Ucarmagazine

2009 CTS-V Performance Reaches The Stratosphere

Certified at 556 horsepower, acceleration times are top among V-8 sedans As final testing of the limited-edition 2009 CTS-V nears completion, the results suggest that Cadillac’s upcoming sports sedan is entering the stratosphere of the world’s highest-performing cars. Cadillac announces the following performance specifications for all-new 2009 CTS-V:

CTS-V, with its supercharged 6.2-liter LSA engine, has achieved SAE-certified peak output of 556 horsepower (415 kW) at 6100 rpm and 551 lb.-ft. (747 Nm) of torque at 3800 rpm.

CTS-V accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. CTS-V covers the quarter-mile in 12 seconds at 118 mph. These acceleration times are believed to be the fastest for any V-8-powered sedan currently in production.

More than just power, CTS-V also includes a comprehensive suite of technical and design enhancements, including Magnetic Ride Control and a new automatic transmission with paddle-shift control. Cadillac pioneered Magnetic Ride Control, the world’s fastest-acting suspension, in 2004. The new CTS-V employs a new version of this technology, enabling it to achieve a remarkably wide bandwidth of capability that ranges from extreme high-performance agility to the smooth road manners of a prestigious luxury sedan.

CTS-V also manages power via an extremely robust driveline. The car’s limited-slip differential is made of cast iron for extreme strength. Its limited-slip tuning enables excellent high-speed stability along with comfortable low-speed maneuverability. The prop shaft is heavy-duty and wheel hub bearings are stiffened and bolstered to manage the car’s remarkable energy. Axle half-shafts are asymmetrical, a design that ensures smooth performance.

“CTS-V represents the full extension of our design, technology and performance capabilities,” said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. “The V-Series takes the award-winning CTS sport sedan and elevates it to a position within the club of the world’s most exclusive and capable cars.”

In testing May 8 at Germany’s famed Nürburgring track, the new 2009 CTS-V completed a lap of the legendary Nordschleife in 7:59.32. This blistering time appears to be the fastest ever publicly documented for a production sedan on factory-spec street tires.

One of the realistic objectives of the Cadillac team is to make the CTS-V the world’s fastest production sedan, as a part of the overall goal to make the V-Series Cadillac’s ultimate expression of performance and technology. A video of the car’s breakthrough Nürburgring performance is online in many locations, including Cadillac’s home on the Internet (Cadillac.com/09ctsv), and at the blog documenting Cadillac performance development (http://Cadillac.gmblogs.com).

2008 D3 Cadillac CTS In Detail
2008 Cadillac STS Detail UK

All models of the 2009 Cadillac Escalade will be able to run on either ordinary gasoline or E85 ethanol, or any combination of the two, General Motors announced Friday.

And customers will have the fueling choice at no additional cost.

The Escalade, Escalade EXT and Escalade ESV as well as the GMC Denali, join the previously announced 2009 Chevrolet HHR, Buick Lucerne and Hummer H2 and H2 SUT as additions to GM’s industry-leading flex-fuel lineup .

“The success of E85 as an alternative fuel depends on having the fuel readily available and having a range of cars and trucks that can use it,” said GM Vice President of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy Beth Lowery . “We will offer more than 15 flex-fuel capable models for 2009 compared with 11 this year.”

The latest E85 product announcements coincided with the opening of a dozen new E85 fueling stations in the Greater Atlanta area this week.

“We continue to believe that ethanol used in high blends like E85 offers the best near-term solution to offset increased oil demand,” Lowery said. “There are more than 7 million vehicles today that can use E85. We need significantly more stations that offer the fuel.”

E85 ethanol (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline), is a cleaner-burning alternative fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 23 percent compared with gasoline.

GM has committed to make half of its US production flex-fuel capable by 2012 providing the infrastructure is in place. GM built more than 1 million flex-fuel capable vehicles worldwide last year. It is committed to helping to speed sustainable ethanol to market via its alliances with Coskata Inc. and Mascoma Corp., two next-generation ethanol startups that can make ethanol from a range of non-grain sources.

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Is Revealed
Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition Is Revealed

Since its inception in 2004, Cadillac’s XLR has been a fresh face in the elite club of the world’s finest luxury roadsters. Today Cadillac revealed the new 2009 edition of the XLR Roadster, featuring styling and model enhancements providing more dramatic design and technology.

Only the finest editions of Cadillac’s retractable hardtop roadster will be offered in 2009:
The luxurious XLR Platinum and the high-performance XLR-V. The XLR Platinum is equipped with a 320-horsepower (239 kW) 4.6L Northstar V-8 engine. The XLR-V, part of Cadillac’s V-Series of high-performance models, is powered with a 443-horsepower (330 kW) 4.4L Supercharged Northstar V-8 engine.

The 2009 XLR includes a new front fascia, new rear fascia and new side fender vents. The revised design is inspired by the award-winning CTS sport sedan, delivering more detail and aggressiveness to Cadillac’s roadster. The front fascia includes new fog lamps and specific upper and lower grilles for the Platinum and V-Series models. Also, both ‘09 models feature the distinctive hood with a raised center section that was previously exclusive to the V-Series.

“XLR has been a catalyst for the dramatic design and technology driving Cadillac’s ongoing renaissance,” said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. “The enhanced 2009 model exemplifies the continued development of Cadillac’s approach to design, performance and craftsmanship.”

The ultra-luxury XLR Platinum model receives additional exterior identifiers, including a revised rear fascia with more pronounced new exhaust tips and a new 18-inch wheel design (painted wheel finish is standard; chrome is optional).

Inside, the ‘09 XLR lineup delivers more luxury and technology. Alcantara™ - a suede-like microfiber material - is used for the headliner material, in either Ebony or Cashmere color. Also new is hand-cut and sewn leather used on the upper instrument panel. This hand-stitched and wrapped leather lends tailored elegance to the cabin, representing Cadillac’s new approach to modern and elegant interior craftsmanship.

The updated cabin includes new instrument cluster trim rings and graphics, new wood grain trims (Natural Olive Ash Burl for XLR Platinum and Black Olive Ash Burl for XLR-V) and new metal trims (Quartz for XLR Platinum and Bermuda for XLR-V.)

Advanced technology has always been a trademark of XLR, and that legacy continues in 2009. This includes Cadillac’s acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control system and amenities such as Keyless Access with push-button start, DVD navigation and entertainment, heated and cooled seats, head-up display and heated steering wheel. XLR’s advanced technologies also include Adaptive Forward Lighting that enables the headlamps to swivel in concert with vehicle steering, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

XLR is factory-equipped with OnStar 8.0 with Bluetooth capability. The next-generation OnStar 8.0 system (OnStar subscription is not required for Bluetooth) features enhanced hands-free voice commands, Turn by Turn navigation and Emap powered by MapQuest. This includes the industry-first Destination Download feature, in which directions can be downloaded from OnStar directly to the car’s navigation system - eliminating the need to stop the car to manually enter a destination.

Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition Is Revealed