When Cadillac launched its V-series program, the company intended to produce high-performance luxury vehicles that rivaled European brands like Mercedes AMG and BMW M.
And so it did. For 15 years, the “V” badge slapped on the rear of any Caddy signified it was the top-performing version of its model.
2019 CTS-V and ATS-V are America’s best sports sedans
The 2019 CTS-V uses the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine from the Corvette Z06. It has 640 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque. It goes from a standstill 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph.
That’s performance on par with 2019 Mercedes-AMG C 63 and 2018 BMW M3.
2019 Cadillac ATS-V is the smaller 2-door sedan. It packs a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, producing 464 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. That’s still enough to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 189 mph.
The new 2019 Cadillac CT6-V slots right in between, equipped with Cadillac’s proprietary 4.2-liter, twin-turbo Blackwing V8 engine with 550 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque.
That’s the V-series in a nutshell – big engines, lots of power and, of course, luxury in excess.
So, when the new V-series models were announced, everyone’s expectations shot through the roof. The 2020 CT5-V and CT4-V replace the CTS-V and ATS-V respectively.
Well, the vehicles have been revealed – and they are utterly unimpressive compared to their predecessors.
2020 CT5-V and CT4-V are not what everybody expected
The 2020 CT5-V gets a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, producing 355 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. It has an electronic limited slip differential and Magnetic Ride Control suspension system.
The 2020 CT4-V will use a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-4 engine, which is good for about 320 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. This one will use the less potent mechanical LSD.
Both cars will have a 10-speed automatic and will have RWD and AWD options to choose from.
Now, that’s not particularly bad for what these cars are. However, neither is remotely as powerful as the one it replaces and that leaves us confused and disappointed.
When asked why the sudden U-turn, GM explained that there are more V-series cars coming our way. The manufacturer wants the lineup to relate to all types of customers – not just extreme drivers.
Perhaps, CT5-V is going to be the default car of the range. CT4-V, with its inline-4 engine, is obviously going to be the entry vehicle. And supposedly there are going to be high-performance vehicles above the CT6-V.
GM is keeping the true high-performing vehicles a secret
During the 2019 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, the crowd got a surprise preview of two camouflaged vehicles based on the CT5-V and CT4-V. At the wheel were respectively General Motors President himself – Mark Reuss and Vice-President of Product – Ken Morris.
People can swear they heard the grunt of a V8 engine as the prototypes went down the track. Perhaps, that’s wishful thinking. Or maybe they heard the Blackwing twin-turbo V8 engine that’s currently equipped in the CT6-V, which will still be available in 2020.
Whatever it is, GM is keeping its mouth shut. The official comment was they “represent the next step in Cadillac’s V-Series performance legacy.”
It’s the simple case of Cadillac wanting to bank in on their V branding. It’s what Mercedes and BMW have done years ago. AMG and M used to be limited for top-of-the-line cars. Nowadays, there are AMG / M versions, packages and kits for most of the manufacturers’ lineup.
However, there have always been high-performance Mercedes AMG and BMW M cars. Whereas, Cadillac threw everybody into confusion and is now working to clear it. The way GM is handling the transition is controversial, to say the least.
