Cadillac V series

Cadillac V series
Product type
  • Performance engines and cars
  • Automotive sports accessories
OwnerCadillac
Produced byGeneral Motors
CountryU.S.
Introduced2003; 21 years ago (2003)

The Cadillac V series (stylized as V-Series) is a line of high-performance vehicles tuned by the General Motors Performance division for the Cadillac division of General Motors. Models in the V series tend to vary from one generation to the other. It was introduced in 2003.

The V series was initially created as part of the 2000s Cadillac rebranding and the new 'Art & Science' design language to compete directly with German rivals such as BMW M and Mercedes-AMG. The first-ever V series model was the 2004 Cadillac CTS-V which became a successful seller and steered Cadillac in the new direction for the following decade.

The letter "V" was chosen as a salute dedicated to post-WWII Cadillacs that featured a V-shape ornament below the crowned wreath logo, the shape itself was never recognized as a letter back then. Most V series Cadillac cars traditionally include high-performance V8 engines, transmissions, revised suspension systems (MagneRide Control), revised interiors, aerodynamics, and more aggressive bodywork which is intended to improve the vehicles' aerodynamic performance as well as differentiate them from their normal production counterparts.

Cadillac has also re-entered motorsport competition with their CTS-V.R, a joint venture between GM Performance Division and Pratt & Miller race team, most famous for their role in GM's Le Mans-winning Corvette C5.R program.

In 2009, the second-generation CTS-V sedan achieved a lap time of 7:59.32 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, which was the fastest documented time for a production sedan on factory tires[1]—until the Porsche Panamera Turbo clocked a time of 7:56 in July 2009[2]—thanks to a heavily-tuned "LS9" EATON-supercharged 6.2-liter (380 in3) V8 engine that was borrowed from Corvette. The engine was renamed as "LSA" and it produces 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet (747 N⋅m) of torque. The same "LSA" engine is used in the CTS-V coupe and wagon.

  1. ^ Alex Nunez (9 May 2008). "Green Hellraiser: Caddy CTS-V storms Nordschleife in 7:59.32". Autoblog. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  2. ^ "Porsche Panamera Laps Nurburgring in 7:56; Faster Than CTS-V". Motor Trend Magazine. 13 July 2009. Retrieved September 28, 2015.