Cadillac->ke18 firstly introduced the CTS-V name in 2008 with the official unveiled of the sports sedan. And since then we had the chance to test it a few times. Yuppy! But in three years the CTS-V sports sedan received a few updates, so it will enter the 2011 model year with new front fender vent design with black inner fin detail, a new set of wheels and a few interior updates. New reasons for its German competitions, the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG to fear.

The Cadillac CTS-V is already known as one of the first production four-door on street tires to break the legendary eight-minute barrier at Germany’s famed Nürburgring race track. That if Germans needed more reasons to fear! Add to this performances a pretty aggressive exterior and an interior that is both luxury and sporty, and you will understand why we are so proud about this American beauty!

Hit the jump to read more about the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V.

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Sedan

Specifications
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  • Model: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Sedan
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The Exterior and the Interior

Compared to a standard CTS sedan, the CTS-V version is distinguished by a unique grille that doubles front-end airflow, an aggressive front fascia and raised center section of the aluminum hood that provides clearance for the supercharger. It rides on 19-inch forged aluminum wheels available in silver painted or polished finishes.

The interior of the CTS-V features streamlined instrumentation, LED lighting and hand-cut-and-sewn accents. It includes performance seats featuring perforated sueded microfiber inserts designed to hold the driver and front passenger in place during cornering. Recaro performance driving seats are optional and provide excellent support for spirited driving. These 14-way adjustable performance seats include pneumatic bolster controls in the seat cushions and backrests.

Complementing the performance seating are a thick steering wheel and a gauge package designed for easy, at-a-glance reference during performance driving. Large instruments have bold readouts, including an LED-lit “tracer” function in the tachometer that flashes as the engine nears the red line. The gauge layout includes a boost gauge and a lateral acceleration display.

Obsidian Black accents grace the center stack, console, steering wheel and door panels. The production steering wheel and shifter are available in Alcantara, providing the luxurious character of suede. These accents are elegant to the touch and aid the driver during high-performance driving.

The powertrain

As in the previous years, the CTS-V is powered by the most powerful engine offered in Cadillac’s history: a 6.2 liter supercharged V-8 with an output of 556 HP and 551 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine features an intercooled Eaton Twin Vortices Series™ (TVS™) supercharger. This unique supercharger design employs twin four-lobe rotors, twisted 160 degrees. Typical superchargers feature three lobes twisted 60 degrees. The fourth lobe and added twist, when combined with unique air inlet and outlet ports, create smoother, more efficient airflow into the engine. In addition to improved overall efficiency, this supercharger has superior noise and vibration characteristics compared to more ordinary designs.

A pair of six-speed transmissions is offered in the CTS-V Sport Wagon – a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual with a dual-disc clutch and a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted shift controls. The steering wheel-mounted controls require no shift lever movement and allow immediate tap up/tap down gear selection. Performance Algorithm Shifting provides the automotive transmission with a performance-oriented shift pattern during sustained high-performance driving. As with many Cadillac models, the driver needs only to slide the shifter into the manual “gate” to put the transmission into a performance mode.

Torque is channeled through the six-speed transmissions to a high-performance rear axle that features a limited-slip rear differential within a cast iron housing for greater thermal management and asymmetrical half-shafts to smoothly manage the supercharged engine’s incredible torque. The unique design includes alternately sized half-shafts that also help dynamically balance the oscillation of torque from side to side, effectively eliminating “power hop.”

Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes and Michelin PS2 tires

The V-Series achieves exceptional levels of road-holding performance, but also maintains the poise of a luxury car in “regular” driving conditions. The technical enabler of this dual-mode driving character is Cadillac’s landmark Magnetic Ride Control. It is the world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology. It uses shocks controlled by advanced magneto-rheological technology, rather than mechanical valves, to greatly accelerate response time and precision. Electronic sensors at all four wheels literally “read the road” every millisecond, making constant adjustments to damping to create virtually instantaneous and extremely precise control of body motions.

The Magnetic Ride shocks also enable a broader range of damping control to optimize the ride and handling for all driving conditions. In the CTS-V, an extra measure of control is offered, with two selectable modes (Tour and Sport), enabling the driver to tailor the suspension for grand touring or more spirited performance driving.

The CTS-V also incorporates sophisticated braking and tire systems, in partnership with two companies renowned for high-performance technology: Brembo and Michelin. Brembo brakes are at all four corners and include powerful, six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear.

Large, vented rotors enable strong initial braking force while optimizing heat resistance and eliminating fade. The brake rotors from Brembo are manufactured with “dual-cast” technology that combines cast iron and aluminum, resulting in superior performance and weight reduction.

Michelin partnered with Cadillac engineers to develop an exclusive Pilot Sport PS2 tire specifically engineered for the CTS-V. The tires support high levels of grip in track conditions, while also affording excellent performance on the road.

The competition

The Cadillac CTS-V main competitors are the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Priced at $87,800, the Mercedes E63 AMG is powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine that delivers 518 HP. The future

BMW M5

on the other hand will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4 liter V8 engine that will deliver around 555 hp and 680 Nm torque.

So why the CTS-V and not the German models? Of course the first temptation will be to buy a German model, because they are better, right? Wrong! While testing the car it gave us more than enough reasons to understand that it is willing of the "sports sedan" name. Not to mention that for less money you will get more power.

The prices

The 2011 CTS-V is on sales at a price of $64,290. The model comes standard with 19: aluminum wheels, but customers can also get 19" Polished Wheels for an extra $800. The options list also includes: UltraView Power Sunroof - $1,150; Wood Trim Package - $600; Recaro with Heated/Ventilated Sport Performance Driver and Front Passenger Seats - $3,400 and Steering Wheel, Sueded Rim and Sueded Shift Knob - $300.