Cadillac CTS-V runs on the 'Ring, fastest production sedan ever to run

[fecurtis]

Breaks 8-minute barrier - potentially the fastest documented lap time for a production sedan

In testing today at Germany's Nurburgring, Cadillac's upcoming 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.

Cadillac is nearing the completion of testing for the highly anticipated CTS-V, the limited-edition high-performance model based on the award-winning CTS sport sedan. John Heinricy, GM Performance Division executive and an acclaimed racing driver, piloted the CTS-V through its sub-8 minute lap. The car itself had no performance modifications outside of those planned for consumer production, which is scheduled to begin this fall.

Estimated at 550-hp, the CTS-V is at the moment going through the final stages of intensive testing and development. 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. More updates will be released in the coming weeks as testing is finalized, including the car's certified SAE power ratings, acceleration specifications and U.S.-market pricing.

Video documentation of the car's breakthrough Nordschleife performance will be posted online in the coming days at http://cadillac.gmblogs.com

The eight-minute mark has long been recognized as a major Nurburgring milestone, reserved for race cars and the fastest exotic sports cars. While there's no single official repository for Nurburgring data from private test sessions, numerous reputable websites and publications report lap times from race teams, automakers and independent sources.

The new 2009 CTS-V includes a suite of advanced performance technologies, including a new version of Cadillac's acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control suspension and the LSA 6.2-liter Supercharged V8 engine. For the first time, CTS-V will include the choice of 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions, with the new automatic sporting steering wheel-mounted shift buttons.

[Sukairain]

I wonder what the GT-R would look like with 2 more doors and an Infiniti grill on the front.......

[officerdbag]

Originally Posted by Sukairain

I wonder what the GT-R would look like with 2 more doors and an Infiniti grill on the front.......

like ****

[Phranknstein]

^^Yeah add the extra 2 doors,there would be a slaughter..

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Sukairain

I wonder what the GT-R would look like with 2 more doors and an Infiniti grill on the front.......

Like hot sex if they follow the same styling that the M and G sedan have....just bigger.

[InTgr8r]

Caddy ----- Nurburgring
...the ultimate oxymoron. (IMO)

[B B S]

Beat the Evo or STi?

[cyco]

I love it - good for Cadillac

[Wannabe6MT]

Originally Posted by cyco

I love it - good for Cadillac

+1. This is going to be 1 cool car. GM is turning out some impressive products latly.

[pattyskin]

The regular CTS was pretty sweet (rode in one a few times) This thing will be a BEAST!!!

[SwivelHips]

Hard to believe no M3 four door has done this. Perhaps the 09 will. Good for the market to have this sort of rivalry IMO.

[BlueDevilBAMF]

Originally Posted by pattyskin

The regular CTS was pretty sweet (rode in one a few times) This thing will be a BEAST!!!

I hope they improved upon the previous generation CTS-V, because I was looking at one of those when I got my G and was really turned off by the fact it felt so... American. Its gearbox was clunky with long throws, craftsmanship/fit-and-finish was lacking, its clutch was heavy.

Everyone says the G is clunky/creaky and has a heavy clutch (honestly never understood how people think our clutch is heavy). Well, anyone who says that never drove the old CTS-V.

Despite all that the thing sounded like a beast and without traction control on was one hell of a ride!

[Klubbheads]

GM is on a roll. Good for the CTS.

[Skaterbasist]

Originally Posted by B B S

Beat the Evo or STi?

Not sure if this was a joke or not

We're talking about a 550 HP Cadillac here. And its not your typical American car.

.

[RBull]

Pretty impressive stuff. Caddy is doing a good job of making and marketing a decent car that was stuck in fuddy duddy status not too long ago.