Launched in 2016, the Cadillac CT6 is one of the company's newest vehicles. Despite its relatively young age, it just received a facelift at the 2018 New York Auto Show. The bigger news is that Cadillac also introduced a V-Sport version of the sedan, making the CT6 the first flagship Caddy to feature a performance trim.

The CT6 V-Sport looks significantly different compared to the regular sedan, but only if we use the pre-facelift vehicle as a benchmark. While the grille, the gloss black window trim, and the unique 20-inch wheels set it apart from the CT6, it's the new design features borrowed from the Escala concept that make it stand out. Up front, we can see a pair of new LED headlamps that have a sleeker design and become narrower toward the grille. The vertical signature lighting, a common feature on modern Cadillacs, have been revised too, having a smoother, yet more powerful appearance.

The grille seems slightly larger too, while the horizontal slats seen on the CT6 were ditched in favor of a sportier, honeycomb mesh. The three-piece vent in the bumper is also gone. While the central element remained in place, it's both taller and wider for a more aggressive look. The side intakes were moved higher, being flanked by the vertical lights on the outside. The car's profile carries over unchanged, which isn't surprising for a facelift, but the V-Sport package comes with slightly restyled side sills.

The rear end received the most changes with the facelift. The vertical bar lights were changed for upside-down L-shaped taillights, while the upper chrome strip is thinner and stretches the entire width of the fascia. The license place recess is wider too, while the bumper features a revised lower insert with a round, quad-exhaust pipe configuration instead of the triangular outlets of the standard model. The V-Sport package adds a trunk lid spoiler and a badge.

The biggest news lies under the hood, where the V-Sport hides a brand-new, twin-turbo, 4.2-liter V-8 engine. Using a "hot V" configuration that transposes the conventional layout of the cylinder heads’ intake and exhaust systems to mount the turbochargers at the top of the engine, the mill cranks out 550 horsepower and a whopping 627 pound-feet of torque. That's 150 horsepower more than the range-topping CT6 and more torque than any other Cadillac built to date. The sedan also uses 10-speed automatic transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential for increased traction.

A bespoke suspension setup provides improved roll control, cornering capability, and steering response, while the Magnetic Ride Control features bespoke damper calibration. The exhaust system has active valves that reduce back pressure and gives the sedan a unique engine sound. Stopping power comes from 19-inch Brembo brakes developed specifically for this model.

Finally, the big sedan gained a Track mode for optimized performance. This setup maximizes the damper control of the Magnetic Ride Control system, remaps the steering for a more dynamic feedback, and changes the setup of the all-wheel-drive system torque split and stability controls.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Cadillac CT6.

Read more Cadillac news.

Read more New York Auto Show news.