Running late, of course, to a Jeep event at Red Rocks Park, I’d accessed I-25 South at the U.S. 34 Loveland interchange in the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe and sped smoothly for a couple miles along the left lane when I realized a boat being towed alongside me in the right lane was unexpectedly invading my space. Within 2 seconds, the boat and its SUV leader were in the left lane and the Cadillac and I were off the left shoulder.
The footing was firm, fortunately, and the performance-inspired CTS-V with fast-acting sport-tuned suspension squirmed only slightly as I guided it back into place behind the “speedboat.”
The new Cadillac, which hit showrooms a month ago, is an excellent handler with its magnetic ride control, and it may be the greatest-looking car of the coming model year. Its low-slung style with crisp lines and sharp-edged finish drew favorable comments everywhere I drove it.
I was in Cobo Hall for the Detroit Auto Show in January 2008 when General Motors’ car boss Bob Lutz, in unveiling the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe concept, said, “This one will make us very competitive with BMW and Mercedes.” He was right on; it’s a standout in company with the 3 series and C class. Not so nimble as an M3, but bigger performance, better exterior, better interior.
The CTS-V is special, with its Corvette-like, 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine developing 556 horsepower. A manual-shift mode is a feature of its 6-speed automatic transmission; in place of normal paddle shifters, though, the Cadillac wound up with plastic buttons behind its steering wheel. These work, of course, but seem more suited to a Catera of years back. Touch the left-side button to downshift, the right one to upshift.
The $69,890 sticker of the CTS-V is almost $20,000 higher than the price of the standard-powered ’11 CTS Coupe, which I’ve also driven over the past week.
The regular CTS Coupe has the same sharp exterior lines as the CTS-V and much the same luxurious interior other than the V’s Recaro seats with power bolster controls. Both are of rear-wheel-drive configuration; AWD is optional. Dual exhausts have been placed side-by-side centered beneath the rear bumper; this look hasn’t caught on with me.
A 304-horsepower, 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 with 6-speed automatic provides impressive low-end power and an EPA fuel-mileage rating of 18/27. In similar use, I averaged 21.6 miles per gallon with the CTS Coupe and 18.1 with the CTS-V.
Equipped with 19-inch aluminum wheels and performance brakes, the CTS was priced at $50,035.
The interior is a highlight, with African sapele wood trim and heated and cooled leather seats. Legroom is adequate in rear seating, though headroom is very limited due to the sleek-look finish.
A screen pops up from near the top of the center stack for use of the navigation and Bose stereo systems. “Attention, ahead 2 miles, traffic jam” was among alerts provided by the navigation’s real-time traffic system. A rearview camera is a safety addition.
There are no outside door handles. Touch a pad inside a small hand space and the door pops open electronically. A lever on the floor is reassuring, in case the electronic system fails.
The coupe is equipped with a heated steering wheel, which is leather-wrapped. Among other amenities are Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio with XM, dual-zone climate control, sunroof, memory seats, power tilt/telescope steering wheel, remote start, HID headlamps, foglamps, head-curtain side airbags.
Most drivers would be well-satisfied with the CTS Coupe’s performance, good handling and stiff suspension, particularly if they hadn’t also driven the CTS-V.
When driving the CTS-V, touch a button on the steering wheel to disable traction control, touch it again and Stability Competitive Mode is announced in the message center, so the driver knows that torque distribution between the wheels has also been disabled. This enables spinning of the wheels and swaying of the rear end to the driver’s heart’s delight. The CTS-V will cover 0 to 60 in 4 seconds.
The coupe added to the CTS sedan and wagon give Cadillac a full complement of entry-level luxury models.
I’ve also driven the CTS-V sedan in the past six months; I said that, other than the thrust of the Nissan GT-R, the CTS-V‘s power might have been the most awesome of anything I’ve driven.
The aforementioned Lutz showed up a couple of years ago at the Colorado Convention Center for the Denver Auto Show and talked of the then-soon-to-be-introduced CTS-V. “I’ll have one of these in the garage at my Swiss home, right beside my XLR-V (Cadillac’s sports car),” Lutz proclaimed. Lutz is a native of Switzerland and owns a home there in addition to his 140-acre estate near Detroit.
The standard CTS model has been around since 2003, when it replaced the Catera.
2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
$50,035
(price as tested)
MPG City 18 Highway 27
Vehicle type: Luxury sports coupe
Wheelbase: 113.4 inches
Length/Width/Height: 188.5/74.1/55.9 inches
Weight: 3,909 pounds
Engine: 3.6-liter V-6
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Fuel mileage: 21.6 mpg
Fuel tank: 18 gallons
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles basic; 5/100,000 powertrain
Competitors: Audi A5, BMW 335i coupe, Infiniti G37 coupe
Built at: Lansing, Mich.
THE STICKER
$47,010 base
$2,090 19-inch aluminum wheels, steering wheel shift controls, performance brakes
$825 Destination
PLUSES
Superb exterior style
Sport suspension
Luxurious interior
MINUSES
Limited rear vision
Buttons for paddle-shifters
Rear-seat headroom
