It was a great day when GM released the official photos of its upcoming 2016 Cadillac CTS-V sedan late last year. However, nothing beats the real thing. There’s just no substitute for seeing an eagerly awaited car in person.
Right now, you can do just that. All you have to do is go to a travel site, book a flight to and a hotel in Detroit, and make the trip to the North American International Auto Show. Just remember to pack warm clothes. A scarf wouldn’t hurt, either. Don’t worry – you’ll warm up instantly when you lay your eyes upon the most powerful Cadillac ever. The next CTS-V has the sexy, softened geometry of the regular midsize wreath-and-crest four-door, but includes performance-focused features, such as unique aero-optimized front and rear fascias, a carbon fiber hood, and a lift-reducing front splitter. You won’t be able to miss the wider fenders that stretch over the LT4-powered Caddy’s 19-inch forged aluminum wheels, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, and massive Brembo brakes.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be eager to see what’s under the CTS-V’s lightweight hood. There, you’ll find the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from the 2015 Corvette Z06, slightly detuned to 640 horsepower and 630 lb.-ft. of torque. Unfortunately, you’ll just have to imagine this Cadillac blasting from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and hitting a top speed 200 mph.
Once (or if) you pry your peepers away from that monster of an engine, you should use them to take a look at the CTS-V’s cockpit. You’ll be able to see the shift lever and paddles that control the 8L90 eight-speed automatic, which features Performance Algorithm Shifting for “shift performance that rivals the dual-clutch/semi-automatic transmissions found in many luxury performance sedans.” You can put the gearbox to the test yourself when the 2016 CTS-V shows up at your local Cadillac dealership in late summer.
You’re still reading this? Go ahead and arrange that trip. The NAIAS wraps up on Jan. 25.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
