Tuesday 17th November 2009

Caddy CTS-V Wagon Confirmed

548bhp supercharged estate is on the cards, says 'Maximum Bob' Lutz

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Cadillac wants to turn this...

General Motors product Big Cheese, Bob Lutz, has confirmed that the hot Cadillac CTS-V will get the Sportwagon estate car treatment.

Okay, so it's not officially official, but in an interview with US car mag Car and Driver, Maximum Bob did let it slip that the CTS-V wagon - as well as the 'V' version of the forthcoming CTS coupe - would be heading for production.

Speaking to C and D, Maximum Bob said: "What's really going to get you guys [on board with wagons] is the CTS-V wagon." He also hinted at a planned coupe version, saying: "You'll be able to get the CTS-V any way you want."

...into something like this

Should it come to fruition (or, indeed, European roads), the hot Caddy wagon, with its 548bhp supercharged V8, will be second only to the 572bhp Audi RS6 Avant in the fast estate horsepower battle, while its 551lb ft would put it well in the lead in the battle of torque.

As we reported in late September, when talk of the car first reached the ears of PH, the new Cadillac CTS-V Sportwagon could even be available with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions.

It all sounds rather tasty. Let's just hope that Lutz isn't speaking out of GM corporate turn again, as he did with this summer's pronouncement that the Holden Commodore/Vauxhall VXR8/Pontiac G8 would be reborn as a new US-market Chevy Caprice...

 

[Trusty Steed]

Should be good for drifting!

[Snoggledog]

It might be second to the Audi A6 but even its' own mother would have drowned it at birth. Hideous looking car.

[ianrbt]

AS an owner of a C.T.S I have to say its a cracking car and exellent value for money. The estate would make a lot of sense at 12 months old.
Audi do not make value for money cars like the Americans!!

[Frimley111R]

ianrbt said:

AS an owner of a C.T.S I have to say its a cracking car and exellent value for money. The estate would make a lot of sense at 12 months old.
Audi do not make value for money cars like the Americans!!

Value is subjective - the quality of the engineering and materials is hugely greater than in a US car.

[Fire99]

Frimley111R said:

Value is subjective - the quality of the engineering and materials is hugely greater than in a US car.

Well the US isn't renowned for amazing 'executive feel' interiors however one thing you can say is they seem to have tough as granite engines.

Looks like a cracking car in the same vein as the Monaro, VXR8 esque approach to power.

[anonymous-user]

Frimley111R said:

the quality of the engineering and materials is hugely greater than in a US car.

Idiot.

That is, unless you are able to outline your extensive experience of the Cadillac CTS.

[Ashley569]

Any news on what it may cost ??

[zakelwe]

I'll have a C63 Estate with mods thanks.

Andy

[Fire99]

zakelwe said:

I'll have a C63 Estate with mods thanks.

Andy

Will that be with the Traction Control on, or the Traction Control on?

[zakelwe]

Fire99 said:

zakelwe said:

I'll have a C63 Estate with mods thanks.

Andy

Will that be with the Traction Control on, or the Traction Control on?

I think you can turn it completely off on the C63.

Andy

[Tim16V]

Ashley569 said:

Any news on what it may cost ??

The saloon is about £55k to special order here (LHD only) so the wagon should be similar. I doubt whether we'll see it officially though.

[curveking]

My Dad bought a BLS on the fact that there was a dealer in Glasgow. It turned out that it was Glasgow in Kentucky. His nearest dealer is Birmingham. So if you live up north then you can forget seeing one of these. I doubt there will be too many down south.OH and According to DVLA there is only one Cadillac BLS registered in Northern Ireland.

[eddharris]

I've spent plenty of time in the old cts-v and that car was an absolute riot. I can only imagine,for now, how good the new one is. The quality of the interior was fine

As a petrolhead, I'd spend more time in this this than many other 'better built' cars and highly recommend you give one a go.

[LuS1fer]

Love it.

It actually only makes sense new where the price is far less than it's German rivals. If this CTS-V is going to be import LHD only then the depreciation will probably be less than the Germans. try finding a last generation CTS-V in the UK anywhere and then have a look at how ell they keep their value in the USA - a Corvette c5 Z06 engine in an unsuspecting saloon, what's not to like.

I've been in Audis and the difference in quality may be real but it''s not obvious and given the choice of a blown V8 that's cheap to service against the over-complicated Europeans stuffed full of complex electronickery, I'll take the Caddy every time. I also have an aversion to coalmine cabins.

The handling is also supposed to be better than the M5 and it recently came 4th in a US test for best-handling cars where the Cayman and Audi R8 came above it - removing accusations of bias and underlined by the fact they didn't much like the handling of the Camaro. the 'Ring time obviously translates to it's real world abilities too.

I can understand the Marmite styling comments but let's be brutally honest here and agree that all the German competion is either equally challenging, brash or bland.

As to price - as low as $55000 in the US http://autos.yahoo.com/2009_cadillac_cts_v/ compared to $79000 for the M5 http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/B...

[Riggers]

Fire99 said:

Frimley111R said:

Value is subjective - the quality of the engineering and materials is hugely greater than in a US car.

Well the US isn't renowned for amazing 'executive feel' interiors however one thing you can say is they seem to have tough as granite engines.

Looks like a cracking car in the same vein as the Monaro, VXR8 esque approach to power.

Can't say much about the CTS-V (more's the pity) but I spent a week in the regular car when it first came out (before my PH days). I can honestly say it's got the best interior of any American car I've been anywhere near, drives surprisingly well, feels well put together....

...and loses out massively by not offering a diesel option. Or a better petrol V6 for that matter. Audis are better built and a 5-series or E-class is better to drive, but the CTS is still the most accomplished US car I've ever driven (ZR1 included).

[Lord_Colin]

Iam a European, living in Miami for several years know. Iam used to fast cars, just drove the CTS-V, a view days ago ..... what can I say, well, my SL55 AMG, is not as fast as the Cadi!! I drove the one with the grat and fantastic Recaro seats and the Pianolacker inside. The interieur is very well made and looks very good to mee.
But the most impressive is how the car moves and sounds.... it pulls so hard (0-60, 4 sec. flat) but it also handles extremley well (I race Lotus cars, so I know, what a good handling car is).
Top speed for Europe is over 192mph. I had the car up to 155mph, like nothing. The dealer told me, the wagon will be almost the same car, with a price tag, of about 2k more. The Cadillac CTS-V, starts in the US, at 55.000.00 USD. Top line with recaro, bluetooth and the big wheels, cost max. 63.000.00 USD.
There also will be a coupe version with over 600bhp soon .....

[Jimbeaux]

Frimley111R said:

ianrbt said:

AS an owner of a C.T.S I have to say its a cracking car and exellent value for money. The estate would make a lot of sense at 12 months old.
Audi do not make value for money cars like the Americans!!

Value is subjective - the quality of the engineering and materials is hugely greater than in a US car.

So is the price; hence the "value" part. ETA: That term: "Quality of engineering" is used now and again as a general statement....explain exactly what that means please.

Edited by Jimbeaux on Tuesday 17th November 15:53

[thirsty]

Fire99 said:

Frimley111R said:

Value is subjective - the quality of the engineering and materials is hugely greater than in a US car.

Well the US isn't renowned for amazing 'executive feel' interiors however one thing you can say is they seem to have tough as granite engines.

Looks like a cracking car in the same vein as the Monaro, VXR8 esque approach to power.

I have driven the new CTS, and just recently purchased a 2010 A4 Avant. In my personal opinion, the Caddy has a much better interior in both looks and quality. American cars get dissed for using a lot of plastic, but has anyone looked at the inside of an Audi lately?

[rknevitt]

thirsty said:

Fire99 said:

Frimley111R said:

Value is subjective - the quality of the engineering and materials is hugely greater than in a US car.

Well the US isn't renowned for amazing 'executive feel' interiors however one thing you can say is they seem to have tough as granite engines.

Looks like a cracking car in the same vein as the Monaro, VXR8 esque approach to power.

I have driven the new CTS, and just recently purchased a 2010 A4 Avant. In my personal opinion, the Caddy has a much better interior in both looks and quality. American cars get dissed for using a lot of plastic, but has anyone looked at the inside of an Audi lately?

Agreeed, my mate brought round a new A4 Avant he had for the evneing the other night, and i was shocked by the quality of the plastics, especially the centre console around the gear selection device.

[Jimbeaux]

thirsty said:

Fire99 said:

Frimley111R said:

Value is subjective - the quality of the engineering and materials is hugely greater than in a US car.

Well the US isn't renowned for amazing 'executive feel' interiors however one thing you can say is they seem to have tough as granite engines.

Looks like a cracking car in the same vein as the Monaro, VXR8 esque approach to power.

I have driven the new CTS, and just recently purchased a 2010 A4 Avant. In my personal opinion, the Caddy has a much better interior in both looks and quality. American cars get dissed for using a lot of plastic, but has anyone looked at the inside of an Audi lately?

Thank you, true statement. However, you should be informed that pointing out the crappy interiors of German cars are off limits on PH. It is known as a "double standard", I believe. BTW, I own a BMW, so I am versed.