Under General Motors, Cadillac has primarily known for luxury and comfort as opposed to performance. And, truth be told, the automaker is not known for its acceleration or lap times despite its large displacement engines. However, a few models have been engineered to push the envelope not only in terms of comfort and style but also on the track. The following is a list of the fastest Cadillacs ever made.

2018 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan

Unsurprisingly the first model on the list is the popular Cadillac offering from the NFS Most Wanted game. The CTS-V has a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine rated at 640 horsepower. It also manages an acceleration of 3.6 seconds to 60 mph The steering is characterized as accurate yet a touch heavy, but the brand makes up for that with a stable suspension. Power is delivered to the rear tires via a smooth eight-speed transmission as well. The CTS-V comes in wagon and sedan body styles, so it is possible to have both speed and utility.

Cadillac CTS-V Sedan specifications

Engine

6.2L supercharged V-8

Horsepower

640 HP @ 6,400 RPM

Torque

630 LB-FT @ 3,600 RPM

Transmission

8L90 eight-speed automatic

0 to 60 mph

3.6 seconds

Top Speed

200 mph


Read our full review on the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan

2020 CT6-V Blackwing

The Blackwing is one of the automaker’s flagship models, with only 600 cars equipped with the twin-turbo V-8 engine. The name comes from the Merlette blackbird, which is illustrated on the original Cadillac crest. The 4.2-liter engine produces 550 horsepower, so the Blackwing reaches 60 mph within 4.1 seconds and the quarter-mile in 12.4 seconds; not a bad result for an unmodified production car. The transmission is a ten-speed hydra-matic, which is intuitive and features impressively rapid shifts.

Cadillac CT6-V Blackwing specifications

Engine

4.2 L twin-turbo V-8

Horsepower

550 HP

Torque

627 LB-FT

Transmission

Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic

0 to 60 mph

4.1 seconds

Top Speed

200 mph


Read our full review on the 2020 CT6-V Blackwing

2006 Cadillac XLR-V

The XLR-V was a high-performance version of the Cadillac XLR. Some of the design language came from the Corvette, hence the convertible body style and unique styling. It had a 4.4-liter V-8 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. The output was 443 horsepower, and it reached 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The additions to the chassis facilitated a stable ride for the track, and the adaptive forward lighting system was the first time a Cadillac model could automatically adjust the headlamp direction at night.

Cadillac XLR-V specifications

Engine

4.4-liter V-8

Horsepower

443 hp @ 6400 rpm

Torque

414 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm

Transmission

six-speed automatic

0 to 60 mph

4.9 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph


Read our full review on the 2006 Cadillac XLR-V

2010 Cadillac STS 4.6 V8

The 4.6 V-8 was discontinued in 2011, though it merits a position on this list. The STS had a 4.6 V-8 NorthStar engine that produced 320 horsepower and accelerated to 60 mph in 6 seconds. This car was also available with all-wheel drive for maximum performance. The STS 4.6 was one of the first Cadillac models to add tech safety packages like lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and stability control.

Cadillac STS 4.6 V8 specifications

Engine

4.6-liter V-8

Horsepower

320 hp @ 6400 rpm

Torque

315 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm

Transmission

6-speed shiftable automatic

0 to 60 mph

6 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph


Read our full review on the 2010 Cadillac STS 4.6 V8

2018 Cadillac ATS-V

The ATS-V was discontinued in 2018, though it was a fun, high-performance model with a racing-inspired style. It had a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V-6 that produced 464 horsepower and a six-speed manual gearbox which could be upgraded to an eight-speed automatic. The combination of the lightweight materials and significant power meant the ATS-V could reach 60 mph within 3.8 seconds. The top speed was 189 mph. Magnet actuated adaptive dampers were standard as well, so drivers could alternate between relaxed and firm rides.

Cadillac ATS-V specifications

Engine

3.6-liter twin-turbo V-6

Horsepower

464 hp @ 5,850 rpm

Torque

445 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm

Transmission

Six-speed manual

0 to 60 mph

3.8 seconds

Top Speed

189 mph


Read our full review on the 2018 Cadillac ATS-V

2009 Cadillac BLS 2.8 T V6

The BLS V-6 was another short-lived model produced between 2006 and 2009. It was front-wheel drive and, as the name suggests, had a 2.8-liter V-6 engine churning 255 horsepower. Its acceleration time was 6.3 seconds to 60 mph. Customers received a choice of a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, and the chassis ensured dynamic handling performance. Its interior was characterized by circular instruments, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and analog clocks. The tech features included high-quality audio and infotainment of the era as well.

Cadillac BLS 2.8 T V6 specifications

Engine

2.8-liter V-6

Horsepower

255 hp

Torque

295 lb-ft

Transmission

six-speed manual

0 to 60 mph

6.3 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph


Read our full review on the 2009 Cadillac BLS 2.8 T V6