisticated technologies for luxury consumers,” McNabb said. “These two new high-tech Cadillac models pave the way for a series of new Cadillac models coming in 2009, including the upcoming CTS Sport Wagon and SRX Crossover.”

US could get Diesel Cadillac CTS after all? Diesel saves the V8 Caddy?

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In Europe later this year Cadillac plans to incoporate the VM Motori designed 2.9L Turbo diesel engine  into the Cadillac CTS, CTS Coupe, and CTS Sport Wagon for European consumption.  It looks like a nice powerplant, and at 250hp output certainly will not be a slouch.

Here in the US we have a different market.  Here, diesel fuel is quite a bit more expensive than premium unleaded gas.   There is no tax benefit to use of diesel.   It has seemed unlikely that GM would bring the 2.9L Turbo diesel here to the US.

Motor Trend today brought us a new Rumor however — why not throw the 4.5L Duramax Diesel engine into the CTS, put the CTS-V hood on so that it would fit, and sell that in the US?  The new 4.5L V-8 diesel is expected to deliver more than 310 horsepower (231 kW) and 520 lb-ft of torque (705 Nm), while delivering a 25-percent engine fuel efficiency improvement versus comparable gasoline engines.  Note that is MORE hp than the direct injected 3.6L optional engine in the current CTS.

4.5L Duramaxx Turbo Diesel V8

4.5L Duramaxx Turbo Diesel V8

The new dual-overhead cam, four-valve V-8 diesel engine boasts a number of innovative design approaches that have enabled its compact size and mass, including integral aluminum cylinder head exhaust manifolds, integral cam cover intake manifolds and a narrow V-angle block. The new V-8’s compact size enables it to fit within the same space of a small-block V-8 gasoline engine and offers GM the flexibility to introduce it in a wide variety of vehicles to meet market demand.

“This premium diesel engine is expected to deliver the power, torque and refinement our customers expect,” said Tom Stephens, executive vice president, GM Global Powertrain and Global Quality.  Of course he meant truck customers, but I think this is a VERY viable engine for the CTS.

The new V-8 diesel will be GM’s first engine to use a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) NOx after-treatment system with a diesel particulate filter to help achieve Tier 2 Bin 5 and LEV 2 emissions, making it compliant in all 50 states. SCR was chosen for its proven NOx reduction capability and durability, and high efficiency while operating in optimal diesel combustion modes, making it a very attractive system to achieve high fuel economy.

The environmental benefits of the new engine include a 13-percent reduction in CO2 emissions and at least a 90-percent reduction in particulates and NOx compared to many diesel vehicles today.

Would the US Cadillac CTS customers be willing to get improved acceleration and performance at the expense of having to fill up with Diesel?  I would.

We can make it BETTER than it was — FASTER

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GM High-Tech Performance Magazine has very detailed coverage of the Katech Performance engine build for the Cadillac CTS-VR.  What is a CTS-VR?  The VR is the Cadillac CTS-V variant that competes in the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Racing Series.  Remington Racing runs the previously factory effort with the same factory drivers and cars.

Katech takes a stock, standard LS2 engine as used in the 06-07 CTS-V, and blueprints it for use in the racing car.  Blueprinting is the process of checking every tolerance in the engine and selecting values which favor performance.  So they basically take the engine apart and assume NOTHING.  Everything gets checked, and remanufactured if needed to the optimal values.

The result is an optimal but still technically stock engine.  The production CTS-V LS2 is rated at 400hp.  The LS2 engine once Katech is done makes over 500hp with a 40% restrictor plate on the intake.  Gotta love that.  As usual, great article by GM High-Tech Performance Magazine with lots of photos and details so be sure to check it out.

It will be interesting to see if Cadillac is able to race the new supercharged 2009 CTS-V in the series.